Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-16

! The concluding chapter of the 1910 contest
1 for the amateur golf championship of
America will be written at BrOokline, Mass,
tomorrow. This championship is one of the
coveted honors Of the golfing world and
always has been well contested event.
Last year the victory went to r. A. Gardi-
/! ner who, at Wheaton, ILL.,, defeated II. {.
Eagen in a S6-hole match. four up and two
to play. In the amateur championship the
match form OF playing is used, the score
being reckoned by the number OF holes.
In the United states open championship,
the play was what is known as the medal
game, where the score is reckoned by
strokes and George Sargent Of Hyde
Manor. VT, won It by setting a new record
Of 200
Golf has become one OF the established
sports I'm America and may fairly be said
to have succeeded horse racing as the
sport of kings. with President Taft golf
enthusiast. as well as a base ball fan,
golf practically has become the game of
American official life. It's beginning in
America dates back many years. but as a
well organized sport with a competent ma
tional body to supervise Il, the game had
it's beginning in the United States in 1885,
In that year five of the leading clubs OF
the country got together and laid the foun-
dations OF the United states Golf associa-
ttion. which has become the recognized court
OF last resort In all matters pertaining TO
golf in the United states. At this time
there is considerable Complaint on the part
of those interested in the national assocl-
alton over the fact that only % per cent
| OF the golf clubs of the country belong 20
the national organization. The membership
of a club In the national organization en-
titles the members OF the club to take part
in all of the national championship con-
tests and only costs $40 a year per club.
There are about 900 recognized golf clubs
in the United States today and some TWEEN
ty-five in Canada. 1t Is estimated that the
membership of these clubs approximates a
half million. There are many links through
out the country, yet only comparatively few
Of them are extended enough to Justify be.
ing called by that name. Near Chicago ar
| old race track and fair grounds has beer
converted into a golf course, and there one
may play upon the payment OF a stipula ted
fee per annum, Here one has fine picture
of the passing OF horse racing and the rise
of golf as the favorite sport Of prominent
Americans In the days of Washington II
was to the turf that the official life of the
nation turned for its amusement, and the
first president often took part either as 8
judge, an owner or a spectator in the
racing events Of his time. In these later
days one would hardly expect to see the
president at the trackside, but he is likely
to be found on the links when his officia
duties will permit.
| The first golf club in the United states
was the St Andrews club at Yonkers N
Y, organized in 1888. At that time the links
consisted of six holes from $50 to 80 yards
apart. This club was named after the his
toric st. Andrews club in Scotland which
is the foremost goifing organization of thu
world. People were slow in adopting th'
game, most men thinking ii too simple
to become enthusiastic over It. They re
garded it as nothing more than chasing 1
gutta percha ball across COW pasture
But every body who has any serious &C
quaintance with It knows that there is nj
other sport in the world that requires 1
steader nerve or greater generalship thar
golf. under the many hazards and Difficult
ties that have been placed around the game
1t is said that President Taft holds tbs
record of official America for a long drive
At Salt Lake City last year he made an ex
hibition drive OF 200 yards There is pro
fesgonal record Of 3S1 yards, while Mis-
Margaret Curtis holds the woman's record
with drive of 2sO yards.
There is at this time considerable agita
ton among golfing enthusiasts over the de
cision OF the st. Andrews club that thu
croquet- mallet form OF club, known as thu
Schenectady club, is not to be recognized II
the English rules. This form of club wal
brought out first in England and stood
well until 1t was adopted I'm America. An
other matter of consideration is the pay o
professional golfers in this country. In tn
days of the gutta percha ball they mad
enough money out of the sale of balls t
supplement their salary sufficiently to Civ
them a living income. Since the rubber
cored ball has come into use this means o
getting a profit out Of their business ha
been curtailed.
Golf Ia said 10 be an evolution Of hockey
with chole as the transitory stage between
the two. In choice the players would