The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-07
z 100000 GOLFERS
SPEND S3OQ,OOO,OOO
EACH YEAR IN GAME

That there are more golfers than
base ball players in the United states
Is probably fact that Is realized by
few persons. but nevertheless II IS tue,
and the devotees of the gutta pereha
are rapidly growing in numbers each
year.
one also discovers that the 2.o0o,1os
golfers OF both sexes in this country
spend approximately $500. 100000 a
wear in pursuit of the little white ball
"A staggering. almost unbelievable
total yet, one which iss arrived at
after the compilation of the most &C
curate statistics from .unauesuonable
sources.
There are more than 1000 clubs III
the country now where she member
ship is composed very largely OF
golfers.
New Clubs spring Up.
New clubs are springing up each
year. The membership OF the clubs
now In existence runs from 10 to 1000.
Averaging the golfing members or
each club at only zoe. 1t means that
there are 100000 men and womet
who are devoted to the Scotch game,
There are at the very least 100000
persons In the country who play golf
but do not belong 70 any club. Ihey
plav most of their games on public
links which the big cities have es-
tabltshed, although they often PLAY On
club links with friends who are mem
bers of the clubs.
The average golf course rent 4 clue
member must pay Is s25. His dues at
the most conservative estimate, are
s25 Even the most careful regular
golfer Will use up one ball a week,
which means about forty balls y9a@,
averaging the golfing year at forty
Nv
that figure.
Forty balls will cost the golfer $50
at the very least as the most expen-
sive balls are fifty cents each Car
rying charges average from ffty 10
seventy five cents for eighteen h 7lss
which means about SIS more a year
Most OF tho regular golfers get a
new set of clubs each year, at a cost
between SIS and $40. But, assuming
that they get new set only eNeFF
other year means an average outlay
for clubs each year of about $40.
Railroad Fare big Item.
Railroad fare to and from the club
is another big item Of expense AT
tho very lowest the average Is - a
| round trip. Adding Atty cents for tn
eidental expenses of each trip. and al
lowing one trip week, means that the
| golfer doles out SEQ each year for
| transportation.
| All of these figures are extremely
| conservative, yet they show that each
! club golfer spends about $l75 yearly.
/ which makes a grand total of S235.ooo-
I ooo that the 100000 club golfers
spend each season.
| The cost to the nonclub golfer Is
| oniewhat less. He does not have to
| pay the club fees or for rental of tha
links His transportation cost IS CON
/ siderabiy less than the clubman, who
usually journeys far into the country.
| And he does not play quite as often
as the clubman, thus reducing by about
one third the cost of cadoying and new
| balls.
Averages $75 to Player.
| Placing the yearly average expendi-
! ture of the nonclub at only S75. II
means that the 600. 900 nonclub plas ers
spend a total of $45, 100000 yearly.
/ To the items already enumerated
4 must be added the cost of special goli
| toggery. Women golfers must wear
special golfing skirts an1 special shoes
to prevent their slipping on the green's
Men also must wear spiked or cheated
! shoes Some clubmen don complete
golfing attire every time they play
/ the game.