New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-16
CRAZE FOR GOLF|NC
HOLDS GREAT BRITAIN
Everywhere Is Heard Discus.
sion of Game That Has Whole
Country in Its Grip.
GREAT IMPETUS IN SIGHT
American Invasion and Suffra.
gette Attacks on Links Have
Widely Advertised Sport
That Already Interests ALI.

From The Trihune's Correspondent
London, March 7.--England is sufferir,
from "A golf boom. and the golf maniac
has become bore and a nuisance Va,
find him wherever you go. He talks
golf in the train, tram and tube. in m.
drawing room. smoke room and the Of.
fee. You cannot escape him. and he al.
ways talks about what he has done or
what he might have done III only
And yet this is not so surprising as 4.
may seem at first glance. for no game in
Great Britain has been so fostered and
nurtured by public and private enter.
prise.
As much care and consideration have
been given to the provision Of artisan
golf links as to other infinitely more i'm.
portant administrative functions. and
rarely a month goes by but one hears
that some team of star players will fg.
ure at the opening of the magnificent
new course al -
Professional golfers are waxing rich as
the result OF the boom, and $4,000 a
year is nearer the average than the ex.
ceptional income.
a leading English actress. in express.
ing her surprise at the success Of James
Montgomery's play, Ready Money"
made the significant remark that lit was
strange for English people TO take to a
play where the young men talked Of
shares and bonds in the drawing room.
because il was so different to what was
actually the case here, where the Young
mans only topic Of conversation was
automobiles and golf" That epitomizes
the situation. And the automobiles have
helped TO strengthen the popularity Of
golf Within a radius of thirty miles
around London there are at least one
hundred first class golf courses. and
though il may not be evidence Of the
general prosperity Of the whole, the
financial condition OF one of Londons
most fashionable clubs-Mid- sit
uated on the banks of the River Thames
at Richmond-is worth recording. The
total income Of this organization last
year was nearly $4,000. which is prob
ably a worlds record in receipts for one
club. Within two years the club has
spent 1000 on bunkering alone.
Careful estimates put the total number
Of courses in England al 1900; in Wales.
I0O in Scotland. $50. and in ireland. l6s.
In few years these totals will have ex'
panded considerably. and there is every
indicati that the boom vii receive
tremendous impetus in 1918. The mill
tant suffragettes, who have been hacking
and burning the velvet greens, have
incidentally provided the game with
grand advertisement gratis, and the COM
ing of the American amateur and pro-
fessional teams will add further i'm
petus.
With each succeeding year the entries
in the open and amateur championships
are increasing In the former compeu-
ton. played at Muirield last year and
won by Edward Ray, there were 2lS
competitors. and. though the amateur
competition fell TO 1874 owing 10 the ao-
normal industrial upheaval. the average
entry is not far short of two hundred
The American invasion is already the
talk Of the British goldns world. ana
the weather prophets. who predict
summer worthy of the name. are ENJOY
ing a run of popularity which, II
hoped. the elements will not jeopardlze'
At any rate. the American teams are
assured of a warm welcome, and the IN
centive which their coming has given 70
the British players, both professional
and amateur. TO prepare themselves tor
the fray has been accentuated ny the ~
olusion OF golf in the next Olympiao d.
Berlin The British golfer perhaps nov
without some justification, regards MIN
self as the last word al the gane,
Great Britain has ALREADY marked her.
self for the golf points AZ Berlin. o..
1918 may bring a partial awakening 70
the fact that golf has ceased 70 os
British monopoly. But As premier q"
nuith said I'VE must wait and see