Evening star., 1914-04-17
GOLF LINKS LAID IN
CHINESE GRAVEYARD
Tientsin Club Uses Grave Mounds
as Bunkers-Athletics
in Orient.

NEW YORK, April IA unique and
the most gruesome golf course In the
world has been discovered in Tientsin by
Mai Palmer L. Pierce, Z. S. A., who
has returned from two years service
with the 18th Infantry in China. Maj
Pierce while director of athletics at
West Point, was responsible for the or
ganization Of the National Collegiate Ath-
letic Association, and for several years
served as president with distinction.
While in China Mai. Pierce has been
active in promoting sports in the army.
He said yesterday that the golf course
in Tientsin was unquestionably without
an equal anywhere. 1t is laid out in a
cemetery. The mode of burial in China
is 10 place the coffins just below the
ground and build large mounds over
them These mounds dot the course and
no additional bunkers are necessary In
fact, there are bunkers everywhere, and
to a golfer accustomed to playing on
fairly open course. 1t takes some time to
get accustomed to the numerous bunkers
and hazards
Mai. Pierce said that one of the ground
rules at the Tientsin Club was that If
ball rolls into an open grave 1t may De
lifted without penalty. The greens are
laid out between the grave mounos. ana
are as smooth and well kept as the
stated that the Chinese caddies were the
most interesting in the world. The fee Is
about 5 cents for the eighteen holes, ana
the youngsters are so numerous aho 50
anxious to caddy that competition Is very
keen. The clubhouse at the course IS
surrounded by graves.
Mai. Pierce says that the soldiers at
the Chinese treaty ports are TAKING
keen interest in track and field sports,
and the American soldiers are doins
much to make base ball a popular game.
The United States troops are more ac-
tive in athletics than the other nations
and the field days Of the American SOL
diers are big attractions at Tientsin IN
commenting on one Of the meets the
Tientsn Times said To see the Amer
lean soldier at his sports IS perhaps
to see him at one of his best periods.
and in witnessing anything In which
luck or uncertainty play part he gives
these emotions full play. With the thor
oughnesS that characterizes everything
can troops furnished the assembly with
some excellent sport which ev1nced ar
duous training and considerable natee
skill; close finishes and fast time were
the order of the day.
In the international competitions among
the soldiers, Maj. Pierce said that Uncle
Sans representatives compared very IA
vorably with the soldiers of the other
nations. The British soldiers are very
active in crosS-country running and box
ing. The boxing matches are conducted
under the supervision of the officers. and
no comments are permitted except be-
tween the rounds. The bouts between
the regmental champions are unusually
good, and there is an absence of the
noise and frenzy shown by the fight fans
in this country.
Mai. Pierce said that the British SOL
diers show much greater liking for box
ing than the United States soldiers. Eff
forts have been made to encourage box
ing but few of the Yankee soldiers take
1t up.
The Italian and French soldiers are
very proficient at the tug-of-war game.
and surprised the other nations. The
German soldiers show the least inclina-
ton for sports. The Russians have no
sports, and their exercises are all mill
ta-y.
Maj Pierce after few weeks visit
here. will be stationed in the Philippines,
where he will have much opportunity to
use his influence in the promotion of
sports of all kind. He said that base
ball had done great deal for the army
IN the Philippines. as well as the natives.
and the army was using all its efforts to
encourage the game.
Maj Pierce said that a significant
thing about athletics in the Philippines
was the recent order making 1t compul-
sorry for the soldiers to remain amateurs
in competitions within army posts. He
thinks that amateurism will raise ath-
letics to higher plane than ever before.
The recent army order was issued by
Maj Gen. Bell. 1t provides for the
maintenance of the amateur basis in ali
military competitions within the depart
ment according to the rules of the
Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation.
The army may conduct its own games
under its own rules. in any manner it
sees fit. but it must not impose condi-
tions or offer prizes which will cause
any man to lose his amateur status.