The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-28

Golf officially became a favorite
pastime in Topeka fifteen years ago
when the old Keith tract in Potwin
was turned into a nine-hole course.
Many of the men who played the
game at that time are among the
best golfers in the city now. Armin
Fassler, c. w. Merriam, H L. Arm
strong, David Mulvane, Charles Blood
Smith c.. E. GauIt, Frank G. Willard,
E. S. Quinton, Ned Osborn, w. ].
Black, Roy Funnel, who is now in
Oregon, and Adrian Sherman were
some of the members of the golf club
who learned the game on the old
course. Out of this group came the
leaders of the movement which re-
suited in the founding of the present
Country club ten years ago.
Frank G. Willard holds the official
amateur record at the Shawnee Golf
club with a At, according to the
green's committee. Wizards card
was signed by H. Dale, who played
with him, and was turned in to Rob
ert Fullerton, chairman of the COM
mittee. Until someone turns in a bet
ter score or equals the mark Willard
will be considered the holder of the
title. Willard played the course with
the clubs that he used fifteen years
ago when he played on the Keith
tract.
Out of the heated confines of Tue
son, Ariz., comes a story of a wild
tale-a yarn about a wonderful inven-
tion-the jumping Mexican golf ball.
Local golfers may feel Skeptical about
this invention but here is the story:
The ball is so constructed that
when 1t gets into the shade of long
grass, or sinks into casual or other
water, it Immediately begins to jump,
and it jumps so high that it clears
the water or grass and is plainly Wis
1ble to the Searcher.
The Mexican jumping bean forms
the core. together with a little grub
worm. Now these worms dislike
shade and as soon as a ball goes into
a shady place, such as high grass or
water, the worm begins to flap it's
tail. In Tapping it naturally will hit
the jumping bean, which upon being
tapped immediately begins to jump.
This new invention is expected to
prove a great boon to golfers who
sending their ball into dark, damp
places"
Many beginning golfers have great
nunciation of the word golf The
encyclopedia gives this hint
"Gowff.' Try it. The word is de-
rived from the German, Kobe, mean
ing a club.
The board of directors of the Shaw
ness Golf club has issued a booklet
containing the club constitution and
bylaws, membership roster and com
plete rules for the game of golf The
directors hope that the members will
read this book and comply with the
rules. If this is done much of the
confusion on the course will be elimi-
mated.
Authorities are uncertain as to the
exact date golf was first introduced
in England and Scotland but it is
known that the game was very popu-
/ lar in 1857. In fact it was so popular
that parliament became alarmed at
the interest taken in the game and
| the apparent apathy people of the
| country were showing toward archery
which was considered by the nobility
to be the greatest of all sports. The
parliament issued a decree which
read something like this: Golf be
utterly cryit doun and nocht usit." But
! the game went right on just the same
Golf used to be a great game for
kings. James ~ was the first crown
ed head to figure formally in golfing
records. James V also was very par
tial to the game and there is some
/ evidence that his daughter, the I'M
happy Mary Stuart, was a golf en-
thusiast. Topeka golfers have nothing
on the kings.
This is the story of a Topeka socie-
ty girl living on Harrison street, who
played game OF golf on the Country