The Washington times., 1916-07-16
Harry Vardon Writes
Concerning Caddies
British Professional Decla res There Are Good Ones
And Nuisances and kinks Classes Should
Be Held on Or ganized Lines.
BY HARRY vARDoN,
The Worlds Most Famous Golfer.

must act as Instructor at every ciub)
u rather pity that so many boys
VINO show no promise Of making head
way as golfers are allowed to follow
the vocation Of light porters OF the links
when they are growing up TO be men.
hn,h " would be Infinitely better in
potn individual and national interests II
ne had learned q trade. In Britain, the
lntelligent youth who has an aptitude
.Sr the pastime 10 generally taken into
the PROFESSIONAL. shop. where he learns
developing. his game. Il would be
wise condition Of affairs II those who
obviously will never be able to do any
wsra o peter at golf than carry clubs
after the age of sixteen; most Of them
, mouio soon md more useful employ
II, Their places could be taken by girls.
saddies and who are not naturally re,
:Ponsibie In quite the same degree as
,h ne male section of the population for
c en- SSxipy'nf on Of a country's business.
(healthy, and not exhaustine1 OF en-.
aohns girls to assist an embarra ssing-
" limited family exchequer. and iust
nov Wen they can perform the work
who has visited the few places at which
thew are employed. At lie Tououet
near Bou!ogne. when peace reigned in
France. there was no more Interesting
which the club rsan most sne Of concern ,S.
the daughters Of local fishermen. dis.
played In the performances Of their re-
spective masters
Girls Were Models.
There were a few boys. but 80 far as
one could Judge. they were very much
like their brethren elsewhere. Their
speaking countenances denoted nonchal-
ance merging into boredom. The girls
were models OF polite attention and
whole hearted interest. One prominent
professional declared that they were the
only caddies he had ever seen who knew
now TO make tee properly. and ! was
inclined to agree with him. For. as 1
nav, nave explained In a previous contribu
tion. there Is more In the building of a
tee than the average golfer is apt to
Imagine. II should be a construction
which 10 unseen when the ball sits on II.
Businesslike assistants were the maid
ems -of the links In northern France.
neatly dressed! and daintily debopair.
with a touch of that vivacity which is
the Characteristic Of French women. they
were profoundly serious and critical on
the subject of golf. The man who per-
pepated rev bad shots was told with
an Air OF quiet determine ton TINT he
would have to do better or there would
be trouble. There was stimulus in the
panied disappointment Of the caddie.
They were as strong as young Anna
s CONS; One OF thsr a hron.ed girl with
ed for the part OF gypsy that any art
vt would have rejoiced to paint. walked
five miles over. the sands each day to
the links and five miles back at night.
One day she carried four rounds, and, in
PLACE and back to accompany girl
friend. That made about twenty.six
miles In all. and she left in the evening
with the intimation that she was going
to a dance Every Saturday these girl
caddies had their dances at Etaples.
Made Good to End.
In England. girl caddies have been
highly successful wherever they have
been tried. as. for instance, ut St.
Annes -on-eea. on the Lancashire coast
ana Luton. near London. They had
women'S championship at St. Annes a
few years ago. and made good from
the beginning till the end. There was
no more inspiring spectacle than that Of
the girl cnddie. on coming In from an
Important match In which her side had
triumphed. passing solemnly down the
line OF her friends and rivals to re-
selve the hsndshake and congratula-
1t is . real help to feel that the club
bearer is taking deep interest in ones
game. but as to the equity of advice
giving ] am very doubtful. A person
out playing 8 game ought to be able
10 make up his or her mind as to how
to play the shots when the struggle
begins Once upon a time. in the dim
and distant past. the caddie was rec
ognized as the guide. philosopher.
friend. and nurse Of his employer who.
without his favorite henchman, would
have been as an army without a leader.
That sort Of caddie has almost gone
out OF the game. In his place is the
bearer OF burden who. as a rule. either
looks very depressed on finding that
his hirer Is good and careful player
They're so slow at putting" he com
plains-or else takes ADVANTAGE of Il
buffers Indulgence 70 remark as he
hands over any club that appeals light
ly to his fancy: Try this for a change
=, - There's birds nest close to
tho ninth green; I'll show It to you
when we get there
Sometimes one gets a truly perfect
caddie. That is such a stroke Of luck
as to make ono feel guilty of possess
ing an undue advantage over the OPP
position.
copyright. 1916, by the Wheeler Syn
dicatc. Inc.).