The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
4 GOLF CLUB
IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM
Mistakes Are Frequent and Now Is the Time to Examine
Situation and Make Plans for the Future
Careful Manager Is Needed.

at the same time mako money. The
manager made many trips into the
nearby city. visited countless market
places and finally found where he could
trade to the best all around advantage.
He made a study Of his walters and
soon got rid Of all those who showed a
disposition to be careless. The result
was that even at the n Of the first
year there was a profit on the restau-
rant Of $4,000. and a belief among the
members that for service n for their
moneys worth the club could not be
excelled X equalled In America To-
day the restaurant does a business up
ward of 5000. with a profit Of &c.,
600 or so never q complaint.
/ do not know the managers salary
at present. but he Is worth every cent
Of $4,000.
The above story Of what has been
done In a prominent club In the East
simply points the moral that It Is the
management which a a or break a
club. and nowhere Is this so vital as in
the matter Of the restaurant. MY advice
Is to procure a first class manager. pay
him a good salary. and the financial con-
dition will improve.
There are many clubs which let the
professional run the shop so far as the
collection Of bills is concerned. I be-
lieve that this is wholly wrong, that 1t
II an injustice TO the professional. who
many a time has to wait months for his
pay for clubs. balls, repairs. lessons,
and so forth. The club should stand
right back Of its hired instructor. have
his bills put through the regular club
channels. have the members posted "
they do not pay their bills by the ap-
pointed time. There is no good reason
.,hS, vhto ahnSstA mt Ia AAna ~ Qhnre
the professional that the club IL inter-
ested in his rights and that he Is a
part of the system and not apart from
1t, and makes him moro loyal to the
interests OF all the members. Many
clubs do this. and all which have a pro-
fessional should incorporate the scheme
at once.
The system which the wykagy1 Coun-
try Club Is soon to put into operation,
that OF bestowing the privilege OF the
links to the part Inc" members. SC
called, those who can golf or all days
except Saturday. Sunday and holidays
on the payment of the regular yearly
dues, with no initiation fee, however
strikes me as a wonderful method which
could be used particularly BY thoss
clubs which wished to procure extra
money for needed improvements. j doubt
not that the scheme will be tried b!
many clubs before another year passes.
There Is one good feature connected
| with the golf clubs and courses in this
country. tn men who have instituted
the beginnings have realized that It Is
| the course and not the clubhouse or
| which depends the success of every club
| and that II Is always we'll to provide foi
| the club course even at the expense OF
the house. without q good course thu
fine clubhouse Is only a mockery. There
is no fixed way for determining tn,
money which should he spent on tn,
course, but II runs all the way from
20 to IS per cent. OF all the money,
taken In during the year. Anything les.
n 90 per e a the cours<
Is not getting It's Just duo and that ths
members are not being taken care of II
a prope fashion from a golting stand
I point. The smaller the club the NOR,
is spent on the course. but that is usual,
because the clubhouse appointments ar.
not as costly to keep up or so much
demanded.
1t would be possible to go on at grea'
length n give In detail the histor,
of other clubs in this respect, but suffic,
to say that there will not be failure IL tn,
right man is engaged to supervise da,
after day and night after night. Tn,
waste at a club can be terrific; the RICH
man will save twice his salary.