The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-26
OF COLLUF
Where Was Game First Played
in United StateSg
YOnkers, N. Y, and West Va.
Town Both Claim Cradle.
BY FRANK G. MENKE.

way to settle the question as to who
introduced goiluf in America seems to
be to arm the rival factions with ma
chetes and let it be the survival of the
fittest-
Ever since golf developed into a ma
tional sport in these free and gull
or-ee-yus United States, different
folks have been claiming the credit
for bringing the game from foreign
shores while different municipalities
ing the first part of America in which
sounded the ominous cry of "Fore!"
1t seems, from the information at
hand, that one John Reid, ST., of
Yonkers, n. Y, is credited with being
the official parent of Americ:
But there are many who rise right up
and say that Reid wasn't the first citi-
zen in this fair land to import the for
eign sport. The official birthday of
organized American golf has been
fixed as November IS, 1888, but the
unofficial date is along in 1882.
In West Virginia.
White Sulphur Springs, which is a
town in West Virginia, AYERS that the
goIluf game was played there long be-
fore the YonkerS folks even thought
of swatting the elusive globule. It's
said in White Sulphur Springs that
somewhere along in the latter part OF
the 70s or the early SOS a few British
subjects settled there. They became
that the best cure was golluf. So they
sent back home for a supply of balls
and clubs, laid out a six hole course
and began playing the dear, old game
the West Virginia claim, and credit
the parentage of American golf to
Reid Yet, in so doing, they cite facts
which would indicate that Reid really
did not introduce the game; that If
anyone in Yonkers turned the trick it
was Reds friend, Robert LOckart.
But Reid gets the honor and has been
given the title of Father of Ameri-
cal Golf
The Yonkers Start
Lockart according to our informa-
ton, went to Europe along in 1857,
gazed upon a few golf matches. was
invited to take several swats at
ball and at once became innoculated
with golfitis. When he returned to
these shores. his pockets bulged with
golf balls and his trunk contained a
few clubs. Arriving in Yonkers in the
fall of 1882, Lockart invited Reid into
his back yard and the two began goi-
lufing Very soon they became con-
WINGED that yard was 100 srna!l
place in which to confine ones dr1v-
ing activities. So they secured the
loan of an orchard, belonging to H
O.. Tallmadge, Yonkers neighbor,
and laid out a short six hole course
Il was crude to an extreme.
For a time the two-Lockart and
Reid-golfed alone Then Tallmadge
wandered onto their links one day and
was invited to take swipe He did
and missed. That failure piqued
him. Tallmadge, up to that time
thought the game a silly one. Any
| one could hit that little ball, he fig
i ured When he failed to hit it in his
| first swing, he took another-and
another By the time he actually wal
Ioped it he had contracted golfitis in
| a malignant form.
Made Own Clubs.
| In due course of time one or two
other Yonkerites joined the trio. When
springtime came there were nearly 20
golfers in Yonkers- Lockhart mad
brought over only a few clubs OF
course, they became gang property
but the supply of clubs was too small
So the golfers sent to Europe for 9TH
ers and while waiting, some OF them
| designed clubs of their own
| And what fearful looking objects
they were," exclaims a historian.
In 1888 the first real golf links in
America were laid out. The new
course. a six-holer. was laid in Ycn-
kers. on the banks of the Hudson The
first matches were played over it on
November IS, 1SSs-and the Ameri-
can golf games date officially from
that time. No clubhouse was built at
first An apple tree, with peculiar
and low hanging branches, served for
| lockers
The organization was nicknamed
| Tine Apple Tree Gang" but officially
was called the St Andrews Golf club.
which now is credited with being the
first real golf club in the United
States.
But in the meantime White Sulphur
folks are continuing to insist that the
Yonkers persons stole their stuff
that to White Sulphur not Yonkers,
should go the credit the place where
American golf actually came into
being.
We're neutral
Western Association Results.
Fort Smith. 2; Sherman, 8.
Muskogee, /; Tulsa, o.
Oklahoma City,0; McAlester, 3.
! DeraiSnn- s. Pa ris &