New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-25
War Serious Bunker
On the English Links

tnere Is practlcally no snow 20 inter-
fere with golf and the greens are as
green in January as June, darkness
comes on early in fall and winter after
Moons.
Clubhouse Deserted.
No longer was there a jolly crowd
around the blazing fire; the clubhouse
was deserted early. With the non
treating law in effect, golf clubs lost
lot Of the atmosphere Of soeiability
always found there after eighteen holes
on a cold. brisk afternoon. There isn't
much pleasure playing for the drinks"
when you have 20 hand your partner
sixpence 20 pay for his before the
waiter arrives.
But with the freshness OF spring
came a new life at the golf club; II was
different life with many of the old
joys gone, but It was brighter and
better than the winter Of despair and
gloom. There were more people az the
club. Some Of those who had gone out
had returned.
The chap who had been a semi
fnalist twice was out on the putting
course, supporting his one leg with
pair Of clutches. and doing 1t well.
His keenness of touch and eye for
distance remained, though a piece OF
German shrapnel had torn away his
foot.
The roll Of Honor" contained
many new names, but 70 take their
places, for the day at least, were Pri-
vate Jones, Of the Australian infantry;
Corporal Smith. of the Canadian ar
tillery: Sergeant Adams, OF the New
Zealand machine gun corps. and
hos- of other men in blue uniform Of
convalescent soldiers, who were the
guests of the women members OF the
club Every week there was party
Of them and the old club seemed 70
have "bucked up
When you go TO ths club now you
see no one under forty, unless ne is
soldier member home on leave and
anxious TO get IN q round or two be-
fore returning 20 the Somme. or .
fellow neutral" Even tbs profess
sionaPs shop is closed and he and mis-
assistants are building bunkers in
France. You hear your faverite caddie
has Just won the D. c. NJ. for carrying
three wounded men out Of No Mans
Land. The red haired chap, who al
but never could find it, stands over by
the pros" shop. his arm in a sling
and a proud smile on his face. Eyes,
sir! I was 1t in Wipers."
Only One Waiter.
Within the clubhouse the steward
tells YOU apologetically he has only one
waiter, but cit won't take a moment,
sir" On the bulletin board are list of
the holes and a request for volunteers
from the members TO give them their
personal care and attention, as the
greens committee is unable 70 obtain
enough lsbOrers."
The greens are as true and wonderful
as ever. but the grass IS rather long IN
the fairwsys; the caddie no longer ad-
vises you what club 70 use; lucky you
are IL ne knows the difference between
4 Tiger and q cleek.
r. YOU are an able bodied neutral and
Ike 10 play golf you had better leave
YOUR sticks at the club, for II takes
brave man 10 ride in bus or tram
with a golf bag by his side these days:
Unless he is scorn-prOof, he VIII be on
his game long before ne reaches the
club.
OF course, there is none here under
FORTY except a handful Of strikers VINO
have not d good reason for still being n
mutt. but YOUR fellow passengers IN
'bus and tram immediately decide you
are a sbirker when they see you with a
golf bag. and you feel as conspicuous
as YOU did at the high school com
mencement when you delivered your
essay on Success IN Life
When the war is over the club may
come into its own again. Il will never
be the same IN this generation; that
"RoU of Honor" contains the best OF
the scratch and low handicap men; too
many whose names do not appear there
have returned, no longer able to keep
their "eve on the ball' or 70 use tne
interlocking grip. There will probably
be tournaments for one-armed players
but golf is not for the sightless. MAUI
-sIiy the best athletes are the first 70
answer the call to the colors. and what
Britain gained golf lost. The recon
struction period in Europe should prov;
as interesting as the war COLI VIII
have 10 be read justed; fortunately II Is
built on a good foundation.