The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
Dy JOHN g..

Ihere Is n New Years resolution
which should be made by those members
of golf committees representing country
clubs whose charges have failed in the
year just gone to show aught but losses
In "A financial way. and that is to sec
to 1t that the mistakes of the past are
not repeated. that greater efforts are
made to put the club OF n firm financial
basis.
The financing Of a golf club has be-
come more and more of a serious prob
lem and to-day there are hundreds Of
such Institutions which do not 20 at tho
matter In a thoroughly businesslike
fashion. In fact, the running of most
clubs has been as ~haphazard as the
selection Of green committees, whose in
efficiency has cost hundreds OF thou
sands Of dollars.
This article is intended simply 10 point
out a few of the methods which are In
vogue ut some OF the best clubs. the
ones which show a balance at the end
Of the year. and In setting down a few
facts Of this nature l believe that much
good a be accomplished II the OIL
cials of the smaller clubs particularly
will pay heed 10 and improve perhaps
upon these suggestions.
1t may be n surprising fact to many
golfers. but there are in the country
hundreds of clubs which do not rave a
central agency for all club finance.
These clubs let the players pay the
caddies. with the result hat the ones
who tip the most generously always get
the best service. and the sum which 3
named by the club for each round be-
ZONES after the frst week a dead letter.
What should be lone OF course is to
have a caddymaster-no club is too
small for this position to be left vacant
and to him should be assigned the
task Of paying the caddies. There are
many methods In use.
Clubs which do not feel able TO ad-
vance a months money for this service
could have the player pay the caddy-
master as he obtained the services Of a
caddy, and when the round was finished
the boy could collect what was due
him on the presentation OF the card
given him by the player. who In turn
received 1t from the caddymaster. At
he larger clubs OF course the fashion
is to have the caddymaster punch the
ticket with the time Of departure-if
the pay is by the hour-and on the
caddy's return again to stamp the card
and pay the boy what the ticket calls
for. At the end of the month these
tickets are presented to the player along
with his other house checks. This sys-
tenn. II 1t can be afforded, is by far the
best.
Then there are clubs. the large one.
this time. which lose much money on the
restaurant. which, where there Is a larst
membership. should be a permanent
source OF income. ! have in mind one
club In particular which has a member
ship OF 600. For a number OF years |,
lost money and try as the men on the
house committee could and did a loss
was shown at the end of each calendar
ear. In desperation the men hired a
capable club manager. paying him
IS 900 the first year. A. was natural
there was a loud ouicry by some Of the
members, who thought hat this was an
astounding price to pay for what had
| been done for nothing 10y the members,
but their objections were overruled and
free play was given TO the new manager
He was frank in his statements 10 the
committee and said that they must ex.
pect to lose a considerable amount oi
money the first year. but that II was
his belief after the members had beer
educated to his ways they would re-
spond In a manner which would In q
short time bring n good return. There
upon the manager advertised a family
dinner, stating that the price was to bs
81 for each plate. The dinner was pu
on at the annual meeting OF the clut
and a special effort was mad by al
those who had become interested in thu
scheme TO have as many as possible o
the members present. Each one wa
permitted to bring n guest In addition Il
the members of the family. The mis-
sionary work was we'll done and 80
members and guests sat down to tn
veritable feast which was spread befor'
them. The a told me that II cos
him s1.75 a plate, that everything
moved off like clockwork. NJ Who'll
tone OF the dinner was "IHow can the.
do It for a dollar
Two weeks later another Dime va
announced, n family affair OF some sort
and there was even a larger gathering
than at the first night to see II tn
standar I'd OF the cuisine was as h'gh a
IL had been at the opening. II was. TO
the manager knew his business. bu
because he could make the menu Jus
as attractive with a few dineren
vegetables and dainties which were
bit cheaper the meal cost but $1.bO
head. All this time the members OF tn
house committee were feeling a bit rest
less, not having confidence as TO wher
this would lead them, hut they kept I
their promise and held hands OFF.
Then, the manager having seen tina
there was a demand for the right thing
and tina the ladies were interested
in the club, started a number OF after
noon teas, the frst on Sunday. Thes
were well attended and he made
profit. However, the big idea was 4
draw the members to the ADVERTISED
family dinners held every two weeks an