The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-10
CADDIES ARE NEGLECTED
AT TOO MANY GOLF CLUBS
A Little Attention Paid to the Youngsters Who carry
Clubs Will Be of Great Help to the Members
Later On-A Few Simple Rules.
~ JOHN e.. A. son.

~ JOHN q. Al DEHSON.
What constitutes a good caddy. one
who Is wideawake. thoughtful and will
ing? What are the general golf prob
lens which must be brought TO the
minds Of the golf club members In their
relation to the caddies? To answer these
two questions would require much space.
but In a few paragraphs can be put
down n few words Of advice to the cad
dies themselves. advice which II followed
will mean much TO them and their
future.
We have had rules given as to how
the boys should caddy and these have
been observed at all links where there
has been good management. Before the
national championship at Detroit last
year the committee In charge procured
q lumber Of rules which should govern
good caddying and distributed printed
copies to the boys. The good which was
gained from this thoughtfulness was
quite apparent when the championship
was held there. At other links special
lessons have been given to the boys by
the professional and his helpers and the
caddyjng has gained in excellence. For
the benefit Of those clubs which have
az vet no rules for their caddy boys l
Will give a few which may prove OK
value.
The first item of interest which the
club should have in mind in this conncc-
tion II the naming at the annual cleo
ton or by the president OF Il caddy COM
inittec. II IL strange that We have let
the years slide by and not have had such
a committee which deals not with mani
mate things. but with the hundreds or
living humans who are So essential 20
the welfare Of the club members. Let
this committee he composed OF some OF
the younger members Of the club, FOR
unless the caddies are different now from
past days they do not care especially
for the law as laid dow by elderly
men. There are the notable exceptions
OF cours,. Nike MIR. Lesley and Mr.. War
ner ~ Philadelphia. but for the most
part lei the men In charge NJ regulating
the caddies he from the youthful element.
This will shoW the caddies that those
who are quite likely to think along their
lines will have them in charge and will
not a~ntagonize them at tn. start. ]
know Of several links where strikes have
occurred and much damage done simply
because there was no one who had II IN
mind 10 see that the boys were treated
fairly.
The first duty Of the csddy commit
Tee is to select . caddy master who will
he firm and at the same time consid-
crate Of the caddies intrusted to his
charge. No one who is under eighteen
years Of ag. should he considered for
the job unless ii is a very small club
ana the caddics are young In fact. th'
caddy master should he paid a decent
salary. which will enable him to fee
that he IL a responsible member Of 40
cie,y and a distinct asset to the club
Tn. more honor which can be attached
10 the position the better. and the
more The caddies will respect and honor
the caddy master. The latter should b'
fair and impartial, giving what are con
siderei the best jobs TO the boys IL
their regular turn. except when neces
sity prevents. Nowadays IL IL the cy
/, ception when a player does not go on
with a dozen clubs in his bag and thi'
makes not "A few pounds. which on Z
summers day is too grea: a load 10
! any bu, the strong lad. The caddy mas
ter should be- employed all the year roun'
and part Of his winter work. II there u
/. not much play AZ the club. should be u
1 keen In touch with the boys whom IN
has IN his charge in the golf months.
| on the walls of the ctddy house. on al
|. four walls. would have a list OF IN
caddy rules a. laid down by the club
, These should he signed by the captai'
or some one In authority, % whom tn
caddy master can appeal IL it il brough
4 Ia his attention that the rules are beini
~d,sobeved and he cannot deal success
/, fully with the caddy and yet does no
want 20 lose him. For the first rule
would have this All cadaies must re
p,ac. the "divots. that is the turf whicl
4 is cut from under The ball ny The club
- head. In our clubs We are wont I
u score the mon who do not replace til
turf II Is quite right that We should d
, This. and the penalty is often made se
! we're. In fact. | know of one club whtcI
. is seriously considering the Suspendin
l ~ "A nlay,r who does not replace III
u turf. Now this may seem a drastic hi
= Of legislation. bu II the caddies ar
trained properly then II il their duty I
,el!acc the tue. aud Z n golfer VIII no
So. that his hoy does this simple thin
' then | believe tina, suspension is none TO
y drastic.
II IS not too much 20 ask the caddie
y, TO do this act. At every club wier
" good caddy service abounds. say q
e Apawamis. Detroit, Oakley and man
q other clubs whose names are not mel
- toned, this ~ the one striking feature
q The bo,s do not need To be told to re-
MACE the divots which are taken w b
'e the player. II has become second natur
II 70 them and their interest in the playe
u who comes after soon becomes more tina
mere perfunctory duty. AZ the first rul
u therefore 7 would repeat Hav" IN
n raldy replace All turf which Is dug "
Il and do IL no, IN a slovenly manner bt
~ with due regard 10 the space which ha
o been laid bare, Try and 1T II In III