The Washington herald., 1918-07-27
PRO GOLFERS
IN FOR PANNING
Instructors at Clubs Must
Look for Essential Worth
Under Order.

1t would not be at all surprising if
there were no golf open events an
nounced for this year. Last year.
Notwithstanding the war. practically
the usual quota of professional golf
events was held and, as a matter of
fact, all of them were well patronized.
But the war was not being taken as
ssriously last year as it is now and
Il is expected that, following the re-
cent announcement of the Shawnee
Country Club to the effect that it
would not hold its big annual pro"
tourney, other clubs throughout the
country will do likewise.
Although it has not yet been defin-
iteS tecided upon, 1t Is almost Ger
tsInSy that The United States Golf As
sociatton will hold no events for the
paid prayers, so that from a tourna-
rlent viewpoint it looks rs II this year
will be rather poor pickins'' for the
pro"
Not only is ft unlikely that there VIII
be any professional tournaments. but
many of our younger paid players Will
run up against another proposition be-
fore very long when Gen. Crowder
makes a definite decision rs to wheth-
er or not golf Is a useful occupation
under the "work-cr-fight' law. The
chances are that it will be decided that
the golf professional is not aneces-
sity and that he will ehher have to
give up his profession for one relating
to war work or join the ranks of the
lighters.
Many OF the pros" are already do
ing their bit a number having donned
the khaki while still others like James
Barnes, Wilfred Reid. Gilbert
Nichols, Fred Mcleod. etc, have
raised thousands of dollars for relief
work through exhibition matches.
James Barnes, for instance. is devot-
ing all his time and. incidentally, is
paying all OF his own expenses, in
exhibition matches and before the
season ends will probably set a mark
in point of amount raised for the
American Red Cross. Men of this
caliber are no doubt doing more for
the country by sticking to the game
than as a soldier in the ranks. but as
a general proposition the chances are
that when a ruling is made 1t will
be found that the the golf professional
is classed as a non-essential.
Many believe that the pro" Is an
essential. their opinion being based on
the fact that golf draws out most
of the older men of the country.
These men are usually those who
have made their mark in the world
and who represent big business"
Golf is perhaps their only recreation
and the professional Is necessary to
the game. II these men. many of
whom, especially in Washington
where the majority are government
officials. are denied their recreation,
they will be unable to do their best
work. President Wilson, even in these
trying times when the nation is pas
sing through one of its greatest crises.
keeps his mind clear and his physical
condition good by frequent rounds of
golf. and this is pointed out in favor
of the game to which the pro" is
necessary part.
A decision from the War Depart
ment Is expected daily but, as stated
above, in view of the fact that the
policy Is to lean, in case of doub!.
toward the governments side, it is
likely that the pros will soon be
looking around for other berths in the
essential class of occupations.