Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06
CADD|ES HIT BY WAR
PLAYERS CARRY OWN CLUBS,
GIVING FEES TO RED CROSS
Sussestions, II Used Throughout Coun-
try, Would Net Relief Fund
Thousands OF Dollars.

Thousands OF DOLLARS.
\ small group OF members of golf
clubs have been turning over In their
minds tho last few days scheme for
war relief contributions Of economy
which may take the form of a suEges
ton to the United States Golf Associa-
ton in case 1t Is felt that tho Eolfing
community should take larger measures
along this line. This scheme looks to
the wartime suspension OF caddy ser
vice.
Shortly after the entrance OF the
United States into tho war last spring.
golf clubs brought forward the plan OF
utilizing part of their acreage for the
raising OF vegetables Following this
came the Red Cross tournaments. such
as the Decoration Day fund of the Met
ropoiitan Golf Association. the National
Patriotic Tournament at Whtcmarsh
Valley. Pa, for pros and amateurs by
the United States Golf Association: tho
Liberty Day tournament on July
throughout the United States, the in
terna,ionai Red Cross week in this dis
trict the last week in July. and tho
various exhibition matches for re-
lief funds b. Champion Chick Evans.
Francis Ouimet. Jerome ID. Travcrs.
Mrs. W. a. Gavin and hundreds of others.
The largest amont raised by any OF
these was the Fourth of July total,
which reached $4,000.
Blu. all these have been on the posi-
tive Side. the idea being the raising Of
money. without any thought OF chang
ing the existing order Of things at the
different golf and country clubs. The
idea which has been discussed by the
aforementioned group OF golfers has
to do with the raising OF war relief
funds through self-denial and the sac
rihce Of a certain pleasure on the part
of golfers.
This pleasure is the use OF caddies.
Some OF the radical retrenchers in the
matter OF expenses maintain that IL
the half million or more golfers who
play every week we're TO carry their
own bags a huge sum would be raised
without putting the financial screws
on" one Of those interested in the |
discussed this method OF raising money |
for war purposes without further as
sessUcnts on players. argue that cad
dies are form OF luxury which might I
we'll be dispensed with under the high I
economic pressure OF war times. AT a
luncheon recently at which this plan
was discussed one member gave his
views. as follows:
ReaAons Back OF Scheme.
ITO those who have never played on
a public course perhaps C ady seems
absolutely essential. but to one. like
nc. who played for some years over
municipal links. where caddies are con
sp!cuous by their absence, bag toter
does not appeal as necessity. AL
though find playing with caddy very
much more pleasant still could get
along very we'll II l carried my own
clubs.
1t might seem great hardship to
certain golfers TO have to carry their
load Of clubs now dragged around by
caddies, bu; IL they had TO carry their
own bags they would very soon find
that they could get along with just
half the number OF clubs they have
now. and pla- as good game. II not
better.
Taking a low rather than high
estimate OF the players OF the country.
let US figure that half million golfers
play a single round on the links each
week. For purposes OF easy mu!,i7li-
cation we will allow the caddy fee for
each 20 be so cents. That would he a
quarter OF a million dollars week.
Not counting winter golf in this esti
mate, for six playing months OF the
year that would amount to $4,000, 600.
The method of collecting this money
would Ice very simple. member could
have what would be his caddy fees
charged 70 his personal account. just
as other expenses arc charged. and the
club could forward the amount month
ly TO whatever war relief fund il might
he destined.
Effect CaddIes.
Naturally the first objection tina.
comes 10 mind is that this self-abncca-
tion would work hardship for the
caddies whose earnings may help oui
the family treasury. Bat perhaps this
oh lection has a larger basis in the sym
pathy for our little comrades OF tn.
links than in hard facts. since | have
found that the amounts earned by cad
dies are essential to family comforts
in only few insta noes.
From the playing side there are
two strong arguments for caddies--one
the trouble OF carrying the clubs. and
the other. Keeping track OF the ball.
The first ] have already answered. and
S To the second II might be said that
il every player had to follow his own
ball there might be an improvement in
straightness OF play.
II got along without losing very
many balls on the public course by
learning to keep track OF the flight OF
the ball. and after a little pracuce
players will develop certa in skill in
locating the ball IL it gets off the fair
way. Besides. war economy means sa.
rifce. and Il few balls lost here and
nv, II seems " mc, 10
vitate fairly feasible plan for rails
ing millions for war relief
say that $4,000 week play on wfn-
ter courses: there would he $4,000 a
week derived from caddie fees. or
100000 month. Counting the five
months. December. January. February.
March and April as the winter season.
mat would give total Of half mil
nm dollars. or seven times the sum
"a ised by the United States Golf As
sociation by its Fourth of July coun-
tfy,"ide turnament receipts.
am speaking of this as something
no' Immediately urgent perhaps, but
as scheme applicable 10 those later
periods of saving which come ;nevi,.
bly, in every long war"
RESIiME HNI Crnupna,arr-