The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-06
Anderson Sings Praises
of Middle Aged Golfer
he Whose Waist Band Begins to Cause Tailor Worry
Often in Background of Play but Always in Fore
front for Work Is Corner Stone Of Game
ny JOHN @. ANDERSON.

There usually are certain classes OF
people in all branches OF endeavor who
never receive their due need of praise.
Particularly has this been true in the
goinnS world. That which has filled
the columns Of newspapers and maya
slnes has been the achievement OF the
sofnng youth Of the land. Mr.. Ouimet
goes round In 81. Mr.. Travers takes
but - puts on the eighteen hole round,
Mr.. Evans romps over the last nine holes
IN ~, while Bobby Jones, a fifteen year
old prodigy. 10 even tours for thirty-six
holes at a Southern links. All these
ana hundreds OF other instances Of like
nature are commandeered to arouse or
Keep the interest in this royal but thor
oughly democratic sport.
To champions praise is due and also
iavishly bestowed, to prodigies In golf
many headlines are devoted. even to the
duner 10 given space, generally In the
form Of blank verse, while the senior
walks on sedately with the finest of
headlines At certain periods Of the
golfn6 season.
One class 10 omitted, the class which
is the bulwark Of golf all over the world,
but especially in this land-the group
from forty to nfty-hve. These are the
men who In countless thousands per-
form the real duties OF golfdom by their
money, their presence, their spirs.- and
their enthusiasm. 1t is Of this class, the
average golfer 30 far as ability goes,
but the par excellence sportsman when
all other matters dealing with the life
OF Eolf are concerned, that I would
speak.
Previously I have spoken Of the re-
spect which the present day and the
younger generation Of golfers owe. even
II they do not pay, to the average mid
die aged golfer Of yesterday and to-day.
His worth has never yet been properly
catalogued; he belongs without the
shadow Of q doubt at the very Himalaya
Of solfing pinnacle.
Always Has Dominated.
Golf began centuries ago and in the
records we find the names and often the
ages Of the members Of golfing societies
In vain do We look for the youth OF
the young chap of thirty three or thirty
four. 1t Is the middle aged player who
dominates. They It was who nurtured
and caused to prosper our inherited
game. Artists from the seventeenth cen.
fury on have depleted the game and its
followers, and here too tho man OF met
tie IL the man who to-day Is pass
by with too scanty respect. Authdqe
dating back to 1870, and u few before
tell pleasingly Of the jolly golfng gath
erings. where the Provost-there is al
ways q Provost mentioned-told happy
| story OF his game, after which the golf
ing company broke UP to make their
way home as best they could. The
names OF the company present showed
rank and business success, which in
those days was only part or portion
belonging to q man Of middle age.
When that famous procession of the
Silver Club was held IN Edinburgh each
year the followers were not the youth
or the seniors but the good natured
chaps whose waist bands were Just be-
ginning to cause their tailors bit Of
worry.
BY the way. have you heard OF that
ceremony which. beginning In the year
1744. was followed religiously, as only
Scotsmen can follow, for many years ?
II seems that the Town Council of Edin.
burgh had been importuned for some
time to donate prize for a golfing
tournament, and At last a silver club
to the value Of fl5 was presented. In
tho minutes appeared the statements
that the winner OF this trophy on receiv-
ing the trophy must deposit collateral to
the amount OF $50, thirty-flve more than
the cost of the club. and that the town
must never be under any expense ex-
cept for tho Tuck and Drum.
On the day appointed n procession
led by the bearer Of the silver club and
two drummers started from near the
castle, and to the rat-a-tat marched SOL
EMMY to Lelth. where were the links.