Evening journal., 1918-08-12
new DRAFT Plan
SAD BLOW TO GOLF
Thousands Are Affected by
Proposed Raising of
Age Limit
LABOR AND FUEL
WILL BE SHORT

Changes galore In golf Will be th'
outcome Of the eighteen 10 forty-nvt
draft law. While It may be true that
only the unmarried men will be drawn
at first into the active service It fol-
lows that many others VIII have to
enter war work to help feed and clothe
and arm the men sent across. II Is q
corollary Of other sports 10 expect that
among the first 10 be called will be
those engaged In ground keeping, cad
die management and house serving. A
hasty review OF the classes OF men en-
ployed at the various clubs gives add
ed emphasis TO this belief.
There are in operation today, omit
ting the summer and hotel links, about
1850 golf clubs. The number Of men
and women employed at such clubs
who are In the limits prescribed In
the new draft section average about
four to a club, giving an approximate
total Of $500. This number is aug
mented by the walters, which gives an
other 4500, or sJtal OF $4,000. Ever
since the war began there has been a
withdrawal from the links Of all those
In draft age until today there are per-
hsps not a thousand men waiting for
the summons. Their places have been
taken by men thirty-lve TO- forty years
old.
We have no doubt that nearly every
one Of these men and women will seek
new fields OF endesvar. At half OF
the clubs, the csddie master has been
a young chap OF eighteen and now the
10 ora into an
likely, win put this class out OF the
reckoning OF golf employees. The most
serious losses OF course VIII be whera
the greenkeeper Is called to an essen
tial task, for aside from the dlfflculty
Of securing skilful labor in this re-
spect must be met the financial loss
which comes through the inexperience
Of new labor and new ideas.
It behooves the older men Of the club, |
those beyond forty-flve years, who have |
in times past been the backbone OF the /
clubs, 10 look to this situation and |
endeavor TO be OF assistance in a ma
terial way by learning, before it is too
late, what are the greenkeeping neces-
stiles Of their particular links.
There are $50 foreign born golfers
affected by the new law. Having a
family does not interfere with being
drafted so far as Great Britain Is con-
cernod and since the age limit Is set at
over 40 we may expect that half Of the
golfers will be called into the service OF
their nstlve land. The genial smile Of
many Of the chaps who have been |
known to so many hundreds OF golfers |
will be missed but not forgotten. |
There Is little doubt but that most OF |
the clubs viii keep the positions open
TIL the return Of the present occupant.
II is no secret, however. that there are
a few golfers in this class, who have
been held in disfavor because they
we're single within the age limits and
hysically perfect who have refrained |
rom enllsting. Their leaving viii not |
ause regret.
The now taxes VIII undoubtedly
have a twenty instead Of the present
ten per cent government tax. This
addition Will mean the dropping Of sew
eral memberships. where one man be-
longs TO several clubs. This year there
are thousands who have given up one ,
or two Of their clubs and next year {
few will spend the extra money neces- (
sary to keep up a generous club mem
1ership. Naturally the funds at the 7
various clubs Will not permit Of much {
course labor and an unkempt course
viii not attract prospective members.
IN good authority we have heard Il
stated that the fear Of having TO pay {
mother Initiation fee viii not deter 8
-olfers from resigning because there !
yll be so many clubs after the war
which win offer memberships minus :
hat initiation consideration. |.
The golf clubs will not be per-
nitted to use coal this winter and most ..
of them in the north VIII shut down
around the middle OF November. The !
thousands OF employees will fnd work
al wages far greater than any club ,
can afford In the spring and they will .
be losth 10 leave when the new golf
Ing season rolls around.
The departure Of many profession
ais Will hardly tend 70 increase the in
terest In the game for new members.
and devotees are his stock In trade.
The average professional gives about ,
forty lessons q week at the big clubs
and thirty st the smaller, and those
golfers seeking instruction because
they need Il badly will not be content
10 take lessons from those who have (
not served a good apprenticeship.
Despite all reports 10 the contrary, l
golf play has fallen of about ten per
cent. this season over last and the same
ratio VIII hold next year II the war
continues. We hope to present the ma