The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-06

For a quarter Of q century this custom
prevailed, while for three-duarters the
silver club was the main event In golf
ing annals.
Greatest DEVELOPING Factor.
The winners and those who filled the
lists were men In middle life. They be-
gan the new order Of things, and Il Is
scarcely right to keep them under cover
for 50 long time, for to-day they are
the greatest developing factor In Amer
lean golfins life.
have been taking stock in all tho
Red Cross matches which have been
played this year. and few can deny that
the men round the forty to fifty year
mark have been the ones who have
worked up the interest in tho financial
returns, besides contributing themselves
largely for the great successes Of the
present season. The officers Of most
OF the clubs-st least those who do the
most active work-have been tho men
who come In this class.
There Ia q more or less potent reason
for this too. These men have for the
greater part Of their lives been In
terested in the game. They spread
the gospel OF the royal recreation
throughout the greater length and
breadth Of this land, first by their play
ing and then By their club mana cement.
The mon to-day in this country who
were actively interested in the game
from its inception here are rapidly be-
coming but a memory until there are
not more than threescore or 20 left
whose names are familiar in this re-
spect But there are tens Of thousands
Of tho variety Of whom we speak who
are up and at II on every occasion
where. q chance to foster more or bet
ter golf Is concerned.
When a eolfer, or rather a thinking
golfer, visits q well run club with q
finely kept course, and after the game
is introduced to the president Of the
club. he feels honored. II he 10 intro
duced to the chairman Of lie green's COM
mittee and the chairman Of the house
committee he feels privileged. On the
one hand. 1t Is more than likely the
honor has fallen upon q good old soul
fond Of the game and his cronies, but
not too mindful OF the present necessi-
ties OF gohdom, while on the other there
are presented men usually In middle life
who add 10 their love Of the sport a fond
ness for excellence in management which
precludes any sort Of failure.
Master Links Craftsmen.
Names come to mind of a few OF these
geniuses. When I hear some one speak
Of Charles B. Mcdonald 1 do not have
brought to mind the Tact that he was
once the amateur champion OF tho land.
nor even that he toured Great Britain
seeking the lines Of the great golf holes
Of the world In order that We might
have the best OF the best, but rather
that he can take any piece Of ground
and therein construct q golf course
which will rival many. II not all, of
the best In this and other lands 1t was
perlative achievement.
II one mentions the name Of Harry
Aver OF Brae Burn there comes to mind
the careful attention to detail which
he has given to every tournament held
there and to the clubhouse management.
II masterful efficiency Is the theme the
name OF Charles Thompson. present
president Of the w. G. A. comes to mind,
not because Of what Is done or has been
done, but because something In being
done OF worth all the time In a never
ending display OF hard work and men,
tai labor.
So II goes and I presume will 60 on
for years to come. Since the start of
golf the bottom rock foundation has
been the man In middle life. always
ready to put himself in the background
Of play and in the foreground for work,
at the same time standing as the fnan-
cial angel Of most OF the clubs In ex-
istence. Yet we seldom hear of them as
q class. They deserve enconiums of
praise unstinted.