The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-03
HARD JOB TO DEFINE
A JUNIOR GOLFER
Eligibility Rules Of Various
Districts Diffef to Wide
Extent.
ny JOHN G. ANDERSON.

A wise precautioh indeed was that
suggested by f. S. Wheeler, the presl-
dent OF the L. s. @. A., when he urged
that plenty of time be taken for the ar
rangements looking toward the holding
OF a national Junior amateur champion
ship tournament To one who looked
over the situation carefully It would be
apparent that with 90 many different
groups. each with n separate and distinct
set OF rules of eligibility. time at least
would be necessary to weld these bodies
into a compact whole with a national
set of regulations which would be fair
to all concerned.
There are Junior championships held
under the direction OF the golfing bodies
of Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Chicago.
the Metropolitan district, and half
dozen other sections, while interscholas-
tic circles foster n score or more Of SINH
lar Journeys. In no case does there
seem to be the same rule for eligibility.
Some OF these associations permit boys
who are from Is to 10 years OF age
to compete. Others make 81 the limit.
stu others insist that unless the boys
are sons of club members they shall
not be allowed to enter.
1t is taken for granted. Of course. that
no boy who caddies after the age OF
part. In some sections much difficulty
has been experienced In determining tho
exact age of the boys. especially those
who were caddies and near the border
line of l6.
The most important point at issue. II
seems to us. Is the question of ages
There would be no downward limit, pre-
sumably. but what year should be the
limit for admission to junior class
1t strikes us that 81. figure
which prevails at one or two districts.
Is too high. Then we would have the
tourney taking on the aspect OF a collie
giate competition. and since the colleges
have n championship for this very pur-
pose 1t would seem the part of wisdom
TO kindle golfng spirit and favor among
those who were In their teens.
VIII DO Much for sport.
The primary motive in holding such
a tournament OF nationwide proportions
il to enhance the value Of the royal
sport among the youth OF the country
and nowhere will this be more fruitful
than In the high and preparatory
schools OF the land. College stars,
many OF them not 81, are quite
prominent In the real national event,
and that furnishes to them the kind Of
! entering into business strife with the
world most enjoy. / can sec greater
benefits from al9 year limit than
one higher. No college man within
/ the age limits would be excluded.
The suggestion that the champions OF
the various districts meet at some GEN.
trial course was received with favor.
, Personally. we deem 1t expedient for
the inalists Of each district Junior
champion ship to take part in this event,
for there will he many a district hold
ing such title play which will have
champion who Is eminently inferior
In laying skill to the beaten rlnalists
OF a larger sectional district 1t would
be expected that the two golfers left
in the Metropolitan finals OF the junior
championship would far outshne the
champion OF a similar tourney In the
northern part OF the State. Let the
Two qualify and then in an eighteen
hole qualifying round the poorer COM
p"titors III be welded out and the COM
petition viii be keener.
Then there are the questions Of n
young mans residence, He may go TO
school in New York state and live In
Lake Forest. Illinois Naturally he
should he allowed his choice. but this
| should be clearly defined, and no doubt
will be before the championships are
1 held. Clubs which al present do no;
! have playing times for the youth
should see 10 1t that such are ar
ranged ii thew would have their own
club and vicinity well represented, and
for the benefit OF a few bows who do
not belong to clubs special arrange
nents looking toward a slight reduc-
ton in green fees might be made by
| the semi-publiC courses. for IL is I'M
| possible TO get and remain In trim with
! ouce-a-week play.