Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-22
Plans Made on Pacific Coast
to Inspire Boys to Meet
Under Tournament Con.
ditionS on the Links
BY SPICE HALL

TCSF how deeply rooted into Amer
ican sports golf has become is dem
onstrated by the recent announcement
that the clubs in California are back
or the movement to hold an annual
boys tournament for the championship
OF the Golden State. This idea is by
no means new in the Fast. Here in
Philadelphia there is an annual junior
championship affair. The fact that
these native sons are indorsing the
youth of their state to take IN golf at
an early age means that they have come
to realize the fact that the Scottish
game is here to stay. and that the best
way to make champions is to school
them as soon as they are able to swing
a club.
Although two of the worlds greatest
golfers, Harry Vardon and Jim Braid
are well advanced in age, that is no
reason why the youth should not
aspire to the pinnacle on the links.
Will Replace Other Sports
There is no doubt that the next gen
GRAFTON in this country will see virtu-
ally all the titles held by younger men
than those who hold them now. The
reason is obvious. Thousands of boys.
encouraged by their parents and friends,
will take up golf where they otherwise
would have been playing baseball and
football exclusively. When these boys
have reached the age to play in adult
tournaments champions are certain to
be among them.
The remarkable ability of Bobby
Jones and Perry Adair, the Atlanta
youths, is an example of what the fu-
ture is certain to bring in golf Where
we have two youthful wonders of the
links today. we will have hundreds
tomorrow, and the number is going to
increase just as certain as the game
spreads.
Early Development
Just what is being done on the west
ern coast is shown by the following
from a Del Monte, Calf, publication
Del Monte is laying plans to put on
a title tournament for youngsters under
fifteen years of age over the Thanks
giving Day holidays.
''On the occasion of the July 4 tour
nament. when 107 entries were re-
ceived for the mems events, there were
six or seven boys who got into the com
petition. Two Of these youngsters, L..
L. Harris. of New York, fourteen years
old. and Ashton Stanley. of Del Monte
thirteen years old, got into the finals of
the sixth fight. Some of the men
contestants did not fancy the idea of
playing against mere lads and there
were a couple of defaults. The annual
Independence Day tournament here us
ually finds the older men landing in the
sixth flight and their play is more of the
social nature than serious golf effort.
The objection was based on the fact
that the boys did not make good COM
panions in the rounds of the links. The
lads understand all the rules and the
etiquette of the links. but some of the
men did not fancy the idea.
July 4 Meet
''All agreed. however, that the boys
should be encouraged in taking up golf
at an early age The only means of
developing into good players is through
the medium of serious competition.
The scheduled boys championship is
therefore the outgrowth of the July 4
tournament. Two years ago an event
was staged for boys and girls at Del
Monte. and it proved quite a success.
Several of the players at that time have
since grown into the ranks of men and
are now holding their own.
THE boys championship will be
looked forward to as a developer OF
championship material. 1t will be the