New-York tribune., 1920-11-21
Size of Tip Caddie
Should Get Becomes
Is ue in England
Satisfied With 5 Cents in
Pre-War Days, Followers
of Ball Strike When
Fee Is Cut to 30 Cents
From q Special Correspondent

LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE subject Of
the proper size of the tip to be given
cadde is receiving considerable atten-
ton in the British press.
In the days before the war Ave cents
was regarded as fair reward In addi-
has risen until IS cents is now about
the minimum, with 25 cents (indicating
the caddies' viewpoint) reasonable gen.
erosity. Even at that rate the royal
and ancient game may be played much
more cheaply in England than In the
United States.
But the new rich Of the war are
making conditions much worse. Mem
bcrs Of golf clubs around London COM
plain that, where tho usual wager on a
match Is 75-cent ball, or perhaps IS
cents a hole, the war millionaires stake
sums ranging into the hundreds of dol
lars upon q single round The winner,
being in jubiiant mood, gives his
cc cddie trihe of S25 or so.
In an attempt to put stop to this
officials Of a golf club near London
recently announced that the caddie fee
per round would be made 80 cents and
that no tips would be permitted. The
caddies promptly went on strike, and
several of the members, including Earl
Haig, decided to carry their clubs
themselves rather than give up their
mornings exercise. The management
Of the club soon gave in, however, and
rcinstated the tipping system. Mean
while, golfers who enjoy the game more
than they do the bets that may be laid
on it are endeavoring to impress upon
the overopulant that, besides being
deucedly bad form, the big tips are ruin
ing the morale Of the caddies.
On this scale Of extravagant tipping
the caddle would seem to fare almost
as we'll as the professional golfer. He
does not, of course, as matter Of fact.
Nevertheless, the average retaining fec
Of a club "pro" Is about $1,000 year
for men Of tho best caliber. About q
year ago Abe Mitchell was appointed
professional to the North Foreland
Club, and It was announced at the time
that he would revelye salary Of $4,000,
with a further guaranty Of $4,000 a
year as profit on the sale and repair
of golf clubs. He also had the right
to play in exhibition matches and tour
naments whenever he wished.
His contract placed him in @ class
by himself, head and shoulders above
the othar British professionals, because
there ~ @ Worldwide demand for clubs
turned ous by the British masters and
the revenue from ehis item he. prob
ably far exceeded the s2.50O he was
guaranteed. 1t was said that before
the war the total earnings of sani e of
the best British "pros" ran as high as
$500.
Touring In the United States Is a
most remunerative source Of income
to professional golfers. Vardon and
Ray are expected, it Is said, to clear
tour, just over. 1t is now said to be
almost certain that George Duncan and
Abe Mitchell will engage in an Ameri-
can trip next year.
A wcu-known British expert has
estimated that 3 professional earns
from $4,000 to $4,000 a yeat in the
United States; SO even $2,50O guaran-
ties, profits from sales Of clubs, from
teaching the game at 80 cents an houn
and from exhibition matches are
scarcely so attractive as prospects of
a career across the water.