The New York herald., 1921-04-17
GOLF PURSES ARE
BECOMING LARGER
Time May Not BE Far Distant
When Pros VIII Play
for $4,000.
by JOHN G. ANDERSON.

Are we approaching the day when ten
thousand dollars will be put up as prize
money for either 70 holes medal play
or knockout match play golf? The ques-
tion is pertinent In view of the steady
growth of prize money sums eliminating
this year in the more than five thousand
dollars proffered by the Gleneagles Golf
Course near Edinburgh
The history of prize money and stakes
IS interesting from more than one angle.
beginning in 1S49 when Allan Robertson
and Tom Morris beat the Dunn brothers
at Mueelburgh for stake of two thou
sand dollars, equal to much more than
that in these days and running just into
the beginning of the twentieth century,
the Machrie tournament in 1901 to be
| exact almost all playing receipts were
the result of challenge matches at hole
play In this Machrie tourney a prize
Of hundred pounds was given to the
winner. J. III. Taylor being the successful
golfer after a win over Braid in the
final round.
The Netcs Of the World tourney also
at match play for the professionals of
Great Britain has carried with II for
some years total prize money list of
twenty-five hundred dollars, with first
place securing five hundred dollars. In
| 1909 at North Berwick sixteen hundred
dollars was put up as prize money, with
George Duncan winning the first prize
of six hundred and fifty dollars The
same year Willie Anderson at San Fran
cisco won first money amounting to
seven hundred and fifty dollars and at
the Panama-Pacihc Exposition Walter
Hagen topped all previous first prize
sums by annexing the thousand dollars
given for first place.
Big Prize In Germany.
| In 1912 in Germany over twenty-five
hundred dollars was set aside for the
open championship. while in this country
since 1915 the Rodman Wanamaker
prizes for the Professional Golfers Asso-
citation match play championship have
! totaled yearly over twenty-six hundred
dollars In cash and another thousand
or SO in diamond sold medals.
| In recent years the national associa-
| tion has increased the amount of prize
money, and the number who will share
in the top places. while local and lesser
/ golf organizations have secured the hest
players In the country by grants far
/ in excess of the chief association. Indi-
cations point to further advances, and
4 1t may be well to inquire into the rea-
sons
IL is not to have people see the profes-
sionals play so much as it is for the
people TO see where they play. Few In
deed, are The players who follow goli
at all who have not heard about the
Gleneagles course in Scotland. The fact
that the sponsors put UP almost $4,000
I last year as prizes for four days play
gave undue prominence to the links
Since that time this railroad and hotel
proposition has been kept wonderfully In
| the limelight.
The names of the various holes have
been featured far and wide and pictures
sent all around the globe. You are
asked, Have you played Dun Whinny? p
the nnme of the first hole at Gleneagles
or East Neuk Silver Tassie, Broomy
Law, Het Girdle, Blink Bonnie, Kittle
| Kink, Whaups Nest. Heich o. Fash
Westlin Wyne. Deil's Creel, Tappt Hen
Braid's Brawest (James Braid laid ou
the course). Denty Den. Howe O. Hope
Wee Boyle, Warslin Lee. and King!
Hame? What a Draw list of names 6
credit. indeed. to the sponsor.
But when we examine the distances We
find total OF 6125 yards for the regular
links on the short side, indeed, and ye
aving a bogey of so. Par isn't men
toned at all, probably because it woult
figure, using our yardage, only to 6s
It Is in the magnificent and majesti,
scenery that the golf spirit and environ
ment becomes enhanced. But unless thi
links were not the scene OF the Thou
sand Guinea tourney of the Glasgow
Herald we doubt II It would be so wei
known or advertised A thousan,
guineas for professionals playing fiv
days is a grand bit o. change. and w
hope that some OF our own pros will
get a bonnie slice OF the Bank or Eng
land notes.
There have been many other courses
which have become known almost over
night by the large sums of money whicl
they have donated for play. Dow
South this year there was a general in
crease in the total sums donated, forceC
upon the proprietors or managers o
hotels because of the purses given n
other minor clubs or hotels or by pri
vate subscription. IL began 10 look
couple Of seasons ago that hotel course
would satisfy the desires to see higl
class golf OF their patrons by having re
stricted Journeys or matches betweei
the four best obtainable professionals
Fortunately for the game. this idea di,
not flourish. and the extra sums vote,
have been given az prizes for those WIN
have finished in tenth. eleventh an,
twelfth places.
Naturally this increasing - priz
money places attracts more profession
ais. assuring success through number
alone. We doubt very much that tn
seeming increase in good play has beef
the reason for increasing the purses
At that. selfish reasons may sometime
be OF real benefit
Favors wykagyI Plan.