The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-13
PROPOSES GOLF
LEAGUE HAVING
SIXTEEN CLUBS
Pittsburgher's Intercity Plan to
Be Considered at Annual
Meeting Of National Body.

- ~
n GOLF league with all the
"A large city districts Of the
United States included IL
being advocated by James O'Neil,
Of Pittsburgh, who has submitted
the plan, through the Western
pennsylvania Association, to the
National Association. The idea Ia
to increase rivalry and interest
through intercity contests.
II Is not believed to be practicable
At present to attempt including the
Pacific slope, because of the distance,
ST. Louis territory being the western
most section comprised in the origi.
nal plans and New Orleans and At
lanta the farthest south. The other
principal districts are Chicago, De
troit. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Boston.
philadelphia. New York, and Wash
ington.
Intercity Matches Popular.
Intercity matches between the golf.
srs OF municipal links have been In
progress since the war with rea-
sonable measure of success, despite
lack OF close organization. The un.
DERIVING idea is not unlike that of the
ball teams, one being professional
and the other an amateur PROPOSE
ton. The argument is that 1t takes
national championship to fan in
terest In golf into a flame, but many
OF the big cities under existing ar.
rangements would not be awarded
such fixture oftener than in a
decade, which ends the chances of
the rank and file Of players to SEES
the leading stars of distant localities
It is urged that as women are
also included far more people now
play golf than BASEBALL and that
consequently the vast gap In facili-
ties between the two sports should
be narrowed
Tentative plans call for sixteen
men teams, but a reduction to ten
or dozen is favored by Eastern
ers, whose opinion has been asked.
Circuit trips would be made taking
In the more distant territory once a
year. something like that of base
ball players.
OF course, the matter of expenses
constitutes the biggest obstacle. II
is realized the richer amateurs could
pay their own way, but In that ex-
tent cash, rather than class. would
be the determining factor. Amateurs
In other sports are having their ex-
penses paid TO significant competi-
II is thought golf must soon follow
suit and In more than international
tests.
Only Question OF Time.
Eliminating that snag seems to be
only question of time, but another
obstacle appears In insurrnountable
Such trips would call for longer alb
sences than many amateurs could
afford or secure. The span of golf
ing ability Is as long as that Of
baseball efficiency. so there is no
great drawback on that score
The difficulty I'm working out Mr..
0'Neii's plan Is that II would be at
tempting to popularize amateur sport
along professional lines, as metropoli-
tan golfers look at IL, an almost Inn
possible combination to attain.
Since the war brought on so many
exhibition matches for charitable OBJ
jects the objections to paying the gate
money at links are passing and at the
rate notions are undergoing revision
Il may be possible few seasons hence
to charge admission to important con-
tests, but golf is about the last sport
to lend itself to the pay-as-you-enter
plan. There is a vast difference be-
tween the grand stands for tennis,
baseball and racing, with their attend
ant conveniences. and wandering over
q stretch Of two or three miles unpro-
tected from the weather. with several
hundred acres Of land to police.
Action of some sort on the O'Neil
plan is not unlikely at the annual
meeting of the United States Associa-
ton early in January.