The New York herald., 1921-12-25
GOLF CLUBS SHOULD
ENGAGE SECRETARY
Suggestion Men, Would BE
Great Aid to American
Organizations.
By JOHN G. ANDERSON.

There Is one Christmas present which
we would suggest that every club hav-
ing at least a membership Of $50 give
itself as soon as possible. A golf sec
retary, not the kind who takes the
notes at Governors meetings but man
who Will have complete charge Of club
affairs in the same manner as the hon
orable secretaries. as they are called.
Of the British clubs.
There were many golfers in Scotland
and England who could not understand
how clubs in America got along with
out such helpful assistants To gain
better understanding Of their duties We
asked half q dozen to tell us what was
expected of them and In the main the
duties were the same. They could be
termed the suggestion man of clubs
They arrange tentative handicaps for the
players, tentative season schedules and
tentative course rearrangemepts and
even club house rules. These they
give to the chairmen Of the various COM
mittees who can glance over the work
and In few minutes decide on a pro-
gram.
Those who have worked over frst
Journeys and handicap lists know how
long and tedious Is the Job with the
chances that It will be hurried in the
end. Why not have a capable man tof
this and countless other tasks which
seem TO be the duty of no one In partic.
ular except as club duty is impressed
upon one or many?
The man TO be chosen for sucn
position. which ought not to pay less
than $1,000 per year and in some in
stances to exceed that figure because
of the returns which accrue. ought to
ACT oToSnnt
good golfer. He must be accountable
only to himself for the time which he
gives to the clubhouse proper, for he
should be on the course more often
| than not.
A stickler for Rules.
| He should be a stickler for rules.
| should insist upon others playing rules
| and should be able to answer the ques-
! tions which arise when Journeys are
in progress He ought to be interested
in course development. not necessarily
construction, for that Is not his task, but
In the remembering OF the members
criticisms Of upkeep and endowed with
| the power to see to It that all the
little inconvenience of play are abol
ished. He ought never to be regarded
as one who is forever at the beck and
his position should carry with IT q
dignity which a golfer Of wide expert
ence possesses.
| "a real secretary" said several golfers
recently, "can instill more respect OF the
game into the members by his actions
| and department on and Off the links
than any set of rules"
1t was but a few months ago that
| Donald Ross insisted that all gol!
courses as attractions have their goli
managers or course superintendent, OF
call them what you will. and their worth
has been amply demonstrated In such
telling ways that they are now an alb
4 soiute necessity. The general manager
| of a club has duties which are foreign
in every particular to those OF club
secretary OF this sort and there never
could be the slightest chance for fric
tion between the two. And the men
are not extremely hard to find at that.
Professionals Enjoy Round.
The average golfer abroad enjoys the
various professionals far more than they
do in this country. Despite the fact
that the pros are busy from morn till
night giving lessons they are ready and
willing for a friendly round at golf
much more so, we are frank to say
than people imagine In London vicin-
ity this is perhaps truer than anywhere
else where the best of the professionals
are asked often enough to join In some
fourbali match or foursome with part
ners who play more for fun than for
excellence or Improvement.
Last week it was that the newspaper
writer's of London journeyed out to
Beaconsfield, links not far from the
city, and invited as many professionals
as possible to meet them there for a
game In which one writer would be
partnered by professional. There were
as many pros as writer's whom the roll
call came. among the number beins
George Duncan, ]. III. Taylor, James
Braid. Harry Vardon, G. Johns. Rudd
James Ockenden, Bert Seymour ano
others. Fourbali and foursome matches
were played in the morning and after
noon against different partners and
splendid days golfing was enjoyed.
1t seems that we here might profit by
the pleasure obtained by the golfers
abroad and do something Of that sort
After all the pleasure OF the game Is
part of the enjoyment, not merely tho
health giving properties and the chance
| "a