Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-17
PROS SCORED FOR RETARDING
GOLF BY COMMERCIAL TACTICS
Sporting Goods Dealer Declares Manufacturers Must
Discontinue Permitting Professional Golfers to
Sell Direct to Players to Help Came.

u. Neer In the history OF the sport Of
golf has such demand for supplies
existed. Dealers realize this and they
VIII continue to promote the game as
advancing conditions warrant, says
Sporting Goods Dealer In the Deccm-
Der Issue. There are thousands or
cities where golf IS played. where not
single local dealer carries supplies.
mere are many other dealers who
carry only a moderate stock: and the
reason of all this is the pro and the
part he plays IN tn. present system
Of selling golf goods
The game will become still more
popular any time. The same atten-
ton ts devoted TO It as is conferred In
other sporting goods in selling them.
The pro has 10 DO considcred simply
as professional, and not an esscu-
tai 10 the commercial side OF the golf
game. III "A pro is a demonstrator 70,
y irn. well and good. He Is paid
Tor that purpose by manufacturer
rms brings up subject which Is now
under discussion by sporting goods
dealers who want to handle a big limo
Of golf goods and their refusal TO do
so until the professional golfer is
eliminated as means OF marketing
gof products direct to the consumer
Without any great advance herald
inE. the professional golfer has
inhrred the dealers chances Of cash
ing in big ever sine. the game 20, n
firm footing in the United states. The
way they worked thcmsclcs in the
graces Of the public Is a tale of, told.
nut II is especially pertinent now be-
cause dealers who are going TO mako
golf goods real feature. declars
act
manufacturers continue TO permit
professional golfers TO sell direct to
players
III any other sport was commercial
ized by the pros the way golf Is the
American public would be up on their
toes protesting voc!ferously against IL.
Think what tho followers OF baseball
would do II the muchly adcrttsed
Babe Ruth started selling bats.
gloves and other necessities for play
ing baseball! There are many dem
constructors Of different sports, but
every one is known as a paid reprc
sentative and under no circumstances
attempts merchandising. but acts in
legitimate capacity. Dealers GER
thinly have kick coming on tho way
golf goods nre sold by professionals;
ana right now there Is way for
them To regulate the matter.
rs far as the pro himself is con-
cerned. he believes he is totiny fair
lie is carrying n European custom 10
this country. which is not an Amer
'chh way OF marketing the products
OF manufacturer No other snort
gives the professional such lecway az
soN. Tremendous as its growth has
heen. 1t will be hundred times more
when the trade feels confident that
the publicity they can and will give
the game VIII divert the trad, to
'hein instead of To the pro who is
s"lIinE to the very people he inter-
ests In the sport
Tho professional golfer la hired to
teach golf but his big line is in tho
sale OF golf supplies. lie sells direct
10 the consumer. lie pays no license
ne pays no rent. but he is enjoying
the same discounts as the dealer
whosc trade he is taking away. The
dealer stands for this. but what cuts
deeply Is the Knocking done by so
many pros against the equipment h.
Sells customer when II Is not tho
brand the pro carries. Naturally
the beginner falls In the hands OF tho
pro. and no matter what kind of out
NJ he has. the professional soon criti-
c!zes II and tells him he cannot be-
come expert except by using the ar
rot myth. hut something that is
going on every day, and In the very
places where II Is done the public
that stands for IT would get after
any other person who tried to mcr-
chandiSc In a similar manner TO their
trade. Some of them do not realize
what they are doing against furth-
cring the interests OF their homo
markets.
The professional has the hold on
beginners and ld-timers at the
right momcnt-thc time when they
are intensely Interested in their
sport and will grab at anything to
improve their game. Some pros arc
little more eNacting with patrons
than others; they do not carry their
selling schemes so strong. and work
IN connection with the local dealer
by buying there or having IL begin
n"r go TO his place for supplies, but
then the dealer mus, share his sell.
ing profits. This. while not lceitI-