Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-07
MORE MEMBERS IS
CHEAP GOLF IDEA
State officials Plea That Watt
ing Lists Be Taken In to
Lower Dues Is Discussed
CLUB MeRs. PROPOSED
By SANDY McNIBIlCK

HT EEP the bunkcrs burning Is the
N latest slogan cf club officials in
the New York and MASSACHUSETTS, golf
districts. 1t is the call for cheaper golf.
which is becoming louder and louder
lately. 1t is cchoing around the local
| links loop. too. these days.
The bunker burning idea in n
nutshell l. that most clubs these days
| have a waiting list. High golf oticials
. in Massachusetts, recently came out with
the idea that every man, woman and
child VIII, wants to play the game of
golf should have the opportunity. The
urge was for each club to take in more
members until the general average OF
play per day was believed to be near
| tho top notch possible for comfort.
/ Figures pointed out that very seldom
was a course kept working to its capac-
| ity, and that if n hundred clubs In
| that State addcl fifty members apiece
to the roll the 5000 new members would
not only materially decrease the indi-
vidual sums paid out yearly for dues.
but would also take good care of those
who arc on waiting lists and are now
dependent on friends for weekly visits
to good links.
Cuts Down Dues
John G. Anderson. in the New York
Herald. writes that this is similar to
the country club membership idea Of
some standing. where the newcomers
have access to the course from Monday
70 Friday for less dues. The scheme
would cut about $40 at least Of indi.
vidual dues.
There is nothing more dcsolatc look
ing than deserted golf course In the
middle Of the day. writes Anderson
"Whv not let the walters into the
fold on the lax days. get the good ont
of the course and reduce the cost for
all?
'Thc reason advanced at several cAn-
mittcc and governors meetings which
we have attended was that SO or 500
did not matter. But seemingly n change
of heart has taken place and lower
priced golf has been slogan for the
last two or three months. The test will
come some time between golfers self
ishness and his desire to secure year S
recreation at a more reasonable price.
Many Schemes
There have been many schemes ad-
vanced lately by those contemplating
the building Of new courses which have
much 20 recommend them. Club houses
are to be made much simpler. with golf
instead Of country club features as out :
standing sureties: the dues are in all
cases lower than is the general average
of links today. which means that the
country club expense, as apart from the
golf play. is considerable OF burden to
the golf player. But the one feature
which has appealed to many Wouiu. o.
members Is the small stated sum pei
month they can pay toward securing
permancnt ownership bond in the prop
crty." ,, =,
J Weston Tlibbs. Gulph Mills. at th'
last Philadelphia district meeting can
not bc nut of long in clubs which hav'
not already adopted it.
Mr.. Hibbs said that ii business wer'
RIM like clubs. those pushing the for
mer would soon be bankrupt. which Il
probably true. There is tremendou
amount of waste.
"Au Take"
One local course was built with sucl
lack of method that nobody kept tract
of the laborers. They reported 10
work. and then most Of them couldn'
he found until the whistle blew a
quitting time. ,,-
Iohorers on q nearby road, hearing
of the cinch, used 10 line UP win IN
others for pay, and get it, so the say
Ing goes. H., o,
Anyway. members of the club pal
for nil this. The expense of maintain
ing the course and club is greater, il
most cases, than the cost Of playin
the actual game of golf. Therefore
more than one club is thinking or mr.
ing an expert manager for its club t
actively .'work at" the expenditure an
receiving of club moneys and as an ef
ficiency expert, as it were.
Labor is down 30>per cent. we ar
told. Figures also show that foo
prices are down. but club restauran
prices aren't. These are some OF tn
material things in connection wit
playing the game which should max
more moderate club charges possible
Golfers believe the game is worth a
il costs, but. bending the disbursln
arm. they believe it costs too much