Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-08
GAME Of GOLF HAS s
ATTRACTED MANY
Establishment Of Course at
Porter Reservoir Shows Wis
dom Of Starters of Plan.

The origin OF golf Ii unknown. al
though Scotland is generally conceded
the honor. Certain old Dutch tiles
exist showing figures of golfers. Rec
ord. show the Dutch played game
called "kolf;" the Eclgians and in
hahitants of northern France, game
called "Choic;" long before records OF
Ioif In Scotland begin. IL is purely an
assumption that kolf or chole was the
beginning Of modern golf.
We DO know golf was played In
Scotland as early as ii51. In those
days the bow and arrow was the
means ~ national defense and the
government required male citizens TO
he proficient I'm their use. Citizens
were neglccting their archery practice
ON sunday for golf 10 such an extent
that the scotch Parliament I'm that
year issued n decree forbidding golf
ON the sabbath. IL Is interesting to
note that Sunday golf was a problem
80 some years before Isabella made
possible the discovery of the now
world.
Another interesting record. In 1851
i've men were arrested for playing
golf on sunday. one OF whom was a
deacon. After this the king, James
VI. an enthusiastic golfer of no mean
ability. ISSUED orders allowing golf
on Sundays. provided that church had
been previously attended.
There In remarkable similarity in
tho price OF halls then compared with
to-day. James VI. In granting a manu-
facturins monopoly FOR golf balls.
limited the price to four shillings. the
equivalent at normal exchange Of
about 81. the price OF the best balls
today
The origin OF the expression nine
tccrth holo" is a puzzle To us. IL
Ring I4ardrcr isn't responsible the fol-
lowing may help 20 clear UP matters
Il was the custom OF various clubs 10
wear uniforms on tournament days
"leith. Nov. 10. l776 This day. st
James DalrVmple being convicted Ave
different times. without his uniform
a. fined only six pints. having confess
ed the heinoc sness of his crime Al
HIS own request he is finCd three pints
more our only comment IS that tho
gentlemen instrumental In establish
NIX golf IN this country had fore
sight when they omitted the uniform
custom.
The first golf club IN this country
was established IN 1855 at Nonkers, y
v. the -. Andrews club. Thirty-four
years later few towns OF any size ar,
without a course OF some kind. These
are private clubs for tho most part.
TO establish a golf course Is an ex.
p,nslvc PROPOSITION. Of course II
towns ana cities having no facilities
IL 4. ola a
large initial expense for a priVat,
club They can easily afford 20 pay
large entrance fees and dues.
\ public course Is entirely different
A large expenditure by city goVesn
mcnt might bring the wrath 81 TIT
taxpayers upon 81. The averae'
citizen before the war regarded golf. a
fad Of tho rich, and because il wa
not within the reach Of his pooketbooi
took no interest IN 70 whatever.
The one incident in our opinion
that did crystalline attention on IN
game was the open championship a
Rrooklne, Mass. In September. l9l;
England sent over her best Harr.
Nardon. Ted Ray. Wlfrid Reid. VIII
laid out the Potter Reservoir course
near this city. and several others wer
the choice Of the British 20 defend he
honors and give the 'Nanks" a FEY
pointers.
Al the end OF the match. Franci
Quimet. an ox-caddy. a mere boy, wa
tied with Harry Nardon and Ted Ray
. pair with many championships I
their credit. On the play of Quime
won. Now tell us where the man. we
man or child lives In the Unite
States. who won't let out a shou
when our country IS victorious In IN
tcrnaiional sport?
The idea 81 an ex-caddy winnin