The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-31
SKDK|E TOURNAMENT WAS GREAT
TASK BUT TURNED OUT A SUCCESS
ny HUGH TUIIIEBroT

Coli. especially IN It's professional
.vhases. haa become n big problem IN
the United States. 3 problem larger
tnat the majority even OF pros CLUB
mem eers and officials realize. The re-
cent open championship at the Stoke
Country Club proved the necessity OF
drastic changes In rules and IN methods
OF handling such tournaments.
Stoke set q new high mark for the
roanaSement OF tournaments. Never
before In any tournament either N the
United States or Great Britain. nave
the ARRANGEMENTS been so nearly per
feet Handling big field OF 329 sllt-
srs. with crowds ranging mp 10 and pc
yond ten thousand. surgtng over the
course. Is not easy. Contrast II Win
the twenty seven who played In the
first open 4 scanc quarter OF a century
aEo and some idea OF the tremendous
Increase IN the popularity OF the sport
may he gained.
TWO Hundred Selected Caddtss
More than four hundred employees.
club members. Boy Scouts and Holun-
teers aided In handling the event ano
making IL a success. An army OF more
,han TWO hundred selected and care
fully examined caddies was enlisted 10
carry the bags for the visiting pros
who did no, bring their caddies with
them. The club had TO make arrange
nents 70 feed between five and six
thousand persons a day. many OF them
twice a day.
The task was trenle ndous one. and
skokie did 4 better than Il ever has
been done before, and perhaps better
than u ever will be done again X the
event continues 70 grow as Il has Grown.
But the Skok!e tournament mercy
showed more plainly than ever that
soms change IS absolutely necessary
to restrict the size OF the fields In the
open championships and to curb certain
practices that have sprung up. espcc'-
ally the tendency toward commercial
izatlon BY the pros and by some OF the
sporting goods manufacturers.
To be frank. not more than 50 PEI
cent OF the starters in tho Skokte tourr-
ament had any business entering the
event They had not more than Wild
chance OF qualifying. Many Of them
came JUST for the trip. and because their
clubs were willing to stand the eN-
pcrses OF sending them. Some Who
really belonged in tho open statd a,
home because the dates were In the
middle OF their busiest season. and soma
cannot AFFORD TO leave their business an
entire week TO play IN the open.
A New idea FOR Golf.
talked the other day 10 T. D. Rose.
the popular Ashkosh. Wis. pro. who
suggested an Idea that ought to be given
a lot OF consideration. His idea Is that
tho United States should be divided into
districts and that district champion
ships be held IN each 70 select the pros
70 represent tina, district in the open.
Tho winners OF the district honors to
represent that district in the open.
The Idea would work out. II would
give perhaps dozen big tournaments
scattered all over tho country during
tho spring and summer. and the cham
pionshIp. he thinks, should come IN Sep
temoer. when all arc near the top OF
their games and the weather IS more
certain. Better than that. * would au-
tomatlcally reduce the size OF fields IN
the national open and prevent the start
ing Of players whose ambition Is greater
than their skill. II would save n lot
cs travelling expenses and make for a
much more closely fought tournament
and less unw!cldy held.
Tho problem OF tn" pro. which - 3
desperate one with many clubs. IS ono
which must he adjusted. The tremcnd
Gus growth OF golf In the United
States and the lavish expenditures oil
money seem 10 have spoiled many OF
tho pros and tho great cost OF mem
bershp Is only small part OF the eH'
pense OF playing the game. Many oI
the pros are guilty cE holding up mem
bers for eyorh!;ant prices for materla
and work. and so busy are they thai
few have time TO teach properly.
know one club where SIS was
charged by pro for rew!ndin= tht
cord on club and 4 Zoe oC $3.50 3
month charged 70. cleaning clubs. Or,
pro who played IN the open Figured
that he los, 5000 besides his expense!
by taking week or To play.
II looks as - the business was pros
rerlnE Bur the expense Of playinE NJ
game IS too high for Il To go nue.
further IN rs strides toward universe
popularity urlOes costs are reduced
wives Take Notice.
Overheard one enthusiastic vouar
who was following walter Hagen :,u'
George Duncan around IN the opcr
making a confession 20 her friend
"rll never again blame my HUSBAND
FOR coming home late from golf artc
seeing this" she exclaimed as Hagsr
noled out four-yardcd. Skokle hus
bands need not heGrudge the!- heav,
expenses II they gain that liberty.