Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-24
GROWTH OF GOLF
EMPHASIZES NEED
OF PUBLIC LINKS
Progressive Cities Now Pro.
vide Courses for Men
Of Small Means.
NEED FELT IN RICHMOND
Expensive Plant Not Neces.
sary, and Players Can
Pay for Upkeep.
NEED FELT IN RICHMOND

I1biic golf links for Richmond.
Why not?
Once considered exclusively as n
rich mans game" golf has reached
the stage now where the most pro-
gressive cities are providing the IA
cilitics whereby tho man OF moder-
ate means may enjoy the sport.
Because groups OF well-to-do men
can organize exclusive golf clubs.
with expensive clubhouses and other
loSuries. there Is no reason why
there shouldn't be cheaper golf for
those unable to stand the fancy tax
HIchmond Needs Game.
Here In Richmond there are thous-
ands OF young men and the older men,
whose Incomes cannot stretch over
membership in any of the excellent
clubs that are credit to the city.
In this group are potential cham
pions-men who. with opportunity,
might put the name Of their city on
the map. Only small outlay Is
necessary to provide golfing faciii-
ties for all. with the users more than
paying for the upkeep. as the records
OF score Of cities show.
The popularity OF golf is on the
Increase In all sections OF the coun-
try. and the municipal links idea Is
growing apace. All OF the large
cities now have public courses. and
practically all municipalities in the
class with Richmond have links
available to all who want to take up
the game. The number of public
links have Increased SO enormously
the army of golfers that recently the
public golfers held their first annual
national championship tournament
in Toledo.
Cpkcep Costs Little
To the lay mind the suggestion of
public golf course looks like a
tremendous undertaking. or certainly
an expensive one. But the experience
OF other cities shows that the pro-
ject is not so big after all, while
after the Initial expense, the courses
take care OF themselves through per
NIT fees or locker charges
Many cities have gone 10 their
parks for links. This Is the way At
lanta and Memphis have added to
their recreational facilities. In At
lanta there are four public courses
and there is talk of increasing the
number. the game having developed
so many players. Birmingham, wor
cester. Mass; Toledo, Hartford. Conn. +:
Harrisburg. St. Louis, Baltimore.
Philadelphia. Boston, New York.
Chicago, and many others have pub
lie courses.
Need Nine-Hole Course.
a nine-hole course would be suf-
hcient in Richmond. and there is
plenty of available acreage for the
links. The ground can be leased, N
no public property is available. with
a rolling country. the natural bar
riers would be sufficient to keen
down construction costs. No elabo-
rate greens are necessary at first.
With nine holes. the course should
be laid out SO that there would be
two holes to be played in three
strokes as par. with the distance OF
from 100 to $50 yards and $50 to 900
yards: six holes for four strokes.
with distance of from $50 to 4o0
yards. and one hole for five strokes
with about 500 yards. This would
make a course TO be played in thirty
five strokes as par.
Members of the several clubs
around Richmond are highly in ia
vor of a public course. They take
the view that the number of men
learning the game would be large and
that many of these after gaining pro-
ficiency would find their way to the
private clubs. The competition
woulc be greater among the players,
which would he beneficial to the
sport.
Norfolk wants Conrsc.
Another Virginia city is after the
honor of having the first public links.
1t is Norfolk. where the director Of
public welfare is recommending an
appropriation in the annual budget.
Once the links are In operation,
the cost OF upKeep will be met by
the players. In Worchester. for In
stance. the city took over an old club
and locker facilities were available.
4 locker fee of So more than meets
the cost Of leasing the grounds. In
other cities an annual fee OF n nomi-
ral sum is required as a permit for
playing. This fee pays tho nv. cep.
Suggestions from golfers, or Id
be players will BIO welcomed by The
Times Dispatch. Either write or
call.