The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-09


twenty-five years ago 10000 Amer
leans had to put up with lot of
good natured joshing because they
played golf. These pioneers had
their beloved game labelled Cow
pasture pool" and a host of other
names supposed to be clever and
funny. 1t was called an old man S
game. and open amazement was
expressed on every hand about just
what pleasure was derived from
hitting a little white ball, trudging
after it, hitting it again and again,
until finally it fell into a prepared
depression in the earth.
Today it is estimated that there
are no less than 1900, 900 golfers
in the United States. In Scotland
golfer, and the hold of the game IN
England and her possessions is re-
markedly strong. The royal and
ancient game" is spreading
throughout the civilized world with
truly amazing strides,
The flood of fun and ridicule
pOked at the game and it's devotees
a score of years ago has dw1ndled
away to a trickle-is practically
dried up. The trials the game has
survived have proved it's worth in
a convincing way that cannot be
questioned.
Perhaps the underlying reason
for the hold the game has is the
fact that no one grows too old 10
play, and no boy or girl old enough
to take care of himself or herself
is too young to learn the funda-
mentais and start to play. There
is no other form Of athletics in the
world of which this SO truly can he
said
Baseball deservedly enjoys ire
mendous popularity. Every school,
college and sandlot has its teams,
and the ranks of professional base
ball contain the cream of the ball
playing talent of the country. Yet
Hans Wagner, the great Pitts
burgh shortstop of the past, after
a career of professional baseball
which caused comment throughout
the length and breadth of the land
because he came back" year after
year, finally had to quit the game
at the age of 43 The idea of a
golfer giving up his game at this
age is ridiculous.
Too Few Play Baseball.
The criticism made of baseball
is that most Of it's followers are
simply spectators, deriving no
physical benefit from their devc@
ton to the game and the fortunes
Of this or that team. 1t can be
safely said that the percentage CT
followers of golf who are not them
selves golfers is about on a par
with the amount of alcohol in soda
fountain drinks.
Contrast with Wagner's profess
sional baseball record the golf rec
ord made by the Englishman, John
Ball, Jr. He won the British Ami
teur Championship in 1888, when
he was % years old. At the age Of
At, a span of "A years, he again
won the championship. The next
tournament will be
held over the course where Mr..
Ball plays regularly. Although he
is nearing the three score year
Mr.. Ball is bound to be a
contender for the champion
ship again. Mr.. Balls champion
ship at the age of At was the
eighth time he had won and worn
the British amateur crown.
Another Of the marVels of golf
is the American, Walter J. Travis.
He did not begin to play the game
until he was 35 years old, by which
time the average professional base
ball player has gone the whole
route in his sphere of sport, and
taken to some other means Of
earning a livelihood Then at the
age Of 60 years he turned in a
score of IS. Ask any golfer what
/ card like that means~
The growth of the game in pOpu-
arity is not due by any means
solely to the fact that players do
not have to abandon the game be- |
cahse of advancing age. Boys and |
girls took to the game with avid |
ty. Bobby Jones of Atlanta won |
he Georgia state championship in !