Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-11
By Frederic J. Haskin.

3
cans had to put up with lot Of good
natured joshing because they played
golf These pioneers had their beloved
game labelled Cow pasture poor anu
a host Of other names supposed to DO
clever and funny. 1t was called u.
old mans game, and open amazemeh.
was expressed on every hand about
lust what pleasure was derived from
hitting a little white ball, trudging ar
ter it, hitting 1t again and again, un-
til finally 1t fell into prepared depreS-
sion in the earth.
Today it is estimated that there are
no less than 100000 golfers in the
United States. In Scotland every poy
and girl is a potential golfer. and the
hold OF tho game in England and her
possessions is remarkably strong. the
royal and ancient game" is spreading
thruout the civilized world with truly
amazing strides.
The flood of fun and ridicule poked
at the game and Its devotees . score
of years ago has dwindled away to
trickle-is practically dried up The
trials the game has survived have
proved its worth in a convincing way
that cannot be questioned.
Perhaps the underlying reason for
the hold the game has IL the fact that
no one grows too old to play, and no
boy or girl old enough to take care
of himself or herself is too young to
| learn the fundamentals and start to
| play. There is no other form OF atm
letics in tho world of which this so
truly can be said.
Baseball deservedly enjoys tremen-
dous popularity. Every school. college
and sandlot has its teams, and the
ranks OF professional baseball contain
the cream of the ball playing talent OF
the country. Yet Hans Wagner. the
great Pittsburg shortstop of the past
after n career of professional pase-
ball which caused comment thruout
the length and breadth of the land be-
cause he came back year after year
finally had to quit the game at the
age of 43. The Idea of golfer giving
up his game at this age is ridiculous.
TOO FEW PLAY BASEBALL
The criticism made Of baseball Is that
most OF its followers are simply spec
tators deriving no physical benefit
from their devotion to the game and
the fortunes of this or that team. 1t
can be safely said that the percent
age of followers Of golf who are not
themselves golfers Is about on a par
with the amount of alcohol In soda
fountain drinks.
baseball record the golf record made
by the Englishman. John Ball. Jr. He
won the British Amateur Champion
ship in 1883, when he was rs years old
At the age of A. a span of ~ years,
he again won tho championship. Inc
next championship tournament Will De
held over the course whore Mr.. Ball
plays regularly. Altho he Is nearing the
three score year mark, Mr.. Bail II
bound to be a strong contender for the
championship again. Mr.. Balls cham
pionship at the age of 4i was the
eighth time he had won and worn the
British Arateur crown.
~. - NA
tho American, Walter J. Travis. He did
not begin to play the game until he
was IS years old. by which time the
average professional baseball player
has gone the whole route in his sphere
of sport. and taken to some other
means OF earning . livelihood. Then at
tho age Of so years he turned in
score of 6s. Ask any golfer what a card
like that means.
The growth Of the game in popu-
larity Is not due BY any means solely
TO the fact fha. players do not have
to abandon the game because OF ad-
vancinK age. Boys ana girls took to
tho game with avidity. Bobby Jones or
Atlanta won the Georgia state cham
pionship In his early teens. showing
brand OF golf which amazed everyone
Dave Heron, another topnotcher
among the youngsters. was % years old
and Bobby Jones was ~ when they
were opposing each other IN tho final
match at Oakmont In 1919. The next
year Ted Ray. tho great English golf
er, won the tournament at Toledo
whom he was ~ years old. with Harry
Vardon. another Enslishman. tied for
second place. vardon WAS then 81.
AGE CANNOT CONQUER GOOD
GOLF
II has been clearly established by
the har" test Of experience that
golf player may be at the top OF his
game at the age OF So This axe Il a lit
tie extreme for tho hard work Of tour
namcnt play. perhaps. where Is holes
must be played morning and afternoon
for period OF several days. Aside
from the nervous strain and the mental
concentration necessary to good golf.
the actual distance Travelled up hill and
down. day in and day out Is enough
to wear down an older player after a
couple of days. and then II IS that
, youth takes advantage OF its greater
| endurance and ability 10 conquer fati-
que.
Harry vardon. whose name every
golfer hreathes with a feeling not far
from real awe. succumbcd to age last
summer at Inverness. After travelling
at top speed for a long time. with only
a little way to go to tuck another
championship in his pocket he faitered
and his game deterioratcd into medic
Gritty when thep hysical strain proved
his undoing. Nardon was in n position
where II he could play three OF tho
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