The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-24
washington. D. C., Oct. 24.-How !

Washington. d. c., Oct Z4.-How
public golf courses should Be con-
Quoted Is . question about which
national conventions will be held
within the next year or SO II the
game continues to increase In pop
ulafity at the rate shown during
the present season. 1t may even
become a political issue. for there
is every evidence that the Ameri-
can people are taking their golf
seriously as we'll as enthusiastic
ally.
When a game claims devotees of
both sexes, OF all ages, OF all oc-
equations and professions, and OF
every financial condition from
poverty~to affluence, it is a sport
to be reckoned with. And that is
exactly what golf does. Recently
a Washington veteran celebrated
his eighty-sixth birthday by play
ing 81 holes. At the women's ma
tional amateur tournament at
White Sulphur Springs, West Vir-
ginia, one of the entrants and quail
fiers was . gray-haired matron-a
grandmother-of sixty-three. who
has played in every championship
for her sex that has been held in
this country. From the middle
west there comes the tale of a lad
Of eleven who is playing Is holes
in the low eighties. The national
open championship was won by a
former caddy who has barely at
tanned his majority, while his most
dangerous competitor was grand
father.
Millionaires are constructing pri-
vate courses where, figuratively
speaking, every blade Of grass will
be barbered and manicured daily.
Boys from the tenements are play
ing in vacant lots and in the
streets when they can not find va
cant lots, and Young America in
his hero worship now seeks to EMU
late a Sarazen, an Evans, or "a
Sweetser, as well as a Babe Ruth,
a Ty Cobb, or Sisler.
Given Q sufficient number OF
public courses there is scarcely
anyone who can not play golf, pro-
vided, naturally, the expense is
held down to a minimum, and the
experience in every municipality
during the last season or two indi-
Gates that everyone wants to play,
whatever the number OF available
courses may be. Moreover. the
public is becoming exacting as to
the condition in which the courses
are maintained and the rules or
systems under which they are con-
| Quoted.
Reports from Thirty Cities.
| For the purpose Of compiling
data from which conclusions might
be drawn as to the best method OF
plan of operating public links. the
Washington Newspaper Golf club
through one of it's officials, James
D. Preston, recently sent out ques.
tionnaires to some 80 cities
throughout the country. Informa.
J ton was sought as to the condition
of the courses, fees charged anC
facilities afforded players, and the
replies received to date indicate
that there is little uniformity.
|. Courses are reported to be good
bad and Indifferent, with only one
or two rates as excellent. Fees
range from nothing to one dollar
per round. Facilities vary from
none whatever to commodious ant
we'll equipped club houses. witt
showers. lockers, cafes, suppl!
shops and the service OF profes
I SIGNALS as instructors, club max
ers, ct cetera.
In most cities the idea seems t.
} prevail that the golf courses shoult
pay their own way. That is to say
those who use them should pa.
fees which in the aggregate viii
provide a fund sufficient to NEE
all expenses of maintenance an,
management In a few places ;
disposition is manifested to max
. money out of the courses and tn
receipts go into the general parl
funds, irrespective of expenditure
on the links or the amount of tn
income. From only one city wa
it reported that politics has en-
tered into the management of mu
nicipal golf courses. The frs
guess as to the name of that cit
is correct-New York.
Fees usually are fixed with tn
purpose of placing the maximum
tax upon players who appear for
single or an occasional round, TO
where as much as IS cents or dol
lar is charged for Is holes or TO
a days play, the annual or season
al charge rarely exceeds SO. i