The Washington times., 1923-05-22
DADDY FOSTER
'SOUNDSP RAISE
Of GOLF
"Fathef" Of Municipal Links,
Here on Wish. Lauds Ancient
Scottish Game.

Give the boys and girls Of our
cities . chafics to play gOlf and you
win make good citizens out Of 90
per cent Of them.
This 10 the formula of Sidney A.
Foster, Daddy" Of the municipal
golf course idea. a BILLY Sunday"
in his own way, who is visiting in
Washington this week.
with Billy, It's the sawdust trail
to good living. noble manhood and >
clean life.
with me, It's the same ultimate
end. but instead OF the s4wdust trail
It's the golf course says Foster.
"0ive EN- the chance to play by
providing municipal courses where
they can enjoy the same privileges
as those who can afford 70 belong TO
private clubs. DO that. and then
don't worry about their future.
THE exercise, plenty Of fresh
air, close communion with nature
will take care Of the rest, Daddy"
Foster declares.
Father o. City Links.
Mr.. Foster comes by his title Of
Daddy Of the Public Links" by
virtue OF the fact that It was he
who established the Des Moines,
lows, municipal course in 1855
the first IN the coui1try-when he
was president Of the park board Of
that city.
Ths first public tournament waA
held on the Des Moines course In
1868. SincA that date Daddy
Foster has been Instrumental In
having municipal golf courses built
In more than two scores Of cities.
Some idea OF how municipal golf
h96 spread ID gathered from the
fact that nlneo the establishment
OF the first course thirty years
agc, to-day there are more than zoe
pubic cOurneg In the country.
Speaking Of the rapid growth OF
golf, the veteran golfer. declares
that tn growth ana hold on the
American public VIII never interfere
with business a. Il did In Scotland
more than 100 years ago.
Coli Il tAcsntive.
'In 1870 the eolf fever in Scot
land had developed 30 many bugs
that q national law was passed pro-
hfbttine the construction Of courses
in order to curtAil the game" he
AThe wise lawmakers Of that
time foresaw, that eventually the
golf fever would 20 absorb the
country that business would 80 to
the dogs, and the country TO the
bow.wOws. The law was repealed
after three years. however. and to-
day everything In being done TO
encourage Il.
"A man can do more work. with
an Incentive, IN six hours than he
can in ten without an incentive
and golf provides an excellent in-
eentivO. Il makes You set up
early, puts you TO- your task and
over the hurdles Of high and low
finance with vim and vieor.
THE golf cotIrge-in q consider
able measure-hAs taken the place
Of the dinner table and the ancient
bottle Of brew N q medium for big
men to discuss affairs, and many q
big deal nOw-a-day In pulled on the
links that was formerly done ever
the dinner table. without any seri.
GUS effects such as left by ex-
ceasive eating and drinking" Mr..
Foster declares.
With Il all Daddy" Foster, who is
seventy, looks fifty, and has the
pep Of forty, In the prime Of his
youth" and had no Interior
motives in selling golf to the coun.
try.
He's in the insurance business
vice president. secretary and founder
Of the Royal Union Mutual Life
Insurance C0mpany-and IL not, as
the reader might suspect, a clever
press agent for manufacturers Of
golfing equipment.