Evening star., 1923-02-11

In addition it is pointed out that IN
some of the tournaments given Al
private clubs the public links PLAYERS
are Disseminated against In tnat they
are not invited to take part In tnese
affairs. Fortunately this accusation
cannot be laid at the door OF the
clubs about Washington. which al,
ways have been uniformly fair ana
have sent invitations to PLAY in thelr
tournaments to the pubic lihhs
players here.
The Potomac Park Golf Club is a
member OF the District of Columpla
Golf Association, and its memoers
play in all Journeys or the assoSia
tion, and they always are invited 10
play in the Journeys OF private ciuns
about this city. That the public
course is developing some good play
ers can be noted by the record OF the
past year, where Charles Agnew' Jr:;
the public links champion, anaa q
themselves.
Dues Here Unusually Low.
In Washington the high cost or
golf is less apparent than it is in ana
unusually low dues. Around New
York and Chicago initiation fees ana
near. other and larger cities. Inc
clubs about Washington charge rea ,
sonably small initiation fees, and
dues twice and often many Tunes
more than the sums charged mere
about are common. while initation
fees as high as $1,000 are not unhearo q
of-these. Of course. being chargeo
at the most exclusive clubs.
But even with the reasonably 10"
expense Of playing golf on private
courses about the capital. the charses
for a wears play at clubs near TINS
city are a good deal higher than theE
are in the British Isles. where ap.
parently the golfiing gentry are oit
~ ,,la he
games sake. and the outlay in elao-
orate clubhouseS fashioned quite as
much for social purposes as Tor golt
club house is below the standard OF
the United States.
The Burning Tree Club OF MONT
somery county. Md, has started
move in the proper direction by con :
structing a golf club house designed
as such. and not built to be used as
q social center While every conven-
ience will be offered the golfer. there
will be comparatively little attempt
made to fill the wants of the nom
golfing membership. The clup. on
these lines. will be patterned after
the best thought in Englano. "heee ere
a golf club house is center lot
golfers alone.
Elaborate Clubs Costly.
piscontinuance Of building expen
siye elaborately constructed CLUB
houses at golf clubs in this country
proba bly, might serve the purpose or
lowering dues and initiation fees ana
bring about q corresponding increase
In the number of men able to belong
to private clubs. Elimination of com
petition among courses when strlVe
10 keep their links up to champion
ship standards, mad in doing so spend
many thousands of dollars yearly,
also might serve TO reduce the cost
of playing the game.
After all. the proportion Of men who
play even 4 reasonably good game OF
eolf-men who hover around the 81
mark and sometimes go below 1t on
standard rourse-is small. while, on
the other hand, the great oulk or tne
membership of all clubs in the United
States, the 90 and 100 men. consti-
tute the supporting membership.
without which there could be no CLUB
nov course These men probably
would get just as much enjoyment
playing over course not strictly up
10 championship standard as over
one that made Il lower score harder
to get.