The Washington times., 1929-07-13

NAASAAy oAPNA AOA w gAAO GfDA0 :
the welkin naturally rings WI
teur as Bobby Jones steps out
plays the very pick Of golf pr
"Profession6lsI Ha:T1a. just look
at what Bobby Jones has been doin'
to 'em again.
That just about expresses the way
in which the press and public han an
apparent or real triumph OF amateur.
ism. over professionalism. Since the
golfing public is made up Of amateur
players, It il quite natural that
Bobby Jones personifies in ideal and
fancy the average golfer. His
victories are the public's along such
psychological lines.
Since nearly every golfer, At
some times or other, has moro
1 Or Iess secretly nursed the anibf-
tion OF defeating his, or her,
club s'Dro.' 1t Is but human that
such ambitious souls should feel
eIated when the greatest amateur
Of them aIl humbles al the PRO"
talent IN the land during y great
national tournament.
I don't blame Mr., Mrs., or Miss
Public for that attitude. Before !
turned PRO" two or three years ago,
confess to having been delighted
when an amateur managed 70 defeat
q R'c Course. / came in contact with
30 many tpros' since boyhood that
/ was never prejudiced against them;
I was q caddy for many years; and
back home in Missouri any such q
thing as snootiness over the social
position OF golf professionals was u1.
known, or at least unnoticeable.
And can add, quite honestly.
that snootiness over professionalism
has seldom confronted, and has
never annoyed me. / became a
'pro" because decided to devote
most Of my time to game that
completely fascinates me, and
could not afford to do, so without
compensation. do not expect to
become wealthy at golf, but do
know that no other pursuit could
be nearly as enjoyable-wir or lose.
I Ike to teach the. game, but, most
of all II like to play 1t and, event.
ually, / nope to master 1t.
What makes many people dis
like professional sport ID its
mOney.grnbb aspect that
often COrrupts and completely
ruins honest sporting spirit.
believe golf has been cOInpara-
lively free Of that evil, so much
SO that it is the one national
sport In which amateurs OF the
highest standing compete in
open championships with the
professionals.
Golf has few, If any, so-called
as other popular sports have; and
/ can state with utter sincerity
that It's many professionals with
whom I have become well &C.
quainted are just as honorable. as
sportsmanly, and as likeable as its
leading amateurs.
Furthermore, am associated with
Walter Hagen. who is reputed to be
''the greatest m0ney.getter in goli
history as a large gallery attraction
wherever he plays. None who really
knows ''The Haig" even suspects
him of "money-grabbing".
There is no avarice in his makeup,
II any fault Ii to be found, Walter
is too generous with his dollars. If
you are one of those who think that
Hagen does not like golf as much Is
Jones or. is less of a sportsman be-
cause Walter is a. ''pro", take it from
one who has lived with him for
months-you are mistaken.
However, the fact that 50 many
Of the public like to see us 'prOs"
beaten by an amateur promotes
interest i'm the game. Whatever
social distinction is involved Is
negligible even II &c Is as fixed
In some quarters as was the
opinion of q titled English lady
who smillngIy remarked to me
after brief introduction at
MO0rtOWn:
"Are you Just Mr.. Smith, or the
Horton Smith," Tn England, anna.
teurs have mfr" before their
names, while 'pros" are listed
WITHOUT CnaL SenCll0 pFeTlXL lou
know, before l met so many per.
sonable members OF your Ryder
cup team, was under the mis-.
taken impression that all profess
sional golfers were just grown-up
caddiesp'
/ assured the lady that she had
not been mistaken altogether. For
I am a grown.up caddy and am
not at all ashamed OF that fact.
Nor am / abashed because !
chose to be a "pro" golfer-one of
those chaps whom Bobby Jones is
wont to spread-eagle or massacre,
every now and then. while millions
of amateur golfers roar quite
righteously with glee!
Copyright. 1929. King Features
Syndicate, Incl
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