Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07
New Sport Creates Jobs
BY FREDERIC J. HASKlN.

though up to S50,0 900 II valuable down.
town property be used. In the lace
of the adverse economic circumstances
of the current year, many men Woulo
not have lifted a hand to embark on q
new business venture involving heavy
investment, but they are willing to take
flier with $4,000.
the driest on an average for the entire
country in SIS years. This has meant
trouble for crops and businesses de-
pending on water, but has meant O. phe-
nomenal number of extra clear hours
in which people with little else to DO
and at small expense could play.
So it looks as though miniature golf
was the child OF three parentS-trade
depression, unemployment and the
drought. A child already valued at
$125, 900, 900.
Other Phases Developing.
For a year-old industry 1t is pretty
lusty. Income varies from $1,000 to
$4,000 a month for an average for the
country of seven months in the year,
and there are already $4,000 courses.
Some courses have been reported to the
Government as earning for their own
ers as high as $3.50 day.
Already miniature golf is going into
Abo C~OOA40 R1l05Cs DG1lIl4OG DldIlS &EC
afoot to keaH miniature golf going all
the year round. To some extent, large,
but little used, buildings win be en-
ployed, but to probably a larger extent
the regular Summer courses will 60
under canvas. Golf started in Scotland,
a cold, bleak country and Is played
in the United States all the year round
on large courses. It ranks among the
outdoor Winter sports as well as Sum-
n1nr in tia NnrthArxp CfafAa
| Wind and snow stop golf playing to
far greater extent than low tempera-
lures. Architects, in making plans for
| new miniature courses, already are in
Guiding in their drawings and speci-
flcations concrete standards, into which
Will be put poles for the support of can
vas roofs, with or without side
wall drops. They are designed along
/ the lines Of circus tents-the big tops
save with an eye to greater solidity and
wind resistance. Devices are being
worked out whereby top and sides may
be furled like sails on warm, sunny
days. Such tops also will permit play
in the rain in the Summer. They will
give shade when the Summer tempera-
lures climb too high. It looks as though
miniature golf has come to stay.
Literally thousands have been given
employment in constructing and oper-
ating new courses. The textile industry
is expecting q substantial increase in
demand, for lot of canvas will be
required for $4,000 or $4,000 big tops.
Mill workers who have long been idle
will be called back to work. The golf
club industry. a small one, has been
given big lift. Not many balls are lost
on miniature courses, and the wear is
not great, but the demands of hundreds
OF thousands of new players is making
itself felt in that business. Thousands
Of jobs have been created for carpen-
tiers, cement workers and gardeners in
the construction end and, in the opera
ton, for managers, cashiers and care
takers.
Yet, in spite of the fact that this
new industry has proved such bene-
faction, already the news comes from
various sources of operators and own
ers being arrested and fined or i'm
| prisoned for playing on Sunday in vio-
lation of local blue laws.
| One wonders If the game is going
to develop miniature golf professionals.
Tournaments already have started, and
by next year there doubtless will be O
miniature Bobby Jones. The day OF
| international tournaments cannot be
far OF. The world will yet see Singers
MidgetS pitted against Trader Horns
KonQ0 pigmieS