Evening star., 1939-04-20
Free Golf Traininq
In High Schools
D. T.. Pros Aim
Principals Block Plan
For Teaching Sport,
Diffenboueh Claims
BY WALTER McCALLUM.


"Why don't we golf pros get to-
gether and give to the public high
school boys of this town-and the
others If they want it-some pro-
fessional golf instruction? 1t would
make better golfers OF a lot Of
youngsters and it would help golf.
In helping golf it would help all of
us. Every pro would benefit di-
rectly."
George Dif1enbaugh, Kenwood
pro, was speaking on something dear
to his heart. For years George has
been talking that way. He hasn't
had such a hard time selling" the
idea to his brother pros, but he
hasn't had much response from the
school authorities. Birch E. Bayh.
director OF physical education in
the high schools, long has been a
supporter Of any plan for organized
golf instruction. But George says
the high school principals don't
favor it.
Il don't know why they don't take
to 1t like duck to water" said
Dlnenbaugh. ANY organized in
struction in an intricate sport like
golf-a sport that boys can play
after they leave school-would seem
to me to be good for the school and
good for the boys. But they don't
seem to care for the idea. I don't
know why. All I know is that We
never have been able to get any,
where with 1t.
Proper instruction Needed.
Il haven't any doubt that in our
dull season, during the winter, lots
OF golf pros around town would be
willing to give an hour or two each
week to class instruction in golf in
the gymnasiums Of the high schools.
The boys need 1t. Youngsters are
good imitators. They all have the
rudiments of good golf swing, but
they would do 30 much better II
they could be taught the proper
grip. stance and the swing essen
tials. I should think it would be
good stun for the high schools. It's
done in other cities. Why not here?"
And why not? Certainly it is an
unselfish offer for the pros to give
their services without charge to high
school students. Most of the pros
around town nowadays give group
lessons to women and boys and
teaching in high school gym
wouldn't be different from teaching
in the open air. The classes would
be bigger, but it wouldn't mean any
sacrifice on the part of the schools
or the students. George has some
thing there. Maybe the high school
council might do well to look into it.
And maybe out of 1t would come
some pretty good golf players.
Skaggs Tops Treasury Group.
K. M. Skaggs, the gent who leads
the field in the East Potomac Park
tourney, added another trophy to his
collection today, won in the initial
tourney of the year for golfers of the
Procurement Division of the Treas
ury. More than 100 played in the
Procurement Division tourney at
Kenwood yesterday, facing a biting,
raw wind, and Skaggs turned up as
the winner of low gross in Glass A
with II. H. j. Westenhaven won
the net award with 85-15-70
Other winners: Glass B, gross, AL
Hart, 86; net, w. L. Woodward, OIL
20-71; Glass c, gross, J. F. Pur-
dunn, 80; net. w. L. Bach, $50
63. Guests, John Agur, 85-14-71.
BOBBY prize, William Y. Loux, 164.
Woman Golfers Contesting.
More than 100 feminine golfers
were playing today at the Washing
ton Golf and Country Club in the
initial big tourney of the year-the
affair for the Miller Memorial trophy
which annually starts of the
women's season. Many of the top
notchers among the women golfers
were in the field, including Marion
Brown, holder of the District and
mid-Atlantic championships.