Evening star., 1940-02-19
Failure Of District
To Support Major
Golf Is Scored
Doerer Also Attacks Bon
On Public Linksmen,
Pros Bickerina

A gloomy picture Of golf and golf
promotion in and around Washing
ton is painted by Tommy Doerer,
East Potomac Park golf impresario,
in statement today to The Star.
Reviewing the lack of spectator
interest in major links affairs around
the Capital, Tommy speaks piece
in support of public links golf, takes
the pros to task for petty argu-
ments and Jealousy" and wants to
see 1910 become the biggest golf
year of them all.
"A match that should have drawn
the crowd was the Sam Snead, JIM
my Thomson, Ralph Guldahl, Witty
Cox match at Congressional last
May" says Doerer.
1T was a complete failure, to my
knowledge, as drawing card. If
any match had merit this one did.
In 1888 the local pros held some
Sunday events and let the public in
free. Once again we had the same
answer. Fifteen thousand people
saw them) In 1899 these matches
were dropped.
Meets Here Lack Support.
"In 1899 Columbia Country Club
sponsored the Middle Atlantic open
championship. Here again there
was lack of interest on the part Of
the spectators. There was no excuse
for this as the tournament had
plenty of color with Byron Nelson
and Henry Picard putting on . free
exhibition.
I'm Washington there is no S 900
open or any other big tournament.
But this town has the money to sup
port these affairs, with some 750, 900
rounds of golf having been played
in 1899 over the various golf courses.
II know of some towns with a
population of about 10000, which
hold events that would make Wash
ington hide dts head in shame.
Some one in this town is asleep, in
sofar as the promotion of golf Is
concerned.
Petty arguments, jealousy and
lack of cooperation predominant
here among the local pros. This re-
suits in lack of events that would
be successful if there should be a
little harmony among the pros.
"Are the clubs forgetting that the
backbone of the game is in the pub
lie courses? Why doesn't the wide
awake District Association accept
the players from the pay-as-you-go
courses in their tournaments and
build up interest in the game and
not in q few individuals whom they
wish to promote?
Scores Public Links Ban.
"I attended the affair last year
and as far as entries were concerned
there were just a handful, while at
the public courses there were at
least as many more willing to enter.
Because some one or few were asleep
at the switch the boys were not al
lowed to enter.
This is just one Of the many mis-
takes that are being made here. I
don't mean to imply that all the golf
officials here do not understand the
promotion of the game, but there
are so few that do that the ma
jority rules. Thus we have the con-
dition have outlined.
1--WE have p. G. A. here in Wash
ington to more or less regulate the
pros. But their monthly meetings
don't seem to mean anything, as
there still is that question Of CO.
operation lacking even in these
meetings"
Not a pleasant picture by any
means. But it isn't as bad as Tommy
makes it sound. Even though WASH
ington should have q major golf
tourney there is plenty of golf pro-
motion around the Capital. Tommy
should be a golf reporter during the
season to find out just how much
activity exists.