Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-29
-Four Now Unstinted,
But All Are Asked
To Join Effort
Courses Mostly Empty
During Weekdays;
Capital Has Is
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

AltIlOuGH Tie C1up members tnem-
selves know little about the setup
some of the country clubs around
Washington have been doing a big
job in making their golf facilities
available to servicemen without
cost to the men in uniform. There
has been little ballyhoo about it,
and the clubs themselves have not
advertised the situation but any
man in uniform under commissioned
rank won't find private club facili-
ties closed to him. And if he doesn't
have set of golf clubs he can find
those too.
Officially the United States Golf
Association heartily endorses the
Idea of aiding golf enthusiasts
within the armed forces by making
private courses available to them
without fees. The USGA suggests
that local golf associations stimu-
late the idea and act as clearing
houses for their member clubs" says
the links parent body. And that
professionals cooperate by having
on hand a few sets of clubs to lend
to men in the services. A great
many public courses now grant men
in the service playing privileges free
or at reduced rates"
Two Issued Invitations Early.
Early in the season Congressional
and Indian Spring announced they
would take care of men in uniform.
First tee records show they have
done just that, with assists from
Witty Cox, Congressional pro, and
Mel Shorey. Indian Spring mentor.
But it isn't generally known that
Woodmont has done its bit in aid
ing servicemen by allowing them to
play golf, or that Columbia also
has gone long way along the road
Of aiding the boys in uniform to ex-
ercise on the courses. I'VE haven't
advertised it, said Gene Larkin,
Woodmont pro. Because we have
only nine holes here at Woodmont,
end we can't take care of any great
number But on week days we have
handled many servicemen."
Unless the course is crowded with
our own members we haven't turned
down men in uniform" said Red
-Banagan at Columbia. I'VE have a
big playing membership here and
obviously we take care of our own
members, but we haven't turned
away serVicemen.'
Some of the other clubs around
town would do we'll to take leaf
from the book of these four clubs.
The Army, Navy and Marine Corps
are crowded with men who played
golf in civilian life. They cannot af-
ford to pay high green fees and
since most clubs require introduction
they'd have trouble in that field. But
at any club around Washington the
uniform should be identification on
other than crowded days.
They're Missing the Ball.
The clubs which haven't opened
their doors to men in uniform with
out green fees are mufhng the ball.
If the situation comes to the point
where the courses are overrun with
servicemen (Which is not likely, a
central assignment unit such as the
United Service Organizations head
quarters could issue tickets to the
clubs which welcome servicemen.
There are about Is private golf
courses around Washington. Day
after day these courses are little
used. They could be and should be
used by men in uniform and every
effort should be made to aid the man
who hasn't the cash to lay out in
green fees or expensive golf equip
ment. The local courses could
handle 300 servicemen day with
out crowding them or stretching
their facilities. It's one of the in
congruous items Of the day to see
courses lying empty in the sun when
uniformed soldiers. sailors and ma
rine6 want to play them and cannot
afford it.
Week lend play is something else
again. Most of the private CLUBS
around town are crowded with menu
bers. Obviously the man who pays
the bills should get first considera-
ton. But it's another story during
the week.