The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-11
(eg. U. s. Pat. of. By JACK CUDDY
United Pr2ss Staff COyrespondent)


 New York, Jan. ll-(UP)-The august and able nloguls of the U. s. Golf association may have post war plans dominating the agsnda of their annual meeting here next Friday, but they probably will have to take time out to settle 8 con- troversy with a faction of members who want something done for the sport right now.
 Using the success of the $l2,500 Los Angeles open aS support for their argument this faction insists that the U. S. G. A. restore a full pro- gram of 1914 championship tourna- ments to keep pace with other sports which have thrived throughout the war, despite manpower shortages.
 Although the executive commit tee reportedly favored abandonment of the national open, the national amateur and the women's cham pionship tournaments until the war is over, several delegates were ready to exert pressure for restoration of a full program of meets.
 The argument that the standard of play would be too poor to repre- sent the high level of the associa- tion was knocked out in the Los Angeles tournament. Harold (Jug) McSp2den, the winner, broke the Wiltshire club course record with a 72 hole total of 27S, and sub-par rounds thror ghout the four-day af- fair were c ]-entiful as in the pre- war days.
 Bob Harlow, professional singer of praises for the Pinehurst, N. C., course ir the Christmas tree setting, and former manager of the P. G. A. tournament bureau, quoted golfers who believe that the sport has lost ground because of the cancellation of its championships for two years while other athletic promotions have been going at full blast.
 Those golfers who favor the re- sumption of the championships feel that If practically all other sports are carrying on with the consent of the government and the support Of the people, there is no reason why golf should hide under a bushel, !" he said.
 Harlow also emphasized the suc- cess of the privately sponsored Tam O'Sharter open meets at Chi cago in le42 and 1e43 as support Tor restoration of the championship tournaments.
 George May has been making 5olfing hay with those meets" Har- low said. He was so encouraged with his Chicago events that he now has challenged the U. S. c. A. and promised to hold a George May national amateur championship af- ter the war, unless the U. s. c. A. permits amateurs to receive more substantial prizes and travelling ex- penseS to tournaments. He has done everything possible to win the loyalty of the top name golfers, counting upon their support after the war"
 The golfing fathers, generally open" minded, have indicated their opposition to restoratoin of tourna- ments because the sport long has been considered one for leisure hours, for afternoons off when three or four fellows at the plant had few hours to kill. It has been hard to disassociate the sport from those pleasant. easy-going peace time days when fans and players alike whiled away the hours after meet, sitting under sun umbrellas or on the clubhouse veranda, sip ping iced drinks and exchanging pleasant chit-chat. Any kind of 6 U. c. c. A. tournament migh' bring that back to a certain degree and that is just what the executives don't want-at least not until Hit Ter and Hirohito have been taker care of for good.