The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-24
Tourney
Offered To City
Fall Of 1913

It was a swell spring night in l947 when some Nv Guy
and civic leaders in Wilmington gathered at the cape rear
Lib fr o o-to7rnev BANQUET in order to form rules and
regulations for the first annual Star-News golf tournament
which attracted the top amateur dlvot-olggers ol te city,
Out Of that meeting came the rules, the proper
method of qualification rounds, the flight palrlngs, ec.
But. something far more important was born that nlght.
After the diners relaxed from their vigorous attack on
a defenseless bit of roast beef, it was evident that a decision
was being made out of the enthusiasm present, TO eventually
bring a real professional golf tournament to this clty.
Sometime later, several of the men who were
presen{ at that meeting, Joined forces under LOUIS
Orrell and formed a group pledged to drive i3r oe,ue1
u Golf Association tournament was the first issue at nano'
At the request of Orrel, we wrote to the Pa ASKING
for all particulars concerning the staging of a first class
classic similar to the $1,000 Opens held annually IN Green's
boro and Charlotte.
Last week we turned the PEA answer over to the
committee. and with a great deal of pleasure and antlc-
patton. we await the meeting scheduled to be held soon,
which will finally decide whether Wilmington VIII oe-
~ come a member Of the lucky family OF clues WHICH III
listed on the PEA circuits.
-. The letter, which George Schneitner, PEA tournament
manager, took time to write while he was competing in the
Portland tournament, said that the association 1elt sure
it could grant Wilmington's request in the fall OF 1913.
It said that an appropriation of $1,000 plus S., 500
for an official scorer, program manager, and Judge
would be necessary to get the top pros of the nation TO
come here. But, it definitely assured Wilmington that
the best par-crackers in the United States would play
not a few, but practically the whole works.
schneitner is awaiting an answer now. He wants to
know what dates Wilmington is interested IN, and II the
money can be raised.
October or November of 1913 is not as far away
as it seems now. A year passes quickly We need Things
of this sort here, and the chance is now laid squafey
on the table.
We most urgently appeal to those men who will finally
decide the fate of this thing Erred Wi M e F. : L = W paae'
Orrell, and the others on the commlttee) ...NOl III LEI
THIS CHANCE SLIP AWAY.
We write this in advance of their decision in order
to make this appeal, and in order to have these men
realize that the opportunity to get what they admittedly
wanted, and still do, is now knocking on Wilmingtons
door.
The facts are these:
The Cape Fear Country club will be in perhaps it's
NEST condition in 1913. Should it be decided to use the
- unicipal course for one reason or another, there will be
~ nple time to get those links in top shape.
While 1850 sounds like a lot of money, let's
remember a few things. (A) There is probably no city
staging a $4,000 tourney that doesn't make money.
= OBJ At $500 a ticket for four days of play, only 5000
tickets would have to be sold in the four days to make
a $500 profit. CO. Tickets are also sold for one day and
at, for example. SIPS Der customer. even fewer ducats
would have to be sold to make a similar profit.
Let's stop those who would shout, "What if it should
rain? % by remembering that weather insurance can protect
any sponsors. incidentally the prices quoted here are only
used as examples and are not even suggested prices)
Is there any person living in Wilmington, or its
surrounding area, who doesn't believe that at least 5000
persons would trek out to one of the courses over a
period of four days to see Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret,
Cary Middlecoff, Lew Worsham, Sammy Snead and
the rest?
The profit, in fact, will probably be tremendous and if
the match is so scheduled to have the Sc hole finals played
on Sunday, the Sabbath crowd alone will probably meet
expenses for the entire tournament, with the crowds on the
qualification day, and the first and second 18-hole round
days, complete gravy.
But, that is not the important thing. Admittedly
word of mouth advertising is the best in the world.
Is there any reason therefore to feel that the publicity
gained for Wilmington through a major Sic, 1000 tourna-
ment (when Wilmington datelines would be sent all
over the country through the wire services by top
sports writer's who would be here during the classic)
~~ would not be worth even more than an outlay of
~ $40, 900? In other words, we believe the city should
get in on this.
.~ Then look at it this way. Privately, we'll wager there
are at least l00 men who journey to Greensboro or Char
w. lotte in the spring to see the best pros in the country play.
If there is anyone of these men who can spend less
-" than S100 for a four day stay in one of these cities,
~ we'd like to know how he does it. So it stands to reason
that if he were to underwrite a major tourney here
for the same money he would spend in another CITY,
'~ he'll bring the stars to Wilmington, and save himself
a trip.
49, In any case, there can't be any logical reason WHY this
rchance should be passed up, even if it were not practically
assured that money would be made.
~ Let's not muff it, fellas. There's a year and a half
~ to raise the money, and a real chance to do something
that will boost the stock of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Isn't that what we all want?
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