Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-15

TEE TO GREEN
By MERReLL WHlTTLEsEY

ON GOLF PROMOTION--Ray
LaWrenson, conscientious secre-
tary of the District Golf Associa-
ton. was perplexed the other
day because of the lack of re-
spouse from some of the member
clubs of the new tWo-man tour
nament at Argyle.
He was disturbed particularly
when he called the golf chair
man and the pro shops at some
of the clubs and was told that
they hadn't heard of the tourna-
ment.
Last weeks instance is no ex-
ception. There is a definite lack
of promotion on the part of most
of the golf associations in the
Middle Atlantic section. They
send out dull. utterly routine
announcements, including sew
eral hundreds of words instead
of few attractive punch lines.
Sometimes the announce
ments are posted on the bulletin
boards. Sometimes they are not
And frequently the announce
ments. if posted, still will be
there two months after the
tournament is over.
It's the Job of each clubs
golf committee chairman, with
some help from the pro shop,
to promote the tournaments of
all the golf associations. One OF
the standard excuses for an
event that fiops is: Il didn't see
anything in the paper about it. :"
With 80 golf courses in
Metropolitan Washington and
conflicting tournaments from
April through October, the
papers are pressed to report the
results. Long advances stand
little chance. Too many golf
chairmen are more concerned
with their own golf games than
their obligations to their clubs.
ON THOUGHTLESS JUNIORS
One Of the tournaments that
rates high on the unpopularity
list is the Mid Atlantic PGA's
Pro-Junior. The pros were
warned early in year that this
event had many wrinkles, but
1t was run the same way.
But next year you can bet
there will be some changes. One
pro was stuck for about S35 for
the day in entry fees, caddie
fees, lunches. etc, and another
S27 There undoubtedly were
other instances Of pros picking
up the tab for the junior part
ners.
What manner Of Junior golf
parent could send his son or
daughter to a tournament to
compete with pros and not in
quire as TO the entry fee, caddie
fee. lunch money, etc? And this
is not the first year that some
of the pros have been stuck for
the expenses of the entire four
some, when int the average Pro-
Amateur tournament they are
guests of their partners.
We're all for junior golf pro-
motion. It's wonderful, but some
Of the club officials who also are
Junior boosters have been won
dering out loud If a certain type
Junior competition in the Dis
trict isn't being overdone. Last
week. for instance, there were
three tournaments in one day.
two Of them catering to the same
group Of players.
Too few boys get too many
benefits, and for the most part
the same ones get all the trips.
And It's plain truth that with
all the advantages the boys have
had in the past. the junior pro-
gram still hasn't developed a
PLAYER who has beaten mid
3Olsh BOBBY BroWnell and Ralph
Bogart since they graduated from
same.
THE STATE OPEN = The
Maryland State Golf Assocla-
tons executive committee was
highly pleased with its expert
ment last week at Woodmont
IN starting half the field from
the hrst tie and half from the
10th. 1t had only one squawk
and that was from a chronic
complainer.
Nobody had TO start before 8
am and everybody was through
by $50 pm, except those in
volved in the merry-go-round
playoffs.
And concerning the latter,
lesson was learned. Next year
the amateur prizes Will be such
that playoffS will not be neces-
ssry for second. third. fourth.
fifth, sixth. etc, in both the
State Pro-Am championship and
the State Open. Maury Bailey
finally played AZ holes Wednes-
day and never did settle one OF