Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-08-18 | Page 42 | Benefit Games Aid Golf Pros

i AID GOLF PROS. a a! Red Cross Matches Put Players Constantly Before ! Public Sight. n . By CHARLES (CHICK) EVANS. El CHICAGO. Aug. 17. I have played 'JS three times in the national open chain -' plonshipa; I was runner-up on my first J trial and won the title on the third. 1 have played oftener in western open $ championship, and was, T believe, not iij more than 76 when, at Hinsdale Golf club, T competed in the event. On my second essay at Beverly a few years ij later in a medal ajid match play event 'i I won the title. 'j T think the thing that always struck 'i me most forcibly in these events was 1 the lack of interest shown. The poorest i umateur who was able to qualify of A course it took a pretty good player to do Z it could command a good gallery, whflo :S the beat professional players went around n unattended. Open events In which no amateur coxn-d coxn-d peted passed comparatively unnoted ex-, ex-, oept by sport writers and a few golf en- 3 thusiasta. At that time most of our d professionals wore foreign born, axid al-J al-J though we liked them we did not grow J enthusiastic over their playing. J It struck me then that there was not L4 much inducement for fine professional playing just a few tournaments, with fl many professionals unable to pay their !own expenses to take part in them, and many clubs equally unwilling or unable to assume their burden. Under these circumstances cir-cumstances it is not surprising that w did not develop great professional golfers. h Some Exceptions. q There are some exceptions, however. 11 The lack of frequent opportunity to play i before the public and the indifference of 4 that public to professional golf was hav-j hav-j lng its disastrous effect. With the pos- sible exception of McDermott, not a pro- 5 fessional golfer in this country seemed "j to approach in form the great British 1 professionals, and not one of our players -i was conceded to have a ghost of a chance U against them. I Is it surprising, then, that three out J of our last four national open champion-"1 champion-"1 phtps should have been won by amateurs. i and the mistaken belief was getting - abroad that several of our best amateurs "t wero better than our leading profession- ' als It was an unfortunate fallacy. ,1 I believe now that the Red Cross I matches are bringing about a new era in professional golf. In willingly giving 3! their services without pay to the Red - ross games, the professionals have un- fittingly benefited themselves. They are teachinz the public to see II how greatlv professional golf can excel M the amateur kind. Day in and day out, . under all sorts of conditions and circum-stances, circum-stances, they ore demonstrating the average aver-age excellencco f their game. j Flay Infrequently. It was hard for the professional play-' play-' inc but two or three big tournaments a 5 year to get himself in training to play 7 Kis best before a careless .public. Now, however. these frequent Red Cross j matches are educating the general pub- - He to realize the scientific precision with :, which the good professionals play their ' hhote. With the incentive to "oo their best before an appreciative gallery, they i? are dailv increasing in skill. i I have noted with deep interest in my rj -work with them throughout the first half of the season a gradual improvement, and " 7 realize now that one of the by-products " of Red Cross golf will be a great increase it! the golfing skill of our-heading profes- florals." and with a public educated to 7 appreciate It.