| Show Thompson Helped Start Golf Interest in Utah L Ancient Scotch Game First Played Over Old Gilmer Course in 1899 Many lUany of Earliest Players Will Perform in Veterans' Veterans Tourney By WENDELL ASHTON When the old timers of Utah's links gather for the annual veterans veterans' tournament tournament ment beginning at the Country club Thursday September 7 undoubtedly tales of th the cradle days of Beehive golf goIt will be related Just as the automobile industry d de developed vel from the room one shop the theold theold theold old Scotch game had a humble b beginning beginning begin begin- gIn ning in Utah back in 1899 when Old Dobbin provided the transportation and hoop skirts were the vogue I J J. J Walcott Thompson and the late R. R B. B Harkness are responsible for far the beginning g of golf in the mountains As pals at Yale university in New NewHaven NewHaven NewHaven Haven Harkness and Thompson le learned the fascinating game and when they returned to Salt SaIt Lake they Immediately staked out a course SAND GREENS GREENSAnd GREENSAnd And nd what a course it was H It was wasa a nine hole affair with eight sand sandI I greens The ninth hole was located on the front lawn of the old home at Ninth South and Thirteenth East streets That also marked the beginning beginning begin begin- ning of the Country club It was on that course when Harkness who died this summer captured the title in Utah's first golf golt meet Harkness and Thompson had prepared d the course and the former won the honors in the tourne tourney in which only a handful of ot enthusiasts competed Thompson who is still a member of the Country club and a regular player at the canyon cour course c despite his 60 years won the state amateur cham cham- the next year and again In 1903 Utah tennis also really found Its beginning beginning beginning be be- ginning at the old Gilmer place Both Harkness and Thompson were fine netters Incidentally Thompson Thomps n shared the cit city tennis doubles title with George Badger In 1917 Courts were erected at the Gilmer place and the racquet and golf club went hand handin handIn in hand BUTTE TEAM TEAl HERE BElIE Interstate competition was intro in 1903 when a Butte team played a three match series with the locals over a period of three years I beginning in 1903 Members of the Salt Lake team were Arthur Copp Frank McGurrin Fred Hale Harkness Harkness Hark Hark- ness Holman and Thompson Competing Com Corn for tor the Leyson trophy the Salt Lakers won in 1903 but Butte captured cap cap- the honors in 1904 Salt Lake won permanent possession of the cup the following year with a well earned victory The Country club was shifted shined to the present Forest Dale club in 1906 It was during that year that the Dale course was laid out as it now stands The state amateur tournament was still sUll the only tournament on the books Then in 1921 the Country club was shifted to its present palatial home in Parleys Parley's canyon It was not until the club had been established in its new location that the state open was was begun The first open was staged over four courses the Country club Ogden Nibley and Forest Dale And so the old Scotch game goes goeson goeson on and on growing with each season |
