| Show links inks Sport Faces Hard Year in 43 This Tills is the first of a a. series written for the Associated Press I Iby by sports l leaders aders of the country By y GEORGE W. W BLOSSOM JR resident President U U. S. S Golf Association NEW YORK Jan 7 Golf uP m Golf P-Golf in n 1943 appears to face one of ot its most trying periods since it beame became became be- be came ame popular The adverse factors are many many- restrictions on gasoline and transportation transportation trans- trans in general with most golf coures courses located on the rims of f population centers loss of members mem- mem bers ers to the armed services shortage short short- age ge and turnover of labor lack of rubber certain metals and certain materials used in playing equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment and course maintenance Indications that 1943 will be a aime time ime of testing were seen last year when some few courses were forced to o close As one public course operator wrote us in answer to a request to h hold ld a war relief tournament tournament tour- tour ament We are trying hard to tolay stay lay in business Better promote something for the relief of golf gol- courses Further some people question whether golf playing is in keeping with patriotism las Has Place Flace In hi War Var But if a things thing's right to exist today oday is gauged by wh whether ther it is useful to a nation at war then golf deserves to come through suc- suc As I rem remarked ked a year ago go golf gol in wartime has a mission to to help us keep fit and to aid war charities If It it is patriotic to be in shape physically mentally and spiritually spiritually ally any then it is patriotic to play golf Of course we wont won't win the war with a mashie Further we shouldn't use the mashie when that hat would interfere with the war effort But golf goIt can further the well being eing of some Americans just just as it has been doing all aU these hese years years and and that is valuable Golf is e essentially a participant sport E Even en as a spectator sport it t promotes fitness for it keeps its ts followers on the move There is no wartime newness about golf's ben benefits such benefits such fits such things as mans man's most natural exercise walking and four to five miles of oft It fresh it-fresh t fresh air natures air natures nature's restful green views views views-a a test of accuracy accuracy- a tonic for tor or mental poise and balance bal bal- ance ance-an ance an opportunity for courage self-control self and courtesy These are things which war- war geared feared America especially n needs eds There are golf courses in our our land and where they may be found Many golf clubs provide also tennis tennis ten ten- nis swimming winter sports They can be useful all aU year round for clean outdoor exercise and they are important in the national r rec rec- rec c- c picture So we feel golf gol is a real giver In wartime and that it fits naturally naturally naturally ally into our governments government's definite definite definite nite program of encouraging fitness fitness fit fit- ness under the direction of John B. B Kelly We were readily able to o cooperate in this Hale Ameri America Amer Amer- i ica a a. a program last year Paul V. V McNutt as director of the office of defense health and welfare services has said Physical cal fitness in America cannot be assured through any acts or decrees decrees decrees de de- de- de crees from Washington The re responsibility responsibility responsibility re- re for tor initiating programs that will result in strong robust and enduring citizens rests solely with the states communities and the individuals who make up the communities Tl The e importance of physical fitness in this great emergency emergency emergency emer emer- gency cannot be overemphasized but the objective of our program cannot be realized unless every Individual individual individual in in- in each Community is made conscious of the value of physical well being Golf Gol then can be particularly useful in our present situation situation- just by being its own natural self I call upon golfers goIters to reevaluate their game I call caU upon them to realize it is a patriotic duty to keep in shape and that it is therefore therefore therefore there there- fore patriotic to play golf within proper limits Enough Equipment I am ani confident there will be enough playing equipment and i that the transportation situation can be met fairly in most cases Golf's Immediate future depends then on whether golfers realize it is right to golf On that perception perception per per- hangs also part of the larger matter of the national well being |
