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Show IE 'RANK K. BAKE R I TtlEOKAM SPOHTf fDITOP, It was warm by the radiator in our office and Golfi Professionals Harry Borg and Long Tom McHugh found it far more comfortable there than out on the windblown wind-blown courses. It was natural that these two municipal pros should talk about golf, even, in its off season, and they came through with an idea that merits every consideration con-sideration of the state's golfing authorities. Their idea deals with the data of the state open tournament for 1937. This year the event was held in mid-September. Borg and McHugh believe that it ought to be held next year in June, either a week ahead or a week after the national open over the Cherry Hills course in Denver. As Bill McCrea, The Telegram's golf scribe, said, "I believe be-lieve you've got something there, boys." If the Utah meet is slated within a few days of the national -classic, there is e; reason to beliee that, with aleit and amart promotion, the local authorities probably can induce a , large field of links celebrities to play here in Salt Lake City. In all probability, the week following the national would be the better date for the Utah event. At that time there should be a good chance to Induce some of the coast stars to stop over here en route home and to get a group f mldwestern and even some of the eastern players to make the trip here. Especially if an attractive prize list can be arranged again for the tournament, won this year by Al Zimmerman of Portland. The turnout at the Country club late this summer when approximately 4000 people assembled to see the exhibition ex-hibition staged by the touring Spalding quartet composed f Horton Smith, Jimmy Thomson, Lawson Little and Harry Cooper proved conclusively that Utah fans are interested in-terested in seeing the big names in action. Of course, the exhibition was a free attraction, but even so the turnout evidenced a deep-seated interest in .high-calibr golf. Even as it was a show without cost, it also was a show without any particular point. In other words, there was nothing at stake. If a dozen of such highly touted players could be assembled as-sembled here in the same tournament with somewhere between be-tween $1000 and $2J00 at stake, the chances are that a real paying gallery could be drawn. Of course, a tournament tourna-ment of such large proportions would have to be well promoted in advance. That's why It is a good thing to talk about it now, long bWoro the Utah Golf association holds its annual meeting ' ' In February. If it feels justified then in making the schedule change, It could begin immediately to lay the groundwork for such a meet A lot of preparations could perhaps be made, so far as players are concerned, by contacting them . . yet this winter in an attempt to have them arrange their itineraries immediately to include stopovers at Denver and Salt Lake City on successive week-ends. |