AMERICAN CITIES SPEND MILLIONS ON GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11692, 29 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

AMERICAN CITIES SPEND MILLIONS ON GOLF.

GROWTH OF THE GAME REGARDED AS PHENOMENAL. . Thkrk is such a demand for golf paraphernalia, such a largo crop of now clubs, and interest in the ancient and honourable Scotch game is so much greater than ever before that many are wondering what is to be the finish of several other sports now competing in the race for popularity. New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and dozens of other American cities are 1 spending hundreds of thousands of dollars laying out and maintaining public links. They throw open the courses-to high, low, rich, and poor, charge no green fees, and afford protection to all players. This has given the game a standing with the masses that it never could have had otherwise, and it would not surprise thousands of sportsmen to see golf eventually become the national pastime. It has advantages over baseball, lawn tennis, football, and other strenuous sports, niasmuch as it can be played by women as easily as by men, and children can become almost as proficient in it as do their elders. Moreover, -the exercise can be made as violent or as gentle as the player desires. Doing eighteen holes is as invigorating as a morning across country with gun and dogs, and very frequently more gratifying. Val Flood, the noted professional of the Van Cortlandt Park public links, declares golf is doing wonders for the health of thousands of men and women and young persons who have heretofore had few opportunities to exercise mind and body so thoroughly and so regularly. He says its hold on the people is permanent because it appeals to the intellect. The eccentricities of the little gutta-percha ball keeps one's brain working apace with his arms and feet.

There is no prettier sight around New York than the long lino of players at the first tee of Van Cortland b Park course on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and on public holidays. Checks are given out, golfers take their places in line, and frequently there are as many as fifty or seventy-five waiting their turn to drive off. All colours of the rainbow are represented in the jackets, caps, and skirts, with red and green predominating Tlio course soon becomes a human beehive, and that more persons are not injured by Hying balls is little short of marvellous.

This official recognition of golf by the great municipalities of the country has caused the smaller cities to include courses in their park systems, and during the prosent season the sum expended on the Scotch game, exclusive of private clubs, will bo well into the millions.— York World.