BRITISH GOLF SCANDAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 16

BRITISH GOLF SCANDAL

GIFTS TO'AMATETJKS BALLS AND COSTLY KITS PROFESSIONAL AS CRITIC [from a special correspondent] LONDON, Jan. 26 Britain's most famous professional golfer, Henry Cotton, this week denounced a new amateur golf scandal. It is al|eged that Japanese and other foreign manufacturers' are attempting to boost their-sales in Britain by offering free golf equipment to amateurs. Many cases have come to light recently where amateur golfers have been offered extravagant gifts of balls, kits and sporting . clothes. Usually these gifts' have been declined, but in some cases.they have been accepted. Cotton said: "Many professionals depend on sales for the best part of their living, yet hundreds of amateur players receive boxes of balls and kit every month, out of which they mast have a good surplus. It is not the balls, however, which affect professionals most. It is the kit. Many amateur players,' who, to my knowledge, could not possibly afford it, appear on the course in the latest and most costly golf-wear—but it is not bought from the club professionals." It has now bcun decided that any player proved to have accepted an extravagant gift may be debarred from the amateur championship.