THE LURE OF GOLF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 264, 6 November 1937, Page 4

THE LURE OF GOLF

AFFECTING ALL SPORTS ‘ RUGBY MOST OF ALL Golf is rapidly becoming the national game of the world. Its encroachments on other forms of sport in New Zealand is alarming, particularly so far as Rugby is concerned. But golf does not stop making inroads upon football only. Its influence extends over to summer sport, such as rowing and tennis. There have been instances reported in the Wellington province this year of intending rowers not joining up, of intending tennis players and cricket players not appearing at annual meetings after having got the assistance of some member to get up and say for them—“ He’s playing golf this summer.” It may be that the intention to play summer golf does not hold good long enough to see a whole season through, and that until the advent of the very warm weather the golfers are forced back to their usual games, but there is no doubt about the call of golf at the beginning of a summer season and that much have an adverse effect upon the type of sport which loses patronage, even if that loss is sustained only for a month or so. Rugby, because it directly conflicts with golf in the depth of winter, when the latter game is at full swing, loses more than any other sport. Not only players but spectators as well are lost to the Rugby game. The appeal of golf lies in the fact that it can be played by both sexes, does not entail any great risk of injury, is invigorating and demanus more in the nature of individualism than Rugby. Football requires team work, golf individualism, and the modern day acceptance of sport is in the nature of being free and easy to play just what you want. In fact that has a great bearing on club management generally. In a football team, for instance, if the full-back does not feel like a game on Saturday he really penalises fourteen other players by staying away. If it is merely a game of golf at stake, he hurjs nobody but himself if he stays at home. The average sportsman and sports woman these days looks for an atmosphere when it comes to recreation—freedom to play tennis when a person feels like it, freedom to plunge in the surf and sun bathe to suit personal convenience. Belonging to a club and being committed to club competitions seemingly has its drawbacks these days and largely because golf comes nearest to being a sport of freedom it is becoming increasingly popular.