The evening world. Newspaper, September 26, 1922, Page 22

GOLFA New Profession for Young America! AND IT KNOWS NO AGE LIMIT Boys All Over America, Inspired by Gene Sarazen’s Example, Now Hoping to Be ‘‘Golf Professionals’’ When They Grow Up—200,000 Caddies Include Many Potential “Champions’ ’—_What the Big Professionals Earn. By J. P. Glass Dopyright (New York Evening World) by Press Publishing Company. HE athletically inclined young American has found a new profes- sion. No longer are aturdy youths with keen eyes and smoothly working ,Muscies limited to visions of glory and the money earned at baseball, boxing. Dookey or football. An avenue for rich, financial re- ‘werd which, viewed from all anglos, fs vastly superior to that offered by any of these sports now opens ollur- ingly to the view of the ambitious youths. Boys all over the land are hoping to become golf professionals. The victory of twenty-one-year-old Gene Sarazen in the open champion- ship.at Skokie a few weeks ago has given an impetus to a trend that has gone steadily with the spread of the golfing craze. Five summers ago Garazen was a caddie. Now he ts the Professional golfing king. In the com- ing year those acquainted with the facts say he will profit to the extent of $30,000, possibly more. All his life he ts assured of a lucrative income ‘Anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 eaddies are employed by the more than 2,000 golf clubs in the United States and Canada. Each of theso boys ts a potential professional. Many already are dreaming of the day when they will occupy the pinnacle now ‘beld by Sarazen. A Long Island golfer went out the Other day to get some practice in Preparation for his club's handicap ftcurnament. It was a Tuesday, on which day this club permits its cad- dies to use the citrrse. At the sixth tea he overhauled two of the young- stevs, who were preparing to dri off: The caddies paused when they saw the member and offered to let him go through. However, interested in see- ing what the lads could do toward making the other side of a gully which demanded a carry of 160 yards from the tee, he requested them to go ahead. Both boys not only crossed the gully, but did it with ease. Their balls flew straight down the falrway— Deautiful drives that netted one a neat 175 yards and the other 186 yards, The member felt he wanted to seo more of this. Drives of 175 and 185 yards are not remarkable, ulthough the average amateur {s mightily Pleased !f he can get them regularly, But when they are made by lads confessing only fourteen years of age and’ still speaking voices they deserve to be called excellent So he suggested that they play along with him for a few holes, On the next hole the smaller of the boys, who stood not more than 4 fect 10 inches in height, made a birdie three, while his comrade took a par four. With occasional lapses, they Gontinued to play in this fashion. The member, compelled to extend himseft flo keep in the running, found himself more and more intlerested. He stuck along until the eighteenth hole was completed. As they sank thetr balls on the final Breen, both caddies taking an 81 for @he round, he felt it incumbent upon him so say something complimentary, “Well, boy he remarked, ‘keep Wiis up and some day you'll be Dattling Guilford, Eyans, Jonen and =. in tenor those other cracks for the amateur title."* They thanked him embarrassedly, Then the smaller of the two added: But we don’t want to be amateurs, ‘We want to be professionals." “Yes,” the other agreed, “there's more money in that and more glory, too." The member Then— “I think you're right,"’ thought @ minute. he sald, Jim Barnes, whose ex- tra income is as large as his salary of $20,000 @ year as a club pro- fessional. THE EVENING WORLD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1922 John Black—the forty- four-year-old Califor- nian who came within a stroke of Sarazen at Skokie. (in Circle) John H. Taylor and ID you know that— Nearly a million people now play golf in the United States and Canada? 1 Six thousand men are employed as profes. Alex Hurd, sionals and assistant professionale by the 2,000 British golf clubs of these two countries? E Golf clube, according to their size and mem- xperts bership, employ from 50 to 250 boys as caddies who are during the summer months? Anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 boys make good wages as caddies? A minimum average of ten men are employed on each golf course to keep it in cond: meaning that more than 20,000 thus earn a living? . Golf professionals make as high as $20,000 a year In salary and profit, too, from lessons taught at a cost of $2 to $3 an hour—said sons often being given by thelr assistants. Als they have the privilege of selling clubs, balls and bags at @ profit? Professionals who win champlonships earn from $250 to $500 in each exhibition match they play? both in their fiftics, ion, paved the way for small cities and towns to take up the country club idea, If there are 2,000 clubs now, there © very likely to be 4,000, possibly more, in another twenty years. Golf will offer more and more opportuni- ties as the ycars go by. organized club ts always in Pickings, Such a club ts have a large proportion of absolutely tgnorant of the game. They want teaching, and the ‘pro’ ts the man who gives it to them A Middle West club organized last year hired as profe: had for soft bound to members mal a man who Salaries paid golf professionals been a crackerjack amateur compare favorably with those earned Player while working as a piano sales- It has ™an. In the latter capacity he earned by experts in any other sport. to be a mighty weak club that can’t $3,000 a year, His income as a p: pay its “pro” $2,600 a year. From fessional, joined with his fees from that point salaries range all the way teactring and his profits from the sale Of clubs, bails, &c., amounted to $12,- 000 per year. to $20,000. But the “pro's salary is not his only source of income. He earns from Unfortunately for this fellow, his $2 to $3 an hour teaching the rudi- success went to his head. He became ments of the game to club members more interested tn high powered who wish to quit the tyro class. Very car which he was able to buy than often he has the privilege of selling he was in keeping the course in good clubs, ‘bags and balls to members. condition, One day the Board of ‘This 1s a valuable concession. Directors wearied of him and he Gene Sarazen, who, having won the open championship, will earn at least $30,00 during the next twelve months. Five years ago he was a caddy earning not more than 50 cents an hour, The professional who can make a ood showing in a national open tour- nament, either here or in Great Brit- ain, {mmediately boosts his money- making capacity, He needs only to win the title a single tine to estab- lish himself as a big money maker. Little Gene Sarazen probably made not more than 60 cents an hour as a caddy five years ago. Since he won the title at Skokie he has been play- ing exhibition matches for which ho found it ni selling. ssary to go back to plano But the consideration which makes golf more attractive as a vocation than baseball, boxing,’ &o., is that there is no limit to the player's tenure of activity In ull other sports a man’s career is generally finished by the time he own way in the world, he envisions victory in the national professional tournament eight clubs to the league or of 208 clubs. Figuring sixte ers to the club, a total n play- which ts an approxi- open or the mate estimate, when an average is is thirty-five There are a few ex- sed struck between the bic pieing and £ets from $250 to $500. He ts Hiking ceptions, but only a few. There was a time when opportuni- the minor league rosters, 3,828 men $1,000 @ week in addition to Mis Bale 1 cole tere is no reason why a ties for golf professionals were few, Made thelr living playing baseball as Fre Se Highland Parks man cannot be almost as good as sixty ¢ i $ * “It will be seen that already golf Pittsburgh i: asat twenty. The British experts, It {9 less than thirty years since the crers more opportunities for cers Jim Barnes of the Pelham Clune yor ty raylor and Alex "Sandy"? game was introduced into this country. ment than the game which always this city, ts said to be the beat pes Herdl who have (heen) tours thi For a long time it had no apprect- has been regarded as the national Professional in America, ‘i Sle au. country In exhibition matches, proved able growt! sport Ported, on presumably relial themselves on a par with the best we able gr th Pp thority, to draw $20,000 per annua. There are no figures to show how “You boys have to make a living for yourselves, 1 don't know a cleaner, Pleasanter way to do it than as a golf Professional. Good luck to hope some day you lick the life out of Gene Sarazen, or Waiter Jim Barnes, or whoever be champion when you grow up. to it, boys. Make good!'* No doubt about it, the American could offe although both are in One day American business men many men earn their living in the Add to this the money he earns in aot een tar enon eat awakened to the fact that here was @ prize ring. But it 1s probable that bition matches and the money, “Grandfather” John Black, the forty Sport exactly sulted to their physical there are not as many boxers as comes to him from lessons ” four-year-old Californian who eam: i nie istants give (except In rare IM- \itnin a stroke of tying Saravan at and recreational needs. Golf courses there are baseball players. es no professional of the stand- @, : began to multiply with rapidity, In Professional football has gained a jo oe Hutchison, Hagan, kok le. the last few years new ones have certain foothold in the Middio Weat, (OE Ote personally), and it is probable | Further than this, the “pro” earns been opened at the rate of 200 to 250 but as yet the number of players (pAt8 vilken from $30,000 to $40,000 his living in {deal surroundir ind annually, thus engaged is small ae ne me tven Babe Ruth can't give hedged about by conditions unknown More than 2,000 clubs in the United Hockey, the one other professional Heed oe seieliisun #ards to the baseball star or the champion States and Canada now employ pro- sport, gives employment to only a Walter Hagen no longer acts as boxer, fessionals, A great majority of these Hmited number of young men professional for @ club, Most weeks He doesn't know what it means to also use assistants. In fact, com- ” he picka up $1,000 in exhibition feel the piercing shafts of criticism paratively few prof Us are with- Baseball has territorial restrictions :aatches. Also he drags down some and satire as hurled from the grand- out assistants. On eighteen-hole which limit the starting of new neat purses in tournaments. Life fur stand crowd or the rings courses they use all the way from leagues. Prize fighting is not permit- him has become roseate, indeed. Let Babe Ruth strike out 4 pinch boy who used to want to be 4 Christy two to six ted in a great many States and the sarazen, of course, is merely at and loud jeering or perhaps raucow Mathewson, a Babe Ruth, a Frank | Probably tho average of profes- number of men pursuing It 4s a the threshold of his big opportunity. eritictsm will erash from the fan 1 Gotch, a Jim Jeffries, or a Benny *onala employed at each club 1s means of earning a living necessarily Having won national open and titude . ey red pearere ie He me you. I Leonard, ts quite likely now to want Hise th s means that some 6,000 cannot grow. Professional football the professional tournaments ip a Lory Bel testi Pa are ea ope ; s nal Nee hare getting thelr living through and hockey can never have any but a single summer, and standing a 8 Rattern iii’ genial the caunned to be a Sarazen, a Hagen, a t leverness at wielding the varied Jimited sco! ow to win other laurels in the fu But Sarazen or nes Hagen, or son, an Evans or a Guilford assortment of clubs that make up the Meantime go! ows } l ture, he is hound to cash in heavily SEUE BBIMAAD “Ot AAA: happens to If his daddy ts rich dreams of Bolfer's bag minds, New clubs spring up in ome time to come, Experts be- el al ; man hasn't much money, and 1 professional haselall Praia rel cca eter : 5 sand trap, - knows he's going to baye to make la gountry and Canada, These averaged opened ad cous af about $14,000 The professional hued by « newly There are uo discordant vulgartama, Walter Hagen, who earns $1,000 a week in exhibition matches, to say nothing of fat tournament purses. no rasping famillarities in the profes. sional golfer's experience. He is hon- ored by every one with whom he comes in contact, The members of his club respect him. ie gallertes revere him. He ts the nearest ap~ proach to the gentleman professtonal which sport affords It was this happy aspect of the American “pro's” lot which most im- pressed Taylor, the British golfer, during his stay h Writing ta Golf Illustrated he “The reason why Amegican golfers are making such rapid strides to-day is not far to seek. Over here when a boy begins to show signs of promise he is immediately taken in hand by his club members and given every encouragement to improve and to 50 on and climb to the greatest heights. Take Gene Sarazen, your new open charmpion, for instance. There 1s a suld: lad who has climbed from the post. tion of caddie boy to that of the highest professional in the country. In England or Scotland it would be impossible “But that Is not all. In America golf professional {s looked upon as one of their own by members of th club. There are no narrow lines drawn between the members of the professional such as exist In England. He Is there to serve, but his service is usually made one of pleasure. It is little wonder that he finds the right companionship in his position, that he is eager to show his clation by advertising the which he works by good pe in tournaments, and appre- club for formances Golf offers no chance at immense par such as the $500,000 which Der y and Carpentier divided, But $ 1s in the long run are com- te, und doubtless there are ew lads’ ef to-day who would not rather be Sarazen than either Jack or G < At least 150,000 youths, who, from carrying bags of sticks around the links during the summer months not only earn good pay but are getting an intimate kn lge of the game, are spending a lot of their time think ing about Gene's comotlike rise to his present position Let a golf club member tire of a mashie, a midiron or a brassie which somehow won't work for him and his caddie will be glad to get the gift of t nee the club Is his he'll make t behave in a mann former oy hever would have belleved pos- The | thenceforth is tm training for that alluring new pros ‘ession He's studying to be @ “pra”