How Golf Figures Its Place in War-Time Economy

Domestic developments since the start of the w a r in Korea now m a k e it plain that w a r t i m e economy wil l be in effect until the threat of communis t aggress ion disappears. A d j u s t m e n t s wil l be essential in the Amer i c an w a y of life. Regard less of part isan political maneuve r ing taxes a r e go ing to rise In prevent ing r u n a w a y inflation. Mate r i a l s and labor in increasing amounts are be ing devoted to defense equipment and supplies. It also is per fect ly obvious that gol f must feet the solid impact of this ad just ment. Golf club off icials and department heads who recall the tardiness and difficulties in proper ly ad j u s t i ng golf to W o r l d W a r I I conditions don't need m a n y reminders of the w isdom of p lanning as f a r and as thoroughly ahead as possible to meet conditions that wil l control the busi ness and p lay ing of the g a m e until the Russ ian menace to w o r l d peace and security vanishes. One trouble of the necessary ad just ment is the f requent turn -over in go l f ' s off icial roster. Compa ra t i v e l y f e w w h o now arrt active in the operat ing of golf clubs had experience wi th the prob lems of golf clubs dur ing the preceding w a r . Bu t G O L F D O M ' s inquiries have b rought fo r th ample evidence that on the operat ing level, especially in course maintenance. gol f clubs a r e p repar ing fo r proceeding in sound condition to meet w a r t i m e requirements, A l m o s t every sectional organizat ion of gol f course superintendents has considered the situation thoughtfu l ly . The extent to which fore sight. can be ef fectively appl ied depends on the finances of the clubs but gett ing equipment and suppl ies fo r w a r t i m e needs Is t ak ing precedence in the p lans Of the ma jor i ty of clubs. Tom Mahan . pro at the Un i t ed Shore CC. Bever ly . Mass. , and pres.. N e w E n g land Section P G A , looks at the present picture f r om the perspective of experi ence. Says M a h a n : " I t w a s jus t about five years a g o that a b ed ragg l ed go l fe r with a synthetic bal l in his hand w a s a s common a sight as that of the numerous boys in un i fo rm w h o had g iven up a peaceful w a y of l i fe f o r one of w a r . N o w w e are f ace to f a c e w i th the same prob lem that w a s ours during the span f r o m 1941 to 1945. " The fact that w e are engaged in a ser ious conflict is be fo re us, and w e cannot ignore it even though many of us wou ld like to. Just as in W o r l d W a r s I and I I and m a n y other w a r s be fo re these, our w a y of l i fe has been attacked. True, this time It has been attacked indirectly but nevertheless it has been attacked. " H o w has the ord inary A m e r i c a n who likes to pack his clubs in his car and set out fo r a p leasant day of gol f reacted to this Korean s i tuat ion? Has he started to jo in the rest of the panic-str icken Amer i cans in the rush to board mater ia l s that m a y be scarce? Has he equ ipment? These and o ther questions like them are the ones that I as a golf profess ional must ponder and answer .