[TO TIM EDITOR OF TUB "8PEOTAT0R.1
SIR,—"Foozler " puts the question of the employment of caddies in a very moderate manner in your issue of March 31st. But when he asks the question if a caddie be a necessary part of the game, I think that every golf club official will say un- doubtedly "Yes." It will be too much to expect, even if it is desirable, that all clubs and all golfers will give up the benefits derived from the employment of caddies. And until this takes place we all must endeavour to have a good supply for our members. Moreover, I think that the money introduced into the locality from this employment is an item to be considered before condemning it wholesale.
Therefore I start on the assumption that caddies are necessary and that golfers will continue to employ them. There is, no doubt, a risk of adding to the number of loafers in the district unlesis precautionary measures are taken. The suggestions made by "Foozler " are, however, to my mind, impossible. In the first place, members would not agree to tliJ increase of the usual tariff of is. to is. 6d. per round. Secondly, the guarantil4 mentioned by him of 18s. a week to each imported man would completely cripple a club. At Sunningdale we require at times (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) fifty caddies. So we should not be able to ensure a sufficient supply unless we permanently employed this number. On looking through our registers, I find that, taking an average, we should have to pay a weekly sum of about £20 to meet the deficiency on the guarantee. No club could possibly stand a yearly payment of .21,000 on this account. If less than the maximum required were employed, then there would be difficulty in getting others to come, as obviously the club would give the preference to the permanent staff. It is undoubtedly difficult to suggest a remedy for the risk arising from casual employment as a caddie for short hours. I think that the real danger lies in a boy being employed in this way after a certain age. Between the ages of, say, fourteen and seventeen light employment of this character may be beneficial. If boys be employed, and be not allowed to remain after the limit mentioned, then they are forced to seek permanent work before. there is a chance of their giving up all thoughts of it. And it is in helping them to obtain such work that the members and officials of a club can be of great assistance. In the past, we have helped a good many here in this way, and they have given every satis- faction. And we hope in the future to do more in this direction by keeping a register of all boys who regularly carry clubs, with particulars about their capabilities for work, age, and any other information which may prove useful. This register will be open for the inspection of members, and no doubt many boys will be placed through its medium as garden boys, house boys, stable hands, or in other ways. In addition to this, there is already a refreshment booth for the boys, under the club supervision, where they can obtain tea and coffee and wholesome food at cheap rates. Further, a benevolent fund will, I hope, be started shortly, so that each ipoy when he leaves may have some lump sum paid to him to start him at his new job, or to go towards payment Of the apprenticeship fees for some trade. It is, of course, necessary to have a sensible, trustworthy man at the head of affairs as caddie superintendent. If he finds any of the boys undesirable, then we have to pack them off as quickly as possible. These arrangements should provide for the golfer during the week, excluding Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays the school- boys are available, and on Sundays we have a really good supply of respectable men, who are employed on other work during the week, and who greatly appreciate the opportunity of earning another 2s. 6d. by a little healthy exercise on Sunday. They can, and do, go to church if they want to, and at the same time they are able to earn a little extra instead of perhaps hanging round the doors of the nearest public-house waiting for the hour of opening. This neighbourhood can supply caddies for its own needs, the money circulated by their employment is of genuine use, and with the above precautions we do not anticipate a heavy "crop of loafers." In special cases, men temporarily out of work can, moreover, be assisted very materially, by permitting them to carry clubs through the week. Some clubs have no doubt already adopted a system on these lines, and it will be interesting to hear of the'r results. Many improvements no doubt can be suggested, and we should all very much like to hear of them. There is only one further point : it is that the wholesale importation of men of the class described by " Foozler " would, I think, be greatly resented in this neighbourhood, on the ground that they would take the bread out of the mouths of those living here.
(Secretary Sunningdale Golf Club).
Sunningdale, Berks.
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