and on a proper introduction--that of the secretary of his own club
being commonly regarded as sufficient--he has some claim upon the
courtesy of any other club whose green he may like to visit. The members
of a club that extends these privileges to strangers obtain those of a
like kind from other clubs, and thus to the individual player there is
opened up the entire variety of all the golf in the country. How much
would our pleasure in the game be reduced if this variety were not
available, and we were compelled to play exclusively upon the courses of
clubs of which we were full members!
In this matter we have the principle of the community of golfers’
interests in full play, and it seems that the proper recognition of the
society and its right to the privileges that it seeks will be only
another form of the same principle, and one scarcely less advanced than
that which obtains at present. For already a fair proportion of the
members of a club are members also of one or other societies, and the
time is coming when it will be the exception for the club golfer not to
be a member of a society. When this time arrives, it will evidently be
necessary to apply this principle referred to, partly for the general
good and enjoyment, and partly because any club that did not, and that
withheld privileges to societies that were granted them by other clubs,
would place all its own members who belonged to such societies in a very
unpleasant position. Two rules seem to be called for. The first is, that
in order that this principle shall always act fairly, and that no man
shall get what he is not in a sense entitled to, it shall be enacted
that each member of a society shall also be a member of a club in the
district in which the society chiefly carries on its operations. The
second is, that in all cases of society visits to clubs’ courses, full
green fees shall be paid, and that in no pecuniary sense shall the
society be under any obligation to the club. The whole question is
really one of very great importance, and those who are at the head of
club and society affairs would do well to be giving to it their serious
consideration, for nothing would be more unfortunate than the creation
of any misunderstanding which might lead to trouble in the future.
VII
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