COMING now to the question of tournaments, I regret that there is a great and a growing tendency to make them of a somewhat exclusive character. It is done in this way, that only a certain number of first-class professionals are invited to take part in the competition for the prizes set out upon the list.

I cannot say I am in favour of this method of procedure. Personally I should be inclined to favour the idea that all tournaments, no matter where they might be held, should be thrown open to all comers. By doing this two things would be accomplished.

First, a larger entry would be secured; and, secondly, the younger players, upon whom we shall need to depend in the future, would be provided with an opportunity of pitting themselves against older and more seasoned exponents of the game.

Encouragement of all branches is most to be desired, and I think a promising young professional would be greatly assisted by these open competitions. He would be provided with an opportunity of watching the leaders and their play, and he would, as a natural consequence, benefit by the tuition and experience so gained.

In an open tournament with a large entry the amount of prize money might be affected, but not altogether to the detriment of those engaged. At the present time it is not usually the case that the full expenses are paid of the men who may be invited to take part in a competition, but their bare railway fare is refunded.

Should the entry be made an open one, no railway fares need be paid, but the amount gained in this way might be added to the prizes and their number might be increased.

As for the amount put up for a first prize in a tournament, a sum of £20 must be considered a very fair one, although in this respect the full value of the prize list must be dependent upon the status and the financial position of the promoting club. A large organisation will give a big first prize, but a smaller one may naturally not be in a position to offer more than a ten-pound note fur the winning player.

In the latter case the entry would naturally be not of such a representative character, unless, of course, the local professional stood high in the golfing world. But such a thing as this cannot be helped. Wha

6S TAYLOR ON GOLF can't be cured must be endured, and I can only repeat that I am thoroughly in accord with those who consider that this class of game should be thrown open to one and all.

In respect of matches made between prominent players, the same to be decided upon a particular course, the promoting club offers a stated sum to cover all contingencies, and it only remains for the players concerned to accept or decline the terms offered, as the case may be. As for this sum it varies considerably. Men of the highest class are able to command practically their own price, but the second-raters must perforce take whatever may be offered them.

Years age, before the time of the boom, tournaments were red-letter days in the golfer's career, to be thought of and talked about for a very long time both before and after the event. At the present day the case is vastly different. The prize money is as great as at any time during the history of golf. In isolated instances it is perhaps even better, but the fact still remains, and it cannot be refuted, that the sums offered, and the money to be gained by the professional player, are hardly good enough, not large enough, when we take into consideration the skill displayed by the men who are playing for these prizes.

The professional footballer or cricketer, we will suppose, serves his club or county faithfully and well. He plays his best game, and he does all he can to ensure the victory of his side. He gains his reward after a certain number of years by the bestowal of a benefit, and provided he insures against contingencies, or is well favoured by the weather, he may secure anything from £5oo to over £2,000. Even an amateur cricketer has had a benefit given him before now, but what about the professional golfer? How does he fare ?

He, unfortunately, has nothing in the way of a benefit to look forward to; he is not so assured of a moderate competency for his declining years, when the spring has departed from his muscles, his hand has lost some of its cunning, and his eye its keenness. All he can do is to make as much money as he is capable of doing, and-this is an important point- the only chance he possesses of its being anything appreciative is for him to reach the first flight of players and succeed in remaining among them.

Nor must the fact be overlooked that the class of professionals who are now playing are considerably in advance of those who were engaged in the game before golf jumped into public favour.

The golf professional of to-day must be a man of intelligence, and one who is possessed of unexceptional references. Unless this is the case he finds it impossible to secure a post, and a lapse from the strict path of duty means that he immediately drops out of club engagements altogether, with the result generally that golf knows him no more. He has had his chance and has lost it; he is required no longer.

Under these circumstances I think we - for I am speaking now on behalf of the whole of my comrades-may ask that we be sufficiently rewarded. Professional tournaments will continue to attract a crowd and to remain the most popular item upon a season's programme. This being taken as granted, for it is the absolute truth, why should not the performers be suitably paid ?

Rewarded they must be, provided it is desired to maintain the game in its present high position. The danger attendant upon small remuneration is that our best professionals will decide to migrate to other countries, and their absence from golf in cur own land would mean a rapid falling away, both in the class of players and the standard of the game.

America is prepared to pay a very big price in order to secure the services of the very best men (I am speaking from personal knowledge as I write), and there the danger lies. Unless these men are encouraged to remain in their native land, I fear they will be inclined to nibble at the bait which is dangled before them by the clubs across the water.