THE QUESTION: The Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Chicago has replaced caddies with golf carts. How do you feel about it?

JOSEPH C. DEY JR.
Locust Valley, N.Y.
Executive Director
USGA
Tam O'Shanter must have its reasons, but this can't be done at all clubs. First, some courses are too hilly. Second, there are 6,000 golf courses. Half of them are public where most players can't afford carts. Third, the rules of golf recognize the caddie as a human being and permit a player to consult with him.

FRED CORCORAN
Scarsdale, N.Y.
Tournament Dir. Intl. Golf Assn.
I'm definitely opposed to the elimination of the caddie. In fact, the caddie is golf's lifeline. Over 90 per cent of the U.S. Open champions have come from the caddie ranks: Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Francis Ouimet, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, just to name a few. Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret caddied too.

WILLIE LOW
Phoenix, Ariz.
Golf pro at Phoenix
CC
I think it is a poor idea. The USGA stresses playing without undue delay. Carts definitely slow up play. Caddies' raking of the traps, taking the flags and washing the golf balls is bound to save time. Carts are used a lot, but most of the members prefer caddies. A caddie gives moral support. A cart can't.

MRS. R. T. JONES
Montclair, N.J.
Wife of the famous golf course architect
It's wrong. The cart is a wonderful addition to golf, but only an addition. The basic principle of golf is to get you into God's country where you can forget the bustle of the city and get some exercise in pure air. Even in tournaments the cart is wrong because stamina is a big part of tournament play.

HAROLD SARGENT
Atlanta, Ga.
President PGA
I don't understand why Tam O'Shanter did it. I'd hate to see this done everywhere. We give boys employment in a good environment. It's an antidote to juvenile delinquency and a source of supply of future golfers. Furthermore, this would be harmful to golf courses like ours that are not built for carts.

BILL ADKINS
Palm Desert, Calif.
Pro at Eldorado
CC
Tam O'Shanter might be able to work it out, but I don't like it. Golf is a game, not a commercial operation. Tam O'Shanter probably couldn't get the type of caddies they wanted. In some places it's either going to be the golf carts, more maintenance men or encouraging the golfers to take care of the course.

BOB CRUICKSHANK
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pro at Chartiers
Country Club
It's not a good idea. We take high school kids, discipline them and give them ambition. Chick Evans of Chicago started grading caddies for intelligence, and he provided college scholarships for the most deserving. This is now done by many golf clubs. The caddie is as much a part of golf as the golfer.

JOHN W. YEAMAN
Martinsville, Va.
The Forest Park CC
I discussed it with pros Al Smith and Ralph Lang. The three of us agreed that this is bad for golf. Using a golf cart will add three strokes to a man's game because he can't allow for the caddie's knowledge of the course. Furthermore, they haven't invented the golf cart that will retrieve a lost ball.

FRED BYROD
Philadelphia Inquirer
Sports Editor
Eliminating the caddie is bad for golf. First, because he is the human part of the game. Second, carts can't always be used. There are lots of times at my club when they won't permit them. Third, walking is a part of golf, as exercise for club amateurs and a test of physical condition for the tournament pros.

COLONEL LEONARD HENRY
East Hampton, N.Y.
Maidstone CC
Personally, I'm opposed to the use of golf carts for those physically able and healthy enough to walk. First of all, the caddie watches your ball which allows you to concentrate on your shot. Secondly, our best golfers were former caddies, among them Sammy Snead, Ben Hogan and Jimmy Demaret.

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