A hundred years ago this month, in November 1917, the U.S. Golf Association wanted to announce its success in raising money for the war-challenged American Red Cross, but major daily newspapers were busy reporting on the European war and America's participation.
On Nov. 7-8 in Russia, for example, the Bolsheviks overthrew the czarist government, an act that later led to an armistice between Germany and Russia, and, eventually, a peace treaty between the two countries. (The November dates were on the Gregorian calendar, the current standard, but on the Russian _ Julian calendar at the time, the dates were Oct. 25-26.)
On the Nov. 8, a reporter at the New York Times finally took the time to listen to a USGA spokesman, and the next day the paper carried an article titled, "Golfers Give Huge Sum to Red Cross." The USGA proudly declared that 485 of its member golf clubs had raised $72,000 for the Red Cross the previous summer.
It was noteworthy that sanctioning bodies in both amateur and professional golf had terminated most regular tournaments out of respect for the millions of draftees in the U.S. military and the civilian war effort. In place of the competitions, the USGA and the fledgling Professional Golfers' Association staged exhibition matches to raise money for the Red Cross, whose volunteers and staff helped minister to the sick and wounded in Europe.
The interest among amateur and professional golfers in raising money to support the war _ the "Red Cross matches," as the players and the press called them _ not only succeeded but also created three coincident and enduring phenomena.
First, the matches brought attention to two emerging golf icons _ teenaged amateur Bobby Jones and professional Walter Hagen. Both became stars of the Golden Age of American Sports in the 1920s.
Second, the fundraising changed the public perception of golf pros from that of hired help to sports heroes who were finally welcomed through the front door of country clubs.
Last, the practice of charging admission to the matches became the financial foundation for later American and international golf tournaments and tours.
