Greenkeepers Lauded for Hospital Greens Work PPRECIATION of the putting greens Charles G. Beck, manager of Hines Hos- A pital and Col. Delmar Goode of the installed at the Downey hospital, Downey establishment. Great Lakes, 111., and at the Edward Hines hospital has been expressed offi- "While the Mid-West Greenkeepers cially to the Chicago District GA for Assn. did not formally appear as a spon- financing these recreational facilities for sor of the Victory Golf Championships," hospitalized servicemen by the Victory L. D. Rutherford stated, "their coopera- National championships. The expressions tion and assistance in providing golf of gratitude have been relayed to the Mid- greens at both Hines and Downey has West Greenkeepers Assn. by Lowell D. been most noteworthy." Rutherford, pres., CDGA for the green- Among those participating in cere- keepers' vigorous and unselfish sacrifice monies conducted at Downey for the of time in constructing the putting areas. official opening of the greens were L. D. Ray Gerber, pres., together with Bill Rutherford; Col. Delmar Goode, com- Stupple, Frank J. Dinelli, John Mac- manding officer of the hospital; Ray Ger- Gregor, Gus Brandon and Fred Ingwerson ber; W. P. Kleuskens, Cook County of the Mid-West association have been Commander, American Legion; Mrs. sent copies of letters received from Frank Yarline, Bundles for America; Miss this galaxy of golfing talent was part of the ensemble which opened the new golf green at Hines hospital, west of Chicago, one of the installations financed by the Chicago District GA and Illinois PGA, and constructed by Midwest Greenkeepers' Assn. members. L. to R.: Mike Stolarik, Lt. Patty Berg. Byron Nelson, Babe Zaharias, George Dawson, Craig Wood, Sam Byrd, Catherine Fox. Phyllis Otto. Mar- jorie How, Dorothy Germain, Jeanne Cline, George Tainer. Mary Lou Laird, American Women's Vol- shown in developing additional recrea- untary Services; Stanley Van Dyk, Amer- tional facilities at our hospital. My con- ican Legion; and Eddie Bush, sec., Illinois tacts with you and others of your com- Section, PGA. After the ceremonies, Chick mittee as well as the brief contact with Harbert, Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg and the golf, stars who were here the other Johnny Revolta played an exhibition day cause me to believe that there are a match for the hospitalized patients. lot of swell people in the golf business. The afternoon following the Downey It was a good show and a number of pa- green opening a group of golfers includ- tients have expressed to me their appre- ing Sam Byrd, Byron Nelson, Chick Har- ciation for having had the opportunity of bert, Craig Wood, Gene Sarazen, George attending. It gave them the first chance Dawson, Mike Stolarik, Tommy Armour, in their lives to see some of the top-notch Harry Cooper, Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg, golfers. They are also looking forward to Dorothy Germain, Catherine Fox, Jeanne Cline, Georgia Tainter and Marjorie Row the time when the putting green will be gave a shot-making exhibition for the in use. I know it will provide many hours patients after opening the putting greens of pleasant recreation and diversion. I at Hines Hospital. hope from time to time you will have the Charles G. Beck, manager of the Hines opportunity to get out and see us, and hospital, in letters to M. G. "Scotty" Fes- I know that after the green is in condi- senden, ex-pres., CDGA, declared: "I want tion to use, you will be anxious to learn to thank you and the Chicago District GA from our own observation the extent for the enthusiastic interest you have which the patients make use of it." Plan Now for Season-end Golf Ball Collection LUB OFFICIALS and pros are ad- What club officials and members usually C vised that today is not too early for don't know about the ball reprocessing beginning to plan end-of-season collection procedure is that balls turned in through of used balls for remaking during the pros are graded carefully by leading estab- winter. It is pointed out by ball manu- lished ball makers with brand reputations facturing authorities that in some areas to preserve and that shipments of recon- now the shortage of well reconditioned ditioned balls are made in ratio to the balls is acute because used balls were grades turned in. This procedure usually turned in as late as May, June and July assures the pro patron the best available this year after being held in players' pos- reprocessed balls but he upsets the pro- session through last winter. Labor short- cedure when he is tardy in turning in age at the plants of responsible ball used balls and wants a supply of recondi- makers has made it impossible to remake tioned balls quicker than manufacturing and return balls fast enough to care for facilities permit. Then he has to take any- the demand. thing that's on hand, and is lucky to get it. The 1945 season will be the fourth in which no new balls have been made. What has messed up the used ball situ- ation to a marked degree is the reproces- Salvage possibilities of the used ball sing done by hit-and-run reprocessors who stocks are diminishing rapidly. The over- have used string, yarn or other non- all salvage percentage has been reduced elastic material in rebuilding cores to to about 80% of the balls turned in. size. The covers are moulded on and re- Grading of the balls is being maintained painted and the victim doesn't know from on a firm basis by leading manufacturers the looks of the outside of the ball how with the result that the better grades of he's been gyped. Now that discovery of reconditioned balls are diminishing in such practice is becoming more extensive percent faster than the general supply. the golfers are seeing the wisdom of Failure of golfers to keep the stock of turning their used balls into pros for re- conditioning and return by the reliable used balls in fairly good condition, going ball makers. A smart idea for the pro through the reconditioning process has who wants to speed up ball collection and been a factor in reducing the supply of get old balls turned in for winter recondi- the better grade of remades. Turning in tioning would be to put in his shop a dis- the balls only after they have been hacked play sign showing the inside of one of deeply requires use of much material in the gyp-reconditioned balls and wording reprocessing. This material has to be ob- emphasizing the good judgment of turn- tained from other used balls, hence the ing in balls early for correct reprocessing badly damaged balls sharply reduee over- by reliable companies. all stocks that can be returned to the Ball manufacturers assert they have market. been conducting the reprocessing business .