Olin Dutra was named chairman of the PROS MEET PGA tournament committee. Other mem- 200 Discuss Tourney Details and bers of the committee as announced by Publicity — Dutra Heads Jacobus are: Craig Wood, vice-chairman; Tournament Committee Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Leo Diegel, Wiffy Cox, Horton Smith, Paul Runyan, Bobby Cruickshank, Harry Cooper and A1 ORE than 200 pros met at the Miami- Espinosa. • M Biltmore hotel the evening before the Biltmore open began in the largest Announcement was made of PGA cham- pro meeting ever held and went over the pionship qualifying round plans involving signals with George Jacobus, president of the award of $2,500 for sectional qualify- the PGA. ing scores. The meeting was engineered by Tom The Jones Masters' tournament in 1935 Boyd, a vice-president of the association, will be for 55 invited players to which will who is doing missionary work for the be added the five players not on the invi- organization among the pros who visit tation list who make lowest scores in the Miami during the winter. Boyd reported ten leading winter tournaments from that 20 new members were signed up at Miami-Biltmore to Pinehurst. Harlow Miami. gave out this information at the Miami- Restricting sectional open tournament Biltmore meeting. entrance to PGA members was discussed Walter Hagen was acclaimed by his at the meeting. The idea was approved by comrades in the cause, who spontaneously George Hammond, speaking for the Miami- jumped to their feet after Walter had given Biltmore people. George remarked that the boys some of his genial line and ad- a few exceptions were made in the present vised them not to be alarmed about some tournament but it looked like something idea being for the good of either the worth considering if the PGA was willing tournament players or the home club pro to accept full responsibility for its mem- businessmen. If any idea will do the whole bers. The pros themselves brought up the game some good, Walter said, selfishness idea of disciplinary action on their mem- of any faction in pro ranks is just plain bers in a manner that would warrant dumb. tournament sponsors restricting fields to The boys were somewhat divided on pub- PGA men. licity policies. Some of them advocated There was comment on the $15 entry keeping their meetings closed to news- fee at Miami-Biltmore. Some of the boys papermen while others spoke for a vigor- figuring that if the idea of the tournament ous and open publicity policy, maintain- was to attract home club pros who had ing that if the pros had anything to be only an outside chance of prize winning, hidden from the newspapers it was the the $15 rap was stiff. fault of the pros. More oratory than judg- Method of selection of the Australian ment and facts figured in the needless team was questioned and explained. A handling of the subject. However, it be- point brought out in this connection came evident a couple of days later that stressed the wisdom of promising younger some pros are at sea on publicity when pros joining the PGA. Laffoon, a new the suggestion of pro censorship of a news member, cashed in on his membership and story on a revision of the Miami-Biltmore playing ability with a great journey. class A prize money stirred up slapping between two good guys—a pro and a news- Bob Harlow spoke on the necessity of paperman. The two concerned traded pokes the PGA being the clearing house for and then made up and forgot like good tournament dates and told the boys what boys. the tournament bureau was up against, trying to supply good fields to both Cali- Without the little debate with the paws fornia and Florida during the winter ses- on the place of censorship in news, the sions. The difficulty is emphasized by the revision of the Miami-Biltmore prize players wanting to give all tournament money would have been worth a few lines sponsors a good deal. As Johnny Far- —if anything—in the sports sections. But rell pointed out, the players must have with punches being slung it made a storv a proper appreciation of the fact that the most newspapers were quick to play up in folks who put up the money deserve all the absence of much action among the pro cooperation possible. regulation boxers.