Qualifying and Caddy Flogging

Dear Dr. Golf,

In April of this year our club was placed on the approved list of Eagle-Ho clubs and we inaugurated caddy flogging. I had grave doubts about this practice at first and I must confess I was fearful. It is now six months later and after following your books and manuscripts on the introduction and execution of caddy flogging we here at Sleepy Knoll, to the man, are delighted with the results. Our caddies thrive on this practice, and a new and deep respect for the members has replaced the old indifference of last year.

We were very fortunate in procuring Mr. H. Ashley through your services and we want to say he has truly done a remarkable job. I was very impressed in learning that Mr. Ashley got his background and training and handling bird dogs in the Florida Field Trials. Some of the men here believed his insistence on making the caddies “point” balls a trifle inhumane, but when Mr. H. Ashley had these same men question the caddies all doubt of inhumanity was removed. He maintains, and the caddies support his belief, that a caddy’s greatest joy is in “pointing” a ball in the classic position. Mr. H. Ashley has even introduced contests to make every caddy familiar with the classic “point” position. And how beautiful it is to watch two youthful caddies springing through the rough and quartering and requartering a field.

Dr. Golf, we have, however, run into one very sensitive problem. Unfortunately, our club is near a highway and motorists and pedestrians can see the caddy stocks Mr. H. Ashley built for flogging. We have had several complaints from the township and the church. Mr. H. Ashley insists that the flogging stations remain in full sight, but our local ministers and teachers are shouting that we must do away with the practice. We were wondering if you could advise us on this subject.

I remain,

RICHARD TROTHINGWELL

Dear Sir,

I am sending you along a copy of Dr. Golf’s “Caddies, the Care and Feeding Of.” You will please refer to Chapter 76 entitled “The Floggee-Flogger Relation.” This chapter will explain the master-caddy relation as well as the relation between your club and your township….

Mr. Trothingwell, there will always be enemies and narrow-minded people who do not approve of flogging. Why this is, I’m sure I’ll never know. But I must insist that as an Eagle-Ho qualified club you do not conceal this practice, that it be done in full view of your club, your wives, your town, indeed your church.

As ever,

Doctor Golf