ON THE LINKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 7

ON THE LINKS

HIGH SPOTS IN AMERICA.

BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE (By "Silver King.")

The result of the Ryder Cup match between the professional golfers of the United States and Great Britain, which was played on the Ridgeway course in America at the end of September, was once again to prove an Overwhelming superiority of the American players. Out of a total of twelve games the British players only Avon two, a proportion so small as to suggest that they were outplayed and out-manoeuvred. The Americans were confident of success before the match. Walter Hagen, the veteran captain described his team as the most powerful he had yet had the honour to lead, and said it was not possible to contemplate even the smallest suggestion of defeat. An American View. American critics are unanimous that the great fault with the British players is that they play merely to reach the greens, whereas the Americans aim for the cup every time. Former Ryder Cup players in Mehlhorn and Diegel attributed the trouncing either to the Briton's unfamiliarity with their irons in the west clover with which the course is covered, and which is very tricky when wet, or to their unwillingness to change their style of play to suit the conditions. It is suggested that they might have used their mashie niblicks, turning in the blade for approaches, instead of irons with turned out blade, which often resulted in their landing in the right-hand bunkers. The Americans did the main damage in the first round of the foursomes. Sarazen and Hagen led Perry and Busson by five holes, Picard and Revolta led Padgham and Allis by seven holes, and Runyan and Horton-Smith led Cox and Jarman by one hole, while the Whitcombes were all square with Dutra and Laffoon. Before starting on the afternoon round, Charles Whitcombe, the British captain, was asked what was the matter with the British players. His reply was: "I think in the ease of the youngsters that stagofright had something to do with the rout. . ." Whitcombe who seemed rather disconsolate, added: "You know we have to give our youngsters experience." . But if Britain had to give her youngsters experience, America certainly did the same, as the United States team contained a contingent of colts whom Hagen considers will be the champions of the future. S. Parks, jun., the new open champion of America, passed out of Pittsburgh University into the amateur ranks, and only the sweeping away of the family fortune in the financial deluge compelled him to turn to golf' as a means of livelihood. Tortoise of the Links. Painstaking and deliberate, Parks is described as the slowest golfer since the days of Cyril Walker, a former campion. No shot is attempted until Parks is satisfied that every detail as regards stance, grip, etc., is in order. As a ritual, occupying a good deal of time, it is apt to be boring. It is not in Parks's nature to move briskly. "I eat slowly, walk slowly, swing slowly, and live slowly, he says. His only concession to speed is to stride after the ball as it rolls toward the hole, otherwise he is the tortoise of the links. Will he last? None cart say, but some form of answer will be forthcoming when Britain and America meet at the Ridgewood Country Club, 'New Jersey. The other three newcomers to the United States team were Ky. Laffoon, Henry Picard and J. Revolta. All young men, they have sprung to the front in the last two years, and proved their worth in tournament play against the recognised experts of the game. Laffoon, of Chicago, a tall, sparselybuilt man of somewhat excitable nature, and Revolta, of Milwaukee, are dashing, fearless players who have captured the major part of the spoils in match play competitions extending from California to Florida. Champions of the Future. Having picked up many thousands of dollars they are what are known as the "high spots" of American golf, whatever man be the precise meaning of the phrase. Picard, of Pennsylvania, completed the trio of Hagen's young warriors, states an English scribe. According to him they are the champions of the future. Picard in the recent British open finished in sixth • place, not by any means a lowly position for a player making bis first trip to England/ He has a beautiful, effortless swing that can never go far wrong. Apart from Hagen those who played in the previous match were: Olin Dutra, Sarazen, Horton-Smith and Craig Wood. All are experienced players with established reputations in international encounters. Hagen, the world's greatest golf personality, and tactician, again captained the team, a position he has held in all previous Ryder Cup contests. The most generous of men, Hagen will give you anything if he has it to give; and*he will do anything for you if the doing of it is in his power. For these reasons he is the most-loved and respected man in the profession. Hagen has decided to retire from active participation in the game alter next year s national open. "I have heen at it lor nearly twenty-five years, and at my age (forty-four) I cannot be expected to go rushing about the country playing matches every day," he declares. His retirement will be the game's loss. But, thank goodness, before Walter Hagen lays aside his clubs we will have the privilege of seeing this great personality of the game in action in New Zealand. He and Joe Kirkwood arc to arrive in January «>ext to undertake a tour of the Dominion. Hagen must be acknowledged to be one of the I great figures of golf. He won the

American open golf championship in 1911 and 1919 and the British open four times—l 922, 1924, 1928 and 1929. What a treat it will be to sec this world-renowned player trying out the par of New Zealand courses! His visit following that of Geiie Sarazen last year, should do much to raise the standard of play in this country, which the recent visit of the British women's team did so much to improve.