GOLF.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18129, 19 July 1924, Page 14

GOLF.

THE AMATEUR GAME. THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT. (BPSCUIXX WHITTJM FOB "TEE PESSB.") (By Harry Vardon.) Of all the features which '.the game of golf has presented during recent years, 1 none has been more noteworthy than the rapid development'ot ' rivalry between the players of the .■' United States and Great Britain. We in Britain owe. something to the " Americans for the diligence with which ' they have sought to enter into competition with us on the links; for they have given us the incentive to take the big events with that extra touch of earnestness which is good for the standard of a game. And the better the standard that prevails, in the higher walks, the better it is in the humbler Tanks. That is largely a matter of example "and for the inferior golfers often have to meet the more skiful ones on handicap terms, and when the latter improve, the iormer - must improve, too, or suffer humiliation complete. To be sure, there are plenty or people who say that they do not mind how badly they play, so long as they 'have a pleasant round and. the exercise that the pastime affords. All the ■'■ same, I have never met a person who looked very pleased with himself after a bad round, or who failed to find satisfaction in a good one. It is the turn of Britain this ' year to send her best amateur to the United Staes—an obligation which is to be duly fulfilled. The match between teams of amateurs representing America and Britain has been fixed to take place in September at Garden City, New York —a very good course, inland in character, hut of the best inland type. • It had the distinction of producing Mr W. J. Travis who, in 1904, astonished everybody by winning the British amateur championship at Sandwich, This was the firs} success "of an American in an international golf competition among amateurs, and it remains the only one to date in the event mentioned, although, in jthe three team played be.tween the countries during the past three vears, the Americans have won ' each time. In that period, Walter •Hagen, of Detroit, and Jock Hutchison, of Chicago, have also secured the British open championship. Organising .Talent. The form of the rising young amateurs in this country will be „ watched 'with tinusual interest in iview "of the national necessity—it really is - 3uc£ after three consecutive defeats—of raising a side capable of heating •Sae United States this year. I really think it could be accomplished If only the matter were : tackled in time. There are plenty of amateurs in Britain wifli an obvious measure golfing genius, but they lack experience and they have certain defects of style- which are obvious to . any old hand at the game. TFhat - is they have reached a stage r of efficiency at which they think that they do not require another lesson — v a human belief, since, in their own clubs, they are aB lords-superior, capable of giving instruction as well as -('handsome beatings to all the other members. i "" "C If this promising talent could be .organised in good season, and placed 'in the hands of one or two- capable . teachers of the game, I am certain ' that the results would be magnificent: The points that need correcting are often only- small points, but, in the course of the round, they may easily - create the' difference between r and defeat. * "Even a veteran does not care to obtrude his respectful, and (venerable ' advice to a young player without being risked for it, because the latter — by reason of his youth. - alone —might y say with considerable justification: ' "U you think I'm wrong, I'll tell you "what I'll do. - I'll play, you level." All the same, there are things that ", one learns in ,the course of years — „ sometimes too -late to .make the most <■ of them. -< - t '% .'"• . , '.,' It'is one dayrcWe shall see the realisation 'of tbisiidefe of tak- .;» Ing the "best of' the* young amateurs ' - of the country; and giving them the benefit —for surely it must be a bener I 'fit ?—of the knowledge of; 1 older cham*i -_pions;*y JWhatr.Jß .needed is for each , player^to be-coached individually.' It , may*Tjeed'"'omy f "one small alteration in > his methods to make him a better 'golfer than ever he has been in the *past. There is at least a new spirit L v of enterprise in English amateur golf. ,v -We- hare 'seen'evidence* tof it v in the institution of the international trial matches—South v. North and Midlands, .and North v. Midlands. ' ' - Level Scores. is-no blinking the fact that the • standard of American amateur golf is nrery high. Apart altogether >rrom the results of the international matcfaes; jV an experienced., professional has only^to-study of "their players in the mot4.pT .'Jess promiscuous way that opportunity l offers him, or examine those/ «st«f -by ' means of photographs, to realise}t*tat they have -acquired the' way of swinging 'the' club j They certainly, used not to possess it. -there ; were few amateurs —or professionals either—whom one'would have ' .selected as models.- They were nearly -all too flat in their swings. 'There {seems to have been a national tendency - '-towards uprightness- of' swings l since those days. . Presumably, the British amateurs, .when they are in the United States, will make «n effort to capture' 'the amateur championship there. It takes place at Philadelphia, and evidently the date—September 20th t to SWth-'-nas been arranged "with an eye to the British visit for the team ;matciu -.> Harold Hilton is the ;©nly J*r?jtop has captured the /' .Iwnonrs^ojT;American amateur golf. A '▼erv' worthy .distinction too, for Mr _si!ton has always eeemed to me to be the most accomplished amateur—regarding' the matter „sblelv' from the point* of view of" scientific, well-thought-out golf—that this country produced. He gained his victory in -1911, and so balanced the 1 success, of Mr Travis in 'our amateur championship seven years earlier. L Itris a rather curious fact that the are -also level—two all—ln regard to the open championships of the respective nations.' Hagen and Hutchison won purs.- and Ray and I have won" theirs. ' So that now the "straggle is beginning afresh.

_ (Continued' at foot of next column.)

HAGLBY CLUB. A team of ladies from Charteria Bay. played-Hagley, with the following result.— |"-. SINGLES 1 . Chartens Bay. **&?- Mrs Ayers .. 0 Miss Bean .» 1 MiBS White- * Parsons .. 1 Mies Brace .. 0 Miss Preston •• ° 'Mjss Morton .. 1 Mrt .. 0 Mrs Burns .. 1 Miss Comer .. 0 Mrs Hutton- .. 1 Miss Collins .. 0 Miss Thomson .. 1 Miss William* .. 0 Mrs W. Nicholls \l Mw WhiteI Parsons .. 0 Mrs Perry ... 1 \- doubles: Mrs Ayers and Miss White- Miss Bean and i Parsons: .. 0 . Miss Brucje.. 1 Miss Sreston and Miss Morton and Mrs Barry .. i Mrs Burna i Miss Comer and Mrs Hutton "and ~ Miss Collins 0 Miss Thomson 1 Miss. Williama and Mrs White- Mrs" W. Nicholls Parsons .. 0 and Mrs Perry 1 The nrst qualifying round of the junior championship will be played on Tuesday. Entries close to-day. The monthly medal match of the Hagley Ladies' Golf Club was played yesterday. Following .were the best scores handed in:— Senior Grade. Gross. Hep. Net. Mrs Smith ..91 20 71 Miss-Bean ..82 9 73 Miss Morton . .. 91 17 74 Mrs Pumphrey ..81 5 76 Mrs Burns .. 97 19 78 Junior Grade. Gross. Hep. Net. Mrs Morrow ..106 36 , 70 Mb Styche ..110 27 78 Miss le Cren .< 100 26 74 Mra Pipe .. 110 86 .- 74 Mrs. W. Nicholls ...100 .25 75