Letterbox

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 18

Letterbox

Sir, —When Henry Cotton died recently the game of golf surely lost its greatest combined student, teacher and player. When he turned professional at 17 he was a fanatic for practice, so much so that even as a young man he had a pronounced list, his right shoulder being lower than his left. All this paid off when he won the British Open in 1934 starting off with 67, 65 to lead by nine shots after two rounds; the 65 gives the Dunlop ball its name. In 1937 he won again, beating all the American Ryder Cup team which included Snead, Hagen, Nelson and Sarazen. His European wins were the German, Italian and French Opens. He was a superb striker of the ball, Henry Longhurst thought he was the best. In a challenge match in 1938, the game was only won by Cotton carrying a dogleg, which only he of the four could do, thereby ending up in front of the green. Even in his 60s, on being invited to have a go at a professional driving contest, he just took off his coat, borrowed a

driver and hit the ball 263 yards in his street shoes. He won his third British Open in 1948 and his last tournament win was at the age of 47. All his life he believed the hands were the secret, and he preached hitting against a heavy car tyre and out of heavy rough to strengthen them. He was a prolific writer on golf and how to play it, the action shots showing a marked similarity between him and Hogan. At one time, on a darkened stage using luminous shoes, golf gloves and soft golf ball he demonstrated his art, hitting the balls into the audience. He also believed in eating the best of food, staying at the best hotels and, as an astute businessman, he could afford to do so. However, he helped in raising the standard of professional golfers and every young pro-golfer should observe a minute’s silence in his name. In his later years, he designed some lovely courses in Portugal in the Algarve, being finally buried there at Penina. — Yours, etc., K. H. MCDONALD.