GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 January 1927, Page 13

GOLF

THE LATE G. M. DAILEY. | A real good .tellow, full of the kii4dI liest feelings to his fellows, a white I man, was dear old George Dailey, for several vears belore the war a popular and an enthusiastic member of the I Hawera Men’s Club, and who a few days since passed the Great Divide after a long illness, an aftermath of war service. George was an enthusiast, and entered keenly- into the joys and disappointments that attend all golfers in the pursuit along the paths of knowledge of the game. He made rapid progress and, though by no means a voting man, took the lioiiqiu s of junior champion on one occasion. He’was popular with his fellow golfers, and altogether one whom to know made the ways of life all the better. All members who knew him will feel a pang of sorrow at the passing of one whom all liked.

AMERICAN GOLF

W. McEwnn, who at one time came to Hawera to coach when the club was located at “The Oaks,” and who now is a professional attached. to a big club near San Francisco, is enthusiastic in his appreciation of tbe golfing l>cople of the States. He has done well in competitions, but has been most successful in teaching the game and in laying out courses. He says golf is a national game in America, as also in England and Scotland. He urges, in an interview with a Dominion critic, a municipal scheme for New Zealand, and believes it would receive hearty and wide support.

YOUTH IN THE GAME

Says a correspondent in an Australian paper: “The spirit of youth, |in a game in which mental control i plays as big a part as skill, was exemplified at Adelaide when Len Net- | tie fold, at 18, won the amateur golf championship of Australia. A. G. Ashton’s recent deeds on the Woollongong links are phenomenal. He is only 16. Every now and then one reads of exce'lont rounds by L. W. Hore (aged IS). .1. Hughes (17). Stan Keane (17), and Harry Fiatt’ersley (18) in Sydney Club golf.” One might add. too.. several remarkable instances of similar prowess amongst tbe golfing youngsters of the Dominion. FORCING YOUR IRONS. Abe Mitchell gives some crisp advice: “Players go off their mashie simply because t.hev try to make that club too often do tbe work intended for the iron. “Never force with tbe irons. That is a golden rule. Accuracy is wanted with these clubs, not distance. This applies especially to the mashie, which should be used for tbe delicate approach. and not- forced beyond its capacity. “It is nlwavs a good plan to select an iron which will take tbe ball past tbe flag. A forcing shot with the mashie seldom achieves its object.” THE STYMIE.

All the authorities have agreed that the origin of the word stymie, that bugbear to young players and test or trial to experienced, is obscure. Stimie, stimy, steimy and steimmy are also variations of the word. It may be connected with sty me, an old Scottish word which means: (1) In the phrase '•'not to see a stymie”—to bn unable to see at all; (2) A glimpse or glance; the least bit or quantity (of anything) ; a glimmer (or light). (3) The awkward motion of one who does not see well. Hence a person of this description is vulgarly called a blind stymie.

Or it (stimy) (steimmy) may be a corruption of tbe English word stem, to eheck. stop, block, which has come from tlie Anglo-Saxon, .steefn, stefn, stemm, tbe stem of a tree: “From tlie throwing of a tree trunk into a river, which checks the current.”

The abolition of the stymie, which has often been a vital factor in deciding tbe issue of many a match throughout a countless number of years, would bring jov to the heart of many a modern golfer, who cares neither for the traditions nor for one of the most glorious uncertainties of the game that the stymie provides. As far back as the ’eighties, some golfers, possessed of awarchica,! tendencies, seriouslv discussed the question of the abolition of the stymie, but a'l their arguments came to nought; and it would be quite safe to assume that where such a suggestion to he promulgated to-day it would not for one moment be entertained seriously by the Dowers that be.

PLAY YOUR OWN GAME.

In a special article to the Christchurch Pi ■ess. Harrv Vardon puts in a strong plea for paving always one’s own natural 1 game, especially when nlaying against a stronger opponent, hitcr alia, he says: “Tn flic ordinary way. I bear constantly in mind, the conviction that the best way to win an important event is to play just as one would play a private round at. home, and not endeavour to accomplish th? nerfoimnnce of a life-time. There is such a thing as trying too hard. It begets anxiety, which is usual I ,v fatal. 1 was guiltv of it in tlie United States open championship at Brooklyn, ‘Massiiclnis tts in im'S. and paid tbe penalty. That was a lesson T shall never forget.”