Better Times Approaching For British Golf

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5618, 6 April 1931, Page 10

Better Times Approaching For British Golf

Looking at the golfing year 1930 in retrospect, it is easy enough to take a pessimistic view of tho game in Great Britain, but there remain some abiding reflections of great achievements even in an otherwise dismal review (writes C. W. Packford in The Sporting Lite). We were soundly beaten m the crucial tests, tho Walteu- Cup match, the Open and Amateur Championships, and only the women golfers maintained the pre-eminence that they always have held in the game. . Nevertheless, there are signs that British golf has entered upon an era of promised success anticipated for a long time, and in spite of the complete overshadowing of our players in t c international events this season, go has grown as a popular national game and broni-ix' with it young recruits of great ability.. . Except that a slip of a girl, Miss Diana Fishwick, rose from obscurity to stem the tide of American successes, when she beat Miss Glenna Collett, America's champion, in the final ot t e ladies’ event, the United States tically dominated the game m Great Britain. . . The strongest amateur invasion that, had ever come from America soundly trounced our amateurs m the Walker Cup match at Sandwich early in May, and there began a series of successes in which the great Bobby Jones s name might be substituted for the United States of America. . . Having led his team of trained gladiators against our ill-prepared side in tho Walker Cup match, Jones, the world’s greatest golfer, recorded his first success in tho British amateur championship at St. Andrews, defeating the British captain, Roger Wethered, by seven up and six to play m the The open championship shortly afterwards brought another proof of he greatness of Jones, who won at Hoylake with the lowest score ever recorded there. Five of the first seven places were held by Americans, Archie Crompston, the most likely Britisher to retrieve the trophy, which had reposed m the United States for the last seven years, cracking under the strain in the las round after ha had virtually sealed Ins success with an amazing 68, which gave

him" the lead with three rounds played. Of tho home professionals, unarms Wliitcombo was tho most, consistent player, and ho concluded his successes by winning tlio “unofficial” match play championship. It had been said that 1930 would be Henry Cotton’s year; illness postponed that promise, but a host of young golfers have beon discovered m tno professional ranks during the year and may" shortly join Cotton in rehabilitating British golf. . , Unfortunately, the prospects m the amateur ranks cannot be regarded with similar optimism if 1930 is to be regarded as a criterion, and there is no outstanding amateur player of the year now that Cyril Tolley and T. P. Perkins play practically all their golf in tho United States. 'i n -women’s golf thcro are so many '‘discoveries” that thcro appears to be no reason why this country should bo overshadowed for a long time. Apart from the achievement of the 19-ycar-old Miss Diana Fishwick, t.he British champion, there were other fine successes by girl golfers.

NEW FORM OF NIBLICK Included in tho outfit brought over last year by Bobby Jones was a new form of niblick, shaped like a wedge, with' concave face. It weighed 250 z (writes Anthony Spalding in the London Star). Horton Smith and other American professionals also carried a “wedge.” With this brutal and crude club Bobby and his like could get the hall out of almost any (position in sand. The result was to set a fashion in niblicks, both in tho States and Britain. Tho new club was much talked about at the amateur championship at St. Andrews. Members of the Rules of Golf Committee, from motives of curiosity and not officially, examined and tried it; some condemned it, others were doubtful. It was argued that it was practically impossible to use the club without hitting tho ball twice, which is a breach of rule 14 and entails the loss of a stroke. The United States Rules Committee have read the burial servico over the corpse of the “wedge” which they regard as making a departure from the accepted form of golf clubs.