LADY GOLFERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 16 June 1926, Page 7

LADY GOLFERS

■ t WHY THEY HAVE IMPROVED

(By Harry Vardon, Six Times Open Champion).

The ladies' grdf championship is to be decided at Harlech in Wales on May 10th: and following days. There is a splendid entry, including Miss Gleniia -Cf)llett,\ the United (Stales champion, and Mile. Simonc de la Chaume, the French champion, and the chance of the title being taken abroad'for the first. time is perhaps greater than in any previous vear.

Unfortunately, Miss Joyce- Wet'hered is not defending tho honour. She is probably the best lady golfer that this or any other generation has produced. Leaving her out of tho reckoning, it is an interesting question as to how tits present standard of feminine ability en the compares with that of former times. In his reminiscences, Mr Horace •Hutchinson, who was amateur champion, •thirty years ago, says: "I am disposed to think that our best ladies of to-day are not greatly belter, if at all, than Ljidy, 'Margaret Scott at her best." People who have followed the play in' (lie ladies' championship, year in and year out. since its early days. wdl find it difficult (o agree with this view. Lady'Margaret Scott was a fine golfer. In the first three competitions for the championship in 1893-4-5, all of which she won, she was a class by herself. And I daresay that she would have gone on winning for some time afterwards if .she had not 'been content with iiieso successes.

Her long, easy graceful swing was far better than anything that had been seen in women's play up to that time, veterans said that- her style was tho faseimile'oif that of. Sir Robert Hay. a sla! wart <<i\ SI. Andrews in the 'forties, who was renowned as Hie possessor of (he most beautiful swing in golf at his lime.

r me. it seems that the character of women's golf has changed entirely during recent veurs. Tt has become more athletic rind forceful, and therefore, belter. The standard of play has improved in far greater degree than among men —mainly hern use r,/f the greater scope for improvement. Tn Jhe old days, there w;is no lady golfer who hit (lie halt, with . the power that Miss Cecil •Leitch and Miss Wethered subsequenll-y developed.

IMPORTANCE OF DRESS

Lady .Margaret Scott lacked neither the/power nor (he skill which her successors have shown, but women's golf in her time was regarded from a stand- : point which saw, ami, indeed, insisted ! upon very definite limitations of the : possibilities of the sex on the links. Nobody viewed it us a game in winch a lady should he hard-hitting or athletic. The very mode of dress—if Hie mere male may be critical on this point—pre- ; eluded anything in the nature of really powerful shots. In the 'mind's eye one sees now the lady golfers of (lie 'nineties—wide skirts almost touching the ground. blouses drawn in at 1 hi- waist to produce the -wasp-like effect and broad-brimmed straw hats, the backs of which would have checked a club falling properly into petition close behind the head at the top of the swing. Custom of the period proscribed this manner of dressing, for t -'itfir-.--,- lif c , ami nobody though! of wearing special garments for golf. Lady .Mirgiret Scull adopted (he ways of othei members of lu-r sex. but how could any woman have played the best

golf possible to her in such circumstances? i In point of fact, the length of the full shots came purely of. a' gentle, easy 'f swing into which little real power could be imparled. The evolution began about 1900, and I thinl?'that Miss Rhona Adair (who subsequently became •Mrs Cuthell) Inaugurated it. This splendid Irish player favoured a style of dros's which, if not quite so well adapted to the purpose as that, since evolved was at least a great improvement on that which had prevailed hitherto.. It allowed freedom of movement and the use of physical power. The length of ■Miss Adafr's shots when she won the championship at Westward Ho in 1900 was an eye-opener. .

THE OLD WAY Even she, however, was probably hardly so good as the best of the modern players. Nor, I think, was her famous 'compatriot, Miss May Hezlet (now Mrs Ross),* although Miss Hazlet secured three championships. She hit the bull harder than most, of her predecessors had done, bub if she were to play the same sort of game to-day, her methods would be considered peaceful-! ly persuasive, with those of; such golfers as Miss Wethered and Miss 'Leit'eh. . '.. ■:) Women golfers who have attended; most of the championships, consider: that the standard of play has improved , enormously, and more than anything : else, I believe, is the development due to-changes of dress. " ;The .physical; strength which some of the ...women golfers of to-day .get into their shots is astonishing. When- their best players meet strong men golfers,' they are seldom moi'3 than fifteen yards behind the mini in the full drives. The idea of the lady almost holding.her own in (he Inns; game with a male, champion would have been laughed to scorn 20' years ago. . '. I'arl/ieiilairly does one observe !thi,s ■ rising r-f power- in feminine golf, when Ihe leading players get into bunkers, ' long grass, or other places of retribui lion. | At one time if was pathetic to see a lady in distress on the'dinks. I haye wntehed matches in which the two players—the pick of all' the competitors —have suffered untold agonies in bunk- . crs, they would bang and banc; in the sand without ever banging hard enough 11> force the ball from the clutches of Hie hazard. Nowadays, the first-class lady golfer recovers from difficulties I wil'h the facility—born of the physical [ attributes—which used to be the proud : privilege of man.