SEX DIFFERENCE IN GOLF

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1932, Page 4

SEX DIFFERENCE IN GOLF

WOMEN THE HEADIER LEARNERS.

FAIR HANDICAP IN COMPETITION.

(By .Harry to News). " A lady'player suggests that I should write something about the relative merits of the sexes at golf? So' far as concerns physical strength and . the standard of ability, the advantage is naturally with 'the.men, although it is, not nearly, so pronounced as .it used to be. : . ■ At one time a long driver in the masculine ranks: could hit the ball almost ‘ twice as far as a lady champion. AJI that has been' altered; partly: by the .more suitable. apparel now adopted by the feminine forces and partly by the wbndrOus development of their physique as the result of a generation of outdoor life. The - difference to-day is. seldom more than 20 yards, and some of the best lady goldfers can equal or surpass the distances achieved by the ayerage scratch dnaiL • .

It is a traditional handicap that, in a match between first-class players of the two sexes, the man can give the woman nine strokes—a very substantial allowance. I should say that this ought now to be reduced to six strokes. If we may take/the finalists in last year’s British amateur championship) Eric Martin Siriith, and John de-Forest, for the purpose o'f illustration,, it would be reasonable to offer odds against them if -they were trying-to concede more than -strokes, to Miss Joyce Wethered. Miss -Enid Wils'on would probably beat .either .with six strokes, . . , , - ,

There .is .a very decided .difference-in tlie attitude between women and men in their-quest of success at golf. The, wojpen' are. infinitely the more willing. to learn and profit from the- experiences of their betters, just as the Americans, were before they became siipreme in men’s golf. This trait' is to be observed in youth as well as in later stages. Regularly it’ that the first’ tribute paid: by the players who reach the final of the girl’s championship is to their local professionals who . have acted, as Their coaches. 1 Undoubtedly some boys are/good pupils, but I ’am- bound to ’say. that, for .the most part, they.are. neither so patient nor so diligent as- girls. They are. not .willing to endure so much temporary discomfort in an adjustment of their styles which, in the end, will be for their good, THE WAY OF MEN. Sueh winners of the girls’ title as Miss Wilson, Miss Diana Fishwick, Miss Diana Esmond, and Miss Pauline’ Doran have taken lessons from competent instructors and practised-what they have learnt with an assiduity which has meant constant progress. Exactly the same spirit is to bo observed- in the entire ranks of lady golfers. ; No trouble and. no sacr rifice are top great for them to undertake in the cause of improvement. The keenpegs to appear ’ for the second team of -a club or-a county, let alone for the first, is tremendous.

i No doubt it can be urged that, boys have many games which they must play in addition to golf; a-nd that men simply cannot spare the time to take lessops when their recreation is restricted very largely to week-ends, and when they are constituents of four-ball matches so in--violable that the absence of one of the members would be countenanced only on the ground of some such visitation as influenza or marriage. I think it can be said, too, that the floods of literature which, during the past ten years, have submerged the mind of the golfer seeking instruction in the game make it very difficult to convince the average business man that he can find enlightenment anywhere. In point of fact, he might often find it by placing himself in the hands of his local professional, for I am sure that many of those practitioners who possess no fame as players have the ability to detect and cure a fault when ■ the case comes into their hands.

They teach the game remarkably well considering that they have to deal with pupils of all shapes, sizes and ages; many with hopelessly bad styles, born of misguided beginnings. But there is a rather widespread feeling amongst men that lessons are not worth the bother they involve, while there is an even more definite view among-some of the younger stars who have made fleeting reputations that nobody can teach them anything. STRIKING A BARGAIN.

I sometimes think that, by way of encouraging sceptical or disheartened members to believe in the possibilities of improving their play, the professional might work on a new principle of payment by results. Instead of waiting for patrons to come to him and then starting them on a course of lessons at five shillings an hour (a process which sometimes makes them think that they are not learning enough in each instalment), he could size up the styles and peculiaritieb of his flock during the' week-end, when everybody is playing, select specimens

that obviously lent themselves to ad-, vancement, and then make some business.: bffers. ■ ■■” • Is there anybody who would resist an -: 'offer to have his- drive lengthened by- - 'twenty yards or his handicap reduced by four strokes in two months, payment to be made only when the progress ■had. been achieved? I must confess it Sounds rpther like the strategy of a vendor .in the .market-place who rubs his preparation on rusty, steel to convince everybody what it is capable of doing'; but so many golfers, have ceased Ito believe that they can be any better that some new step is necessary to give them faith, in the value of instruction. ■ In point of faet, there are'thousands :of players who. could lengthen their , driving a lot and iriiproye their play in other-, departments of the game by some very ‘simple alteration, of method, such as Standing a little more forward, which would entail no radical alteration of style. Every good professional can see these opportunities- at a glance.