WHAT'S WRONG WITH GOLF?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11149, 6 August 1914, Page 5

WHAT'S WRONG WITH GOLF?

VARAN'S OPINIONS. NOT ENOUGH BUNKERS. ' v Golfers will be keenly interested in an article upon American golf, appearing in tho current number of "Every- . body's Magazine," from the pen »of Harry \ardon. In a candidly arid kindly critical survey of tho principal American golfers, the open champion exposes the defects they labour under, ' and. what- is of greater importance, he supplies the causes of their deficiency* and provides the remedy. Vardon } iij addition to being the best player, u probably the most illuminating write* upon golf, for he seldom overburdens his readers with elaborate directions how to conquer the manifold difficulties of the game, but he contents himself with a few simple hints and suggestions which, if persevered with, must inevit« * ably be or benefit. Th© shortcomings of the Americans are by no means peculiar to the Americans. Everybody who has played over the best English and Scottish links has been struck with the fundamental difference in construction between them and the principal Australian coursesFew pause to consider, however, what a powerful influence upon the game itself this difference produces. Our - courses are easier than those of Great Britain. In America, out- of considera^i° n -l 0 t} , le l° u g~ ma rker, a similar mistake has been made in simplifying the game. So wide and so rapid has been the spread of golf that there are tens of thousands of beginners who are wrpstling with the initial mysteries i.of "swing"' and "stance," and thev hove just felt the fatal attraction that ..the spirit of the game exercises upon jta ■ victims. - In their feverish desire to "at- * tain proficiency they chafe under tho restrictions of their .pleasure by bunkers " and hazards. They are impatient -to play, and they ignore tho essentials. which lead to success. Instead of improving their game by sedulous practice, they seek to make their progress easier and more rapid by simplifying ' the links. These ar© the conclusions; arrived at by both Yardon and Ray after their recent tour of the United States, and there is little doubt , that, should they ever visit Australia, they " would convict Australians of a similar offence. "Your golfer cannot play a proper game, because hie course is not right. This 1 is the first charge made, and it is amply substantiated by evidence. lears ago, so it is stated, a similar situation existed in England. Then it gradually became to be realised that if the courses were not made more difficult the skill of the great mass of golfers would not be developed. Then a general movement was begun to provide severe courses. The poor players in the clubs threatened to resign. " We ■' told them to go ahead," says Yardon, "and then our courses were changed" into real links. The fellows who had threatened to quit were very glad to stay." He acids: " Green committees are keeping back the American golfer." In "the opinion of this authority, the 'greatest <fault'of the American golfer in that lie plays too much for a "pull." In his insensate striving after length he lets go, and he can pull all ho wants to without getting into trouble. On our best Australian courses the " rough " is generally severe enough to provide * adequate punishment. Oil : others, again, the golfer can hit at rjin> dom, and rove over the whole arclj commanded fr&n the tee without mucl hindrance. The Americans are beaten in England by the courses. They have 111 ! developed the pull, and they are n'ot accustomed tp paying the penalty. Another error is that the majority make a labour of golf. They make hard work of the They will often squeeze three rounds into the day, and aro seldom content with less than 45 holes. ' The result of that, says Vardon, is to ruin your game and ruin the benefit golf gives you. My advice to the . American who wants to get the most good out of golf is to practice more than he plays. Ybu never learn anything by constant playing. Constant practice, though, will make anyone a good player. Really, it is surprising how little it takes, to make one a good player. But you Americans will not . give up your time to practice. Always you must face an opponent. You must play the gams . to win. Now you never improve bj doing that. You ought to take one olub at a time, and go out on to fjha links and use only that club. Knockthe ball from one hole to the other, but always with the same club, brassey, cleek or mashie. Study your clubs. Get .acquainted with them. Master them. You can play golf that way for a while, and still get your exercise. I have noticed that a number of Americans scorn ■ golf form. That is a deplorable mistake. Without form yog: can never play more than an ordinary sort of game. _ You may do well for,a time, but it is ten to one you go tai pieces and drop back to the duffers' class. As I have said, the greatest weakness of your golfers is that desire for an extremely long ball and & consequent pull. I might in connection with that tell you briefly the principle# of my own game. I never try to get length. The 270 to 300 yards drive£ that Ray makes are simply not my game. All I want is direction. I try to keep the ball from teo to hole as - straight as .a bullet. I am seldom off the course. I could drive a lot farther if I wanted to. I don't need to because I go straight. People think that Ray takes a fuller swing than I. Me doesn't, but ho seems to, because he hits harder." It is these generalities that make Vardon's suggestions so valuable. That they aro the obvious makes no difference. Golfers do not follow the obvious course. In their desire for a short lent to success they devote but little • ' time to the routine of mastering th® underlying principles, and come to re- . gard a' long drive as the ho all and end all of golf. Yardon remarks," The man at tho top of the list must be able to use every club in his bag, not. to have to favour one." What impressed f the champion most in American golf was the inadequacy of tho courses. Thev were holding back the golfers. " You don't penalise enough," lio says. "You ought to have bunkers on every hole, guarding every green." That doctrine has been preached in Australia, but its apostles have had to meet the opposition of the majority of tho members. They like their difficulties to be lessened, not increased. Tho run-up is consequently played in preference to the pitch shot. Tho path of the reformer is a > thorny one. "My advice to the American golfer," Yardon concludes, "is to insist that the greens committee of their club makes his course more difficult. Never mind a nest of ridiculous pits; don't over-do them. Instead, line your fairways and guard your greens with bunkers. It is the otilv way you will stop jour ' pullinf' came—your greatest snortcoming? It is the only way, » mass, vour golfers will improve. ~■£

ticm of the Government is likely to Jeopardise the country's security and j reputation."