GOLF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 5

GOLF

ON PUBLIC COURSES AMAZING POPULAR PURSUIT. ARTISAN GOLF’S HEADWAY. LONDON, Aug. 6. No one has done more to foster golf outside the clubs than J. H. Taylor, the veteran professional, who to-day carries on a big business as a course architect. He entered the game as a member of the Artisans Club, which is allowed to play over the links of the Royal North Devon club at Westward Hol, and the gold medal which he won during this time is a prize which I think he values more than any other. It was not until after the war chat artisan golf made any real headway. Then, through the influence of Taylor, an Artisans’ Association was formed. It has its championship, and two hundred or more players from all parts of the country compete in it annually. There is now to be an important development of this movement. Again through the initiative of Taylor, a public courses’ championship is co be held. Players eligible to take part in it must not be members of a recognised club, and it is anticipated that it will furnish a surprising array of talent. Golf on the public courses in the big industrial centres and in London is amazingly popular. A few years ago two courses were laid out in Richmond Park, and at the week-end there is never a moment from seven o’clock in the morning until evening without some ope waiting to go off. During the week, too, the amount of play is surprising. In the circumstances, every endeavour is being made to give more facilities for public golf. For over twenty-five years the Home Park Club has held a license to play on Crown land adjoining Hampton Court. The club had its own club house, and in addition to paying rent maintained the course. It has just received notice that the club must close down this month. The reason for this is that the authorities feel that the course should be thrown open to the public, and it is to be conducted on the same lines as those in Richmond Park, which are not only self-supporting, but show a considerable profit every year. BOLDNESS ON GREENS WHERE NEW CHAMPION SHINES. “NEVER UP, NEVER DOWN.” Writing of Billy Burke, the new open champion of America, the Sporting Globe’s special American correspondent says: When Burke takes his stance his club head is absolutely in line with the ball. Most of the stars have the face of the club opened a trifle. Burke has the toe of his club lifted a bit, giving the impression that he heels his club—even the putter. In most of nis well-lifted iron shots he takes almost no divot. His iron or brassie just about brushes the grass. With the majority of our leading professionals it is just the opposite. With their irons they take plenty of turf, and, while they usually attempt to strike clean with their brassies, they are not exacting in this respect, and will take some turf. Another characteristic of the new champion’s play is his boldness on the jreens. When he plays a long putt he nvariably reaches the cup or goes be yond it. He is anything but a safe player. He shoots for the hole, evidently being a believer of the maxim, "Never up, never down.” Burke is one of the few outstanding golfers who ; “stiff-arm” while putting. He goes through the ball while putting with his left arm virtually rigid. He gives the impression of pushing his putts, just us he seems to be shoving his wood and iron shots. The break of the epic Burke-Von Elm match came at the short 13th. hole of the final round. Burke was trapped and needed four. Vo j Elm had a fairly short putt for a two, but missed. The finishing blow fell on the 16th. There Von Elm took three putts from 12ft. Burke’s short game, however, was as consistent as ever, and when Von Elm began to waver on the carpets he was done. “HIT THEM HARD” HOW TO AVOID DISASTER. ADVICE TO BOBBY JONES. On the eve of one of his contests for the American Open Bobby Jones received a telegram from his old teacher, Stewart Maiden, which read, “Hit them hard, they’ll land somewhere.” Now, though this may sound rather peculiar to many as being quite contrary to the general idea of “don’t press,” there was a wealth of truth in Maiden’s message—one that might well be taken to heart by a great many players in the coming club championships. What he was really afraid of was that Bobby would start to play carefully and attempt that most fatal of golf faults, to steer the ball. He knew that if Bobby went out and smote them he would achieve the desired result and would not have time to think of this terrible steering. This is undoubtedly the cause of the failure of large numbers of players in qualifying rounds. They think that they must be careful, they must avoid all the troubles that they might get into, and instead of using th'' usual free swing that has always brought results they tighten up. Disaster follows. One Swing Causes Disaster. Take the case of Jose Jurado in the last British Open. He had a four and a five, par figures, at the last two holes . to win, two fives to tie. He attempted ■ to play carefully, tightened up and hit , his tee shot at the 17th. into the I burn. The hole cost him six, and he lost. All his great golf and his gal- ■ lant effort rode to disaster on that one 1 swing; he was attempting to play care- : fully and steer the ball. Stewart , Maiden knew, and that is why he told > Bobby to hit them hard. ! Young players, especially those with • lithe, supple bodies, should be taught to hit their shots hard; that is, taught properly. Many players with the very ' best of intentions often spoil a youngl ster by attempting to stop what ap ! pears to be overswing and a quick back 1 swing. These in a youngster are not faults at the commencement. At any rate any good ‘instructor can stop overswirling in a couple of moments. It. is r wim a youngster gets stiff and 1 wf Tpud or evolves some stupid idea • Wr"’.. r . a ? V K his hands high up at J he of hit 'vekswing that he is a sub-

ject for attention, but when he is hitting them and hitting them decently, never. As the telegram said, “They’ll land somewhere,” and that somewhere is usually a long way from the tee and on the fairway.