GOLF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 300, 18 December 1937, Page 6

GOLF

HENRY COTTON CHAMPION GOLFER’S FEES Henry Colton, ' British open golf champion, has been appointed consultant to a well-known firm of sporting goods manufacturers. He will receive 12000 a year. The appointment will not interfere with his tutoring work, and his participation in tournaments. These bring him an additional 12000 a year. Cotton, this year, was outstanding. He won the British open championship with remarkably low figures, when the greens and fairways were waterlogged; while he comfortably defeated Densmore Shute, of the United States, for the unofficial world’s match play championship. The one setback suffered for the year, was a defeat at the hands of Alfred Padgham in a minor event before the close of the British golfing season.

SWINGING IN GOLF CHANGE FROM FORMER DAYS CONTROL OF BALL NECESSARY The full slashing type of swing, which was so fashionable in pre-war days, has almost completely disappeared from first-class golf, states a Victorian writer. In those days a full swing meant that the player would take the c'luj back to at least a horizontal position at the top. To-day the majority of first-class players are “three-quarter swingers.” Why is it that players have decided to shorten their swings? The answer probably lies in the fact that the more powerful modern golf ball is more difficult to control. To-day one must be more accurate with the long shots, hence the necessity for a more controlled—and consequently shorter — swing. Henry Cotton, the world's greatest, golfer, employs a short swing, and yet he is an exceptionally long hitter—when he wants to be. Coming closer home we have the national open champion, George Naismith, with a very abbreviated swing. Naismith is also a long hitter, but his controlled i swing gives him consistent accuracy. | There is no doubt that his short i back-swing was largely responsible j for his mastery of the difficult I weather conditions on two days of the : last open championship. Another greatl advantage of the shorter swing is thatl it is less likely to get out of gear. • Do not overdo the short backs'.-,fin:; > to the extent of poking at the ball, i The shot must always be a swing.! When you discover that the swing has j gone, increase the backward are of I the club-head slightly until you can: definitely assure yourself that you are : swinging the club. ■