PARK and the PAST GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS of FATHER and SON—PRECEPTS and PRACTICE by HENRY LEACH (Author of "THE HAPPY GOLFER," "THE SPIRIT of the LINKS," ETC.)

THE AMERICAN GOLFER WALTER J. TRAVIS, EDITOR Vol. XVII. March No. 5 1917 PARK AND THE PAST GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OF FATHER AND SON—PRECEPTS AND PRACTICE BY HENRY LEACH (Author of "THE HAPPY GOLFER," "THE SPIRIT OF THE LINKS," ETC.)

I of the past, the time when the history of the game as we know it was being SOMETHING seemed to snap when Willie Park left the landing stage and built up, that link being comprised in in a somewhat saddened mood walked the human person of our Willie. For, along the gangway to the deck of the you see, Willie Park was really one steamship that was to bear him across of "the boys of the old brigade." In the Atlantic, there to remain. Willie this respect there was none like him, is a man of the best human emotions, and, therefore, while understanding which are also the simplest, and he and somewhat envying the United loved the land of his birth, felt all States of America for the greatest of manner of ties holding him to it, but their gains from us in human golfing fortune for long years past had been material, we gave him very fervently unkind, and at last he realized that and sincerely our blessing and wished for the second time a member of his him all manner of good fortune and distinguished golfing family must go happiness. Above all, we hoped that across the seas to seek the fortune his some day he would return. Willie is native land would not yield to him. a great golfer with a splendid history, I think I can imagine many of his and he is a fine fellow, nice in thought thoughts as he saw the shores of and manner, gentle, true, and ever Britain receding beyond the wake of kind. the great liner. He thought of the II glories that were gone, of "old Willie," LET ME REMIND YOU of the kind of the splendid "old Willie" who was his link it was that snapped. The most father and one of the greatest golfers modern players, the great multitude of all time, he thought of their beloved who have come in to the game since Musselburgh, once such a veritable the rubber-cored ball helped to en- shrine of the game than which not hance its popularity, almost need to even St. Andrews was more exalted, be told that Willie Park is one of the and perhaps he thought of later days, greatest champions of golf, for they of London and Huntercombe; but the know and think only of such as Var- first memories were the best. That don, Taylor, and Braid, with a few of which seemed to snap was almost the the younger men who seek to follow only solid link remaining between the those giants and begin to be weary of golf of today and the really great golf the waiting. Willie Park himself was

(*Copyright, 1917, in Great Britain and U. S. A. by Henry Leach.) 344THE AMERICAN GOLFER twice Open Champion of the game. lonie had made himself champion, J. He was that for the first time in 1887 H. Taylor began to win, and the "old when he gained the honour at Prest- brigade" that the Morrises had led, wick, and he was Open Champion passed from the scene of triumph for- again only two years later, when he ever. Willie Park, none so worthy, gained the title at his native Mussel- stood forward as the last defender of burgh after making a tie for it with the prestige of that old brigade, and Andrew Kirkaldy. If there were only there was something dramatic in the three dozen competitors on the first circumstances in which he opposed of these occasions and four dozen on himself to the new champions from the second, still the championships in the south, with James Braid coming those days were difficult things to to join them, who seemed to be ex- win, for there were some great play- erting full mastery everywhere. Tay- ers on the links. But the race of pro- lor had been champion twice and fessional champions that we know Vardon once when at last Willie made had not arisen. When Willie won his a great effort at Prestwick in 1898, second Open Championship and was the scene of his first triumph. He at the height of his power, Harry played grandly then and at the end Vardon was still in his native Jersey of the third round leading the field, and not a golfer in England had ever looked a likely winner. But Vardon heard of him, James Braid was work- stole up to him in the last turn, they ing as a joiner at St. Andrews and were virtually level when each had still playing golf as an amateur, and only nine more holes to play, and it J. H. Taylor was still at Westward came about that when Park stood on Ho! Jack Burns had preceded Willie the last tee he had to get a 3 to tie. in the championship list, while Mr. In those days of the gutty the last John Ball followed him. Then there hole at Prestwick was perhaps not were Hugh Kirkaldy and Mr. Hilton such a comparatively easy 3 as it is and Willie Auchterlonie, who still today, but anyhow Park drove to the has his headquarters at St. Andrews corner of the green, and then putted and makes such beautiful clubs that to within about a yard of the hole. even such a hardened old veteran as He had that last putt to tie for the John Ball himself cannot bear to pass championship, and he missed it. That his shop without looking in and wag- was a sad miss indeed, hardly another gling something, and, sure enough, to match it in golfing history, and it parting with a little siller in exchange was missed by one of the very great- for wood—good wood. Willie Auch- est putters the world of golf has ever terlonie, champion of 1893, and known, perhaps the greatest. Nobody Willie Fernie, professional of Troon, thought he would miss that putt. champion of 1883, and as much cele- Harry was standing beyond the edge brated now for being the father of of the crowd from which he had been splendid young Tom who was elbowed out, feeling somewhat nerv- wounded early in the war—seem to ous, minutes seeming like years. He be the best representatives left of the did not think that Park could miss old days, but they and their family that putt, and he did not like the pros- did not play the part in golf as did pect of playing off with Willie for the Parks. After Willie Auchter- the championship. But presently THE AMERICAN GOLFER 345

there arose from round the ring of as ever he did in his life, and that if people that peculiar long wailing he had not been doing so Park would "O-o-o-h" which tells of the sudden assuredly have beaten him disappointment of a multitude, so Park, unhappy about it all, chal- different from the exulting shout. lenged Vardon afterwards to a home- Prestwick, you see, is in Scotland, and-home match for a hundred and so much in Scotland that it is pounds a side, thirty-six holes at but a few shots to the Ayr of Bobby North Berwick and thirty-six at Burns. Southern amateurs had twice Ganton, to which course, near Scar- before advanced beyond the Tweed borough, the new champion was then and won the Open Championship, attached. That match when it was but the Scots put it to themselves on played, and the famous "£400 four- those occasions that after all the some" some years later, have certain- Open Championship was chiefly a ly been the greatest money matches professional event, and therefore of modern times. There have been these amateur triflings might not other professional games for more count. But here now was the south- than a hundred pounds, but none that ern professional doing his devil's created the stir that this did. It was work on one of the most historic of made a national event. People wrote Scottish greens, that on which the to the papers giving their views on Championship had first been played the way it ought to be managed, dis- for, and then for many years in suc- senting from some of the conditions, cession, and, for the sake of full and generally did their best to exhibit tragedy, doing it against the son of some feeling. When the first half of the great man who first won that the game was played at North Ber- championship. Yes, this was awful wick the disposition of Scotland was work, and sadly was it accepted. to make a national festival of it, and There is no better sportsman than the dangers of attempting to crowd so Willie Park, and it was nothing much of the population of the king- against his sportsmanship that he dom on to a narrow strip of coast was chagrined by this failure, and facing the Bass Rock was so real that none the less because the whole affair it was arranged the Prince of Wales was really so much of a success for should visit Edinburgh that day (as him. Standing forth for that old some would put it facetiously) and brigade (there is no other appropriate so draw off a part of the people. This term to use), the dying generation, strategy succeeded to some extent, nine years after he had won the cham- the lukewarm golfers being tempted pionship, and with the insinuation in to the capital to take a view of royalty, the air that those old championships but seven thousand stalwarts of the were softer things than the newer links went to North Berwick and did ones, easier to win, and productive of their duty there. This was the first inferior champions, Park now came time that ever a golf match was really out and played as good golf as the organized and arranged. There were very best of the new men. At that stewards, flag waggers—with "P's" time he was very brilliant; Harry and "V's" on their banners—rope- Vardon has told me that just then he, holders and all the other parapher- Harry, was playing the game as well nalia to which we have become well 346THE AMERICAN GOLFER accustomed since. They were all new per figures, and thus it happened that then, and were very impressive. That the first ten holes were halved. When was the beginning of golfing crowds. the tensity was relaxed it was Park Freddy Tait himself was umpire on who won a hole, and Scotland then behalf of Park, and Norman Hunter took a flask from its pocket and made was a forecaddie. The wars have had an enthusiastic pull. Yet the southron them both. The game was worthy of was two up on the day's play....It

WILLIE PARK (Photographed especially for THE AMERICAN GOLFER.) the interest in it, and never in a great was good for Scotland that it was match has there appeared to be such spared the sight of what happened at meticulous care on the part of the con- Ganton three weeks later. Cheered by testants, fearing to let anything slip, the fact of having made himself two anxious not to overlook any possi- up on the greatest match player of bility of advantage. In solemnity and his time on his own course, Vardon silence they drove and putted on in in the second half of the match did very correct manner and strictly pro- the fullest justice to his genius, and THE AMERICAN GOLFER347 he won by eleven up and ten to play. BUT YET that is only half the story, Willie Park played in the champion- for it was his name and lineage and ship for many years after that. He the achievement of his father that was still a great golfer, and still obvi- gave so much to the dignity and im- ously capable of playing a hard game portance of Willie Park, the younger, with the very best of the new school. when backed up so well as it was by But it must be remembered that, hav- his own prowess and performance. ing been born in February, 1864, he The Parks of Musselburgh! There was becoming no younger, and other were only the Morrises of St. An- and greater interests than the mere drews that could ever be compared to playing of the game were arising in them. Father and son here made the his life. There was the business in immediate succession as no other pair Cannon Street, London, and presently but the Morrises did. No other men he became largely and closely inter- who were relatives gained the honours ested in the great Huntercombe estate of the Open Championship, and in in Oxfordshire and the magnificent some respects the record of the Parks course that was laid out on it. His is better than that of the Morrises. services as golf architect, in which "Auld Wullie" was something like a capacity he had taken a place of su- pioneer, and he was the very first premacy, were greatly in demand at winner of the Open Championship, this time when, with the "golf boom" when it was played for at Prestwick really beginning, there was a call for in 1860, Tom Morris, senior, gaining courses everywhere. So we began to the Belt in the two following years, notice him less and less in public golf, after which Willie, senior, came but still for many years he made it a again. In 1866 he was champion for point to appear in the Open Cham- pionship, just like any other profes- the third time, as old Tom had become sional, for to the end Willie showed before him; Tom gained his fourth in the very best esprit de corps. One of 1867, and Willie responded in 1874. my last recollections of him on a golf But the family business was now be- course was of watching him approach- coming a curious and complicated ing the famous Road hole at St. An- thing, for while old Tom brought in drews during the championship, the his son, young Tom, and saw him famous caddie, "Fiery," carrying his whip off four championships in suc- clubs for him as he always did and cession, beginning with the year after conferring with his chief, not for the Tom won his last, Park, who as yet first time or the fiftieth, upon the pe- had no son big enough for champion- culiar problems presented in the effort ships had the felicity of seeing brother to place the ball upon this elusive strip Mungo come in for victory in 1874. of green. Such a memory gratefully Park winning again in the following lingers. Willie is in America and year that was the end of the reign of "Fiery" is with his fathers. Time the seniors. The period followed goes on... Perhaps you will begin to when Jamie Anderson and Bob Fer- realise a little better now why we do guson dazzled the mid-Victorian golf- so specially regard Willie as being the ers, and at last in Jubilee year, young last of the old brigade, and the sense Willie was ready for victory and ob- of loss that was created when he went tained it. He was the only descend- away. ant of those great pioneers; the mantle 348THE AMERICAN GOLFER

of the earliest champions was upon stead of his left. He had as pretty him; he was a living reminder of the a swing as one could wish to see. It great days of old, the link between was not what you would call a long quite primitive golf when Allan Rob- swing, but a beautiful round swing. ertson achieved such wonders on St. The club did not descend away down Andrews links and these new days the back almost to the ground, as is when people everywhere seemed to the case with many possessing a very become strangely attracted towards long swing, but described, as it were, this game, and hardly any more was it a circle round the head. So clean did being regarded as purely and exclu- he strike the ball, and with such force, sively Scottish. His manners at the that on many occasions when I have game, his feeling towards it, and all stood close behind him the meeting of else supported his exceptional posi- the club and the ball sounded more tion and made of him a respected and like the report of a pistol than any- a most particular personality. Now, thing else. He played splendid long you understand why Willie Park, the approaches with his cleek, but was younger, was not like the rest. never what might be called great with his iron. For want of a better name III Willie was what you might call a IT IS WORTH WHILE for good enter- wooden club player. For many years tainment's sake to make some ex- he had in his possession two clubs cursion now, when there is such good which he used to tell me ought to be opportunity and excuse, to those dis- framed on account of the many im- tant days when golf history was in portant matches he had won by their the making, and the game in its sport- help. One was a little old cleek, and ing atmosphere and men was not less the other his famous old wooden put- rich than it is now, though its num- ter... The long spoon was also a bers were so many fewer. "Auld powerful weapon in his hands. With Wullie" was indeed a tremendous it a bad-lying ball went away as if it man; in all the records of golf there had been shot from some rocket ap- is not a more glowing character. And paratus." on the links he was never afraid of That putter here referred to is anybody or anything; he was the most probably the most historic putter in venturesome, daring, full-blooded the world and it is still in the pos- golfer that the history of the past can session of Willie Park, the living. It yield to our contemplation. All who passed out of the family at one time, saw him play agreed upon it that he but came back to young Willie in due had a beautiful swing, round, easy course, and he is very proud of it as and graceful. Allan Robertson, after he has a right to be. It is a fine old watching him once, remarked "He wooden putter. I have already sug- frichtens us a' wi' his lang driving!" gested what most people know, that The veteran authority, Mr. Doleman, Willie Park, the younger, was and once wrote an interesting note upon still is one of the very greatest of him, which I shall quote—"In address- putters. That marvellous ability was ing his ball when driving, Willie's po- partly cultivated but also partly in- sition differed from most golfers, his herited, for "auld Wullie" was one of right foot being a little in front in- the most marvellous of men upon the THE AMERICAN GOLFER349 putting green. When his ball was as by saying it was no the richt thing for much as six or seven feet from the a wee body like Wullie to be wantin hole it was as good as in, for he rarely a mautch wi sic an ane as him, Allan, missed at that distance. The know- and it would be weel enoo' if he would ledge of his power with putts of this come to ask him agin when he had kind gave him a peculiar confidence beaten the likes o' Willie Dunn and when dealing with the long ones. He Tom Morris. Yet Park did want that seemed to know that however much match with Allan, and went from he overshot the hole he would be sure home to St. Andrews and prowled with the next one, and so he played about the place hoping to lure the ball up boldly from the edge of the master on. That was the the green, and as he had a marvellous first time he ever went to St. Andrews. eye and hand for the line, the num- It was about 1864. Dr. Argyll Robert- ber of long putts that he holed was ex- son found him once making his first traordinary. If his opponents could round on the old course, practising in not beat him in the long game their the hope of the match that he thought chance of doing so in the short one might come. He did 86 in that round, was extremely small. which was splendid for those days. Auld Wullie was out for honours. However Allan would not bite, and He feared nobody, and he wished to so Wullie turned his attention to the contest with all. In those very early Morris family. First he beat George, days when he was just rising to his the brother of Tom, and then old Tom best, that being in the few years pre- took him on himself. This was in ceding the institution of the Open 1864, Park then being twenty-one. Championship, Allan Robertson, the The pair agreed to play thirty-six professional prince of St. Andrews, holes for fifty pounds, and at the end was regarded as the greatest golfer of the match Park was five up. This of the time and not without reason, game was played at St. Andrews, and and thus Allan had a great reputation the natives, who have never been to preserve. It was not for nothing famous for impartiality, did not like that old Tom Morris, for a long time it. They had watched the match in associated with Allan in his club and large numbers, and at the end of it ball making business, described him as they swarmed round the victor and "the cunningest bit body o' a player, shouted "Where's the man that beat I dae think, that iver haun'led cleek Morris?" and someone shouted jeer- an' putter. An' a kindly body, tae, as ingly back, "He's no man; he's only it-weel does fit me to say, an' wi' a' a laddie without whiskers." After wealth o' slee pawky tun aboot him." that Tom challenged his conqueror to Allan was so cunning that, having play him at North Berwick, where seen Wullie play, he made up his mind Park was then located, and the result that he was not going to play him if was the same. These two matches led he could help it. His reputation to a tremendous rivalry between the would be in jeopardy. On the other pair, and they played in many other hand, Wullie was truculent, and soon matches for a hundred pounds a side, gave Allan to understand he wanted usually over four courses, St. An- to match himself against him and was drews, Prestwick, Musselburgh and not afraid of him. Allan put him off North Berwick, and Tom did much 350THE AMERICAN GOLFER

better towards the end. The last game he espied the eminent Mr. Edward of all between them was played in Blyth who made up the deficiency. He 1882 and Tom was the winner, having played the match, won it, gave Mr. had the good fortune to lay his op- Blyth his fifteen and the other fifteen ponent five or six stymies in the with it, and went home contented with course of the match. They were the balance. Those of old were brave photographed together afterwards, days.... and when the photographer was ar- IV. ranging them, Willie playfully pushed Tom in front and said "Mak' a stymie, SEE NOW how young Willie with mak' a stymie!" Although Wullie such a golfing parent, was blooded to beat Willie Dunn as well Allan Rob- the game. Clearly it was golf for him ertson was quite determined not to from the start. Willie was born at play him, and would not fulfil his Musselburgh, and his first recollection promise. He was fixed on nothing so of the game is not so much of strik- much as that. It used to be said and ing a ball as having been struck by still is that in an important match one. He was only some four years Allan was never beaten. This is not of age when a friend of his father's strictly correct, for surely Willie gave a club to Willie and another to Dunn beat him. In the most famous his brother Frank, and they went out match between these two, however, to try their childish skill with them. Allan was victor, and it settled the Frank warned Willie that he was question of their relative supremacy. about to drive in his direction, but As a recognised match that was surely the latter heeded not, with the result the longest on record, for it consisted that he received the ball full in his of twenty rounds and lasted ten days! mouth and fell on his back from the I believe it was decided by rounds and shock of the impact. In those days not by holes; at all events the official in Musselburgh it was all golf. The result is that "honest Allan," as some famous nine holes course was as the called him, won on the last day by heart of the ancient burgh, and the two rounds and one to play. "A clubmakers' shops that were adjacent pawky auld buddie!" Willie always to it were the hives of industry and called him. He himself was so dif- good gossip. The young Willie even ferent, so adventurous. He would before his schooldays began, was fas- have won the championship in the cinated by his father's shop, and second year of its existence as well as would beg the loan of tools and try the first, but for his madness, as every- to make clubs of a kind with them. body regarded it, in trying to cross And, as driving was then beyond his the Alps at Prestwick with his second, power, he played at putting, and the for which daring he was terribly pun- baby practice which he had must ished. One day he went to North surely have been a strong influence Berwick to play David Strath for £50, upon his after game. We find that but his backers did not turn up as they in the case of many of the best put- should have done, and he was short ters of the time they had childish of the necessary money. When he had practice of this kind. He made little scraped together all he could he found holes in the cracks in the pavement that he was still £15 short, but then outside the shop, and there he played THE AMERICAN GOLFER351 putting matches against himself, put- friends and rivals, they played to- ting with marbles. He was glad if gether continually, and, the sporting anyone would ever play with him, as instinct being strong in them, they they seldom did. He made holes to played each other all the time for the putt at everywhere; he seemed al- full extent of their private possess- ways looking for holes, and regarded ions, including clubs, balls, and the every depression in the ground as a very few pennies that they could oc- potential hole. His father's shop had casionally muster. And so they had a brick floor, and hollows were worn their ups and downs and became al- in the bricks. The boys found it ternately rich and poor at each other's made quite good and certainly dif- expense. That continued until they ficult putting to play these hollows. were eleven or twelve years of age, By this time they had ascended to and then Willie Dunn had to go the use of the regular gutty balls, away. There were only two or three and the difficulty in the putting was golf clubs in the south in those days, that the strength had to be so mar- and the chief of them was the old one vellously regulated or the ball would at Blackheath where Tom Dunn, slip out at the other side of the hol- brother of this young Willie, was low. Anything that has golf in it professional. It seemed that he seems to have its fascination for needed some assistance in his shop, mankind, and Willie and his friends and so he undertook to take Willie in become overpowered by this game hand and train him. So little Willie upon the bricks, so much so that, the went away, but before he went they daylight not being sufficient to cool twain had one parting match that was their enthusiasm, they would secure greater than all the rest, and full possession of the key to the shop at eighteen pense, the most they could night and go there to do more putting collect was staked upon it. It was by candle light. Willie took this put- over two rounds of the nine-hole ting very seriously, and he said to me course of Musselburgh. I should not in latter days—"Putting has always, waste time in stating any of the facts as you know, been a strong part of and circumstances of this boy's match my game since the beginning, and I did not Willie Park assure me not often think that perhaps the training long ago, and will assure anyone else of my eye and the extreme delicacy at the present time, that this was the of touch that came to me through this greatest and most important match in continual putting on the bricks, which which he ever played, for it is the one I did for years, was of great assist- that lives in his memory most, that ance to me when I came to do the of which he has the most vivid re- comparatively easy putts on real membrances, that upon which his greens." contemplations most happily linger. His great chum as a small boy was These certainly are strong considera- the son of his father's old rival, Willie tions and the match itself was good Dunn. The boy also was named enough for anything, for by the time Willie; he went to America long ago the contestants came to the last green and was the very first winner of the of all they were at full grips with American Open Championship, that each other, and it came about that being in 1894. These boys were great while Willie Park was dormy one, 352THE AMERICAN GOLFER

Willie Dunn had only to hole a putt blows, according to size. Willie Park of eighteen inches to win the last hole told me that it used to take him about and halve the match with him. He two and a half minutes to hammer a studied that putt, the line of it and ball well, and that he was considered all the conditions and circumstances a very good hammerer, having in- with the most special care, but he vented a system by which he kept his missed it after all. It was a tragic right elbow fast to his side while his moment when he did so. His forearm worked like a lever, so that countenance took on a look of blank he could always depend on the ham- horror and dismay, for a moment he mer coming down exactly to the same was speechless and then in broken spot each time while his left hand tones exclaimed, "Man, I could let a worked the ball round. wee bairn strike me in the mouth!" If the training of Willie Park to the Such was the parting game between game of golf was a little casual, as it the boy who was to be first Open was with all the players of the olden Champion of America and his friend time, still there was a thoroughness who was destined for the champion- about it. Like others he watched and ship twice. copied, and, to his benefit, he watched Willie was an earnest boy. He his father most and copied him con- came by some very fair skill in club- siderably. Often did he carry Old making before his schooldays were Willie's clubs for him in his big over, and his imaginative and practi- matches, and young Willie always cal mind was turned to the question said that he owed as much to as to whether a ball better than the the parental precept and example gutty could not be made—better in as to anything else. Wise was the sense that it could be driven the advice that old Willie gave: further. There is some reason for none could give it better. "Listen thinking that this boy made the first Wullie!" he would say to the boy. rubber ball that was ever used for "Remember that a mautch weel made golf, failure as it was. He prepared is a mautch half won," and the boy a mixture of ground rubber, ground never forgot that wise expression. cork and gutta percha, and forced it The old Scots knew better how to down a funnel into an iron mould. It make matches than any other men, looked well enough when it has been and they realised that in the making set and released from the mould, but of the match, with the evidence and after a few shots had been played the arguments that were advanced with the ball it swelled and fell to and pressed, there was the joy of ef- pieces, so the idea was given up. But fort and the exercise of capacity in young Willie was a very expert ham- friendly conflict. It was the best merer of the gutty balls which in day's work to win a match, or a part those days were hammered and rough- of it, before taking to the teeing ened after manufacture so as to as- ground, and to win it in play after- sist their flight—the beginning of the wards. Then it could all be done marking of the ball. They came plain over again in the clubhouse after from the moulds, and were then ham- dark, and that made all complete. mered at a cost of sixpence a dozen, Because of the competitions and the each ball receiving from 240 to 280 medal rounds and all the modern THE AMERICAN GOLFER353 fanglements, the art of match play with Willie Fernie, and tieing again has somewhat declined in recent when they played the four rounds a times, and with it the art of making second time. They played two more the match. Willie's elder brother, rounds and were still level with one Frank, also taught him very much of hole to play, but Fernie won at the his game. They two played Willie last. A few years later, in 1883, he Fernie and Willie Campbell at Aln- went back to Musselburgh to help his mouth when Willie was only seven- father in his clubmaking business. teen years of age, and they won the Three or four seasons afterwards the match by Willie holing out with an great boom in golf began in Britain, iron shot at the last hole. His. uncle, and the Parks became a very busy

The Putting-Green at the Fifth Hole at Westward Ho!

Mungo Park, was professional at clubmaking firm, sometimes working Alnmouth then, and, when very day and night. The business claimed young indeed, young Willie became all the time of Willie, and his play himself professional at Ryton-on- was neglected. But for this he Tyne not very far away, and stayed might have been an even greater there until he was twenty-one. Dur- player than he was and is. ing this period he and his father played a family match against old V. Tom Morris and Jimmy Morris, his STILL IT WAS at this time of the son, the Parks being conquerors, great discovery of golf by the multi- while another memorable thing that tude that Willie, in 1887, won his occurred, like the other, at Alnmouth, first Open Championship. It was a was Willie making a tie of it for first gallant victory. He had no thought place in a four-rounds competition of playing in the great event until the 354THE AMERICAN GOLFER time for it was nigh. He had not shot, made his position worse with even struck a ball for full seven every one of them, and finally was 9 months until the thought of the to the hole. Of course he had lost championship came into his mind, the championship then and Willie and then, when he decided to play at Park had won it, and never was there Prestwick, he gave himself a month a more tragic conclusion to an Open to the game. At the end of the Championship. Certainly Willie Park period he was playing excellent had won, but he had some odd shots golf, and felt he had a chance of to pay before he had finished. He winning. Feeling so, he wished to had one at the Alps, the seventeenth make the most of the possibility and hole, where his ball lay hard against tried to back himself, but the business a bank, and he had to send it high was bad. No better odds than five towards the heavens in order to bring to one could he obtain, and even at it down on to the green which was that the utmost amount that he could only thirty yards away; and again at get taken about his chance was ten at the last hole his ball from the tee shillings. The financial outlook was, shot was poised high on the top of therefore, not stimulating. He was some whins. However, all ended partnered with Willie Fernie, and in well, and, champion Willie hurried the starting list they were placed just home to the clubmaker's shop at in front of Willie Campbell, who was Musselburgh. Next morning betimes, then professional at Prestwick, play- he was working away at his bench, ing a good game and regarded hope- and an old Scottish gentleman, a keen fully for the championship, which, by amateur at the game, looked in at the the way, consisted in those times of open door on his way to the links and two rounds and was settled in a saw him there. It seemed to the single day. In the first round Camp- spectator that the fitness of things bell took a good lead with a fine was not properly suited. He opened round of 77 to Park's 82, but the his eyes very wide in astonishment, latter made up for it in the second and half in wonder and something in round, and when they had only four reproach he gasped, "Man alive! holes to play it seemed that Campbell ye're working there as if nothing had was only leading by a single stroke. happened!" But he gained another at the Two years went by, and then fifteenth, and it looked then that he Willie was champion for the second must be victor. The sixteenth is the time. That happened at Mussel- hole where the corner of the great burgh, and it was fitting that the last Cardinal bunker comes into con- time the event was played on the sideration on the right of the line, and historic old course it was won by one the problem of that hole on this par- of the most famous players that had ticular day was complicated by the ever been bred upon it—though not fact that there was a very strong won without a struggle for Andrew wind blowing from the sea. Park Kirkaldy made a tie of it with Willie played the hole to perfection, making then. Musselburgh in golf becomes a good wind allowance and getting a less and less of anything but a name, fine three as the result, but Campbell but what a history it has had, and got into the Cardinal, took shot after what a nursery of golfers it has been! THE AMERICAN GOLFER355

Here was the first home of that great green Willie had to hole a seven- society, the Honourable Company of yards' putt for a 3 which he knew Edinburgh Golfers, and here so many he dared not miss, and just as he was of the great matches of the old days bringing his putter on to the ball he were played. Although there were heard a great shout go up from but nine holes at Musselburgh then, around the green in front and said to the golfing reputation of the place, himself that Andrew was doing so near to Edinburgh, and the chief well, but holed his own putt just the course of the Scottish capital, stood same. It was well that he kept his scarcely less than that of St. An- nerve so well, for it turned out after- drews. In the days of the gutty ball, wards that the cheer was not for too, they were good holes, and made Andrew at all but for his partner a hard test of the game, while some who there in the championship had of them, like "Pandy"—which is done that hole in one stroke. Andrew short for "Pandemonium", the name indeed had taken 4 at the hole where for a dreaded bunker at the hole Willie got his 3, and so the latter which winds up with a finely placed gained a point. Playing the last hole plateau green—were famous every- Willie's ball hit a man on the head where. In those days some of the from the drive. Championships bunkers of Musselburgh had their seemed to be full of strange adven- fame as much as those of St. tures in those days. With his second Andrews. "Lord Shand's" was one our man laid his ball close to the side of the best of them. And some of of the hole and put it in with his next, the landmarks of the course were and thereby tied. It was almost dark very celebrated, like "Mrs. For- then, and Willie, as we know, won man's", the inn by the third putting when playing off. According to green which is one of the most all the rules and regulations, two famous of golfing inns at which play- championships should have meant ers and caddies ever refreshed them- two gold medals for the win- selves and gathered force for the ner, but Willie has only one, and that further combat. In this second and is not of gold but silver gilt. The last winning championship of Willie management of championships then Park, Andrew Kirkaldy, who was was not what it is now. They ad- playing immediately in front of him, vertised that there would be gold was two strokes to the good when medals, but put Willie off with a silver they had only four holes to play, and gilt one the first time; and, when he there was much excitement. Mussel- won again, he suggested to the com- burgh wanted Willie for the victor, mittee that unless they could give him but it seemed to be going hard with the real thing this time he would him. At the fifteenth he consulted rather be without it altogether. And his caddie as to whether it would be they took him at his word, and he well for him to take his brassey for went without. . .One of the big events the second shot, but the man was in of his best period was his great match such a state of mind that he could with J. H. Taylor, which he won. not answer. Andrew was still two to Talking to me once about those old the good when there were three holes times, and the old and never to be to play and then on the sixteenth settled question as to whether golf 356THE AMERICAN GOLFER was played as well then as now, Wil- if his opinion has to any extent lie Park said he could not bring him- changed. Willie belonged to the old self to believe that in real skill the time himself, the latter days of it, and present generation is any better than he is intensely loyal to his period. the old one. "Clubs are better," he Musselburgh is in his blood and said, "and the balls fly further, but I bones, the old history and traditions do not think that the golf that is of the game, its romance and its played is one whit better than it was heroes are to him as things that are in the good old days, for good they sacred, and their value and conse- really were. Who among amateurs quence shall never be minimised in now plays the game better than it his mind. Fine in his loyalty always used to be played by Mr. Leslie Bal- is Willie Park. four-Melville? I hope it will not Many and interesting are the tro- seem like conceit in me if I make a phies and souvenirs of the game that comparison between my own play in he possesses. There is the famous the early period and a much later one, old family putter of which we have which I only do because it is that already spoken, and a club that once which is most convincing to me per- belonged to Allan Robertson. And sonally of the truth of what I say. among other things he has a photo- As far back as 1885, I played in an graph signed and dated by Her Royal open tournament that was held at Highness, the Princess Victoria, Troon, and won the first prize. All about which there is an odd story to the finest players of the time com- be told. King Edward and Queen peted, including the great Bob Fergu- Alexandra, with the Princess, were son, who was really a very great golf- staying once at Godsall, Leicester- er and became Open Champion three shire, as the guests of Lord Howe. years in succession, Willie Fernie, The latter was at that time President Willie Campbell and others. Thirteen of the Huntercombe Golf Club, with years later Harry Vardon only beat which Willie was so intimately asso- me in the championship at Prestwick ciated, and he asked Willie to go by a putt that I never ought to have along there, to Gopsall, one day to missed. I can play the game quite as take part in some golf that was to be well now as I did then. If that is the played. He was set to be the partner case does it not then suggest that, of the Princess in a foursome. The making proper allowance for differ- Princess knew more than a little of ence of materials, courses and condi- golf, and when the game was ended tions, the champions of the olden time she gave praises to a brassey that were as good as the champions of to- Willie had lent her for the game, and day. All may not think so, but I hold strongly to this view, though I have with which she had done some ex- no desire to detract from the great cellent shots. He thereupon said that skill and wonderful achievements of it would be a great honour to him if the golfers of the present time, whose the Princess would accept the club. play I admire enormously." She took it, but when he happened to remark that he thought highly of that It is some eight or nine years since particular brassey and had used it in Willie said that to me, and much has many of his biggest matches, she re- happened since then, though I doubt joined, "No, No, Mr. Park, I will not THE AMERICAN GOLFER 357 take from you a club that you value right. None of these things were so much!" but Willie's humble gal- beautiful to look upon, they gave no lantry and command of speech were character to the holes, this being sup- ready for the occasion, and he plied only by such local natural fea- answered that if it had not been a tures as trees, watercourses and good club and one that he much ponds; they were not in the least in- prized, he should not have presumed teresting, and they made most holes to ask her acceptance of it. So she look very much like each other. Nor took it, and the next day her mother, did they tend to the smallest improve- the Queen, went to Willie when he ment in the game of any player. This was out on the course and said, "Vic- was Victorian golf architecture, the toria has told me all about the club. standard for which was set by that It was very good of you to present it indefatigable master of it, Willie to her," and then a few days after- Dunn, who made his professional wards he received the photograph of mark on multitudinous patches of which mention has been made. land in many parts of the country. Willie Park perceived that there VI would soon be a demand for some- IN THE COURSE of time Willie's in- thing very much better, and he set terests fixed him exclusively in the himself to devise it, to give to inland south. Much as they deserved to do, courses some of the attributes of and great as was the work he did for those at the seaside where the holes golf in many ways, they did not all were fashioned by Nature and prosper. He was one of the first— abounded in features and strong char- I think we might almost agree that acter. With imagination and money he was the first—to perceive the pos- it could be done. This scheme marked sibilities of inland golf course con- the beginning of the new principles in struction on the finer, grander system course architecture that have since that we know now. He saw the im- revolutionized the whole of inland mense golf boom that was coming, golf, not merely in England, but in the demand that there must inevit- parts of the continent of Europe, all ably be for many, new inland courses over the United States, Canada, and of a better and more interesting type everywhere. Huntercombe and Sun- than were generally in existence then. ningdale were Willie Park's first pro- Up to then the manner of designing ductions. He was responsible for the and making a hole was to put a plain primary designs of the architecture of straight bank across the course in the latter, a beautiful course cut out front to be driven over, this arrange- of a wilderness of heather on some ment, with a little sand in front of it, high, rolling land in Berkshire. Mr. being known as a bunker, and, if the Colt soon set himself to work on the hole were long enough, there was a first designs when they had been ap- similar contrivance set up immediate- plied, and he has carried out vast im- ly in front of the putting green. Gen- provements on the original model, so erally nothing more was considered that Sunningdale, as we know it now, necessary, though if some elaboration the inland course that I still consider was desired similar banks were stuck as the best and most delightful to play up somewhere on the left or on the upon in the whole of Britain, is not 358THE AMERICAN GOLFER at all what it was at first. Still Wil- Willie Park playing the game of golf. lie was in at the beginning with Sun- It is evidently such a pleasure to him, ningdale; that is a lasting distinction. and is such a simple, easy business. But he was much more closely con- No anxiety in his demeanour or his cerned with Huntercombe, a fine actions is betrayed when he takes his piece of land in Oxfordshire, very club in hand and strides up to the high up on a spur of the Chiltern ball. He is just going to play a Hills. In many respects the situation game and play it well, and en- of Huntercombe was ideal, and it at- joy himself. It was always said of tracted great fame to itself, but it suf- him that he made the game look so fered from lack of accessibility, a dif- very easy. The same thing has been ficult uphill motor-car journey having said of others of the greatest profes- to be made from the Henley station sionals of modern times, but it was six miles away. Also it was a long Willie Park who first called forth time before a proper clubhouse could such a remark, and it is he who has be built, and the only accommodation deserved it better than any other. All was in a local farmhouse which was his strokes seem to be played not taken over for the purpose, and there merely with ease and gentleness but was trouble with the water supply. with an absence of force—though the These difficulties have been overcome force is there just the same—and his since then, but, unfortunately for swings in every case are comparative- Willie who invested his money in the ly slow. No effort is apparent. Very undertaking, he had to bear the brunt different as he is in his golfing ways of them. However he laid out on from Harry Vardon, these two have these hills at Huntercombe a glorious that grand feature in common in course with greens that were wonder- their game. Park is a tall, loose- fully spacious and splendid. The limbed man, and his is a very free bunkering was done with imagination swing, perhaps more so than that of and ingenuity, and the holes had fine any other champion of modern times. character. Willie set himself, as a He is so constituted, physically and particular labour of love, to copy old temperamentally, that he keeps his "Pandy" at Musselburgh, with its movements, loose as they seem to be, plateau green, and produced a really well under control. He does not swing fine copy—with improvements—mak- as far as he might, although he does ing many special journeys between swing very far, and in other ways it Huntercombe and Musselburgh for is clear that he exercises some re- the purpose. It was then, and it still straint. But his swings are loose all is, one of the best pleasures in golf to the same, and the chief criticism that play the game at this place, but finan- has been cherished against his style cially the venture did not then thrive. in the making of the longer shots in Willie had £11,500 of his own money that they are too loose, and, if em- in it, and it was mostly lost. But for ployed by any other man, this style that, America would probably not would probably cause much trouble, have had him now. especially if the game were going against him and he were inclined to VII press. That is when the worst of a ALWAYS is it a pleasure to watch looseness of style is found out. But THE AMERICAN GOLFER359 it is yet a pleasure to watch the has proved to him that this grip gives smoothness of his movements, and the left hand sufficient power to pre- there never was a player with a finer vent the club slipping and lessens the smoothness in his putting. Indeed he tendency that exists of trying to strokes the ball, lovingly, coaxingly, guide the club with it, this tendency and, being treated so kindly it takes being a common cause of pulling and to the hole far oftener than is the case slicing. when most great golfers endeavour to He favours the open stance in driv- force it there. ing, with the ball slightly to the right One thing very noticeable in all his of imaginary line that might be drawn strokes is the beautiful delicacy of his from the left heel, believing that in grip. He does not believe himself every way this position encourages either in the palm grip, or in any form easy and accurate swinging, and a of grip in which the thumbs are held fair follow through. In the case of on the shaft. He likes a plain grip, the square stance, when the toes are with the club grasped in the fingers virtually in line with each other, or and hardly anywhere else than in the even as in the olden times when Wil- fingers. He says the club should lie lie was champion and the man of the across the roots of the fingers and time, the left foot of some golfers was that it should not be held too tightly even placed a little in front of the with them either, for he holds that a right, such a position being positively tight grip wearies the hands and recommended by some of the old au- wrists without giving any benefit to thorities, he thinks a rather wild and the stroke. If the club is held suf- uncertain style of driving is en- ficiently firmly to prevent its slipping couraged. The follow-through is not or turning that is all that is necessary, then such a comfortable thing, pulling and to hold it any more tightly is a is given its chance, the body finds a mistake and a useless expenditure of difficulty in getting itself faced to the force. He has made some interesting direction in which the ball is flying or observations on the part of the handle ought to be flying, and said body of the club which is gripped, allowing seems to pivot on the left foot and that it is not a matter for strict rule, entices the club to swing round the that idiosyncracy must have its fling body. All these things do not neces- and that gripping low down is justi- sarily happen; it is stating the case at fiable when a heavy club is used, just its worst and as that of a man to as gripping near to the end comes whom the square stance does not naturally to a man who plays with a seem to come naturally. Others, as light club. Still he thinks that, when we all know, get the best conceivable it can be done, it is best to grip as results from it. near to the end of the shaft as pos- Some of the points he makes about sible, and he himself carries out this the swinging of the club are lucid and principle to a farther extreme than instructive. He gives a warning any other player I can call to mind, against excessive body movement, for he grips with his left hand really saying that the turning of the should- beyond the end of the shaft, that is to ers, the slackening at the hips and say the end of the shaft is in the palm knees, and the lifting of the left heel, of that hand. He says that experience that movement which beginners are 360 THE AMERICAN GOLFER so often taught wrongfully at the be- (click!), ye see I hae drappit her just ginning as if the extensive lifting of ahint the pin." The modern Willie the heel and pivoting on the fore part mentions that in his time there were of the foot were a sacred rite without quite a number of golfers who in which there could be no golfing sal- order to make the club-head travel as vation, thereby contracting such an long as possible in the direction of the exaggeration as often hurts their ball, instead of holding their bodies game for the rest of their lives, are steady, and twisting on their back- all movements that should be under- bones as it were, would sway to the taken in moderation and should be right as the club went up, and resume made only to such an extent as would their normal position when it came enable the club to be swung in com- down again, and while Willie says, or fort. Like all good teachers and said some years ago, that theoretically great players, he impresses upon us this might improve the swing (surely the necessity of keeping the right any such theory must be wrong!) ex- elbow well into the side until the ris- perience indicated that any gain that ing club insists upon its release. The came through it was nullified by slow- arm in this matter should always fol- ness of the movement of the body low the club and should never be in and a considerable inaccuracy that advance of it. If the arm goes first, was engendered, making true hitting all the proper movements fail. difficult and unlikely. One had for- In his recommendations upon the gotten that there was any recognised follow through he gives us the curi- set of people in the old days who did ous information that his father, old this sort of thing, and there is only Willie, who, like all the old golfers, one player in the front class today believed to the uttermost and prac- who does so, that, of course, being tised completely this most salutary Ray. An old maxim that he thinks doctrine, used to follow through so should be absorbed in more restricted enthusiastically that he would often doses than is commonly the case in our run a yard or two after his drive! old friend, the Slow Back. He does Splendid Wullie! How also he coun- not, of course, like a fast back in the selled against pressing! I remember driving swing, but thinks that in this reading some time ago in a most in- matter as in so many others the best teresting life of Almond, the famous thing is the happy medium, and he headmaster of Loretto, by Mr. R. J. cannot remember any of the best Mackenzie, a little sketch of old Wil- players having had a slow back style lie in which it was said that the boys although many of them have de- of the school would sometimes meet veloped very quick swings. What is him of a morning when he was out most frequently desired by the pro- practising at Musselburgh, and they fessors who urge the virtues of the would hear him say, "Dinna press, slow back, if they only knew it, is a Meister Paterson! Ye'll mak' a graun backward swing so smooth as to be gowffer if ye can ware pressin'. Noo without a jerk. It is the jerk that see my ba' lyin' here, a maitter of a does the harm and not the speed, if hunder and fifty yairds frae the hole, the speed is sufficiently moderate. and a' they naisty whuns atween; but In the matter of putting, Willie takin' an easy swing and no pressin' Park has naturally much that is wise THE AMERICAN GOLFER361 and good to say. He likes to examine green, he warns you that the longer the line of his putt from the back of you hang over the ball in doubt and the hole, preferring this to the front wonderment the more difficult does view as giving a quicker and more the putt appear and the less likely is accurate idea of the path along which it to be dealt with in a successful the ball must travel if it is to find its manner. A point that he urges, and way to the right place. Then also he which is, no doubt, right though all is a believer in the old system, so the world is not in agreement with much less practised nowadays, of se- him, is that one of the secrets of good lecting a particular spot on the green, putting is to hit the ball and the ball in the case of anything more than only and not to let the putter graze short putts, and aiming at that, so that the grass. He prefers, instead of the if the ball passes over it, it should latter, to strike the ball so that the run on to the hole. Willie believes in putter is just a little above the turf. the spot, though nowadays most play- The stroke should be made from the ers look at the hole and fancy the line wrists only and the line of the swing, from their ball to it all the way. Select backwards and forwards, should be the right spot, says Willie, be sure the line to the hole always, and the that your ball passes over it, and then, head of the club should not depart if the strength is right, it must go from it. And he believes in bold, into the hole, which evidently is true firm putting... But Willie Park is enough. He naturally insists on con- full of golfing wisdom, and, if there fidence in putting, and believes that the seems to be no limit to its extent and hesitater is generally lost. Therefore, its value, there must be to our quota- while he does not counsel haste on the tion.