20 THE AMERICAN GOLFER Teeing Off for 1921 A Brief Glance at the Possible Features for the Coming Season on the Links By Innis Brown

IGURATIVELY speaking, the golfing lowing have signified a desire to join the on what the Britons are thinking and saying world is now teeing off for the good expeditionary force: Champion "Chick" of the proposal to send over a team. When F year 1921, though as a matter of fact a Evans, , "Bobby" Jones, and arrived back moody, morose and melancholy majority is , Max R. Marston, Parker home after their extended tour of the States, doing nothing more than casting an occasional W. Whittemore, Nelson M. Whitney, Regi- both Harry and Ted derived no little fun furtive glance in the direction of its links nald Lewis and Robert A. Gardner. It is from telling their friends among the ranks paraphernalia, and maligning the turn of probable that one or two others may be added of home amateurs just what lay in store for weather conditions that have driven it indoors to the above list. them, if America sent over a team. Both pre- for a period of hibernation. But that more This collection of stars will form far and claimed boldly that the time was ripe for fortunate, if vastly outnumbered element away the most formidable array of amateur Uncle Sam to repeat on the feat that Walter which is even now trekking southward, has talent that ever launched an attack against J. Travis performed at Sandwich in 1904, already begun to set the new golfing year when he captured the British title. Undoubt- under way. edly the two famous pros were inclined to Just what the new year has in store in the joke with their friends a bit, but at the same way of making history remains to be time their serious opinions have been that it seen. What may reasonably be expected can will require a mighty effort on part of the best be judged through comparison with what home folk to defend their possessions. has just passed along. It is customary and fitting to speak well and favorably of the de- What Hilton Says parted. And the year 1920 certainly deserves ARDON and Ray, who in the light of all that may be said of it in the way of golfing Vtheir recent trip and what they saw while achievements. Chucking a few sprigs of lau- here, are amply qualified to express an opin- rel in the direction of its final resting place is ion, are not the only experts, however, who no more than just deserts. are seriously concerned with our proposed in- Casting back over the records of the past vasion. Mr. , editor of Golf year, the better to get a line on what may be Illustrated of London, former open and ama- anticipated during the current cycle, easily teur champion, and ex-amateur champion of the predominating feature was the amply America, had the following to say recently developed international aspect of competition. anent the invasion: Not one big national championship of the past "American golfers have apparently come to year but what introduced its international the conclusion that the time is now ripe for a angle, where international competition was descent on the British field and they are, to invited under the terms of play. The three our way of thinking, quite wise in arriving at British events found American entries com- this decision. Never has American amateur peting, while both Britons and Americans golf been stronger than at the present mo- took part in the French open, and a Scotch- ment, and it is quite possible that not for a man won the French amateur. Britons and period of some thirty years has the standard Canadians took part in our amateur and open, of amateur golf in this country been at such a while sent down representatives for low ebb. There are a number of amateurs in both our amateur and women's champion- this country who are capable of playing the ships. most brilliant of golf, and occasionally they The current year promises even more along do so, but one never knows whether they are this line. Already plans have been launched going to play even mediocre golf. Their off toward sending a strong representative team days are very off days. of American professionals over to seek the crowned crest of , the British "It is rumored, and on good authority, too, open champion. Details of the invasions are that quite a fleet of good-class amateur golf- yet to be worked out, but this much is sure. ers from over the water are coming across to The invading force will be a thoroughly rep- take part in at resentative one, chosen from our strongest next spring. It is not merely a ques- players through the medium of the most thor- tion of three or four of their crack-a-jacks, oughgoing test that can be worked out. Some such as "Chick" Evans, Francis Ouimet and thirty professionals have been designated as , making the trip. This trio by eligibles by the Professional Golfers' Asso-. themselves would provide a very serious men- W. C. Fownes. Jr., twice holder of the ace, but it is said that these three leaders will, cation, and from this number a formidable amateur championship, and logical leader team can be chosen. of the American team which will go over to in all probability, be accompanied by ten or do battle for the British amateur golfing a dozen American stars of a slightly less mag- crown nitude than the redoubtable 'great three.' Amateur Invasion Sure the amateur ramparts of British golf. Our "In other words, they are not going to ND what the professionals are planning representation in last year's British amateur leave anything to chance for lack of complete A will hardly outstrip the efforts which was more a chance affair than a previouly representation. They certainly appear to the amateurs will make to lift the crown at planned attack. Had it not been for the fact have a great chance presented to them of lift- present resting on the massive brow of Cyril that "Bob" Gardner and Nelson Whitney ing the Amateur Championship Trophy for J. H. Tolley. At the recent meeting of the were included in the committee named to con- the second time and one can readily forgive Golf Association, Howard F. fer with the Royal and Ancient St. Andrews, them for accepting this opportunity with typi- Whitney, the new executive, announced that it is unlikely that others who accompanied the cal American enthusiasm. They are out in W. C. Fownes, Jr., who is looked on as the committee would have made the trip over. search of conquest; they fully realize that logical man to captain a team of amateurs Several of the above party, furthermore, have now is the time to attain their objective, and who will go across, had secured the promise already had a fling at the big prize on the they will leave no stone unturned to achieve of no less than eight other crack players to other side. Evans, Oumet, Gardner and their ambition. They are apparently in join the team, Whitney have all been over, whereas the deadly earnest over this invasion in the com- Mr. Fownes has been sounding out a num- others will be making their first start. ing season and we can only wish them a very ber of crack players and stated that the fol- In this connection it is interesting to reflect (Continued on page 28) 28 THE AMERICAN GOLFER

Teeing Off for 1921

(Continued from page 20)

happy time, if we cannot exactly wish even of a more or less mushy con- them a successful one, for we are still sistency that Edward can repeat. Not jealous of our reputation as a race of that there was anything flukey about golfers," the way he won last year, but rather that there are several other club The Domestic Program swingers, who came too near nosing him out not, to harbor a feeling some- OWEVER, the international where deep down that, with another H angle to the year's program is crack, they will flash past the judges by no means the sum total of what leading with something to spare. looms in sight, not by several para- , for instance, is far sangs. There are quite a few issues from convinced that he has been the of more or less importance of a dis- custodian of the trophy for the last tinctly domestic nature to be threshed time. Hagen's record last season was out. Consider the amateur phase, for more or less spotted. He started instance. with a sorry display in the British When "Chick" Evans holed out on Open then flashed back with a bril- the twelfth hole at the Engineres' last liant showing, when he captured the summer in the second round of the French Open against Duncan and final match against Francis Ouimet Mitchell and others. Again he bagged to a cyclonic finish, there were few the Metropolitan against a fine field, present that day who would have liked only to lapse again in the National to argue the issue of his supremacy, Open. and fewer still who would have cared , too, is far from con- to substantiate their claims with any vinced that be destined never to scale financial consideration. The the heights. Last year was a bad wizard certainly looked the regal man- one for Long Jim, wherein he was darin from every angle of observation, stripped of a bagful of titles. Yet and Ouimet himself said the best man the Pelham professional reeled off won. At least the best on that day some wonderful golf at times, and is won. still feeding on the fancy that beyond But there are days and days, and the Alps lies . is will continue to be, it is presumed, nursing the bruises of the battler, who and the hope that sprung eternal in made a game fight and just barely the breast of Christopher Columbus failed of storming the trench. A and his band of adventuresome mar- kindly nod from fate could have easi- iners some ages ago, just keeps surg- ly made the young Detroiter the victor ing up even unto this day. And the at Inverness last season, and he is list of those who aspire to snatch keenly ambitious to pick up where the crown that adorns "Chick's" de- he left off in that memorable fray. bonnair brow is continually mounting finds himself in larger and larger. The Ouimets and pretty much the same frame of mind Joneses, and Gardners and Herrons as Diegel, though his case differs in are gathering force from the Wrights at least two prime respects. Whereas and Platts, and Sweetsers and Knep- Diegel is a new recruit in the ranks pers and Wards and the like. And of the topliners, Jock has been hang- that uneasiness which was wont to ing around the outer portals for sev- worry the minds of monarchs of old eral years. Also, though Jock just has been passed along to the reigning missed bagging the big prize, he suc- personages of the present day, what- ceeded for the first time in lugging ever their lines, and golf is of them. home two highly treasured mugs, em- Last year, Evans certainly looked blematic of the and like the best amateur golfer in Amer- Professional Golfers Association. But ica, if not in the whole world. Forti- recollection of that thin margin of fied and dug in as he was with his one stroke, which separated him from skill spurting out at every turn, ef- the niche occupied by Ted Ray, when forts to dethrone him looked like the final returns had been canvassed futility in the nth degree. But time at Inverness, is still poignant in the has a way of working changes, and Glenview Scot's memory, and he hones when the chroniclers come to write in for a chance to draw another bow. the pages of the current year, when And there are several others, who the last driver has crashed against find themselves pretty much in the the little rubber cored ball, and the same bateau. last niblick has flicked sand from the trap, who knows but that the subject Switching the calcium onto that of gossip in golfing ranks, where ye other big national division, the clan golfer can be inveigled into letting of petticoated pill punishers and turf up for a brief moment on his own manglers, your inspection is invited pastiming, will be a recital of details to a finely worked out and boldly of how some usurper rifled the cham- developed main plot, threaded here pionship cup from the treasury room and there with certain well defined of the Evans' household? lines of counter action and intrigue. You will recognize, of course, as the The Professional Situation major premise, the regal presence of Miss Alexa Stirling, reigning supreme ND as to the professionals. Here's over the clan. The by-play is that of A a fine open guess for you. It is other aspirants who feign would de- quite possible that Big Ted Ray may throne the lassie. not get back here to defend the title 'Tis all right and well enough to that he gained at Inverness. There speak lightly of such an assignment. is as yet no definite information that That, indeed, is the only easy part he wont. But it is gathered from about the job, to wit, the speaking experts abroad that the Oxhey giant of it. For plainly, it is a rather pes- seriously considered leaving the tro- simistic business, this nominating a phy over here when he left, for fear candidate to usurp the Stirling throne, he wouldn't be able to make the jour- provided the nomination is to carry ney back over here to defend it next any convincing argument of prospec- summer. tive success. Judged from this angle But even supposing he does get her position looks about as formidable back, his appearance will mean noth- and as thoroughly consolidated as a ing more than that another good man combination of Gibraltar and Verdun has entered the fray. It is no cinch rolled into one. JANUARY 15 29

There is just one possible avenue effort to square matters over here. of assault, which promptly splits into Undoubtedly a meeting between a matter of dual possibilities. The these two very fine golfers is one of year just beginning may see a clash, the choice possibilities that the year in fact two of them, between our just beginning has to offer. Miss champion, and Miss Cecil Leitch, the Leitch abroad is esteemed the greatest Queen of British golfdom. It isn't woman golfer Britain has yet pro- at all impossible that Miss Stirling duced. Over here, it is quite as easy may journey over to Britain to take to locate competent critics who pro- a smash at interrupting the reign of nounce Miss Stirling the best we have the British monarch. Should she suc- yet had. As to the outcome of a ceed in this possible enterprise, it match between the two—well, as will not be presuming too much to stated above, there is one of the de- anticipate that Miss Leitch may be lightful possibilities that the new year prevailed on to return the visit, in an may develop into a reality.