Teeing Off for 1921 a Brief Glance at the Possible Features for the Coming Season on the Links by Innis Brown

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, Francis Ouimet, "Bobby" Jones, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray arrived back moody, morose and melancholy majority is Davidson Herron, 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 golf 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. Harold Hilton, 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 Canada 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 George Duncan, 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 the amateur championship at resentative one, chosen from our strongest Hoylake 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 Bobby Jones, 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 United States 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- Walter Hagen, 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 Jim Barnes, too, is far from con- to substantiate their claims with any vinced that be destined never to scale financial consideration.

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