62THE AMERICAN GOLFER

By OUR BRITISH CORRESPONDENT ONDON, October, 1919.

RARELY in British golfing history there have been one or two novel have four or five weeks been so much events of much interest like the Girls' crowded with events of medium, if not Championship at Stoke Poges, while the greatest importance as have those the Ladies' Championship is held this of this September and early October ; year in the autumn, and is just about and the crush of them has indeed led to be begun as one is preparing these to the serious and not undeserving notes. There have also been import- suggestion that it would be a good ant matters of legislation afoot, some thing if no sort of recognition were keen discussions provoked, the re- given to a large proportion of these sumption of the club events of the affairs, which in their full volume sim- leading clubs, particularly the Royal ply crowd out the sporting sections of and Ancient, the Honourable Com- the newspapers and incidentally lead pany and the Royal St. George's, and to a wholly wrong impression being by no means least, one of two real sen- formed of the state of things in the sations of first-class quality, such as golfing world, which is emphatically the failure of the "Big Three," the not in any condition of delirious en- famous "Triumvirate," the whole lot thusiasm for competitions of all and of them, to qualify for the final stages every kind. However there is no sort of the P. G. A. or "News of the of authority to settle degrees of pro- World" great autumn tournament, a portion, and in their anxiety to do thing unheard of and which even now, things well, the newspapers insert as an accomplished fact, seems to be everything and at great length. But if impossible. This is an event which these papers get into the hands of seems to have shaken the whole firma- American and other foreign readers ment of in a way that only two they must not be misled. Yet, of others have ever done before, the vic- course, there really is a great activity tory of Mr. Travis in the amateur at the present time, and golfing en- championship here many years ago, thusiasm is very keen again, as to and the overthrow of Vardon and Ray which there is inconvenient evidence in the U. S. National Open Champ- in the circumstance that there is still ionship at Brookline in 1913. a great scarcity in golf balls, the manu- One may suggets that from the point facturers apparently not having been of view of our own home golf and its equal to the demands in the case of perennial interest, the defeat of Var- some favorite brands. Then again don, Braid and Taylor, all three of THE AMERICAN GOLFER 63 them, on this present occasion, sur- same thing, the state of unsettlement passes even the other events. Now at and mental and other disturbances be- the moment, with all these things and ing if possible even greater now than the Irish Amateur Open Champion- before, while it has been quite impos- ship also to deal with, it is impossible sible for other golfers of much less for any correspondent to deal with all pretensions to concentrate on their these matters adequately at the same game as they used to do. It is argued time, and it is therefore proposed to that in the future the old Triumvirate, despatch these notes early, in advance as yet far from done with, will be able of the final stages of the aforesaid P. to concentrate again, and that then G. A. tournament, and the Ladies' they in their turn will accomplish the Championship and certain other greatest things once more, to the sur- events, which will be dealt with next prise of the people and the delight of month in the ordinary course. their friends. All this will be taken by readers for what they consider it to be The Triumvirate Sensation worth, according to their several LET US THEN first concern ourselves judgments. with the subject upon which a little In the meantime one cannot but help light will be most eagerly sought by feeling a great sympathy with the idols foreign lovers of the game, namely the who are suffering from such a fall, utmost rebuff that has ever been suf- even temporary as it may be, and fered by the three foremost living despite all that others say from time masters of the game, and perhaps the to time about its being for "the good greatest the game has ever known, of the game" and so forth that young , J. H. Taylor, and blood should have its opportunity and , the first two of whom its successes, one begins to feel al- have played on American courses, ready that the golf world will be poor- Vardon having indeed years agone er when at last the old Triumvirate won the National Open Championship, really do retire from championship while the names, qualities and most of honors. It already seems very much the peculiarities of all three are famil- so as one contemplates the final stages iar to every American player of the of this forthcoming autumn tourna- game. Certain sentimental, moral and ment and the fact that none of these other aspects of their failure in the men will play in it. This is a wicked case under notice must be deferred to world. another time when space is less occu- Now let us explain briefly. The pied ; for the moment it is enough to failure occurred in the Southern Sec- record the belief of many close and tion of the qualifying competition. As earnest students of the game, that this most people are aware, the Profes- failure, comprehensive as it was, was sional Golfer's Association competi- after all only in keeping with other tion has always in the period of peace things that have happened this season —and it was, of course, suspended in and all of which have been explained the war—taken place during the early —and reasonably, as it has seemed— days of October and generally on an by the formula of "war nerves," or inland course in the neighborhood of "peace nerves" which are much the . This is the final stage, by 64 THE AMERICAN GOLFER

match play, and money prizes are at the end of the proceedings was given by the proprietors of the "News veritably the last in the list! It seems of the World," who for the present impossible to realize or imagine such competition, have increased them to a thing. Their failure also dated from the considerable total value of £590. the outset of the competition. And it At the same time the number of com- was in a very large measure attribut- petitors for the final stages has this able to the old, old cause, namely fail- year been increased to sixty-four as ure on the putting greens. They were against thirty-two in previous years. not the only players who suffered in In order to become one of these play- this respect, though of course, in repu- ers in the final stages the professional tation, they suffered most, having so golfer has to qualify in his own sec- much more to lose. It should be said tion. For this purpose golfing Britain that there was a fairly general com- is divided into many sections, the most plaint, and not an unreasonable one important of which is naturally what as it appeared, that the greens were is called the Southern Section which is extremely tricky. They were very that which includes London and the slow at the beginning owing to the district all 'round about, extending heavy mist that had hung upon them; even to the south coast. It is the most but as the sun dried the course they important because London and its became faster and faster and the play- money have attracted here a very large ers' appreciation of the fact was not proportion of the best professionals sufficiently up to date, so that they in the world of golf, and indeed there were constantly over running the hole. are only one or two of any real quality, The players also almost universally that is, golfers capable of winning the declare that the balls that are being championship outside it. It includes made now have such enormous prop- all the Triumvirate, Herd, Duncan, erties in the flying and running depart- Mitchell, and others. Therefore, while ments, especially the latter, that it is some other sections are only given two next to impossible to control them, or three places in the final sixty-four, and Taylor in particular said in the the southern, by reason of its nu- course of this tournament when he merical strength, is awarded twenty- could see his own defeat staring him six. For these it, like the other sec- in the face, that he used to be able tions, competes by two rounds of with lighter balls and more manage- stroke play on a selected course, and able balls to run them up to the hole this year, the course being Sonning- with confidence and certainty, but that on-Thames where is the latest creations of the ball-makers' located, there were so many com- art have got quite out of hand. How- petitors, 144 of them, that the pro- ever that may be, it is too big a ques- ceedings had to extend over two days, tion to enter into here and now. one round being played on each. At the end of the first day Braid To begin cutting the story short at was practically out of it, for he was the beginning, it may be said that the left to break records and to do all failure of the Triumvirate, was not kinds of the most wonderful things in only just a failure, but was extremely the second round to have any chance pronounced, inasmuch as James Braid —and even then he might not have had THE AMERICAN GOLFER 65 it. At the same time Vardon and might have been nearer the top than Taylor were in the most desperate he was. At the end of this day Harry difficulties and fighting for their very Vardon stood bracketed with several lives, as it might be said. The best others in the twenty-eighth place on round of the day was made by J. B. the list with a score of 77. It seemed Batley, the old Bushey Hall profes- rather low down for such a score, for sional who has now removed to Dun- after all it was only five strokes worse stable. Batley, of course, has for long than that of Mitchell who was second been in the front rank of professional on the list, but for success in first-class golfers, and has achieved many suc- professional golf in these days, no cesses, but he has never drawn more strokes must be lost. Taylor was attention to himself than on this occa- among those who temporarily tied for sion when he was at the top of a list forty-first place with a score of 78, in the lower parts of which the Trium- and Braid was right down at the bot- virate were vainly struggling. His tom with 83. It is true that he had round was 69, the only one played not putted well, but on the other hand during the two days which was under he had been more than a little unlucky, seventy, and if it was six strokes for three times his ball had stopped higher than the record of 63 twice dead on the lip of the hole. It was made by Abe Mitchell before the war, clear that he, like some others, was the golf was far more difficult, and too much afraid of taking the risk of Batley's play was just about as good running too far past. This, we will as it could have been. He holed all agree, was unlucky, but it was also the putts that he might reasonably something else. However even if have been expected to hole. In this, these three putts had gone down it seeing what all the others were doing would have made no difference, nor and missing, he may have been a little helped him much in his effort for the fortunate, but none the less he putted next day. with fine judgment. His first tee shot Apart from the recent big profes- was a poor sort of thing; after that sional tournament at St. Andrews, there was hardly a flaw in his play; he this is the most important professional was out in 34, back in 35, and at the competition we have had so far, and end of the day was three strokes better consequently names and figures may than the two men in the second place, be freely quoted, the chief returns at who were Mitchell and Ockenden. the end of the first round being the Then there were Ralph Smith and following:— Alec Herd with 73, and Duncan was 74. So despite the difficulties of the J. B. Batley (Dunstable) 69 Abe Mitchell (Sonning) 72 putting here evidently real merit was J. Ockenden (Raynes Park) 72 telling, and it would support the case C. R. Smith (West Middlesex) 73 A. Herd (Coombe Hill) 73 for the putting intricacies having been (Hanger Hill) 74 too puzzling if Mitchell and Duncan— Fred Leach (Northwood) 74 to say nothing of Herd—had both (Oxhey) 74 (Roehampton) 74 failed also. Mitchell, it might be men- A. Young (Walton Heath) 74 tioned, had much bunker trouble at R. G. Wilson (Croham Hurst) 75 (Acton) 75 the fourteenth and took 6 to it, or he W. H. Horne (Durban, S. A.) 75 66THE AMERICAN GOLFER

S. Humphries (Tunbridge Wells) 75 thus change their tools in such a crisis. C. H. Kennett (Redhill) 75 A. R Baker (Limpsfield) 75 But iron—a putting cleek—served him D. Ayton (Clacton-on-Sea) 75 no better, for on the next green he (Stoke Poges) 75 missed one of nine inches! With C. Johns (Purley Downs) 76 C. H. Mayo (Burhill) 76 Taylor it was nearly the same. Var- P. Boomer (St. Cloud, France) 76 don putted weakly also, and his long (Cooden Beach) 76 H. C. Kinch (Woodcote Park) 76 game was not always faultless. N. W. Monk (Royal Winchester) 76 Of the others little need be said. C. Parsons (East Brighton) 76 Arthur Mitchell (St. Leonards) 76 Mitchell and Duncan sustained their W. L. Ritchie (Worplesdon) 77 reputations well, and are evidently Harry Vardon (South Herts) 77 G. Sussans (Hatfield) 77 developing that consistency and steadi- H. W. Riseborough (Littlehampton) 77 ness which is all that they need now to J. Rowe (Royal Ashdown Forest) 77 make them the leaders of the game. P. J. Lockver (Shankun and Sandown) .. 77 But again Ray and Herd, each once a There is a tendency to gloat upon champion before, came out a trifle the proceedings on the second day, more strongly than any others. Ray when not only did Braid do nothing is understood to be the chief tip by the to improve his lamentable position, but professionals for honors of the future, Vardon and Taylor both went from while the present writer has persist- bad to worse and joined him in their ently stated that of the senior players mutual misery. He began only mod- Herd is as good as any this season, erately, which was badly for him, for and so it is continually proved. On while it was imperative that he should this second day he was just as good be gaining strokes from par and and steady as any player of the lot, bogey,— which could, of course, only and his round of 73, added to his first be done by fortunate approaching and card, made his total of 146 tie with marvellous putting—he gained noth- that of Ray for first place. Again it ing at all, and the first six holes were has to be said that the success of most taken in even bogey figures. Of course of the other recognized players of the the case was then hopeless, and so first rank makes the failure of the Braid resigned himself to the situation triumvirate less excusable than it and ceased to worry—or seemed to do. might otherwise be, and those who He gained slightly on the previous talk of the effect of years must re- day, and with an aggregate of 162 member Herd who is about three finished about sixty-sixth, but what years older than they are. Sherlock, good was that? It was his putting a former winner (1910) of this tourn- again that prevented him from being ament failed to qualify, and so did higher. He has been putting with a , a former Open Champion wooden article for the last month or and various other players of celebrity. so, but when he missed one of a foot A. Boomer, who was in the fifth place on the eleventh green in this second on this occasion, is the son of the round, he bagged the wooden thing Jersey schoolmaster who taught Har- away and took to iron again. There ry Vardon the rudiments of knowl- is something pathetic in the despairing edge and recommended him to become way in which the masters of the game a professional golfer. THE AMERICAN GOLFER 67

The following players qualified:— whole was the least interesting of A. Herd (Coombe Hill) 73—73, 146 those of modern times. That is easily E. Ray (Oxhey) 74—72, 146 explainable. Amateur golfers of the A. Mitchell (Sonning) 72—74, 146 George Duncan (Hanger Hill) .. 74—73, 147 first class are not yet sufficiently set- A. Boomer (St. Cloud, Paris) .. 76—72, 148 tled in their minds, after the war, to C. R. Smith (West Middlesex) . 73—75, 148 C. H. Mayo (Burhill) 76—73, 149 devote themselves whole-heartedly J. B. Batley (Dunstable)...... 69—80, 149 and with enthusiasm to the best open Fred Robson (Cooden Beach) .. 76—73, 149 R. G. Wilson (Croham. Hurst) .. 75—76, 151 competitions. Club events are as far J. Ockenden (Raynes Park).... 72—79, 151 as they can go, and it is evident from Josh Taylor (Acton) 75—77, 152 results that they are not yet quite G. Johns (Purley Downs) 76—76, 152 A. Young (Walton Heath) . . . 74—78, 152 ready even for these. What has taken Fred Leach (Northwood) 74—78, 152 place in competitive golf this season A. H. Monk (Royal Winch'r) .. 76—77, 153 W. H. Horne (Durban, S. A.) .. 75—78, 153 so far, the amateur thing one means, George Gadd (Roehampton).... 74—79, 153 is the best possible justification for Rowland Jones (Wimbledon Park) 79—74, 153 the action of the amateur champion- C. Wallis (Verulam) 79—74, 153 ship authorities in postponing the A. R. Baker (Limpsfield Chart) . 75—79, 154 C. Parsons (East Brighton) .... 76—78, 154 chief event until next year. Arthur Mitchell (St. Leonards) . 76—78, 154 Though there were so many entries, H. C. Kinch (Woodcote Park) . 76—78, 154 and though the scene was glorious Vardon was thirty-fourth and Tay- Portrush in the north of Ireland, sure- lor fortieth. There was a tie for the ly one of the most attractive golfing last two places of the twenty-six, places in Britain, there was only a which was played off later, E. Ban- handful of the really good champion- nister of Sandy Lodge and B. Sey- ship players whom we know, and none mour of Molsey Hunt succeeding. of the old amateur champions. Yet There was nothing very remarkable such as Ball, Hilton and many others about the results of the qualifying of the famous class have won this play in the other sections, though the event in the past. Again, some good form here and there seemed to be players are still fast in the army. I peculiar. think this remark applies to the man who is admitted to be the best Irish The Amateur amateur, Mr. L. O. Munn, while Mr. Championship Charles Hezlet, who had entered and IN THE ORDINARY course of events was drawn against Lord Charles one might have been disposed to de- Hope, which would undoubtedly have vote a fair amount of space to the made the most attractive match of the revival of the Irish Open Amateur tournament, was unable to get rid of Championship, which was always one his military duties in Germany for the of the most interesting and popular time being and had to scratch. It events of the late summer season, but seemed a strange thing having this there are two definite reasons against championship here at Portrush, to doing such a thing this time, the first which the Hezlets belong, and where being the space problem and the they have all been bred and trained in second the fact that, despite that the their golf, where Charles Hezlet him- entry was the largest in the history of self in recognition of the fact that he the competition, the tournament as a was in the final of the last amateur 68 THE AMERICAN GOLFER championship at Sandwich before the left hand below the right. A well war, is president, and no Hezlet play- known Irish player in Mr. H. M. ing. But while the world moves along Cairnes got through two rounds com- with mighty armies these things must fortably and what is more did that be expected. very rare thing in championships of Anything like a continuous and de- holing at a short hole in one stroke tailed description of the play in the from the tee which he did at the sev- circumstances with such an enormous enth. Most of the critics say that such entry, and a total of many more than a thing as this has never been done in a hundred matches, would, of course, any championship before, but they are be out of the question. One will pick decidedly wrong, for I have the clear- out some interesting points here and est recollection of its having been done there. once in at A well-known Irish player in Mr. Muirfield, and the man who did it then H. E. Reade, had injured his knee two was using a patent club, the degree of days before the beginning of the loft of which could be changed at will. tournament through slipping down a There were some very interesting hill when playing in a stroke competi- games on the second day, notably that tion, but took his place in the first in which Mr. Ulyat rescued himself round and won his match at the from an exceedingly tight place in his twentieth hole. The best golf on this match against a native in Mr. J. Gorry first day was that played by the Rev. of Kildare. He was three down with E. S. Ulyat, who is now a naval chap- four to play, but stuck hard at it and lain and was captain of the Cambridge squared at the seventeenth. Mr. Gor- University golf team about nine years ry had a chance to win the match at ago. It seemed that he might go far the home hole, but let it go, and after in the tournament. The favorite was the nineteenth had been halved, Mr. given a walk over in the first round, Ulyat won at the twentieth, Mr. Gorry this being Captain Carter, who had lipping the hole for the half. The previously made himself Irish native other favorites won their matches, and amateur champion, and in the auction there were no real surprises in this pool before the beginning of the pro- round except perhaps the defeat of ceedings was sold for £100, a record Mr. C. B. Macfarlane by Mr. Lowe, a for this sort of thing in connection Belfast golfer, by three and two, the with the Irish championship. The loser being the only man in the whole total value of the pool was over tournament who has ever reached the £1000. One of the surprises of the semi-final of the Amateur Champion- first day was the defeat of a really ship. So far the success of the native good player and a notoriously long players in the championship, few of driver in Mr. A. C. P. Medrington, whom had ever been heard of before who was a member of Mr. Ulyat's by the others from across the water, Cambridge University team, by Mr. was very conspicuous. Oswald Browne of Tuam, an Irish- On the following day northern Ire- man who naturally, if one can be for- land found itself in a great state of given for saying it, holds his hands on excitement in consequence of the his driver in the wrong way, with the meeting of Mr. Ulyat and Captain THE AMERICAN GOLFER69

Carter, two of the strongest favorites, Mr. E. S. Ulyat (Hunstanton) beat Mr. E. F. Carter (Royal Portrush) at the 22nd in the fourth round, which we had hole. reached by this time. It was a match Mr. H. A. Boyd (Portmarnock) beat Mr. W. M. Burton () by 3 and 1. quite worthy of all anticipation, and Mr. S. V. Gaston (Royal Portrush) beat was followed by about the biggest Mr. C. D. K. Seaver (Royal Portrush) by 3 and 2. crowd even seen on an Irish golf Mr. G. N. C. Martin (Royal Portrush) course so far, and a very excited beat Mr. O. Browne (Tuam) by 6 and 5. crowd, too, but a fair one despite the Mr. E. W. Holderness (Walton Heath) beat Mr. W. D. Machniven (Watsonians) fact that one of the players was an by 6 and 5. Irishman and that he was in process of Mr. A. Lowe (Malone) beat Mr. A. B. Babington (Royal Dublin) by 1 hole. defeat. Mr. Ulyat as a matter of fact Mr. R. H. Wethered (Royal Dornoch) won at the twenty-second hole. There beat Mr. W. J. Guild (Murrayfield) by 4 and 2. are many fine points about the game Mr. D. W. Smyth (Royal County Down) of Captain Carter, but he is not such a beat Mr. J. F. Jameson (Portmarnock) by finished player as his successful op- 2 and 1. Mr. T. D. Armour (Lothianburn) beat ponent, and while he was never up on Mr. A. R. J. Mellor (Seaford) by 2 and 1. his successful opponent in the whole Mr. Alan Macbeth (Mid-Surrey) beat Mr. W. Wallis (Bulwell) by 1 hole. course of this game, he was only on Mr. E. M. Munn (North West) beat Mr. level terms with him three times after G. Ross (Sutton) by 4 and 5. the start — at the ninth, fourteenth Mr. J. E. Hassall (Bromborough) beat Mr. A. H. Matthews (Castle) by 4 and 3. and eighteenth holes. He has a rather Mr. F. Horne (Foxrock) beat Mr. J. F. short three-quarter swing with which Hodges (Ballycastle) by 1 hole. Lord Charles Hope (Tantallon) beat Mr. he drives a long ball, and a curious (Royal Liverpool) by 6 and feature of it is that he fails apparently to do any wrist twist, and the face of FIFTH ROUND his club seems to be in the wrong Bretherton beat McGlashan by 6 and 5. Ulyat beat Boyd by 5 and 4. position at the top. He played de- Martin beat Gaston by 5 and 3. terminedly in this match, but Mr. Holderness beat Lowe by 6 and 4. Wethered beat Smyth by 5 and 4. Ulyat clearly wore him out, and when Armour beat Macbeth by 4 and 3. they were playing the twenty-second Hassall beat Munn by 1 hole. Lord Chas. Hope beat Home by 4 and 3. the Irishman was evidently done for while on the other hand Mr. Ulyat There were two important results leaped to his success, laid his approach in the sixth round. The first of these pitch to within four feet of the hole, was the defeat of Mr. Ulyat by Mr. and then sank the putt. Bretherton, by two and one. The par- son was no doubt considerably handi- We might now give the names of capped by the drizzling rain which was the competitors left in, pointing put falling, for he wears glasses. It that Mr. Bretherton was the ultimate seemed to make a great difference to winner and that he was going strongly. his game. On the other hand Mr. Brethern played fine golf. He made FOURTH ROUND his first appearance in championships Mr. J. A. McGlashan () beat Mr. F. S. Bond (Royal Wimbledon) by 6 in the amateur event a year or two be- and 5. fore the war, being then a slip of a Mr. Carl Bretherton (Handsworth) beat boy, and the general remark about him Mr. A. J. Rivers (Eltham Warren) by 5 and 3. was that he ought to become a fine 70 THE AMERICAN GOLFER golfer some day for he is an adopted er won. Mr. Bretherton, however, is son of Mr. Charles Palmer, once an not the kind of golfer to inspire enthu- amateur championship finalist and the siasm among onlookers, much as his veteran leader of the midland school. methods may be admired by the very Mr. Palmer, moreover won the last wise. He takes no chances. He studies Irish amateur championship that was every shot minutely, tests the direction played for before the war. Since of the wind with his handkerchief, con- those days Mr. Bretherton has grown sults his caddie, thinks deeply, espec- and filled out considerably and his ially before putting—he putts with a golf is much better than it was before, square-toed slab of aluminum and if though it was promising enough at the the shot goes wrong he can at least start. He plays with very short clubs absolve himself from any accusation which he never cleans. Once upon a of carelessness, which is something. time he played with aluminum clubs As to those rusty clubs, one is told throughout, but now the only alumin- they have never been cleaned since he um things in his bag are his spoon and had them, and the curious are wanting his putter. Every golfer has some pro- to know what his grips are made of, nounced peculiarity in his play, and the material being some strange white Mr. Bretherton has a strange one in sort of stuff never seen before. Mr that when he is on the down swing he Bretherton has an abundance of man- exhibits a marked tendency to rise on nerism and originality for one so his left foot—an amazing thing. The young. He plays in chamois-leather other important result was the defeat gloves, and they say he "never under- of Lord Charles Hope by a com- clubs himself." paratively unknown player, and in this round the last hope of Ireland was extinguished by the defeat of Mr. Miscellanea Martin of Portrush. THE REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM has So we come to this— been reached in the course of the SIXTH ROUND inevitable investigations following up- Bretherton beat Ulyat, 2 and 1. on the allegation that when J. Douglas Holderness beat Martin, 2 and 1. Edgar won the Canadian Champion- Armour beat Wethered, at the 19th. Hassall beat Lord Charles Hope, 2 and 1. ship recently with a score of 278 for SEMI-FINAL ROUND the 72 holes he thereby created a Bretherton beat Holderness, 5 and 4. "world's record." It has been dis- Armour beat Hassall, 1 up. covered that six years ago George The best of the tournament had now Duncan did 72 holes in 263 in a cham- passed. In the semi-final Mr. Brether- pionship. It was the Open Champion- ton beat Mr. Holderness easily by five ship of the Lucerne Lakes ! and four, while Mr. Armour over- W. H. Horne, the professional, came Mr. Hassall by a hole. Then in once of Chertsey in , and who the thirty-six holes final Mr. Brether- once worked a stunt as the "masked ton, after being two up at the end of golfer" in New York—a rather poor the first round won by four and three. business—recently won the Open The game was interesting without be- Championship of South Africa. He is ing remarkably so, and the better play- now back in England. THE AMERICAN GOLFER 71

It is reported that the Prince of do not like to hear anything said Wales played golf almost immediately against it. Alec Herd has written a on his arrival on Canadian soil. He letter in which he says:—"This hole really likes the game, and both he and as usual, caused a lot of trouble and his brother, Prince Albert, played on grumbling at the recent tournament. several courses in this country during I say there should be a more pro- the last spring and summer. Without nounced ridge at the back of the green. doubt Prince Albert is the better and I have seen a beautifully played shot more stylish player. He has a really just trickle over which never deserved good swing with a full finish and a to be in trouble. Also the bank on the stiff left leg. The Prince of Wales's road side should be made playable— swing is apt to be a little sloppy. There that is the bank one has to play on to is some talk of the possibility of the from the road. I think just this little Prince of Wales becoming captain of improvement would do away with a the Royal and Ancient Club. King lot of grumbling and ruined scores.'' Edward held the office when he was Cabled reports from Montreal, Prince of Wales. Canada, to London, England:—"In Mr. is quoted as having the afternoon the Prince foozled his said, "I do not like to see a young first ball on the Dixie . player too careful." Turning to the onlookers he said, Beyond a doubt the aeroplane will 'This is worse than making a speech !' " become an important factor in the game. A strike on the North Eastern Railway seemed like preventing Mr. C. The Competitions of the R. & A. B. Ramsden of from fulfilling THE EVENTS of the Royal and a golfing engagement at Scarborough Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews are as he had intended to do; but in the something more than mere club com- absence of the trains he engaged an petitions and, though restricted to aeroplane, and he and his clubs were members, they have a peculiar world- at the scene of action some time be- wide interest. It therefore begins to fore they were expected. make things look a little more like old Pat O'Hare, the new Irish Open times to find that these competitions Champion, about whom there was so have been resumed, and reports of much discussion early in the year, and them appear in the papers with a sug- who in a big tournament took Braid to gestion of the peculiar dignity that the three or four holes beyond the proper competitions enjoyed in the past. The number, is likely to go to America resumption was made with the Queen next year and stay there. It is stated Victoria Jubilee Vase tournament, and that he will probably join his brother, the Calcutta Cup, both handicap Peter, who was professional at affairs, by match play, and the least Monkstown, Co. Cork, before he went interesting and important of the club's to the States. events. There were large entries for Once again the famous seventeenth each, but that of the Victoria Vase, or Road hole at St. Andrews has been though it included a few good names under keen discussion. English golf- was on the whole rather less interest- ers mostly condemn it, but the Scottish ing than the other. Each, however, 72THE AMERICAN GOLFER championship class. The final result the war served with the Ministry of furnished a rather curious coincidence Information and in other capacities. in that the winner was Mr. F. M. A few days later there came the Richardson, who, playing from a han- resumption of the most interesting dicap of plus one, beat Mr. W. H. and important R. & A. competition of Pilcher, handicap 2, by two holes up, all, namely the autumn meeting with for it was Mr. Richardson himself the stroke competition for the King who won the competition when it was William IV. Medal, one round of the last played for in 1913. It was a good old course. Among club competitions match throughout. Mr. Pilcher, with this is undoubtedly the most important the advantage of one of his handicap of all in this country. It attracted a strokes, became one up at the second, large entry on this occasion, sixty- but the situation was reversed at the three couples, and though there was a fourth and then it was halved all the strong south westerly wind blowing way to the turn. Mr. Richardson was and rain fell at times, making the golf eventually dormy two and won as difficult and the scoring comparatively stated. high, it was very interesting. A large In the case of the Calcutta Cup, number of spectators went out with which is contested on similar lines, Mr. Edward Blackwell and Colonel but is played over the "New" course, Barry who were paired with each as it is called, though it is older than other. Mr. Blackwell was good in his most courses in the country by this long game and at his approaching, but time, the play was often very inter- was weak in his putting, being con- esting. By this time the boy who won tinually short with his approach putt- in 1905, ing, which is an old fault of his. A. G. Barry, is Lieutenant Colonel Barry seems to be producing a strong Barry and is rated plus 2 in this com- game in these post-war days and more petition. He was drawn against Mr. is to be heard of him. He was round J. A. Shaw, plus 1, who won this tro- in 83. Mr. Angus Hambo, who was phy in 1901, and a good game was ex- partnered by Mr. Percy Quilter, was pected, but it turned out poor stuff, in the burn with his approach at the for Barry was six up at the turn, play- first hole and his partner likewise. ing really excellent golf and won by Each of them took 8 to the hole. In the eight and six. It came about that in circumstances they did very well to the semi-final there were Mr. Angus finish up as they did. The winner was Hambro, Mr. H. E. Taylor, Mr. W. Lord Charles Hope, who seems bent A. Sievwright and Mr. P. R. Selby, on getting all the golf he can at pres- who was the weakest player of the ent. He did not play faultless golf, four and the only one with a handicap but his 79 was remarkably good in the worse than scratch. Mr. Hambro and circumstances. He holed a twenty Mr. Sievwright met in the final, and yards putt at the sixteenth for a 3. the former won. He is well known as His card read :— a long driver, many people considering Out 4 5 6 5 5 5 5 3 4—42 him the longest among amateurs. He In 5 2 5 4 5 4 3 5 4—37 79 is a member of Parliament, and during The leading returns were:— embraced many players of the full Lord Charles Hope...... 79 Mr. Thomas Gillespie...... 82 THE AMERICAN GOLFER73

Lieut-Col. A. G. Barry 83 the Committee had no definite pro- Mr. W. E. Fairlie 83 posal to make with regard to the Mr. Walter Blackwell 83 Major G. Henderson 84 limitation or standardization of the Mr. H. E. Taylor 85 ball they had adopted the following- Mr. John Adamson 85 Mr. F. M. Richardson 85 resolution :— Mr. F. W. H. Weaver 85 "The Rules of Golf Committee is of Major A. R. Macallan 86 opinion that in order to preserve the Mr. J. F. Myles 86 Capt. C. K. Hutchison 87 balance between the power of the ball Mr. Edward Blackwell 88 and the length of the holes, and in Mr. J. A. Shaw 88 Mr. Angus V. Hambro 88 order to retain special features of the Mr. Percy C. Quilter 88 game, the power of the ball should be Capt. J .F. Moir 89 Mr. James P. Younger 89 limited. Such investigation as the Mr. J. B. Pease 89 members of the committee had been Major H. L. Fleming 90 Mr. A. C. M. Croome 90 able to make, led them to suggest that Thus Lord Charles Hope took the in the present circumstances this ob- King William IV. Medal., and Mr. ject would be obtained, by fixing a Gillespie the Club Gold Medal for the minimum limit of the size of the ball. second best score, while Captain C. K. The Committee proposed to consult Hutchison, who won the Spring the United States Golf Association Medal of the Club in 1914 with 79, and other bodies interested before sub- now won the George Glennie Medal mitting a definite proposal to the for the lowest aggregate at the spring club." This determination, indefinite and autumn meetings, the 1914 score as of course it is, marks a new era in being added to the one at this present the history of the development of the autumn meeting. It is an interesting game. It is much too big a matter to result regarded as a competition begun discuss in the course of a detached before the war and finished after- note here, but presently one hopes to wards, the winner having spent a con- submit a few observations indicating siderable part of his time in between the feeling in this part of the world. as a prisoner in Germany! Mr. John It was always foreseen that the Royal L. Low was a competitor on this oc- and Ancient Club would consult the casion, but made no return; the same U. S. G. A. and it is believed that the with Mr. A. J. Balfour, the ex- questions now at issue are of such im- Premier. portance that they can only be ade- quately dealt with by a personal con- Ball Standardization Question ference between authorized represent- AT A MEETING of the Royal and atives of British and American golf Ancient club held at St. Andrews at and that this is likely to take place. the time of the autumn meeting, Mr. H. W. Forster, the retiring Captain, A Golfer Killed at Golf presiding, Mr. John L. Low submitted ONE CANNOT RECALL any case in a report on behalf of the Rules of which a golfer has been killed in the Golf Committee in which it was stated pursuit of his game and as the result that they had no intention of making of it, until now. A most extraordinary the hole bigger or of removing the fun fatality has just taken place on the and skill of the stymie, but though Girvan golf course in Ayrshire. A 74THE AMERICAN GOLFER player had made his drive and was At the Midland Competition meet- turning round to remark about the ing on the Moseley course, Birming- stroke to another player, Mr. Robert ham, the individual tournament was Tait, aged eighteen, a mining engineer, won by Mr. J. B. Beddard with when he was surprised to find him rounds of 77 and 78. There was a tie lying unconscious at his feet. Mr. for the silver medal between Mr. C. Tait died without regaining conscious- F. Bretherton of Handsworth, who ness. He had been injured in the neck had just won the Irish Open Amateur by being struck by the golf club of the Championship, and Mr. F. Scarf with other player in the course of his aggregates of 157 each. The Frank swing. Carr Memorial instituted in memory of one of the best and most Much Competitive Golf popular of Midland golfers, who fell FROM AN ENORMOUS quantity of re- in the war, was played for the first turns that have been made in competi- time, the result being a tie between tive golf that is of rather more im- Mr. Beddard and Mr. Bretherton with portance than ordinary club tourna- an aggregate of 236 each. ments, amateur, professional, and all The Boys' Medal Competition of sorts, the briefest possible summary the Royal Liverpool Club, which in may be made, thus:— days gone by has been won by John Lord Charles Hope won the Gold Ball, Hilton and Graham, when they, Medal at the Tantallon meeting at too, were boys, has just been played North Berwick, the first held since the for again at Hoylake and won by A. war, with a score of 75. He had hur- R. Harvey with a score of 91. ried back from the Irish Champion- The Royal St. George's club has ship immediately on his defeat therein, just held its first medal competition to play. since the beginning of the war, at The Hon. Michael Scott of the Sandwich. There was a tie among Royal North Devon Club won the four players. West of England Challenge Cup on The autumn meeting of the New the Burnham and Berrow course, in Club at North Berwick has again been Somerset, beating Mr. J. H. Baker in resumed. Mr. J. E. Laidlay a former the final round of thirty-six holes amateur champion and Mr. J. B. by five up and four to play. Pease tied at 85 each for the scratch Mr. W. B. Torrance of the Edin- medal and at 89 each for the Dalrym- burgh Burgess club has won the High- pie Handicap Prize Captain C. K. land Amateur Championship, beating Hutchison was 86 and Mr. Leslie Bal- Mr. T. D. Armour in the final at Pit- four Melville, 93. Mr. A. J. Balfour lochry by one hole. was a competitor here also, and again The competition for the Glasgow made no return. championship has been resumed, and Harry Vardon and George Duncan was played for on the Erskine course, played against each other at Banchory when Mr. Robert Scott, who won the in Kincardineshire, , Prince championship in 1913, and Mr. James Albert motoring over from Balmoral Bone tied with scores of 76. The tie to watch the play, this being the first will be played off at a future date. time recorded of royalty being a golf 76THE AMERICAN GOLFER spectator. In the morning Vardon after being demobilized. Eight pro- beat Duncan by two holes, going round fessionals played on Ball's old course, in 70 against 72, but in the afternoon, Raynes Park near London, in aid of when a stroke round was played, Dun- his widow and children, the eight being can proved successful with 68 to Var- James Ockendei, his successor, Harry don's 72. Vardon, James Braid, Alec Herd, Ed- At Sheffield, Ray, Abe Mitchell, ward Ray, Abe Mitchell, Rowland and R. Jacobs op- Jones and George Duncan. The morn- posed each other. Mitchell won the ing stroke competition resulted in a stroke competition in the morning victory for Mitchell who went round with 76, Williamson being 77, Ray 78 in 71, the result of very fine golf. and Jacobs, the local professional, 83. Jones and Ray were each 72, Vardon In the four-ball match in the after- and Braid 73, Herd 75, O'ckenden 76 noon Mitchell and Jacobs beat Ray and Duncan 77. Braid was using his and Williamson by two and one. old aluminium putter, and was putting George Duncan and Tom Fernie much better than on the occasion of played at Turnberry in aid of a fund his dreadful failure at Sonning. He for a memorial to the members of the will leave the wooden putter alone for Royal Air Force who were killed while the present. Vardon was putting training in the neighborhood. In the rather erratically, but his approach morning Duncan went round in 76 to play was wonderfully good. In a Fernie's 79, while in the afternoon couple of four-ball matches in the Fernie did 73 to Duncan's 75. On the afternoon Ray and Ockenden beat thirty-six holes Duncan, in match Mitchell and Duncan by two and one play, was two up. while Braid and Vardon halved with On the Notts Golf Club's course at Jones and Herd. An auction sale of Hollinwell, Tom Williamson, the local clubs and other mementoes realized pro., won the stroke competition with over £100. Of this sum £10 was 75, Duncan being 77, Vardon 79, and obtained for some splinters from the Mitchell, 80. In a four-ball match "Vindictive," which had been sent by Mitchell and Duncan beat Vardon and a friend of Wing Commander Brock Williamson by five and three after be- (a member of the Raynes Park Club) ing three up at the turn. who lost his life in the Zeebrugge At Totteridge, Harry Vardon's landing. J. H. Taylor was unable to course, Vardon and Ray beat Braid play, but worked hard for the success and Mitchell in two four-ball matches of the occasion, and sent a cheque for by two and one each time. nearly £40, part of which was ob- tained by the sale of memorial buttons. The Tom Ball Memorial THE SAD CASE of Tom Ball, one of Ladies' Golf the very best of the professional golf- MATTERS ARE VERY BUSY in connec- ers of the new school, who, if he had tion with ladies' golf, and as one lived, would certainly have been one writes preparations are being finally of those now challenging the Trium- made for the Championship meeting at virate for supremacy, has already been Burnham, which is being anticipated reported upon. He did his duty in the with enormous interest. There are war, and died almost immediately ninety-six entries, which is not so 78THE AMERICAN GOLFER many as in some of the years imme- Championship at Stoke Poges which diately before the war, but the class attracted much interest. Despite her is good. Miss Cecil Leitch, Mrs. youth and sex she was reaching 420 Dobell (Miss Gladys Ravenscroft) yard holes at Stoke Poges in two shots. Mrs. Allan Macbeth (Miss Muriel The draw has already been made and Dodd), Mrs. G. V. Hurd (Miss Doro- Miss Croft is matched in the first thy Campbell), now, of course, of the round against Miss Doris Chambers, U. S. and other most eminent players a long driver amongst women, who has are among the entries. One of the just been demobilized from her duties most interesting entries is that of Miss as a transport driver in France. By Audry Croft, who is only seventeen the way Mrs. Hurd enters from the years of age and has just won a Girls' Westmoreland Club, U. S. A.