Joe Conrad's Victory in the British Amateur
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JOE CONRAD'S VICTORY IN THE BRITISH AMATEUR IN THE WAKE of the British Amateur said. (tAt first we used to think he was on Championship lie several factors which a date, even though he doesn't have a usually intrigue golf's analysts and con- steady girl. But, do you know where he found its prognosticators. For five cen- went? He'd park the car on the Bracken- turies it has been an accepted fact that ridge practice area and hit balls hour after the game's only consistency is in provid- hour. His love is golf." ing the element of surprise, but even that That, at least, partially explains why doesn't deter astonishment at occurences the British Amateur trophy is the twenty- which are old, yet always new. fifth--one for each year of his life-in Inasmuch as no United States Walker Conrad's collection. Cup Team had gone to Britain since 1926 The United States entry was led by all without some member of the Team win- the members of the victorious Walker Cup ning the British Amateur Championship, Team except E. Harvie Ward, Jr., of San the feeling was strong that history might Francisco, and by young Donald M. Bis- repeat itself this year at Royal Lytham plinghoff, of Orlando, Fla., the 1952 and St. Anne's, where Robert T. Jones, USGA Junior Amateur Champion. Jr., first won the British Open, Lawson Littrle the British Amateur and Louise Suggs the British Ladies' Championships. Of the forty-six Americans in a field of 248 entries, however, little attention was focused on a 25-year-old red-haired Texan, Lt. Joseph W. Conrad, of San Antonio, who had been one of two Americans to lose their matches in the Walker Cup singles at St. Andrews, the only defeats sustained by the United States in the two days of play. Had Conrad's background been more generally known, perhaps his 3 and 2 vic- tory over Alan Slater, of Wakefield, Eng- land, in the 36-hole fina..lmight have been less surprising. After the tournament it was Conrad's mother, Mrs. Margaret Conrad, who pro- LT. JOSEPH W. CONRAD vided the key to some of his characteristics. On the fifth day, when the quarter- finals and semi-finals were played, the A "Date" With Golf wheel of fate began turning rapidly. There "Many ,times, after he had played had been eleven Americans among the last eighteen or thirty-six holes during the day, thi1'1ty-two survivors of this all-match- he would take the car out at night," she play Championship and nine among' the 16 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JULY, 1955 last sixteen, but only three advanced to USC.A PUBLICATIONS the quarter-finals. They were William J. Patton, of Morganton, N.C., Bisplinghoff O'F CENERAL INTEREST and Conrad. THE RULES OF GOLF, as appraved by the United States Golf Association and the In a heavy rain during the quarter- Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. finals, Patton lost to Philip Scrutton, of Andrews, Scotland. Booklet, 25 cents (spe- London, a member of the British Walker cial rates for quantity orders). Poster, 25 Cup Team wham he had defeated in the cents. ARE YOUR LOCAL RULES NECESSARY? a re- singles at St. Andrews, by 7 and 6. Bis- print of a USGA Journal article containing plinghoff, who. had eliminated Bruce Cudd, recommendations regarding local rules. af the U.S. Walker Cup Team, 4 and 2, No charge. in the fifth round, lost to Arthur Perowne, THE RULE ABOUT OBSTRUCTIONS, a reprint an English farmer, on the twentieth hole. of a USGA Journal article. No charge. USGA GOLF HANDICAP SYSTEM FOR MEN, Conrad meanwhile disposed of Roger containing recommendations for comput- Bayliss, 5 and 3, in the quarter-finals, and ing Basic and Current Handicaps and Scrutton in the semi-finals, 5 and 4. for rating courses. Booklet, 25 cents. Slater, who is 36 and lives in Yorkshire, Poster, 10 cents. earlier had defeated Da,le Morey, of Indian- THE CONDUCT OF WOMEN'S GOLF, con- taining suggestions for guidance in the apolis, Ind., and the Walker Cup Team, conduct of women's golf in clubs and and James B. McHale., Jr., of Wynne- associations, including tournament pro- wood, Pa., on the same day. He gained cedures, handicapping and course rating. the title round by eliminating Ireland's 25 cents. HANDICAPPING THE UNHANDICAPPED, a Joe Carr, the 1953 Champion, 2 and 1, reprint of a USGA Journal article explain- and Perowne, 3 and 2. ing the Callaway System of automatic handicapping for occasional players in a A Crucial Half single tournament. No charge. After being 4 up at the end of eighteen TOURNAMENTS FOR YOUR CLUB, a reprint holes, Conrad was only 1 up going to the of a USGA Journal article detailing vari- ous types of competitions. No charge. twenty-seventh, a one-shatter. There Slater PROTECTION OF PERSONS AGAINST sank a 2o-foot putt for a 2. Conrad faced LIGHTNING ON GOLF COURSES, a poster. a downhill putt of almost the same length. No charge. After a brief study, however, he sank it MOTION PICTURE, "The Rules of Golf-eti- quette," an official USGA film. Descriptive for a half and was never in danger after folder. No charge. (Film rental $15.) that. MOTION PICTURES ON GOLF (list). No Not until after the match did it become charge. generally known that Conrad had played MOTION PICTURES RELATING TO GOLF the final round with a deep cut on his COURSE MAINTENANCE (list). No charge. HOLE-IN-ONE AWARDS. No charge. right forefinger, a cut he declined to AMATEURISM IS IN THE HEART, a reprint bandage lest it hamper his grip. The of a USGA Journal article by E. G. Grace. wound was revealed only by William C. No charge. Campbell, of Huntington, W. Va., Cap- BETTER LAWNS TO COME, a reprint of a tain of the Walker Cup T earn, after USGA Journal article. No charge. Conrad's triumph. TURF MANAGEMENT, by H. B. Musser (Mc- Graw-Hili Book Co., Inc.), the authorita- The new British Amateur Champion and tive book on greenkeeping. $7. twenty-four other Americans then went USGA CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD BOOK. De- to France to compete in the French Ama- tailed results of all USGA competitions teur Championship at Golf de Chantilly. since their start in 1895. $2. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMEN~ Among the others were Campbell, Cudd a 33-page magazine published seven times and Bisplinghoff, the latter going to the a year. $2. a year. final, where he was defeated by Henri de These publications are available on request to the United States Golf Association, 40 East 38th Lamaze, of Paris, defending champion, 5 Street, New York 16, N. Y. Please send payment with your order. and 4. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JULY, 1955 l'.