How Long Do You Take to Putt? by RUNCIE B
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USGA JOURNAL: NOVEMBER, 1950 5 How Long Do You Take to Putt? By RUNCIE B. MARTIN DULUTH HERALD AND NEWS-TRIBUNE, DULUTH, MINN. One of the most controversial angles Player B averaged 21 seconds per putt, in golf today is the excessive amount of with a low of 12 and high of 26. time some tournament golfers spend on Player C's average was 28.5, with a the putting green. low of 6 and high of 62. The United States Golf Association has Player D had the highest average of tried to cure the malady with a rule. the four players, with 38; a low of 21 For many years delay which unfairly and high of 53. interfered with another player subjected The ultimate champion, Tom Hoak, the slow man to the possibility of dis- required the lowest average time per qualification. But the penalty was never putt, 21 seconds. This might be construed Dpplied - its sole use was a threat. as an example of what the late Alex At the start of 1949 the USGA reduced Smith said many years ago, "Miss 'em the penalty to a more nearly practical quick." This colorful Carnoustie Scot degree -loss of hole in match play and had the reputation of being a fine putter, two strokes in stroke play, except that especially in the clutches. repeated delay was to entail disqualifica- Traveling pros are probably the worst tion. In the last two seasons several effenders, but amateurs of all ages are players in USGA championships have likewise guilty. Ten-cent syndicates, received the minimum penalties under dollar Nassaus, regular weekly club this rule, most of them for being late events, invitation tournaments, state at the first tee. USGA officials say the championships and on down to the big- general situation about slow play is gest championship in the country, the improving. USGA Amateur, they are all guilty. But on the putting green play is still At the Amateur Championship painfully slow. In watching tournaments We made a time test of a number of tr,e last two years we have seen many contestants in this year's USGA Amateur flagrant violations of the rule which at the Minneapolis Golf. Club with the requires a player to "play without undue following results, from the time they delay," and never have we seen a penalty started studying their putts until the ball invoked on the green, although some was stroked: decidedly should have been called. In a first-round match between Wil- Thus far USGA officials haven't been liam C. Campbell, of Huntington, W. Va., able to solve the problem satisfactorily, and Allan Whaling, of Cincinnati, Camp- and it may take a Philadelphia lawyer bell averaged 55.3 seconds per putt on to come up with the perfect answer. 17 greens for a total of 17 minutes and 26 seconds, with a high of 85 and low The Stop-Watch Test of 25. Whaling, the winner, averaged An idea which might go far toward a 48.8 for a total of 19 minutes and 30 solution was tried during the semi-final seconds, high 85 and low 5. matches of the Northland invitation This 17-hole match, although slightly tournament in Duluth, Minn. delayed by the field, required 4 hours The four players were timed on the 11 minutes, of which 36 minutes 56 greens from the time they started studying seconds were spent studying and stroking their putts until the ball was stroked. putts. Player A had an average of 32.1 Defending Champion Charley Coe seconds per putt, with a low of 20 seconds averaged 43.12 seconds, with a high of and high of 48. 64. and low 22, in his first-round match 6 USGA JOURNAL: NOVEl\IBER, 1950 Brass without Hats Alex Bremner photo USGA officials during the Amateur Championship at the Minneapolis Golf Club.. Left to right: Front row - Richard Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C.• Secretary: Totton Hef- felfinger, Minneapolis. Vice-President: James Standish, Detroit, President: Isaac Grainger, New York. Vice-President: John Ames, Chicago, Treasurer. Back row: Joseph Dey. Executive Secretary: Charles Grace, Philadelphia: Charles Peirson, Boston: James Walker, New York: Fred Dold, Wichita: Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, all members of the Executive Committee. Missing from the photograph are T. R. Garlington, Atlanta: Lewis A. Lapham, New York: Corydon Wagner, Tacoma, members of the Executive Committee, and Fraser M. Horn, New York, General Counsel. with Thomas S. Jamison, Jr., whose Hale, the British Amateur Champion average came to 43.05, high 64 and low averaged 61 seconds to his opponent's 17. Twenty-two minutes 30 seconds 59.6, and in the following match with were used in putting during this 14-hole William Mawhinney he averaged 50.6 contest. as compared to the Canadian Champion's Cae averaged 53 seconds per putt on 72. These two matches were close and some of the holes which we checked him hard-fought, both being decided on the on in his other matches. On four or 18th green. more holes Richard Chapman averaged The putting of Stranahan and Sam 43 seconds; Gene Littler, 39; Willie Urzetta, the new Champion, was checked Turnesa, 40; Chick Evans, 34; James on 29 holes of their final match, and McHale, 42, and Pat Sawyer, 22. the total time spent on the greens was: Farty contestants were checked on the' Stranahan - 48 minutes 7 seconds; 13th green, generally regarded as the Urzetta - 25 minutes 39 seconds. trickiest on the course, for an average In this match Frank used more time of 38.7 seconds, with a high of 137 and than before in putting. Perhaps it was a low of 12. because he was so close to the title he In Frank Stranahan's match with Mc- (Continued on Page 25) USGA JOURNAL: NOVEMBER, 1950 25 HOW LONG DO YOU TAKE TO PUTT? (Continued from Page 6) wanted most, but during the 21 holes in and Merritt Marcus played 18 holes in the afternoon round he averaged 81.7 2 hours 10 minutes, and the winner seconds per putt on his first putt and was two under par. 59.7 when he was obliged to make a In the quarter-final round Eugene Hay second effort. His low of 38 came on eliminated Bisplinghoff, 4 and 3. The the first hole, and high of 166 on the winner was four under par and the first 39th, where Frank froze and walked nine was played in one hour. away from the ball to regain his con The final between Mason Rudolph and centration — but came back to miss. Chuck Beville required 2 hours 40 Urzetta was faster and more consistent, minutes for 17 holes and was slowed by having an average of 52.7 on his first a sizeable gallery. putts and 37.5 with his seconds. A high Since timing contestants on the putting of 80 came on the second extra hole and greens during these two tournaments, we low of 35 seconds only was required on have made the same test on a number of his championship-winning final putt. golfers as they played in their regular Saturday club events. The results were Stranahan ran over the 100-seconds interesting from a number of angles, count six times. The majority of Ur- one of which is that some players didn't zetta's efforts were consistently between realize the time they had been using 45 and 55. on the greens. How the Juniors Do It The amount of time spent at putting Proof that four to five hours is not might not contain a complete answer required for a round of championship to the growing problem of "too much play was furnished in this year's USGA time required to play a round of golf," Junior Championship at Denver. but a further study along these lines In the third round Don Bisplinghoff could lead to a step in the right direction. Spirit of the Women Seniors HORTON SMITH'S FORMULA (Continued from Page 14) Swing your clubhead and p'ay better golf. The younger generation could get Swing freely in a circular arc and play more many tips as to how golf should bs enjoyable go'f. Preparation: Visualize your shot, plan your swing, aim club toward1 hole, adjust played from the Seniors, as this Cham your stance and balance, get "clubhead feel," pionship is played according to the and swing. strictest Rules of Golf, and often in Swing formula: Leg-based, arm-measured, hand- weather that few players would venture hit and head-anchored. Legs provide base and ba'ance-in-motion and also generate fares (leg out into. drive). Arms measure circular arc, left arm and Life begins at 50 with th- Seniors. club form rad'us of swing clrc'e. Shou'dsr- There is no other game but golf that prcpsl'ed arms act as swinging levers. Hand women of our age can continue,, to play act'on (straightening of wrists) climaxes swing a; impact. Left hand emphasizes holding, with and enjoy. The Seniors have proven right hand hitting. Hands give sense of feel that golf will keep you young and active and location of c-ubface. Head and spine are through the years, and give you more confer and location point around which the real pleasure than any other sport. cwing revolves. Paying good go!f requires the ability to swing May there always be a Senior Cham the clubhead a'ong a given line (direction line) pionship! ct a given pace. .