New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27

LAVISH PRIZE-G1vING AND
WHAT IT rs LEADING TO.
One Of the latest devices Of the faddist in golf
clubs is the single piece driver which Is sald 10
possess distinct merit over the ordinary implement
This idea emanates from John Dunn. nephew OF
the famous willie" Dunn who was open cham-
pion in 1894 Dunn was formerly the professional
at Ardsley. and he claims for his innovation mat
II is the longest driving club In the world As i.S
name implies it is made all Of one piece the S'"l'
being bent at the neck as 10 allow the gram 10
run continuously from tip 20 Toe. Logically II
would seem though this formation should result
I'm a longer stroke for the absence OF bending d.
emDnIeness some four inches nearer tho bottom Of
the club That u.s. unlike the ordinary spliceu CIup
the spring Is brought nearer IN" point OF lnpdc'
and greater leverage is thus given 10 the shaft
II Is claimed by experts that TINS new lnpeN",sle
ordinary club and that. because OF It's construc-
ton. IT is much more durable" IN ths eEth' o, , a
SHAFT Ike he eysry,iday Ssre s6od no be ap
rlied to ali wooden clubs but at present i gee ms
/ 10 be limited to the driver and hrassey Inc only
fear expire sscd ny those who have seen them Is
hat thfy arc more likely to warp than the splced
variety This is a fault which most players "o"'d
consider serious one
One NJ the interesting results OF the growing de-
mand for clubs Of all kinds is the effort on the part
of makers TO procure woods which are best sui'ed
for the jealous exactions OF the game IN Hco''a"u
beech and hornbeam have been USED from tlhe I'M
memorial but over here these varieties have large
" given place to dogwood and hickory. Inc Dog
wood serves for the head OF the club. and the
hickory for the shaft. Even IN Scotland the
american products are said TO he largely supp!ant-
ing those OF home manufacture. and large mporta-
abroad to be shaped and fashioned 10y homo labor
The best doewood comes from Virginia, Enle i'uod d
of the heKorE nsrn so nave been made with
appewood and they have been more or Jess sue
cessful. In fact carefully selected piece OF APP
plewood Is said TO possess strong merits: b1t AZ d
rule 1t has proved TOO uneven ana kno,ty ior SUI
deavored 10 empioy ash hut this too was found
unsafe. account 81 its variable qnaliIrs Hrssn-
has been tried for shafts but il lacks the supple
ness necessary for good hub and mos, makers er
simmon which is got in Virginia but the SUI
ptrloriy Of dogwood for ms part OF ,nS ns c'~o
almost universal
Between advice what TO do and what not
to do beginner in golf Is having hard time
iust now Every sef-constituted authority on
style feels called upon 10 give him points, but th'Ee
IS one recent suggestion that seems TO have con
siderable common-sense to commend it, rms is IN
regard to driving. After his first fruitess Efforts
in trying TO hit golf ball the novice Is inclined
to agree with the who said that golf appeared
TO be capital exercise. but he failed TO grasp the
part played by the Sutta percha. TAis ldef is OF
fered to aid him: Draw short line directly IN
front Of tee. and In the direction the bail IS
10 be driven. This line should not be over couple
inches or IL a line VIII not show up dsuactiy lay
a short stick Ike match Oh The ground IN me
same way The eyes should remain nNed on tnls
line and the attention concentrated III making me
h1u follow its direction No great effort should
be put into the stroke. the chief idea Deng 10 MI
CURED the force may be increased. but at first
anything Ike Ions ball should oe at tf, ne
player giving him rapid eondenee in handlng MS
drives. and definite notions as 10 direction which
lot, &c oft
The question OF Increasing the rounds Of the
amateur golf championship from eighteen to
thirty-six holes. which is 10 come up FOR discus
sion ut the meeting Of the Executive committee
on Wednesday. is tAat has been warmly adj
vacated by PLAYERS all over the country. Accord
ing 10 Scotch ideas. a championship decided by
eighteen hole rounds is one 10 be scorned There
to allow OF fair results in 50 short distance. The
qualifying and hnal rounds are TO" decided at
riie Uniform throus6out This viii Increase
time necessary for deciding the championship. but
as The profess onals have been relcgated to a sep
arate tournament, an extra day VIII %, DE anoruei.
IL likely that outside opinions Will he asked for
before entering upon 30 important step. and this
may delay the committees action until the April
meeting.
The lavish prlzc-gying which has characterized
so many OF the tournaments in this vicinity is
calling out vigorous protest from conservative
clubs The thing has grown 10 be burden. in
Their opinion. and unless checked. Will result In
seriously handicappng the game. tn" plea IS for
greater moderation in expense. not only In home
competitions. but IN what arc known - open
tournaments. where the item for trophies often
mounts 10 startling ngrc-. The present tendency
is 10 offer n prize Tor 2Nthlne "nh "N"rStnlng'
There Is gold medal for the best gross score.
another for the best handicap score. cup for the
winner OF the tournament 3 cup for foursomes.
for team play. for approach and putting. for
noyices for this class and that class until the sur
prise is That one escapes without mug. The
protest will no doubt find ccnO at every or
ganlza ton where golf Is played.