The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-13
And ADVICE
Champion Taylor in His Book on
Golf, Pays Compliments to
American Women.
Says They Are Not Yet, However,
the Equals Of the English
Women Players.

J.. H. Taylor, three times open golf
champion OF England, in his new book,
Taylor on Golf" pays some very pretty
compliments to the skill and energy OF
American women golfers. He also gives
them some good advice
Mr.. Taylor calls attention to the boom
that has come to golf for women in the
old world and brings up the antedfluvian
provisions made at Westward Ho club,
Hoylake, for women players a score OF
years ago. True, there was course there
for women, but it was nothing more than
putter course, and the women soon for
got all desire to acquire proficiency in the
game. It was far cry from this period
of neglect to the holding Of the British
Women's championship at Westward Eio In
1900. + - -. .
While In America Taylor watched the
women play in the national tourney and
don't flare up at hina-he Says on the
showing he has not the slightest hesitation
in saying the American woman player is
not at the present time in the same class
as the British, considering the best Of the
latter as compared with the best Of the
former. "It is only common fairness,
however" says the Englishman, Ito say
they have taken up the game only recent
ly, and in a few years time the United
States should be capable of producing a
team of women players that would pos
sess fair chance of winning on this side
OF the Atlantic" .r...~. - -"
American Woman Thorough. 9.
"The woman golfer in America" con-
tinues the man who has been such a sue
cess as teacher Of golf,, takes up the
game in thoroughly practical and bust
nesslike manner; there Is no half heart
| edness displayed in her style. With the
sleeves of her jersey or blouse"-has ne nc
! idea of the shirtwaist girl?-"roHed up
| she attacks golf in workmanlike man
ner. This wonderful keenness-I can de-
scribe 1t in no other way-nust nave It's
| effect upon the game and In the natura
sequence Of events they will, peyono
| doubt come to the 'front.' :, .., :,
| Mr.. Taylor tells the women that greater
muscular development is required In gol1
than in tennis, as far as the forearm Is
concerned, but practice develops the
muscles. Miss Lottie Dodd, a well known
tennis player in England, also is for
midable In golf. Once the woman be-
comes obedient to the dictates OF her pro
fessional tutor she becomes terribly Keen
upon improving her game by regulation
methods" =
| AS a member of the professional class,
Taylor is an ardent expounder of the
text, Golf cannot be learned from text
| books" The woman, once she can DC
induced to think out what will be the
results Of certain method OF playing
stroke, Is more open to conviction than
a. man, and should improve. quite as
rapidly in her play. Of course the best
women players are those who are for
tunate enough to learn the game in child
hood. The Scotch girls, by reason of thei,
advantages, should defeat any, team in the
world. 80 -
The Average Length Of Drive.
| 'Many women are disconnected with the
length of their drives, thinking they
should be able to carry as far as a man,
continued Mr.. Taylor. But it may be
taken as good average If a woman sue
ceeds in driving from 1870 to $50 yards
On. this achievement she should feel sat
isfied." He alludes to the DIR i've of 23s
yards made by Miss Molly Whigham II
the 1900 Championships the drive
was carefully measured-and tells aspir
ing would-be long drivers to rem embe
that the sister Of the former American
amateur champion, H. ). Whigham
learned her game when mere lassie a
lPrestwick, Scotland. Miss Whfghan
men players. -.
If women could be induced to patroniz
a shorter swing, in the opinion of MI
Taylor, their play would be more accu
rate and effective, and accuracy pay
In the long run. Women should not b
discouraged because they. seem to lacl
wrist power-because the wrist is no
possessed Of the pliability of steel an
whipcord. He himself was lacking II
wrist and forearm strength before h
practiced golf. - -;
Grip dumbbells with springs are recon
mended to women for aids in, developing
wrist and forearm muscles, so necessar
to golf.