The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-05
LESSON FOR GOLFERS
Some Valuable Pointers are Given
the Americans by Oxford Cam
bridge Players.

That our younk golfers are too young.
and that our old golfers are too old Is
a lesson that was brought home to US
rather emphatically by the English golf
ers whose visit last week was one of the
pleasant features Of the golf season, says
the Chicago Inter- Ocean.
We have no middle class of golfers who
may be classified under the term expert.
The visitors averaged about IS years of
age. In the west we could not possibly
put a team in the field of this age to
cope with the BritiShers.
The reason for this is probably that I'll
of our golfers hereabouts began learning
the game together-fathers and sons. A
few veterans who started the golf clubs
knew the game from having learned it
abroad. All the rest Of us had to start at
the beginning and learn it. This situa-
ton, however, will dispose Of itself as the
years go by, for the present youthful
generation will age, and we are now
learning the game.
Our golf should be greatly benefited by
the visit of the Oxford Cam bridge Golf
ing society team. 1t was evident and
remarked by the Englishment themselves
that the American players drive as long
a ball as the Britishers, but on the put
ting greens, particularly in the last three
ShotS-the approach and two puts-it Is
not exaggerating to say that we are out
classed, their careful, painstaking work
in the approach and the two puts being
in striking contrast to the rather careless
and monotonous methods in vogue here.
While the Englishmen take the greatest
care in the short game, they waste no
time in doing so. The eye is trained to
see, and see quickly, and the arm Is
trained to a versatility Of stroke alto
gether unknown here, where our shots
on the green are only varied by the force
Of the stroke.
The defeat of the All-Western and ALL
Chicago teams has no sting about it, for
it is unanimously agreed that We were
beaten by better players, and the lessons
learned from them are worth great deal
more than any victories.
An All-American golf team probably
could hold it's own with the Oxford Cam
bridge team, which has honored US with
a visit, but must bear in mind that
this team does not represent the strength
| at the command of the Oxford Cambridge
society, as Captain Johnny Low told the
writer he had, ten refusals by members
who were unwilling to give up the shoot
| ing, the grouse season being about open
| in England soon after the team sailed
| for America
The team here did not represent the
strength that could have been secured,
but neither Captain Boyd nor Captain
Waller can be held Accountable for that,
! as once again the kindergarten feature
was in evidence A quiet intimation was
received that the Englishmen would pre-
fer to meet men and not boys, and while
due representation was given our young
golfers the older generation was also
| included.
Some interesting comment on our golf
courses was made by Captain Low, who
said that in his opinion there was not
enough penalty provided for slicing and
pulling off the course. He believes the
course ought to be provided with traps
along the sides tc catch the ball sent off
the course. If this were the case there
would be much better playing straight
down the course.