The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-21
Gut out MEDAL PLAY
Golfers Would Dispense With the
Qualifying Round in Amateur
Championships.
Local Players Say Plan Would Not
Work in the State Tour
,8. nalnents.

,8. nalnents.
discussing the question of eliminating the
qualifying round at medal play from the
amateur championships Players of Brit
isi1 birth are the principal advoca tes. Of
the plan. They contend that the two
styles Of play are so different that it Is
unfair to include both styles in a cham
pionship tournament. 1t is a fact well
known to all golfers that many players
who can make excellent medal scores are
weak in match play, while the strongest
men in match play often make mediocre
medal scores. This frequently results in
some OF the best men failing to qualify.
The same question has been discussed,
though not very seriously, with regard to
the Minnesota state championship tourna-
ments. It is felt by the majority Of the
local players that medal play, under the
present conditions of the state tourna-
ments is necessity. Said one we'll known
Minneapolis golfer: -, ':'
Medal play might be eliminated from
our. state tournaments, if only the cham
plonsh1p cup were to be considered. AS
IS well known, however, there are three
cups to be contested In previous years
the men who make the eight lowest scores
|
qualified for the championship. cup: the
next eight, and the third eight qualified
Tor two special cups. This year sixteen
Will qualify for the championship, instead
Of eight ...".
with these three cups in question.
medal play seems the only way to di-
vide the contestants. Amy other plan that
could be suggested would be too cum
bersome. OF course, some men always
.ho-1 o6o
the cup, and some will be thrown out who
ought TO be lin at the finish. It would be
practically impossible, however, to devise
any plan which would not be open to the
same objections.''
Miss Genevieve Hecker, champion wom
an golfer of the United States, thinks
, .ea1h ol american women could be Sc
lected which would defeat the best Eng
llsh players. In a recent interview Miss
Hecker said .--. -
1.-The whole game of the British woman
seems to be steadier. but from what T
can learn they excel principally in putting
The greens over there are absolutely true,
and they think nothing of holing out from
| the edge of the green. 49, 49,.
u should like to see those same players
try 1t OH most of our links. Irdon't be-
| .l1eve,. they would be. able to put even as
| well as we do.
+ Another thing which favors. good put
ting on most of the courses in. Scotland
! and England is the thick turf on the
greens: It's big advantage to be, able to
hit the ball. I, always have more confid-
| ence on a heavy green
do you think Miss Hecker was
asked, that a team Of: American women
! would stand any show in a match with
! the foreign experts over the latter's home
greens?''
1"If we could take a, few of our best
players, am sure we could do pretty we'll,
14but it would never do to take over a
| large. team; they have so many good
! golfers who play about the same sort of
game, you know. "
"Our only chance would be in a small
: team, and that made up Of the very best
| players.
| '"Should they come over here, I doubt
very much their ability to win in this
| country. They depend so, much upon
their putting, and this could not be relied
upon on our green's
! There is a most interesting article in
! the London Field on the American inya-
| sion In golf. It is pointed out that the
Americans have come in and supplied
balls, and that, with regard to clubs
factories are to be established in England
| AS soon as the Americans saw that there
was money to be made in golf clubs they
set to work to make it. Of course the
| Olu -diiu SLOW mana metnOdS We're done
l away with. A mechanical expert, who
had never held "a. club in his life, was
asked to devise a., machine for cutting
wooden club heads, so as to SCOOP. out the
hole for the lead He, promptly devised
one for scooping and cutting the lead tt
the required weight at the rate of~-2O(
pieces minute The idea of a man wht
is not a golfer doing such a thing is.quitt
! foreign to the English or Scotch mind. Tt
summarize the position. a set Of Ameri
can machinery will turn out 300 clubs ii
the same time that one handscraftsma1
!. would turn out in six. The general finisl
and get-up of the American clubs is in.
finitely superior to that of the home make
These facts portend great revolution il
the golf world. In a. few years time tin
club professional will have nothing to d,
with the making Of clubs. He will b.
merely the agent for their sale. AS t,
:. their repair he may fix on a new shaft Q
tighten up a bit Of leather or twine II
may still make balls, but club committe
Will not have to- consider, the question 8
whether or not the professional know
anything about club making any NOR
than a cricket club considers whether
professional can make bats or balls 7'h
. club professional will be selected becaus
he can play and cam teach: and becaus
he knows how to keep the links in goo
order, and how to look after the, green
and make them" playable in all Weathers.
i . = f.