Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
0 WOMEN AND GOLF.
Many American Women Play Well,
but Few Look Well When Playing

From the New Idea Magazine.
Ladies links" is term which never be-
came us widespread on this side of the
ocean as on the other. In England and
Scotland when women first took UP the
game they were not permitted on the his
toric courses. but were forced to play on
shorter or pocket handkerchief links,
pecially laid out for them.
Women IN this country have always been
permitted to play on our longest courses,
although they are closed to them on GER
tain days. Very long and sporty holes, on
which hazards are so placed as to spoil an
average womans drive. have ladies' tees.
from which a. similar stroke would not be
penalized, but as driving Is. on the whole.
one of the strongest points OF many wom-
en- champions, such special arrangements
are done away with in tournaments, and
the long course is played.
The greater number of today's women
champions selftaught. although they
have had professional instruction in some
gained, not by going around the course
dozens Of times. but by practlcing the same
shot for half an hour at time studying
scientifically cause and effect.
A half hour of this special practice, fol-
lowed by an eighteen-hole round, three
times a week. is the only preparation for a
tournament in which Mrs. Charles T. Stout
the well-known champion. believes.
There Is only one cure for staleness
caused by overplaying, and that is to turn
your back on clubs and links for a time.
Take up simple exercises and regular
gymnasium practice Following this rule
led to the remarkable games of Miss Geor-
giana Bishop, the champion OF 1904.
Few women look we'll when playing golf
Miss Rhoua Adair. the English champion,
who also carried off all victories on her
American visit few years ago, is known
for her awkward game. She exaggerates
the preliminary waggie, grips her cluo
hnxy oh fCyItlQ rif
1t is pleasure to watch the game OF Miss
yanderhoef member OF the Ardsley Club.
Ardsley- ON Hudson, and the player In
several championship tournaments.
American women were severely criticised
for the careleSsneSs of their dress in rainy
weather by Miss Adair. She said:
"In England dowdy and careless In dress
as we are supposed to be, nave never seen
women In such unbecoming ana careless
and rough costumes as / have seen mere In
unpleasant weather.
However, Miss Adair commented more
fayorably on matters of greater import, and
II is interesting to note how women players
of the old world compare with those OK
the new.
NV experience have l seen such universal
grit, sand or what believe you call nerve
as is displayed by every woman golfer In
America. / must In fairness admit that
American women seem better able to rise
to a bad situation and play better than they
know how when such a feat is demanded
nv the exigencies of the score, than either
English Irish or Scotch women"
Another critic of American golfers famil-
lar with conditions In both countries Is
Harry Vardon. winner of both British and
American open championships. He credits
the American girls with adopting the game
more whole heartedly than their English
sisters.
..IIe says that the American girl tucks up
her sleeves like man. and in the soles OF
her shoes she has plenty of cody sized
nails. And she does not look a ntue the
worse for any of these things; Indeed, the
picture of the determined. strenuous ana
yet charming lady golfer was one OF the
most attractive that saw when IN Amer
lea"
a good average drive of the woman golfer
is $50 yards, that for the men averaging
thirty or forty yards more Phenomenal
drives have been made by Miss Margaret
curtis OF the Essex County Club, Man
chester. Mass whose long gains Is superb.
ON one occasion she drove go yards.