The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-06
Mr., TAFT As A GOLF PLAYER
IN MATCH PLAY he rs NOT
An EASY MAN TO BEAT.


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Bis Tee Shots Are Made With Much Care
Tor aSsure Rather Than . Brilliant
Driye-his Average Medal Score Has
Been In h Neishborhood Of 90.
WASHINGTON, June 6,-The truth in
prin, about Taft at golf will not on the
one hand cscss any cup sinner 70 be
envious or on the other hand make the
head OF the nation ashamed Of his game.
This may convey the thought that Preei-
dent Taft 10 neither a very good nor a
very bad golfer.
MIR, Taft began to play golf years ago
and now that he has reached the highest
political station he does not permit the
cares OF State TO rob him OF time to in
dulge in the ancient and honorable game.
His enjoyment on the links seems to be
as keen as ever aud he fights Just as hard
to win. A good many persons have
manifested a desire to know something
more definite about MIR. Taft's game Of
eolf-his style Of play, his temper and
temperament while in action and above
All his average medal score. To take the
last first it may be said that the Presi-
dents average medal score ia not a very
low one but that in match play he is not
an easy matt 10 beat. lie has 6 way Of
plodding through the middle Of the course
all the time, making as straight as pos
sibie for the little cup on the next green.
Even at that he lie not remarkable for his
accuracy either In the long game or the
short game. but he SELDOM misses a shot
absolutely.
A high percentage of his drives are
straight. although they are usually not OF
great length. Mr.. Taft plays his tee
shots with a good deal Of care. addressing
the ball intently. after planting his feet
well apart, and swinging his club back
slowly. indicating that he lie playing for
a sure rather than a brilliant drive; a
STYLE OF play from, the tee was seen at the
Chevy Chase Club last month. when he
was playing in four. ball match
Mr.. Taft's side had the honor Of the
eighteenth hole. and although no gallery
ions, a large number OF club members
we're gathered on the lawn near the home
green. The eighteenth hole At Chevy
Chase is only 1871 yards long, and the tee
can be seen from the clubhouse avn.
Tho President stepped out on the Tee &c.
size had teed the ball MIR. Taft addressed
it With his driver in his usual deliberate
manner. Then followed the slow swing
back ward, succeeded by a hard and
steady swat OF the eatta percha sphere.
In An instant II Was seen that the President
lance and direction. The ball came
straight for the green at a good height.
and after a short roll stopped about ten
feet from the cup. The crack Travis
the Presidents partner in the four bali
match, drove with an iron Instead OF with
ball, although on the putting green, landed
at a point much further from the cup than
Mr.. Taft's. This drive vas typical OF the
President,s style OF play. 1t 10 also rather
illustrative that MFR. Taft required a four
for the hole, although it looked as il he
had an easy three. with a tair chance 'or
atwo.
Since Mr.. Taft resumed play this spring
his average medal score has probably
been in the neighborhood Of %. He
played better golf than that last ummer
and last winter at Hot Springs. Va. and
PLAYING nearly every day. while he has
recently been playing not oftener thar
once or twice a week.
The Presidents short game is perhaps
not quite as good as his long game
1rem tSs BY i,s the sn ls' his o. br sSspse w n,r o''G Hs
IIOul th0 pcC oAN lbS cAo'S'N -.
IL . little too likely to play short OF the
hole in his approach puts. and his strokes
from the rough and from artificial haza rds
do not always yield adequate results.
1t frequently happens that his medal score
is spoiled by his failure to extricate him.
self readily from trouble on or two
holes of the eighteen.
Walter j.. Travis, after playing with
the President last month. remarked to a
group OF club members at Chevy Chase
that he could soon coach Mr.. Taft to play
an excellent oI sam dsS 81 Z sGii tbs, tt ts. sf Presil
dent already had a good style OF play
and that he had no bad golf habits that
would have to be overcome. Incident
ally MIR. Travis indoTsed Mr., Tatt's
method Of scoring in q o ball match:
The President holds that the best bali
should not necessa rily win the hole in a
four ball match. but that h winning
side on each hole should be determined
by adding the scores OF the partners on
each side. Mr.. Travis declared also
that this was the way a four ball contest
When President Taft plays golf at
Chevy Chase he usually plays In a four
some -four ball match), n on many
occasions vioe-Presidept Sherman Is one
Of his eolfng COMPANIONS. Mr.. sherman
is not nearly a. good a golfer as MIR. Taft.
and ii is perhaps doing him no injustice
" bay tbdt ~
eighteen holes is not many strokes from
ITO. The President plays q pretty even
tempered game. seldom altering a word
Of Impotence. Not so with the Hon.
James Schoolcraft. He ia all too likely
10 mako bad matters worse with his score
by becoming impatient when he misses
shot Or plays into 6 hazard. II u prob
able that the President could give the
vice-President n stroke in three holes
and beat him rather handily at that.
When MIR. TAFT was at Hot Spring, he
made the course there in SO. The Hot
Springs course, although sportier. is not
az long as the one At Chevy Chase, and q
golfer playing q, good long game with
special accuracy II almost sure to make a
lower SCORE at Hot Springs than at Chevy
Chase. 1t would cause no surprise, how
ever, to those who know Mr.. Taft's game,
if he should make q score Of 90 before
Congress completes its work on the tarin
and the President takes his departure for
Beverly. Mass.