The Washington herald., 1909-05-13

President Taft played golf yesterday
with Walter J. Travis. several times ANA
teur champion Of the United States and
once Of England. and although his game
was not brilliant. he demonstrated. as he
did in the closing days Of his sojOurn at
Hot Springs. Va. and Augusta, Ga. that
he is not in the bumble-puppy class
The match was on the links Of the
Chevy Chase Club Il started out bravely
as foursome match, with Mr. Taft and
Mr- Travis paired against F. Oden Horst
man. one Of the crack players Of the Dis
tFiet Of Columbia. and Gen. Clarence Ed
wards. chief Of the Bureau of Insular Al
fairs Of the war Department Mr.. Horst
man, however. dropped out at the end Of
the first nine holes. owing 10 physical dis
ability, and Capt Archibald ". Butt. the
Presidents military aid took his place
and finished the match.
Mr- Horstman was disappointed al his
inability % continue in the game. but he
Was suffering from nothing less painful
than broken OF misplaced rib which
made every stroke a cause OF added pain
and discomfort
Falls from Rubberneck Wagon.
The circus which visited Washington
Monday and Tuesday attracted. among
others. large contingent OF society folk.
and M Horstman joined a party who
had chartered one Of the largest rubber
neck wagons II Washington for the par-
pose Of going Out 10 the circus grounds
and Witnessing the show.
As the crack golfer was descending
from this lofty and ponderous vehicle.
re fell 70 the ground. fracturing OF mis-
placing one Of the short ribs on MS
left side. Under the circumstances Ia
was in no n condition 70 play golf yesrer-
day even with the President Of the Init
ed States. and he quit at the ninth hole.
and returned 70 the clubhouse.
Mr. Travis came 10 Washington pri-
marily for the purpose Of playing IN the
spring open tournament Of the Chew
Chase Golf Club which begins to-mor-
row. During the Presidents sojourn in
the South IN the months prFcr to the
inauguration. Mr. Taft and Nj. Travis
met as feIlOw-players on the links. and
the then President-elect received many
points which subsequently helped him in
his pursuit Of the game
COmmends Presidents Playing.
Al the close OF the match yesterday
Mr. Travis remarked that the President
had no bad faults Of play. but had the
form OF a true golfer and would. he
was sure. be able with ehe right kind
Of practice 10 play q game which would
prove formidable 10 his opponent, who /
ever he might be.
When Mr. Travis made this remark he /
had himself just made a score Of "a
strokes on the 6Oo0-yard course at Chevy ]
Chase. and Mr- Taft had finished IN sev- /
eral strokes under 100
Mr.. Taft has a method Of scoring in /
fou7-ban match which IS strange 10 +
most golfers. He insists that the proper 1
method Of scoring IN such a match IS 10 4
sGd the scores Of each side to determine 1
who wins each hole According 10 this
method. the best golfes in the United 1
States might make a three on a 5c0-yari /
hole. and still not win the hole IL his \
opponents score happened 10 be nine or
ten. If the players on the other side
tOOks five or six strokes each, they
wOuld win the hole, as against the best
ball which made q score OF three
Nj Taft did not score many threes
Yesterday. although he played a moaer-
stely steady and effective game His
partner NIr Travis. made several threes.
Yet he and Sir Taft were only two I'D at 4
the ninth green. as against Mr. Horstman (
and Gen Edwards.
Handicap Ia Given.
Minute and interesting details OF the
match are lacking. but it was rumored /
last highland the report is probably /
tTue-that when Capt Butt took Mr..
HOrstman's place in the four-baH match 4
8ir Travis and Mr. Taft gave their
opponents a handicap OF two strokes a
hole for the rest Of the distance.
The result was that Gen. Edwards and
capt Butt were one I'D for the last nine
hcies. so that the net result Of the match.
Il such an irregular contest may be
called a match, was that the President
and Nr. Travis were one I'D on the v-boea
round of eighteen holes.
The four-ball match in which The Presf
dent engaged attracted a great deal Of
attention at the club. but out Of courtesy
% the PTesidept no gallery followed the
players. The members OF the club and
their friends permitted the President and
MS companions 10 play their match with
oct any annoyance from spectators as
the players drove from the eighteenth
tee. however. there was large Ratberin,
o. club members and guests on the lawn
who watched the play with interest.
Taft Makes Good Drive.
The President and Mr. Travis had won
the seventeenth hole and Mr. Taft drove
first from the lest tee. With great de-
liberation the President addressed the 4.
ball, and with q slow swing back ana =