The Washington herald., 1911-09-24
BY EDWARD w. KIBBEY.

The general opinion among local golfers
is that the British will never win our
national championship again, as there
are too many young players coming into
the limelight who give promise of equal
ing the form of the Englishman.
As it is the first time in the history or
American golf that the national title
went to foreigner, the various mem
bers of local clubs think that Hilton
deserves a great deal of credit for his
remarkable victory.
We must give credit" said George
Sargent professional at the Chevy Chase
Club, and open champion of the United
States in 1909 where credit is due. 1
think that Hilton played the best and
most consistent golf in his life. and thor
oughly deserved his victory. Mr.. Hill
ton, who has for long time been rec
oCIliZed as one Of the best all-arOund
players in Great Britain. has played this
season the very best golf in his career.
] think the old country made a very
wise move TO send him over here to
avenge the defeat of Walter J. Travis,
administered to the British in 1904 Mr
Hilton belongs to the famous school
of HoyIake golfers, better known to tie
United States as the Royal Liverpool
Golf Club.
For the wonderful finish he made to
stave off defeat and 10 keep the cham
ricnshin on this side Of the pond. Fred
Her, shon richly deserves the praise of
every golfer in this country. He proved
that after all there is little difference
between the STANDARD Of play in the
United States and Great Rritian.
We must remember that Mr.. HiltoFis
this year head and shoulders better
thrn any other amateur in the old
country. SO that. excepting the difficulty
OF cIimat" conditions and a strange
course. which does not affect man
at tie Top Of his game a great deal he
he'd ever, bit rs difficult a task here as
he did in winning" the British champion
ship at Prestwirh this year. 1t ought to
be a glorious night FOR the rubber
Donald Ball. professional at the Co
Iumhia Country club. who played golf
with II. II. Hilton. Jack Graham, and
John Ball. jr., On the course Of the Royal
Liverpool Gclf Club. at Hoyake, when
at the age of only nine wears. said:
Il think it will be some time before
America wins back the amateur cham
pOnship, hut il is possibility. as there
are a great many Young golfers coming
to the front If Hilton comes over next
year to defend the title. l think he will
win the championship. but the trouble is
that he may not return. He may do as
did Walter J. Travis, who won the Brit
ISL championship and did not go over to
defend the title.
If John Ball. jr. comes here next
year he Will give Hilton hard fight, as
he is in almost the same class with the
British champion.
Il remember when We were Young boys
learning the game. Hilton was hard
and steady player and never got tired.
He has wonderful endurance. and de
serves much credit for his recent vic
tory
If Hilton does not defend the title
next Year, | think Chick Evans, or
some other Of the Young fellows, will
have good chance OF winning the cup"
John Klein. professional at the Wash
ingtun Country Club, is also OF the opin-
ion that some young pIaIar will win back
the cup.
Mr., Hilton deserves much credit for
coming over here alone and playing on
a new course he said. but I think if
he comes over next year he will prob
ably lose the title to some young golfer.
Chick Evans and Jerome Travers will
have a splendid chance next year. If
Fred HeTreshoff could have played the
same golf in the afternoon as he did in
the morning the cup would have re-
mRined on this side"
Samuel Purvis, professional at the
Bannockburn Golf Club. said:
AS there are a number of new golfers
coming into the fold all the time, an
American will certainly win the cham
pionship next year. I hardly think that
the British will ever get the cup for the
second time.
Among the amateur players the cham |
pionship tournament was much discussed
last week. George P. James, of the CO.
lumbia Country Club expressed the opin-
ion that Hilton would not return next
year to defend the title. but if he old |
some American would defeat him. H T !
Frost, of the Washington Country Club |
also believes that Hilton is not invincibIe |
while Rev. Robert Talbot, of the same
club and rector of St. Pauls Church, F!
said that the title would not remain with !
Great Britain more than twelve months. !
MOrven Thompson, one of the promi- |
nent members of the Chevy Chase Club |
and secretary of the Middle atlantic Golf 1
Association, said that Herreshoff's play |
Showed that he was almost in the same |
class as Hilton, but that the latter's ex-
perience was greater. Some of our |
young golfers will forge to the front" !
he said and next year will win back |
the championship.
This is the opinion also of John &C. /
Davidson one of the best golfers in the |
Columbia Country Club Hilton will
never be able to beat us again." is his |
confident prediction.
Maj. NJ. Bailey and A. P. Gordon were
out on the greens of the Chevy Chase
Club last week
The members of the Washington Coun-
try Club are praising Professional John
Klein for the splendid condition of the
course. Mr.. Klein will probably seed
the greens next week. Old Rainmaker
has been very kind to the Virgfnians
thus far this month, and a few more
showers will make the new grass come
up in a jiffy.
R. ]. Beall. and z. S. Harlan won an Il
interesting four-ball match from George
P. James and w. KebHnger last Sunday
afternoon, the score being up and to
play.
There were 112 golfers out playing their
favorite game at the Chevy Chase Club
one afternoon last week. and nearly fifty
players at the Columbia Country Club.
Ideal weather conditions prevailed. and
a large number of golfers were also out
at Bannockburn and Washington Coun-
%rxy he 1