Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-11

.n,tIl1H IN IIiC SSNN''t
uoNE time along in late fall or
early winter, when golf &C
~ .fvi+ies are slowing up, it is
.,.+on, of critics to present to
VI" W evnectant public a carefully Sc
9 a" list Of the sixteen best golf
=, tho country. Sixteen has .
s.ai, aolflng significance, proba-
' ,T. hac9use it is. the number of
omo,iaers in most cup events. II
Q .onII Derhaps place too great a
on the analytical powers of
' -. ar;+fcs and the tender sensibil-
rio g the golfers to select 80
.so number permitted to qualify IN
. .,s national and Western cham
pionships. -. ~.
uoving been inoculated with the
u,o, and after due delibera-
,,on and taking all my courage IN
tsnds. I have determined to
,o,ar nv little list of the sixteen
hsst 10 the public's gaze, / am only
roll aware Of the fact that l
avn not a trained critic and am
- doubt utterly lacking in the an.
n,,.ticsl faculty necessary to crit
go. bu+ If I can not bring anything
~ value to the wisdom OF the pup
N discussion. I may add some
tbing 70 its gayety, and such con-
t,ihntion is not to be despised. 1t
nov ba. too, that a certain inter
est will attach to list selected
from q PLAYERS viewpoint.
Past Performances on Record
II the best golfer be merely the
uinner Of match-play tournaments,
the critics path would wind
through a pleasant country; or II
tho best golfer be the maker OF
Ane medal scores then he would
sail over summer seas. The study
Of past lists, however, shows the
Qualification of the best golfer to
no a composite of medal play and
match play prepared according to
the inclination of each critic.
Speaking broadly, l suppose that
medal play shows pure skill at golf
and match play demonstrates
certain golfing ability plus tenn
perament. Alas for the word! 1t
brings up visions of a rough coun-
nv and a stormy sea. One day
the critic decides a player has the
true golf temperament, the next
dav ne has tt--not. Apparently II
IL ghost that haunts club houses
and golf courses, demoralizing low
ers Of chance, covering prophets
with confusion and playing the
mischief generally. 1t masquerades
under strange shapes and often is
only an illustration to mark tenn
porary difference of bodily fitness.
Whether temperament is a ques-
ton of digestion or not, it is a real
specter and not easily laid.
The possession Of the true golf
temperament, vague as the term
Is, is a valuable asset in match
play. or poker, but it is not, the
whole Of golf.
Regulations Do Not Count.
Many poor player has won a
match play tournament or a single
match from a better player. and it
also is true that good players have
failed to qualify in important
events. In my selection l have en-
deavOred to bear these facts in
mind, and in close shading have
favored geography.
| have placed Jerome D. TraVers
at the head of the list because he
holds the national and metropolitan
championships, and because he is
undoubtedly the best match play
golfer in America But at the risk
Of bringing down upon my head
hornets nest Of trouble, feel it
only fair to confess that / heSitated
long between him and Warren
Wood, and at this moment / am
not absolutely sure that I decided
rightly in giving the premier place
TO Mr.. Travers.
In comparison with Warren
Wood, Travers is much the better
match player, but it does not seem
that his medal play is so good or
mat his average game is so steady.
can not find that he has won
low score medal throughout the en-
IRE season. He has the national
ana metropolitan championships
ana he has lost the New Jersey
championship to Oswald Kirby by
good margin. He has played
some splendid rounds, but his golf
on the whole has been a little
streaky.
'raVers Meets Opportunity.
: acknowledge, to my sorrow, |
nave never seen a finer exhibition
VI IRON play than Mr.. Travers' In
Oae afternoon of the national finals
O. wheaton. He hardly used a
wooden club, however, during the
""o'e 80 holes, and only the phe-
Hu'henal drouth made such an ex-
"'oI'lon Of iron possible. Through
.he tournament Warren Woods
e'i'INs was excellent and his game
T,e'aged well, but because Mr..
Irtd'ers was there at the right time
the list.
"a'Fen K. Wood has played
'oo'ef and more reliable golf.
,| III and year out, than any
-. amateur in America. He is
----L- w. Nd l. l..