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

. nnnulaT IN ItiC SSNN''P
ONE time along in late fall or
carly winter, when golf ac-
~ ,ivities are slowing UP, it is
,,,e,ou of critics to present to
'l' ,,.naotant public a carefully Sc
-d LIST of the sixteen best golf
60 -, the country. Sixteen has a
r.,f, golffng significance, proba-
,.,couse it is the number of
o,,orf6ers in most cup events. 1t
Ia perhaps place too great a
WI, on the analytical powers of
~. ori+ics and the tender sensibil-
,,iss Of the golfers to select 81
Ave- number permitted to qualify in
49, ro+jonal and Western cham
Having been inoculated with the
.ortsgton and, after due delibera-
ton and taking all my courage in
bsnds. I have determined to
,y nv little list of the sixteen
VIC. n the public's gaze. j am only
TOO well aware of the fact that
-, not a trained critic and l am
do,,ht utterly lacking in the an
a1,,+,caY faculty necessary to crit
,os. bu+ If can not bring anything
81 value to the wisdom Of the pub
liz discussion, I may add some
thing to its gayety, and such con-
tr+bnt,on is not to be despised. 1t
nav he too, that certain inter
sst will attach to list selected
from a. players viewpoint.
Past Performances on Record.
7, the best golfer be merely the
rinner OF match-play tournaments,
the critics path would wind
through a pleasant country; or If
the best golfer be the maker of
Ane medal scores, then he would
sail over summer seas. The study
q. past lists, however, shows the
Qualification of the best golfer to
he a. composite of medal play and
match play prepared according to
the inclination Of each critic.
Speaking broadly, I 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 rough coun-
nv and a stormy sea. One day
the critic decides a player has the
,rue golf temperament, the next
day he has it-not. Apparently 1t
10 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 a tenn
porary difference of bodily fitness.
Whether temperament is a ques-
tion 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 a poor player has won
match play tournament or a single
match from better player, and it
also is true that good players have
failed to qualify in important
events, In my selection / have en-
deavored to bear these facts in
mind, and in close shading l 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 a
hornets nest Of trouble, I feel it
only fair to confess that hesitated
long between him and Warren
Wood, and at this moment I am
not absolutely sure that I decided
rightly in giving the premier place
10 Mr.. TTavers.
In comparison with Warren
Wood, Travers is much the better
match player, but It does not seem
mat his medal play is so good or
that his average game is so steady.
can not find that he has won a
low score medal throughout the en-
Tire season. He has the national
and 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.
rsVers Meets Opportunity.
acknowledge, to my sorrow, /
nave never seen a finer exhibition
VI IRON play than Mr.. Travers' in
'ne afternoon of the national finals
o. wheaton. He hardly used a
wooden club, however, during the
""ole 30 holes, and only the phe-
""'nenal drouth made such an ex-
"'o'lLon Of iron possible. Through
Su' lhe tournament Warren Woods
0.'''Ns was excellent and his game
Tr,e'ased WELL but because Mr..
lIaVers was there at the right time
nave placed him at the head Of
the list.
-. @rfeh K. Wood has played
.eau'er and more reliable golf.
year IN and year out, than any
."s' amateur in America. He is