Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-11
Rv Chick Evans.
lw.stern amateur golf champion,
~ has played at the Atlanta Ath-
VIZ VIZ clubs course and who is very
1.nnuIar in the South.)

early winter when golf ac-
~ +ivities are slowing up 1t is
,,,s+om of critics to present to
oxractant public a carefully Sc
'.,.oa list of the sixteen best golf
ars in the country. Sixteen has
oar+ain golfng significance, proba-
-. hacause it is the number OF
,,oli6ers in most cup events. 1t
H.o,,1d perhaps place too great
Grain on the analytical powers OF
40 critics and the tender sensloll-
t.;os If the golfers to select 81
49, lumber permitted to qualify in
.,s ra+ional and Western cham
pionships ~,
Having been inoculated with the
aontagion and, after due dellbera-
Non and taking all my courage IN
hands. I have determined to
uncover my little list of the sixteen
hoet 10 the public's gaze. am only
we'll aware of the fact that l
~, NOT trained critic and | am
"a doubt utterly lacking in the an
.Ivtical faculty necessary to crit
ics hut if can not bring anything
- ,,olua 70 the wisdom of the pub
T., discussion, ! may add some
,h,np to its gayety, and such a con-
.~ih,tion is not to be despised 1t
NAV be- too, that certain inter
est will attach to a list selected
from a players viewpoint.
Past Performances on Record.
If the best golfer be merely the
winner of match play tournaments,
the critics path would wind
through pleasant country; or If
the best golfer be the maker of
fine medal scores. then he would
sail over summer seas: The study
of mast lists, however, shows the
qualification of the best golfer to
no 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 golhng ability plus tenn
perament. Alas for the word. it
brings up visions of a rough coun-
trv and a stormy sea. One day
the critic decides a player has the
true golf temperament, the next
dav 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
rorarv difference of bodily fitness
Whether temperament is ques-
ton of digestion or not, it is 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 single
match from a better player and it
also is true that good players have
failed to qualify in important
events, In my selection have en-
deayored 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 ii
only fair to confess that hesitated
long between him and Warren
Wood, and at this moment | am
not absolutely sure that | 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
mat his medal play is 80 good or
mat his average game is so steady.
can not find that he has won a
low score medal throughout the en-
IRE season. He has the national
and metropolitan championships
and he has lost the New Jersey
championship to Oswald Kirby by
n i
some splendid rounds. but his golf
on the whole has been a little
streaky.
TraVers Meets Opportunity.
acknowledge, to my sorrow,
nave never seen finer exhibition
VI IRON play than Mr.. Travers' i'm
'ne afternoon of the national finals
d. wheaton. He hardly used a
wooden club, however, during the
""o'e 80 holes, and only the phe-
"oIenal drOuth made such an ex-
''O'uon of iron possible. Through
Vu' me tournament Warren Woods
u'''ing was excellent and his game
@'@aged well, but because Mr..
i"Vers was there at the right time
nave placed him at the head of
the list
warren K. Wood has played
''e4oier and more reliable golf,
year IN and year out, than any
o'Ner amateur in America. He is
married and is in business, circum-