Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-18
GOLF GOSSIP

Harry NarQon and EDWARD Ray Dat
Ting for fame and American dollars
over links on this side of the Atlantic
recalls to mind the visit of the re-
doubtable Vardon here thirteen years
ago, when, in addition to an all
conquering tour Of exhibition matches
the native of the Island of Jersey
capped the climax by winning the
American open championship at
Wheaton That year, 1900. marked a.
Iveritable Yardon craze Aspiring
amateurs young and old not only aped
his swing. but went SO far as to for
fifty themselves with entire sets OF
clubs. every one stamped with the
magic word "Vardon." Judging by
the questions asked during the gath
ering at the Shawnee Country Club
this past week, yardon-Ray era has
begun.
There Is nothing that captivates the
gallery quite SO much as the long
drive prodigious, as they say on the
other side. when Ray puts his back
into one OF his longest. These famous
visitors had scarcely finished their
first round of the Shawnee course
when golfers were out on the links
trying to hit the ball in the same easy
way. or course, 1t is needless to say
they failed in their efforts to emulate
the feats OF either of their idols, but
that in no wise discouraged the en-
|thusiasts. and it's good wager right
now that IL Ray were to put driver
on the market 1t would be gobbled up
|as were the Vardon clubs more than
a decade ago.
Imitation Valuable to Novices.
Apropos of imitation, Ray, in talk
ing on this subject the other night,
said:
Limitation, we are told, is the sim
cerest form Of fiattery, but how many
golfers realize that, properly en-
ployed, it can be made extremely use
full. am firmly Of the opinion that
a novice can pick up many useful
hints by simply watching the meth
DDS of good players. There is class
of golfer who is entirely self-taught;
that is. the professional: and he, In
his early days when caddie, natural
" acquired the methods of some out
standing player in his district; hence,
the meaning of what we know as
schools. The influence of q we'll
known professional is often seen in
the method employed by lot Of
members Of HIS club. They may have
their own mannerisms, but the
eroundFork i based on their study Of
ION my own showing. therefore, it
would appear that the study of a good
players style must result in good, and
~, xt<,.<s 4,,Sf otortix,rv 4ha ero,,,a c,,cr
gest careful study of others whose
styles In play are good. 1t will be
found, think, that although the lead
ing players differ somewhat in their
manner Of swinging the club, yet
there Is no difference to speak of in
the way In which the club meets the
ball. Two players might both favor
the open stance, but one might not
choose the interlocked grip: or, one
might lift his club straighter up, yet
the effect obtained be the same. 1t is
fallacy to presume that you cannot
learn q game by watching others. Will
any one believe that after watching
Vardbn play that he has not picked up
a few hints that will improve his
game? He notices, perhaps, that Var
OOAA H4nyo = Aud1ulC bllOkC III q Gel tdiu
manner. quite differently, we will as
sumo, from his own. What more nat
ural, then. than that he should take,
the first opportunity that comes along
of putting the result of his observa-
ton to the test?
you can all learn bit from the
best players the easy manner In
which Vardon lifts his club. the sharp
snap of j ]. H. Taylor with his mashie.
and the firm stance that he takes up:
Duncan's impertnrbable manner; in
fact, some little point can be CLEANED
from all of them. The reason why a.
caddie seems to swing so naturally is
because he tries to initiate the best
player In the club, and he can also
initiate the worst with most fiendish
skill The peculiar gift caddies seem
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