Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-12
GOLF GOSSIP

y
American schoolboy- golfer, who cross
/ ed the Atlantic this year and aston
lished the goIfing votld by his work
| in the british amateur event, kept
| his eyes and ears open while away
from home, and did considerable writ
ing for the British papers on his inn
pressions of golf across the water.
These comments, which keep fltering
hack from time to time. show that
young Schmidt knows lot about
golf, besides being able to play it.
Here are his impressions of the
championship course at st. Andrews:
Although only spent -ng zen days at
iSt. Andrews, the American compete
tors in the amateurf championship
brought away some Fasting impress
Sens of golf at it isIplayed on this
side Of the Atlantic. Everything was
new and attractive IN the eyes OF
the visitors, and one noticed many
Things (which were distinctive and
characteristic of English and Scotch
lovers OF sport.
Golfing Fellowship.
The location of st Andrews and
the quaint little town" are entirely
different from anything we have in
1.-THE states. The. very atmosphere is
reeKing, breathing and living golf.
st. Andrews impressed me as being
more like town than a city. for the
reason that the people are so congen-
| ial and friendly that they seem like a
large family. Then the course itself
| is. distinct from our home courses in
THAT the ground is exceedingly unduE
ating. and sandy. whereas ours are
rolling woodland on rich brown loam-
being right on the water 'front.', the
winds which seem I'd be right ION
the job all the time. make the golf
real test Of mans game. On our
sheltered courses one need only play
| a straight ball down the wooded
lanes any one who hooks or slices is
| put down as a poor golfer by the
gallery. But at st. ndrews one sell
dom plays a straight Ishot from the
ltee. Having heard so much about
the Royal and Ancient course, with its
| fpmous holes and bunkerss was
very much afraid that would be sore
/ " disappointed through overexpec-
tation. But my suppression of the
links is oven, better than I pictured
in my minds eye. Tie noted holes
are better tests Of gof than can be
|explained on paper: u is q continual
/ pr6b1eni hole after hole, from tee to
green, with plenty Of trouble in be-
tween.
Considering the terrible setback
the course had two years ago, the
links are in wonderful condition. Ma
turally enough, the fairway and
green's have not entirely recuperated.
In regard to the green's, the texture
lis stir like the bottom of broom
or brush--the climate and soil require
such. In contrast, we are used to
silky green's, with grass having only
a few inches OF root. and not any
where near as undulating in charac-
ter nor as large. Then, again, it is
an nnheard-of thing at home to get
bunkered in making putt, as my
friend, Mr. Hilton, did en- the seven
teenth green in running up we'll
judged putt of three twists. Upon my
first trip around the links / immediate
|ly said to myself that certainly
would be at home with my hook; but
it did not take me long to find out
that, although there were no traps
for a hooked tee-shot, there was plen-
ty of trouble for the second shot.
Tempted to Press.
! certainly enjoyed watching the
ST. Andrews full strokes, which are
terrific shots In order to avoid lei
ting out at the ball. was forced to
look the other way when my oppon-
|ent INDUCED in this strenuous exer-
else. The short game is also entirely
different few of our players
know how to play crisp iron shot,
while here it is the rule and not the
exception. At home q good iron
player usually keeps the secret of
his success. But here 1t is no secret,
and am glad to say that helpful
hints are given even without the
asking kindness only foreigner
fully appreciates It shows real
craftsmanship to be willing to help
out even foreign competitor / no
tice that here the system of showing
a stroke is different, the why and
wherefore being explained; whereas
at home, the general impression
seems to be that It is in the interest
of the profession to. keep these prin-
Hciples a secret and simply show how
to do it and not tell why. This ac-
counts for the very few good golfers
on our side of the Atlantic, where
most players, through lack d. a thor
#ough theoretical knowledge, cannot
work out their own salvation, but
have to resort to the professional
whenever they are of their game.
Bunker play is also of a different
style here. The traps are so deep
and rough that the explosion shot
lis resoried to-; whereas our players
prefer to pick the ball clean from
the trap whenever possible. The stiff
greens and the tremendous length of
the puts also demand different pro-
cedure, in that heavy wooden or a:u-
'minum putters are used with sweep
ing putt. Our keen greens require
iron. putters and delicate touch puts.
The taking turf is also noticeable.