Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-11
APPROACHING
IS THE BANE
Of GOLFER

n EORE than a decade ago Walter
W J. Travis declared there was
no department in the game of
golf that required such a high degree
of skill and the exercise of such sound
judgment as approaching. As that
was years before he even dreamed
of annexing the British or worlds
championship, and had but once won
the national his statement did not
attract the attention that it would
have later. He added: Strength
must then be supplemented with deli
cacy and discrimination not called
for elsewhere except in the approach
shot which is really an off-shoot."
Then, seemingly as if he were
granted by fate prophetic glimpse far
ahead, although at that time he had
not heard of Jerome d. Travers, he
continued: Approaching is the
largest single element in winning a
national championship" And further;
No one can rank high who is not a
master of lofted approaches"
Probably the best approacher this
country ever had. previous to Jerome
Travers. was Eben Byers, always a
great stylist, who won the National
at EnglewOod in 1906.
Gave Great Exhibition.
In the spring of that year Byers,
as runner-up to Travers in the Metro
pOlitan at st. Andrews. gave an eX-
hibition In the wiZardry of serpen-
tine approaching previously unknown
in this country
Getting the green on the next is a
far finer achievement than direction
and distance from the tee. Almost
any club may be used for making an
approach, the mashie or midiron be-
ing more often brought into requisi-
ton. Approaches seldom exceed $50
yards in distance and often less than
third Of that stretch. A full stroke
with a powerful cleek, however, is
occasionally made in order to get
well up.
Suppose you have a clear path to
the flag. The stroke you would play
would naturally depend on the char
aCter of the surface. On firm
course, such as that offered by a
few seaside links, you would run your
shot, which means that you would
give it a short pitch and then let
trickle along the ground. On a soft
course, such as is the rule inland
the pitch would be bold to the green
because it could not run far upon
alighting.
"Poached- Egg Shot"
Such a bold stroke, particularly
when more or less of a cut has been
given to land it dead is what Harry
Fulford onCed called a "poached- egg
shot The cut stroke is one of the
best of the many surprising things
that Travers does. Harold Hilton's
greatest speciality is the back spin he
tmparts on many of his cut strokes,
by which he lands his ball dead, with
scarcely any roll. Each club has a
range of its own. on the midiron
and cleek you would stand and swing
practically the same as IL you were
driving You will naturally find your
self standing more directly over the
ball, tendency you need not at
tempt to alter.
Travers and others are we'll agreed
that the mashie should be brought
out of the bag, roughly speaking,
when about one hundred yards from
the hole. The face of the mashie is
well laid back in order that the ball
may be lofted. Consequently, it Is
unnecessary to drop the shoulder or
knee in an attempt to get under the
ball. A full swing with the mashie is
almost unknown. For a stroke up
to one hundred yards, the left foot
should be about. fifteen inches be-
hind the right-sometimes designated
as the open stance"
The bah should be on line with
the left heel Keep a firm grip on
the club, for relaxation is sure to end
in a jolt. The right elbow should
be kept close to the body. no matter
If you do feel cramped at first. for
otherwise accuracy is impOSsible The
a little in order to avoid pulling-that
is. deviating to the left of the line
play. If you wish to pitch boldly
carry the weight mostly to the left
leg. Shift to the right, if you desire
TO bring the ball lower.