Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-05-29
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GOLF GOSSIP

at Sandwich was four strokes worse
per round than the game he played
when he was successful on the same
green in the open championship in
1S99--a sufficiently wide margin to
hiHt that yardon considers that the
general standard of play has deterio-
rated materially during the past II
years or So 49,. DIX
In an article in the March number
of the Badminton Magazine, Nardon
deals with this question, as Golf De-
teriorating?" and IL Is evident from
the opinions expressed therein that
the opinion he held some Is months
ago is the opinion which he holds to-
day. He repeats his statement that
when he won the open championship
at Sandwich in 1911 he was playing
four strokes per round worse than in
1899" and he significantly adds,
THAT may seem lot, almost an abb
surd lot, but / realize the falling of
in the quality OF my own golf better
than anybody.
Hilton Differs with vardon.
H. II. Hilton comments on, Vardon's
statement, in an editorial in Golf
Illustrated as follows:
Observation-Disclosures that we have al
ways held the opinion that the stand
ard Of golf set up at Sandwich was
inferior to the standard exhibited in
an open championship event for some
considerable number of years, we ind
It nevertheless not a little hard to be-
iieve that II was full four strokes
per round worse than that of Harry
Vardon even when at his very best:
-Four strokes per round in a series OF
rounds would appear. as Vardon him
self puts 1t, almost an absurd lot
In an open championship 1t repre-
sents is strokes In the two days play,
which would mean that If Vardon had
played as well in 1911 as he was
playing IN 1899, he would have re-
turned q total of 287 for the four
rounds played, and would have finish.
ed no less than is strokes In front OF
Arnaud Massey, who occupied second
position.
In the year 1899, when Eardon was
admittedly at his best, he won the
championship with total of 30 for
the four rounds, Jack White being
second, q matter Of FIVE strokes be-
hind him. On the assumption of the
four strokes deterioration between
he 1899 and the a011 form, this
would mean that Jack White in the
former year was q considerably finer,
PLAYER fhan Massey, Braid, Taylor or
Herd proved themselves to be IN 1911 ];
and this we find it q little hard to
believe. -. IS
vsr6on Could Have improved.
That yardon, however, in 1899
could have materially improved upon
his final total OF $40 we verify believe,
as he was leading from start TO mn.
ish Of the event, and there never
seemed the slightest probability OF
any of his rivals passing him ne
won, SO to speak. just as he pleased,
without having in any way to concern
himself in the final stages; and there
can be no doubt that he did not strive
to accomplish anything phenomenal,
but was content to win by compare
lively wide margin.
Where we consider that Vardon
may be, in error in forming his est
mate Is in that he perhaps does not
Altogether realize the value in form
which four strokes per round repre-
sents. particularly IN contest ex.
tended to four rounds. ~ the realms
Of ffrst-class golf It represents, to our
way of thinking, just about the dis.
rarity between the front rankers and
those who may be said to be hang.
ing on to the fringes of the second
class. And il would be q, poor com.
pliment to the golfers of the present
day to hint that none of them can; be
considered as worthy OF being called
first class players.
Game Has Changed. -,
AS regards those. who were in the;
front ranks when the guilty ball was
in use. and who have still continued
TO be factors in the game since the
rubber-ccre came in, II is not a lit
tie difficult to form an estimate OF
the value of the game they were In
the habit of playing in the days OF
old and the game they produce IN
the present days of grace, for the sim.
pie reason that the change IN bals
has materially altered the conditions
and principles of play. The shots one
had to play with, the solid ball are
not the shots We now have to play
with the resilient ball.
For instance, from distance from
the hole, at which with guilty ball
we had to play a full shot with me-
dunn iron, we can now reach the
hole with the rubber-core with wrist
shot with mashie. And it stands to
reason that it is more difficult to con-
troll ball when playing full shot
with a club than when playing a
shot in which much less body action
and force has to be employed.
= And if. one manages to place the
ball within six or seven yards of the
hole when playing the full shot, the
result might be considered satisfac-
tory. whilst on the other hand, when
the stroke played is so much more
easily accomplished from a physical
point of view, the same result would
not appear so flattering to the ability
OF the player. Still, both strokes
have been played from a similar dis
lance from the hole, and one would
appear to be playing more successful
" with the guilty. ball simply because
the pIaying of the stroke required a