Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-17

every play. whether or not he would be
as useful to the team L.! the capacity of
pitcher as he would be as an outfielder.
May Be Anticipating.
But am anticipating bit, fear, and
some history would be apropos at this
point, to show why ! am taking up this
discussion. The Lesley cup is a beau
tiful trophy presented to competition by
Mr.. Lesley Of Philadelphia. to be fought
for on the links by the PENNSYLVANIA,
Metropolitan and Massachusetts golf as
socistions The method OF play to be
followed is not specified by Mr.. Les
ley. leaving it up to the three presidents
OF the associations in committee. For the
last three or four years the two-baH four
some has been In use, and now Mr.. Leigh
ton Calkins. who breaks into print on all
occasions from handicapping to running
tournaments. il agitating a change back
to the four-ball affairs.
He has written to members OF these
above-named associations and asked for
their individual opinions. All but four
OF the replies are quite strongly in favor
OF four-ball competition. The replies in
many instances do not show a great deal
Of thought. and I am wondering IL all
am just as strongly OF the opinion that
four-bal matches are more ENJOYABLE as
is any one else. but that is not the ques-
uon At present. The whole question is
whether or not the foursome will fur
nfsh better test Of team play than the
four-ball matches.
Quotes English Golfers.
In this discussion will quote some
English authorities and you will readily
see which form Of play they consider the
best. In this connection I will say that
they. in England. have given both kinds
OF competition q thorough trial. while we.
on this side, are comparative strangers
to the foursome except in mixed compe-
my mind. is a point worth considering,
for 1t is hard to venture an assertion I'M
less experience can be called in as
guide. Mr.. A. c. Croome and Mr.. Henry,
Leach are the English authorities l Will
quote, while the American opinions are
given by members Of our eastern golf as
sociations. It IL very interesting sub
ject and hope that you will consider IL
it mainly as to which is the best compe-
tition to decide the best team OF three
I will also add that matches In which
four players take part are only half OF
the proEram. f9r half OF the day Is given
UP to singles matches.
Mr.. A. C. NJ. Croome in Golf. for No
vember, 1918, writes a very fair-minded
criticism of the four-ball match. but he
also adds that a debauch OF a foursoms
Is equally as harmful as one OF the four
bali. He says: ut is the essence of the
four-ball match that the parties to- 1t
shall play for fukes" Every golfer i'm
mediately knows this to be true.
I'm four-ball matches the figures are
robbed Of their just value. 1t is the Is
and IS, not the Rs and As which are the
counters. A golfer Of the worst type,
the sort of man who alternates Is with
Is. can be the best Of partners in four
baller. And in this fact lies the condem-
nation Of 1t as pastime worthy to DO
taken seriously"
Here's the Example.
The above statement is borne out BY
the following example:
George Duncan and c. II. Mayo re-
Gently played their better ball at Sherins-
ham, against that Of e. Riseboro. the
local professional. and his assistant. Dun
can had the best score Of the four and
Mayo was stroke behind him. The
others each totaled half a dozen more
than Mayo. but they won the four-ball
match
Now. in your mind, which team was
really the better? Obviously 1t was
Mayo and Duncan. and yet they hey lost -.
scribe the nature Of a good foursome
and I have done / say a good four
some advisedly for the fortuitous as-
glomeration Of four players to strike al
ternateiy at two balls Is the most boring
of all things connected with golf. If "A
foursome Is to provide its full quota OF
interest and excitement there must be no
meeting Of the four players on the teeinS
ground followed by such questions as:
How are we going to play?' What
will you give u.s.? Would you like any
thing on the match?'
"All preliminaries must have been ad-
justed days before. Mr.. Croome says
ton. the honor Of the club or cash
settlement large enough TO make the
paying over a solemn ceremony
Choice of Partners.
In concluding. he adds that when
choosing a partner YOU must choose one
whose personal character you like and
respect and whose idiosyncrases of man
ner do not jar upon you Secondly. you
must cultivate in your mind and in his
the belief that both Of you can play II
little more effectively in combination
than either can when he is out ON his
own. Thirdly, you must not be led away
by the plausible idea that a long driver
and a short make a match winning
couple.
He adds: THE upshot OF it all is that
both fall TO observe the cardinal rule or
foursome play, which runs:
"'You must not make the next stroke
difficult TOR the other fell
low"
He who justly appreciates the meaning
OF those words unnecessarily difficult
will be able to guess at the glory of the
foursome.
Mr.. Leach does not dwell as long on
the subject as Mr.. Creome. He says:
81 will not 70 through the argument
tor the superiority Of the foursome, VEN
arabic to the point Of stateliness. but
do think that four-bail match is made
terribly slow and tiresome by the Gus
Tom Of each man scheming and deliber-
ately boiling out his ball whether or not
mis- efforts can affect the result of the
hole
He says In closing:
II cannot believe that that consid-
grafton (praottce of holng all putts) is
half SO important as that of the enhanced
pleasure Of going bristily along
It's Up to You.
Whether or not you agree with these
men their opinions are very valuable
mes and decidedly. worth considering.
Remember that In this discussion the real
-