The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-09
~ JOHN q.

What makes a good eolnng mud
horse? Thc weather with its super
abundance OF moisture breaking all rec
ords has interfered much with tho big
golf Of the year and has
given us an inkling OF the prime reQui-
slosh his way through mud and water
In open medal or match composition.
The Massachusetts, open on tho INA
day was held in the worst weather in
which 1t has been the undcstrcd
privilege OF my Of the attending pro-
fessionals to compete. In the morning
before starting there was a vote taken
among the professionals "A to whether
the play should be held or not, and
those who voted for n against did
so on account OF their opinion as to
their own chances for a good or poor
round.
Walter Hagen. former open champion.
who won the Massachusetts, title. was all
In favor OF playing. for he always has
taken a great pleasure In combating and
defeating the elements. Hagen's great
strength and ability to stay firmly
planted on his feet in all sorts OF weather
give min an advantage v 9 one less
favored in this respect. and many OF
the professionals conceded him the title
when IL was announced that there
would be no postponoment OF The play.
From personal observation, i should
Judge that Hagen's stance, which ~
right angular and gives a firm grip
on the ground necessitating little toe
elevation. helps him considerably he
has good. strong hands and wrists and
a powerful stroke which claws through
the turf and does not sink In. He is
a coed golfer ON "A rainy day. Tor MS
drives and approach shots call FOR no
run. Of course, n have "A wonderful!
carry.
J. NJ. Barnes is another good wet
weather player. We would expect II,
for he has the size and the build and
the powerful carry on his shots. which
means in a round OF eighteen holss
something like 400 yards advantage over
the shorter driving player. Tom Ander-
son wallows around. never bouhering
about the conditions. but the slighter
built fellows. men like Wilfrid Reid.
Louis Teller. Elmer Loving, Herbert
Strong and others. cannot keep up the
persistent c~annonading necessary when
heavy rain Is falling, To be a good
mud horse requires strength in large
quantities.
1t is n different matter playing on
a windy day. for II seldom happens
that a golfer will have TO fight the
heavy bres yes all the way. and a roll OF
the ball can be had. Fred Mcleod o
49, z.,, ha.,yinp.hi n x-btla a Oatn vsol
blowing at Myopia, and yet he IL one
Of the smallest msn playing the game,
and Louis Teller has gained notable
victories under similar conditions. But
In extremely wet Weather the whole
links undergots a d%renohing bath and
II is difficult from tho start T. The
finish. The wise man always would
back the player who had the better
physique II It came 10 a pliyoff under
such adverse conditions.
II sometimes happens that a golfers
game IL wholly unsuited 10 play in tho
rain. One who plays for a Ions run
on the ball. who puts a slight hook
in IRE hope of getting distance, will
And himself left many a time with a
second that is 90 long. Almost every
PLAYER would prefer To have a mashie
rather thar d midiron shot. for the
results are uniformly better and the
extra distance 60 be carried makes the
scores mount a little almost without
fail. 1t is the same in the high wind
too. Edward Pay at Hoylake gave up
some OF the hope which nc had az win
ming the championship when he saw
tina, there was n strong wind blowing.
and he knew al once that his high nihlick
shots would get him into trouble. while
the mashie play OF his nearest rival,