The Washington times., 1915-09-19
Game Can Lay Foundation for Scratch Form
If This System Is Followed
B. HARRY vARDON,
The British Champion.

eighteen months he was a scratch man.
Captain Austin. who used to be q ia
miliar figure on the Sandwich Links.
took to golf at the age OF ftfty. and
reached the scratch mark ten years
later.
These are examples OF what may be
done by strict attention to practice in
the novitiate. Without It there Is little
three months of 1t. man ought by the
end of a year to have reduced his ham
dicap considerably, for once he has ac-
auired the proper swing every round,
with all Its pleasures. represents SO
much practice. He ought then to 60
on improving.
There are people who say that 1t is
in this school Of preparations; ! can
only reply that their heart Is not In the
game. l find that very many are will
Ing to apply themselves to the mode OF
procedure that Will practically insure
ence has shown them the rutility OF
merely hoping and cropping for advance
inent. and that in tho end they are
always glad that they undertook the
as it might seem in the perspective; the
progress is felt and appreciated. And
yet there are thousands OF golfers 60
ing round the links today who can
that they are improving.
An hours tuition two or three times
q week by the professional. followed
on each occasion by practice in a
quiet corner Of the links OF all that
in the course OF a few months in al
most any case Of incompetency. To
the beginner who has never fallen
into wrong way of playing the
game. this principle is to be earnestly
recommended. 1t takes far longer "a
| eradicate q fault than to develop one.
Every professional has his own way
OF teaching. but IL I may offer the
fruits of fairly wide experience with
that the best way at the start 10 for
the player to make up his mind for
q term Of driving with the brassie and
the execution Of iron shots. Let him
see that his driver and brassie are
of the same length and lie" and
then. leaving the driver for q future
day. adjourn to peaceful spot to per
form tee-shots with the brassie. Ny
the two with which to mare tee
shots; its face e generally lofted.
whereas that OF the driver Is straight.
phyte or the duffer Of long standing
should be rendered as simple a. pos
sible at the outset OF his course Of
practice.
AS rule, MS greatest dl11lCulty 1s
to make the ball rise; his capacity
for topping It is the eighth wonder OF
the world. IT is really very difficult
to top a ball; out OF curiosity. I have
tried many times to do 1t. and have
often failed. When you think OF It.
there is not much to hit at in order
to produce the effect Of a thoroughly
topped shot. Yet there are thousands
of long handicap players who are con-
stantly producing It, to their utter
discontinue. Let them try driving
with a brassie; the lofted fnce will
help them to get the ball into the air,
and once they have the confidence
born OF that measure of success. the
driver-beinK club OF exactly the
came build save for tho straiHhtSess
OF its face-wlll not be n difficult
club to use.
Moreover by starting with tho bra ssic
for tee-shots, they will find II tolerable
70 have a low tee. which is a matter Of
more Importance than many people
imagine. The face Of tho club Is In