The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-17
Golhng Young and Old.

IlONeTS VI kolI nave Hhu Ihtl's .
interest them in the present sea son.
The winning Of the Metropolitan title
by w. J. TRAVIS, the grand old man.
" golf. was without question the
most popular incident Of the year
thus far. Mr.. TRAVIS has never been
suTplanted in general admiration by
his younger rivals, and the calm per-
astency with which he kept on facing
them on the links in the most trying
competitions has excited general ap-
plause. But perhaps nothing was
more deeply comforting to the ma
torty Of golfers than the demonstra-
ton Of the agreeable fact that middle
life forces no disa bilities on the real
golfer.
when a man has bid goodby to his
fiftieth birthday he may we'll feel that
athletic sports r no more for him.
Even the hunting field begins 10 lose
It's charms, and the great arena Of out
door exercise. the dwelling place Of
invigorating enthusiasts and Of bod
lily uplift, presents but few branches
which may he pursued with safety.
Shooting, yachting. fishing and golf
are without question the most avail
able, and of these only golf combines
the excitement OF contest with the
searching trial of ones own physical
equipment. For the skipper who d.
reefs the movements of his racing
craft there 10 abundant opportunity
for the exercise Of skill and even cum
ming: but when "A man Is more than
fifty he Is usually content to let some
one else haul aft the main sheet OF
lay aloft to furl a topsail.
The golfer of fifty. however, must
play the whole game himself and BY
the use Of himself, and II makes every
middle aged man as happy rs a cock
sparrow 10 see It proved that such a
one can travel with the best OF them,
can mark UP a score that would chal-
lenge the p%roudest work Of a profes.
sional champion. and put out such
young and pert s%prngalds as the far
darling JERRY. From the careless
days of the prepa ratory school TO the
autumnal ason Of retirement from
business golf Is any ones game, and
Is a back number" We may yet b,
chortling observers Of some cataclys
mic contest in which a pranctng school
boy shall be put out by his grand
father.
And let II he noted In all serious
ness that the victory of the 'old man
came not at a time when golf wa,
becoming easier. 1t Is true hat III,
latest inventions in balls make Oh,
covering of distance less Of a fea'
than It used to be. But the o seles.
activities OF course architects hav,
more than made up for the gain. Tn,
scientific trapping Of courses is nov
so well developed that the most skilfu
players are Obliged to raise their gam,
to a remarkable degree Of accuracy
for mistakes are certain to be penal
lied. Therefore when Mr.. TRAVIS
made nine holes in "a the other day
and when the first flight at Baltus
rol on Tuesday were all ranged a
from Ill to 10l for thlrty-slx holes
it is evidence that golfing skill hai
become extremely nice. To play con
slstently and well through a three da,
tournament on any Of the course
which have been brought up to dat,
is a supreme test, not of ability Il
drive and brassy to great distances
but to gauge the necessary length an,
direction Of shots with unerring judy
ment and 10 play them with a dcllcac!
Of touch not dissimilar to that of tn,
expert billiard player.