Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-31
News and Comment
Written by Experts
GOLF GOSSIP
r- aAaRY vARDoN.
rTbe erItIsh Champion


years, attempts have been made to
popularize the idea Of giving and re-
ceiving the full difference Of stroke
clay handicaps. Wherever the scheme
has been tried, 1t has been voted a
doubtful success. and it has not grown
greatly in favor.
In considering this question, the
principle adopted by the Royal and
Ancient club has to be viewed by IT.
self. The Royal and Ancient certainly
do observe the plan of giving and re-
ceiving the whole margin of difference
between handicaps, but then they
frame special list OF allowances for
every match play tournament. They
have no standing list Of handicaps,
such as nearly all other clubs possess;
the explanation Is that they never
hold a stroke competition under han
dicaD.
A Point That Exasperates.
One OF the little points that some
times exasperate the receiver Of
strokes is that, In the ordinary way,
he has to take his allowance at GER
tain prearranged holes. Some time
ago, a curious hardship befell mem
berlof the club to which am attached,
South Herts. The occasion was q boz
gey competition, but the position
might have been the same If the play
Ter had been opposing scratch man.
Receiving IL strokes, he finished two
holes up. That was fairly satisfac-
tory, but, strange to relate, II he had
received only nine strokes, he would
have been six up!
We went through the card and there
was the fact clearly enough; the com.
mittee had given him two strokes too
many to enable him to reap the full
reward OF his play. This paradoxical
situation arose, OF course, through the
strokes having to be used at pre-
scribed holes. The places at which
nine strokes had to be taken would
have suited his play far better than
the list of IL holes which he was
obliged to honor.
Has Affection tor 6fsques.
must confess to some affection for
bisques as form OF handicapping 1t
calls for the exercise of Judgment on
the part of the receiver OF strokes; he
has to weigh up In his mind whether
he shall take a stroke at certain
point or save it for later, and Il is a
fine thing when much depends on the
faculty for coming to the right deci.l
sion at the right moment. Naturally,
II Is more valuable to be able to take
q stroke when you like than to have
TO use 1t at fixed hole where, per-
hRps, you may not want 1t; and I,
would say that, roughly speaking, the.
best basis for bisques Is to give half
the number of strokes that one would
concede il the starts had to be taken
at prescribed holes. Thus, IL in the;
ordinary way one could give four.
strokes, one might concede two
bisques. Where the ordinary allow
ance Is very large, 1t Is generally rea-
sonable to give in bisQues rather more
than half the number.
If / we're receiving bisques, should
make the most Of them at the start,
and try to obtain an early lead Of sew
eral holes It is q lot for anybody to
try and regain three or four holes IN
the last 10 or IL Of round. Many
people keep their bisQues too long,
and finally have to squander two or
three In order TO have one hole near
the fnish.
Handieappine That u Good run.
Where two players do not know
each others form and want to be,
sure ora good game, the best idea
q hole to give stroke at the next
50 that the handicap is arranged as
the round proceeds and in accordance
with Its developments. This scheme
may be something Of freak; but IT
IL surprising how exciting round it
produces.l When you have gained
lead OF one hole, the great thing is TO
struggle to win the next hole so as
to become two up; II you can do that,
you are In very strong position.
Time after time, however. you are pre-.
vented from achieving that purpose;
the necessity of giving a stroke i'm.
nediately after winning hole has
way OF affording the other man just
the chance that he needs. It is an
artificial manner of stimulating excite.
ment, but 1t is good fun.
Fancy matches, however, have to be
approached a little warily. remem.
Der game / contested when | was
professional at Santon, In Yorkshire.
A player came to me one day and Of
fered to take stroke a hole all the
way round, so long az / would give
him. in addition, as many bisques com
ing home as stood holes up 1if any)
at the turn. Truth to tell, j had rea.
son to think that, IL necessary, might
be able to give him two strokes
hole. and the challenge was promptly
accepted.
There was good deal of money on
the match. and set about the task to
such purpose that, at the turn, 1 was
eight up, Then It dawned upon me
that, coming home. had to give him
eight bisques as well as a stroke
hole i lost: IL was real SELL. But
when we engaged In a return match
on similar terms l took care to be
only two up at the turn. and then
ron.
CHICAGO BALL TEAM
Will BE HERE SOON