Evening star., 1915-11-21

The wear 1915 will go into soihHS
history as one in which there mas oeeh
no outstanding, compelling nsure
either in the ranks of the amateurs or
professionals, writes John G. Ander-
son in the New York SUM- That rarely
has happened if at all in recent years
The reference can be applied both 10
American and British golf, for across
the water the royal and ancient game
has been superseded SO completely os
the bunkers from which something 3
other than golf ball is driven that
there has been no competition OF
major order, hence nothing upon whicn
to mold an opinion as to any one goli-
ers superiority over all others
No lack of competition has prevented
such a selection in American 8oinng
circles, but there has been one reason
or another why no one goileI mas CIV.
for himself a niche above all others-
Jerome D. Travers might have done SO
had he followed up his victor! IN inc
national open with another In the ma
tional amateur He, Furthermore, mas
suffered reverses in post-season non-
Tournament meetings which, while
having no direct bearing upon ms p1ace
as golfer in the amateur Worid' tnoi-
rectly hurt his case when IT comes 10
determining whether gotIef Is SUI
Robert A. Gardner won the national
amateur, but it was by the grace O.
fate that was unkind to Max"en n.
Marston that the Hinsdale goiier
reached the final at Detre1t: duf;ne IN q
more, Gardner has not figured IN
sufficient number of competitions TO es-
tabiish a place for himself apart IRON
the others crowding around the uppef
circles of amateur golf. ffancis JUL
met dropped from his high estate, be-
ginning with the national open. foiioW-
ed up by his reverse in the amateur, ,
and concluded with his defeat at
Greenwich and again in the Lesley cup
play.
Neither Class Stands Out.
There has been no one. therefore. in
the amateur ranks who has won for
hinself a recognition akin to that
accorded Jerome D. Trayers OF Waiter
i Travis in the years Of their unques-
toned supremacy. or II: Chandier
Eean and one or two other figures
nromineut in q. s: G. A amateur an
rails. The same applies to the proiss-
sionals We recall the days OF the
late Willie Anderson. when II was
rot question Of who might win the
national open champiopsh but VINO
had a chance to take the palm away
from this master of skill and nerves;
We recall Alex Smith. medal ana
match player extraordinary, nowadays
well content to be up within tne
charmed circle but not as chief cnafm-
er. We recall the brilliant }. j. Mc.
Dermott, head and shoulders over All
others for two years. taken oaS Ia anu
day out
Tom Mcnamara of Boston, winner OF
three titles, but unable to rise TO the
occasion when he had the national open
almost within his grasp. thereby NULL
flying his chances Of being ciassed as
supreme for the year. HIS game, more
over, has not enough OF the spectacular
in il to make him an outstanding nS-
ure, even If he, perhaps. is the pest man
in the country today upon whom TO
Law wager IL there is something
going on which involves him as q COM
petitor. f.
that while the general standard OF
play among both amateurs ana pro-
fessionaIs in this country ID h1gher
notchers seems to be temporarily on
the decline. When Walter j. Travis
was at his best he could be dependeo
,pon to win, say. nineteen out OF every
twenty matches he played against an
other amateur, in private or In tour
nament competition. Who Is there that
can do that same today. judging from
performances OF the past season?
Travis Always Good.
Some one might remark that Wheh
Walter j. Travis was at his best there
were not as many frst-class amateur
golfers in the country as there are TO-
day and that what the Garden City
veteran did of old he could not dupli-
cate now. AS an answer to that ar
uument take Walter j. Travis this
season and note that he won the metro
poiitan championship against a pretty
healthy field. likewise that II was only
recently that he went to washington
led field of 13l in the qualifying
round of an open tournament on the
Columbia course and made short shrift
of his opponents In match play.
II hardly is stretching a point tc
ray that there are in the United States
today dozen frst-class golfers where
there was one dozen years ago. OF
maybe more. There are scores of anna
teurs today who on occasions give a
good imitation of Walter J: Travis, Jer.
ONE D. Travers or Francis Ouimet al
their best But such performance,
are spasmodic. One Of these golfers
goes in and downs a champion today
while tomorrow his slump Is pathetic
as he in turn goes down before the mex
opponent, as happened to Dude,
Nudge at Greenwich. Conn, after h
defeated Francis ouimet and Ma,
The reason? My belief Is that a ma
tority of the most skiiiful young golf
ers of today come by their unques
fioned general prohcfency tnFou8n LAX
ing up golf in their teens and thus ac
uuirine a correct swing naturally; wh.
they excel only spasmodically is tina
they are overkeen for free hitting ant
distance from the tees. overkeen 70
competition and underkeen-if such al
expression is aliowable-for putting Ii
any appreciabie amount of time over
coming their weaknesses.
Good Golfers Weakness.
Most good golfers have some weak
ness 1t is no secret that Jerome Z
Trayers has had his trouble trying T.
master the wooden shots. Good golfer
have been heard time ane time agai
saying:
..rm off with my midiron: I'm OF
with my mashie: can't putt"
do they set about remsdyiug thes
faults by persistent practice? Not I
any apprec able extent, in my knowl
edge Walter J. Travis became suprem
through persistent practice. During tn
rational amateur championship Of 100
ri Garden City ! recall how he wa
in the early morning at the seven
teen hole practic'ng approach afte
approseb from points on the fair gree
where ne knew one OF his second shot
:, match might normally land. In hi
.-.ts t.-<.fa.. hi a hon ri