Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

The necessity for sustained power until
the last putt is made. the need for care
full heedwork and cautious thought were
most apparent in the Massachusetts open
championship. which was finished a week
or SO ago on the links of the Brae Burn
Country Club course at West Newton,
writes John G. Anderson in the New York
Sun. There can be CLEANED from that title
play of the professionals and amateurs
a few lessons, which, II needed. may
mean future success, II not in the win
ming Of a championship title, still in the
everyday golf where success or failure
brings Joy or pain.
The case of Jesse Guilford may be
taken as a first example. This prominent
and most promising player was not on
hand. so I believe. in the two days or
three days which were given up to the
practice rounds. The result was that when
he started off with Gilbert Nichols in the
first round he did not have the golf per-
spective which is so essential to those who
would play their drives and especially
approach shots with the right kind Of
caution.
Many Trees at Brae Burn.
Brae Burn has many trees, and 1t IS
necessary to keep straight Usually Gull
ford Is a straight driver. but he had not
accustomed himself to the driving be-
tween narrow passageways. The result
was studied attempt on his first round
to keep his shots in the straight and mar
row path. and since the ease of manner
he. of CHI
making Guilford hooked his drives and
brassies into trouble. played his fnashie
shots short and did not have the feel Of
the greens as he would have had with a
round or two of practice. 50 in the
first round put him out Of the running.
whereas a score of so would have won
for him the title. In his three succeeding
rounds Guilford was the only man to
break so on each occasion. and in the
first nine holes of the last round he was
only "a to the turn What 3. finish he
might have made if he had had a real
chance for score and had a gallery with
him! 1t is wise. therefore, to take suf-
ficent time to practice before a champion
ship.
In this connection ] heard a few OF
the professionals speaking of the spe-
cial train which has been hired to take
those who wish to use 1t to the scene
of the open championship at Minikahda.
NO sir You won't catch me going
on that train" said Gil Nichols. 1T
IL
stretch and arrives with only time for
thirty-six holes Of play. You will be
all tired out by the ride and won't be
able to get your mind on the course
or the game. I'm going to go early so
can get at least two whole days
play
Nichols Lacked Practice.
This looks like good headwork on
CHS part. but what of him at the first
hole at Brae Burn In the afternoon of
the last day? There he was in a COM
manding position to start off only two
strokes behind the lead and with a very
fine morning round back of him. He
was reasonably sure that he would get
II or less and the title seemed to be
within reach. He drove well down to
the center of the course and not a hum
dred yards from the green. There is
a little brook just before the green is
reached. but 1t seldom bothers the best
OF the players. as the cut shot takes
care OF that. But. as CIT remarked
to me on the Tuesday when we were
having a round. Il haven't played very
, much this year and feel that | don't
have the judgment of distance as well
as l should. That is the way that non
practice gets me-"
On this occasion he played his mashie
shot, and. as he said in the clubhouse
| afterward, Il thought that ! was going
to have sure putt for Il three until
saw that ball pop into the brook and
knew that my distance judgment had
failed me again."
Then came ticklish position. The
ball lay on the far side of the bank
just out of the water. If Nichols had
stepped into the strtam he could have
played the ball out well. but he decided
to take a chance. Some time ago in these
columns ! remarked that 1t paid just
about once in thousand times to take
chance in golf. and this was not one
Of the thousand times. Nichols hit the
ball well. but the tap was not hard
enough and again the ball remained In
tantalizing position in a little cup on
the waters edge. Again he tried to get
the ball out without getting wet and
again he failed. But the provoking part
Of 1t all was that he again saw the ball
sitting up on bit of soft mud, and this
time he banged it hard. but to no pur7
pose as the ball went hard and fast into
the watery part of the bank. Then he
lifted. Here again was where careful
reasoning would have helped. which Is
the point l am trying to impress.
Registers an Eleven.
Instead Of taking the ball back few