Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
Interesting Golf Notes
From the Local Clubs

The question has often been asked as
TO just where the difference lies in the
margin of ability between the profess
sional golfer and the amateur. Accord
ing to one of the local professionals,
where the amateur fails chiefly is in
his inability to judge correctly his sec
ond shot. This is the place where the
professional takes his advantage and
holds it. The average amateur eener-
ally is short to the green on this shot
and always will hesitate, fearing he
may ride over the putting ground into
the rough. while the pro" will take
look at the pin and with his iron or
brassie. or whatever club he chooses
to use. let drive. with the result that be
generally gets in closer to the hole
than his amateur rival. The amateur
will spend much time in the per-
lection of his drive, his putting, or
short approaching from the outskirts
of the green. but you will seldom see
him practising his second shot, which
is one Of the most important of all. 1t
is the tendency of the beginner to put
all of his time on the drive, the sensa-
ton OF hitting for long distance Civ
ing great exhilaration. Then. too, it
looks brave to step up to the tee. take
your stance. and let drive for a respect
able distance down the fairgreen. where
the field game-the difficult second
shots often missed by the best of
them. and it is less of disgrace to be
caught mapping in this department.
There also is another phase of the
game in which the professionals are
able to put il all over" their amateur
brethren and this mas been brought out
in every exhibition match which has
been held Ideally That is in getting
out of trouble.
The average good amateur player can
do very well long as he Keeps on
the course. but let him get in the
rough, get bad lie. or go in trap or
water hazard and nine times out of ten
he is "Goner." on the other hand,
the professional does not seem to
worry when he has troubles of this
kind, and some wonderful outs have
been made by them on the local
courses. If the amateurs would devote
as much time to improving their game
along these two lines as they do to
their driving and putting their game
would improve wonderfully.
The board of governors of the Kirk
side Golf Club has tentatively approved
the Encouragement of the course of
that club SO as to do away with all
holes which cross each other. This
has been the main objection to the
cours. in the past. and the new scheme,
which practically plays the course
backward. will do away with this
fault AS soon as the grass is long
enough to cut the Old tees will be
plowed up and the change put into
effect. The new course probably will
be used in two or three weeks.
The local clubs are not the only ones
which have suffered the loss of their
professionals this year. as William
Braid, the popular pro" of the Mary
land Country Club, left last month to
take a similar position at the Upper
Montclair Golf Club. Braid is well
known In local circles. as he was very
friendly with both Mcleod and Sargent
and has made many trips to Washing
ton to take part in matches with them.
Bannockburn Is planning it's first
event of the 1916 season. to be held