Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-15

once Played a match with Vardon and had
beaten him on one eighteen holes. So It
happened that from the very beginning Of
my golf playing / acquired great respect
for the name of Harry Nardon Little did
I think in those days that should ever
see him, much less did dream of playing
with him. / held him up as an example
and always had one Of his pictures around
/ can see him now in the one that used to
occupy very prominent place in my room
and that picture taught me more than any.
thing else how to ho.d my arms at the top
of my back stroke.
Vardon Grip Popular
Years passed and Harry vardon won
more championships The Vardon grip be.
came famous and was largely copied, but I
regret to say that I was one of the few
who did not try to copy 1t. In 1911 I went
to Britain to play golf, and from the anna.
teur championship at Prestwick, Scotland
went to the Royal st. George Golf Club
at Sandwich, England, to play in the Brit.
lsh open championship. It was there that
met Nardon, and, strange TO say, he
seemed glad to meet me. James Braid wa
then the holder of the open championship
ana IN the amateur.professlona match at
Sandwich Mr., John Ball and I played
against Braid and Massey.
l did not finish so badly in the onsn
tournament, but always when out playinq
used to glance across the course and
Watch the Vardon strokes. followed hin,
on lhe last hVe holes and saw that beautI.
fui stroke make par figures look easy, I
also saw the play.off between him and
Massy' who were tied for FIRST place. I
watched his putter work, and when I "a
the difficulty he had getting that ball into
the hole formed a sort of sympathetic
friendship for him.
A very little later met Vardon again
In Paris, and was overjoyed when ne asked
me TO play with him at La Boulie rbat
was a great occasion for me, and 7 an.
preciateo with all my heart every event Of
that morning round. l am sure that never
before or since have I obtained so much
valuable information in so short a. snaos -
time. 1 was amazed to find that contra ~
to the custom of other professionals ha Hoi,
unteered information. shall alwavs ho
glad that I played that round with Harrv
Vardon.
One Of the things Vardon told me was n
put the left thumb little to the rIgbt
hand side OF the shaft for all fun shots A.
that time l was playing my half and ousr.
ter shots with the finger grip, but wI,h tho
thumbs straight down the shaft. For ,,n,,
full shots I had the thumbs around ths
shaft and was palmlng the club. He told
me this was big mistake, and that I
ought to use the finger grip for ali Ell,
shots, because no player could pronari,,
place the ball unless he grlpped his chm ~
the sensitive part of his hands. II tool, M
the greater part of 1911 to accuston nv
relf to this new grip, but I cannot ads
quately express how glad I am OF tbo
change. I do not, however, use either tbo
overlapping or interloclSing grip
An Englishman told me the otber A.,
that in the last British open champIonsbID
which was played at Prestwiclx. Var5HI
did not have single three until the Isst 80
the seventy-two holes, a most unusual bor-
pening. especially when one knows thlt
he won the tilt.
I have given a close study to Vardop aud
his game because he is not of the rnHso,,Ia, i.
type OF golfer. His is the rhythmicaI r.noa
The next time that saw him aftar n,'.
meeting at La Boulie was when he 60
Ray toured this country and Warren UonS
and 1 played against them at RavisIoa
cannot compliment Vardon enough IN 81
grace and beauty of his stroke. ana NJ
workmanship, too. for he is a snisrSiS
loser and a modest winner. I admIrs 81.
way in which he can bear up under Ar
agony Of missing a short putt after nIavine =
two beautiful shots near the hole ths, q
a true test. Vardon is my ideal RoIfsr "a
his game is what should like mine to he
My next article will be about tha co''rs.
at the Merton championship. %