Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-03
CHICK EVANS
TALkSOF PUTS
Double Champion Opposes
Larger Cups and Would
Reduce Greens
SAYS HE PUTS WELL

BY CHARLES (CHICK) EVANS. JR.
There is probably no prominent player
in the country today who has lost more
close matches by failure to hole out on
the decisive green than I have, so it
may be question whether or not I am
an authority on the subject of putting
My friend, George O'Neill. probably one
Nf the best golf instructors in America
las given me a nice alibi anyway, on
the misfortunes have had on the green
BY asserting that l am a good putter
and the reason thSt l have always shown
to disadvantage on the green is that l.
as George says, approach better than
most players, with the result that
have more long puts to negotiate than
my opponent George says this natural
| ly handcaps me on the green. Be that
as it may, | have given a great deal of
| study to putting and may be able to pass
along some suggestions of interest
Opposes Larger Cup q
The Importance of putting may be
judged by the fact that some experts,
with fondness for figures, have pains
takingly calucuated that putting is As
per cent of the game. If that is true. the
game has certainly drifted away from
the conception of the old Scotch
founders. What | am leading up to is a
| suggestion which has been made before,
! tl,a' Tire cup be made larger
| This change in the game would reduce
| the value of accuracy in the putting
| shot and proportionately increase the
| Importance of second shots Second
shots in the opinion of most golfers are
the real master shots of golf. If this
| is true, their Importance should be en-
HANGED by the larger cup. Were this
change made golf scores in the sixties
would be quite possible However, per-
sonal!y should prefer to see the game
remain as it is because while the sug-
Sestive changes would make the play
of the best golfers. it would reduce the
delightful uncertainty of golf which nov
frequently results in the defeat of ar
expert player by the unexpected success
of an inferior golfer who develops q
burst of putting skill where it is least
expected.
More Practice Needed
After all. these unexpected and un
forseeable results are a part of the thrill
of golf and there is a fascination abou
such uncertainties that would he sadl,
missed 1t is the freakish ending, tn,
unexpected happening that puts an at
HIoSphere anu Il background to SOl
which can't be secured in any other wa,
than playing the game as it now exists
The missing of short PUTS has exasper
aled many player and frequently giyeI
me deep wound, but it cant be denieC
that it adds interest to the game. Their
is 10 greater sporting tragedy than tn
| sight of a man who has missed al
eishteerNinch putt. So let US leave tn
putting hole as it is and perfect our skill
, in putting. II might be that the ad
| vantage given to the putter under tn
. present rules could be adjusted by de
creasinS the size of the green The
the second shot, and push and cut shot
> would increase in value at the expens
or the putt. This | believe would be
!, fairer arrangement than a larger cup.
may say in closing that whenever
lose my title | hope it will be to som
: man who doesn't win his match with
putter.