Evening star., 1918-02-17
INTERESTING GOLF NOTES .
FROM THE LOCAL CLUBS

For the first time in almost three
months local golfers were able to get
out on their golf courses during the
past week without being forced to
wade through snow or tramp over ice
after the ball. The warm weather
which started Tuesday has almost COM
pletely melted the heavy snow and
ice and only portions of the courses
had snow on them yesterday after
noon Numbers Of golfers taking ad-
vantage Of the first really fair weather
in q long time (to golfers) were out
on the local courses yesterday after
noon.
The Chevy Chase Club course and
that Of the Columbia Country Club
were officially closed Friday afternoon,
although members Of both clubs played
Thursday. Kirkside and the Town and
Country Club are the two best courses
about washington in the winter. as.
on account Of their practically level ma
ture and sandy soil. they drain OF the
water more Ispidly rnmSia than any nfavsrs "a ene
despite the cold wind, played over the
course Of the Town and Country Club
yesterday afternoon. The course, with
the exception Of the second hole. was
better shape just now than any Of
the local courses. The Washington
Golf and Country Club course is in
good condition, but has not drained as
readily as that of the Town and Coun-
try Club.
Two more famous amateur golfers
recently have come to Washington on
war work. D. E. (Ned) Sawyer of the
Bob-o-Link Club of Chicago, one of
the best Of the crop of star amateurs
the Windy city has produced in the
last ten years. now is captain IN the
Ordnance Corps of the Army and has
been assigned to duty here. sawyer
ship at one time and was runner-up
twice, besides being a prominent figure
in all the national championships VII
liam I. Howland of the Glenview Club
stars Of that city. is now an ensign
in the Navy on duty in Washington:
Howland has not the dne record OF
Sawyer. but has proved himseif time
and again capable OF piayang goit n1 eaua
American amateurs, being one Of the
most formidable players In the Chfcago
district. Sawyer has made application
for membership in the Columbia coun-
try Club.
The open tournament given by the
Columbia Country Club last April prob
ably will not be duplicated this year.
according to Fred Mcleod. who has
been in communication with Walter S.
Harlan, chairman of the greens COM
mittee of the club, under whose super
vision last years tournament was ar
ranged. The majority of the profess
spring to play in golf tournaments.
Mcleod believes. Gilbert Nichols, win
ner of the last years event, is travel
ing for clothing firm and has an
nounced his intention to play in few
In what way will golf return to this
country after the war? This is the
question being asked by many golfers
all over the country. The thousands
and probably millions of American boys
who will have been in France before
the war is over probably will become
impressed with the fact that many
of the games played on the continent
are as good as ours. Many of these
b golf club. and those associated
with the British and Sotch who
played the game in peace times will
feel anxious to try this game of "digni-
back with the thrill of having driven
ball on the sunny courses of France,
a privilege accorded few Americans be-
fore the war. for even within the
sound Of the big guns golf is being
played by the British and French who
can ind spare moments from "straf1ng"
the Hun.
That the war VIII mean a small army
Of golf recruits in America goes with
out saying. Young America is quick
offers opportunity for mental action,
as wen as the physical ability to outdo
the other fellow. both of which are Of
fered by golf. This game. peculiarly a
Scotch institution in its essential char
acteristics in that individual opposes
individual with the balance Of the con-
dict resting on the trueness of hand or
eye. suits the American temperament.
of the successful Army, but the indi-
vidualism of the American will find a
game which will permit his tempera-
ment its fullest scope. and golf is that
game.
Many of our finest players already arr
"oyer there" or will be within the next
year. Undoubtedly many opportunities
will present thetlsefves for contests
between the best players Of the two
great golfing nations, England and
France. The sector in which the Arneri-
cans now are situated is part of the
French line of the great trench system
which stretches from the Alps to the
sea- and is far from the line held by
the British. but as the American line
widens a feeling of nationalism in sport
as well as in the grimmer business OF
killing Germans is sure to find express
SlOu In COuISSQ OetWeeH Ihch VI Suo
two nations behind the lines.
Could anything be more truly inter-
national. even in peace times, than
four-baIler between Lieut.. Robert
Gardner and Sergt- Ouimet or the
United States and Laurie Jenkins.
champion of the British Isles. and Abe
Mitchell, reputed to be the longest hit
ter in the world. somewhere behind the
lines in France? The historic course of
Chantilly in France now is 3umbled
mass of trenches, but it is reported
that British officers daily play over the .
course: Improvised courses behind the
lines furnish many Britishers with oc-
casional sport, and our own boys many |
of whom never have hit ball. will try
to beat their allies at their own game, |
and come back from the great war
with . new angle on the sport. which |
in peace times they never thought OF
BY the way, Francis ouimet still is
holder Of the French amateur cham
pionship, which he won In ChAnt1ly in
July. 1914, . month before tho war be-
Ho,u,e.. Gorsuch ..s 80 a,z94 seo6 |
s1o...N'sD 86 3'OQ6