The sun., 1919-03-10
GOLF TOO HAS ITS
THRILLS APLENTY
Hearts Flutter on Links as on
Diamond, Gridiron and
Trackside.
NJ JOHN G. ANDERSON.


"one reason" recently declared a
sportsman whose hobby Is track ath-
| letics, why don't care much for golf
| Is that there are no thrills connected
with the playing OF the same
do you play" we asked.
| No" he replied but have attended
| a number OF exhibition contests, and al
| though the golf1ng was of an exceptional
! order there was nothing which hap
pened to give me that sense OF exulta-
| ton which comes to the spectator at g.
track meet, football garse or baseball
| contest"
Which difference" We remarked, ITS
perhaps due to the very nature Of the
past:mee where excitement 10 condensed
| into few seconds whereas in golf the
! thrills are graduated and more per-
| sonsl."
What do you mean by more per-
sonal," quered my friend, still very
| much unconvinced.
| Whereupon we undertook 10 enlighten
| him, advancing arguments along the
line OF that which follows, believing
that while the exciting moments OF
days play may not be as intense, they
| are far more numerous and more salts
| tying because they are an active part
OF ones own play rather than the Sec
ondary thrill which Is the lot OF the spec
tntor.
There have been many others who
have scoffed and still live to scoff at
the game OF golf. Even to-day they
quote Dan DAILY to US and speak of the
plea sures of COW pasture pool and the
old mans game" and they scarcely
can fathon the look OF contentment
Which still stays fixed on the golfers
countenance.
Perhaps there is something IN this
| game which don't quite get" some Of
them think, and then forsooth another
convert is gained.
Opportunities Galore.
All manners Of sport have had their
panegJrfcs,' but none has ever equalied
| in the numerous truthful lines which
men have written or spoken about their
beloved game of golf. II must assured
ly mean that no other sport has taken
hold OF men as has golf. The exuber.
ance of youth in sport provides ecstactic
moments, but the soul satisfying de-
light OF full grown man finds it's me-
dium IN a game which can even be
played and enjoyed fully alone.
Nor is 1t necessary 10 wait for the
big moments, the bases full and two
out, with runs needed to win, the finals
Of the 220 yard run, the last five yards
for a touchdown. tho winning serve. TO
secure maximum OF anticipation. Every
shot in golf, aside from the short putt
that Is. the very short putt--holds out
! a prospect Of doing the remarkable, OF
making a record OF some kind which
will equal or surpass that of the best.
The chances OF providing excitement
for others comes only 10 hnalists In
most contests. but In golf where three
or four are playing together there are
over a coupie hundred chances a round
rx-teh gos, A
blanket finish In mile run won in Ave
minutes causes little excitement. but the
1863 yard hole made in one or two by
the eighteen handicap man affords the
maximum OF pleasure.
| True II is of course. that the depths
OF despair TO which a golfer steadily off
his game sinks causes mental agony
tut since the foundation OF the games
pay is laid upon the emotion Of hope
which ever Is present. these occas ions
are few and far between
II fault Is found in exhibition matches
or contests that they do not provide
the thrills Of other dig events I re-
spcctfully would refer TO the anal holes
played by Francis Ouimet on the last
round o. the open championship in 1913.
ouimet Victory an Example.
There were several thousand people
following and there was mental anE,lish
In evidence at the fifteenth when Il
was thought that Mr.. Ouimet had missed
his third shot and that the ball would
! not clear the bunker Groans were
audible and then shout after shout when
the bail rolled to the green Again
when he holed a beautiful three at the
seventeenth what a world OF gladness
flled the air, and when the last putt
. was made on the seventy-second green
and he had tied with Nardon and Ray
. for the title there was an uplift which
vas felt all over the grounds America
was still in the ring
Then on the following day before 10
; 600 spectators there was never a shot
made which did not thrill with Joy or
/ plunge into momentary despair most Of
, those present. No harder sport ever
found a gallery so exhausted as on that
DAY, when each man, woman and child
played each shot along with Francis
There were exciting moments too
when Schmidt took Hilton TO the first
extra hole at St Andrews after the
latter had sent the most nervous o,
: thrills stealing through the onlookers b.,
putting on the next to las hole from
the green into trap. Were there n
thrills. we asked In 1918 Wien Travers
, stood on the brow of tine Knoll al the
fifteenth hole at Baltusrol. knowing, as
did all the spectators. that he must lay
! tndL sHNeHlE ydTd dppEoacn oead TO the
hole and then play the others i. par 10
win the open title?
The roar OF applause from thou.
sand voices when the deed was done
was fully as convincing as tae cheer
At the finish OF that 500 yard race at
, the MNlEosc ,GsIpes tiia. ether night when
Dave Caldwell nipped Meredith and
Campbell Al the tape.
So We might 80 on Indefinitely with
examples from here and abroad. our
, good friend will pardon US for stating
, that we believe ne partly is satisfied at
least that although the game is gentle
one Il contains enough OF action, at
. times not seldom, which make the red
:, blood run faster both In player and
-, Nspectator alike.