Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-30
National Collegiate A. A. Wthdraws From Olympic Body
Play 1t Safe on Strange
Courses, GuilfOrd'S Advice
Abe Mitchell and George Duncan accomplished Won-
derfm Feats in America Because They Refused to
Take Chanoes-Shoot for Fours Instead of Brides
by JESSE p. GUILFORD
ImatSsr Golf Champion OF the. United States

NUdtNrlE uVtt Nuhhp'
MANY people have marveled at the
Ava wonderful fents Of Abe Mitchell
and George Duncan, the two noted
English professionals. who toured this
country this summer giving exhibition
matches, and in practically every case
playing the course without having pre-
viously gone over It. Their individual
medal average scores were in the vicin-
ity Of T2, which for an average on
course with which they were familiar
would be the result Of sterling golf.
The usual golfer finds Il very difficult
to play n course for the first time, and
/ am often asked what general rule
should be followed which would tend to
keep ones score down to normal. The
suggestion which ] make. and Il Is one
which / try to keep in mind when play
ing course for the first time, cspe-
cially If It is IN exhibition match or
tournament, is to play safe.
In fact, IL sometimes impresses me
that IL we bear this in mind we play
our best golf on courses which we are
visiting for the first time because we do
not take the chances that we take on
courses with which we are familiar.
There is certain samcness to all
good courses; that Is, they have IN ap-
proximate number Of yards, and in order
to make up this distance the holes are
divided very similarly. On any cham
pionship course. for instance, measur-
ing between 6000 and GG0O yards. we
find three or four long holes OF over 900
yards and three or four short holes of
200 yards or less. The rest Of the holes
are from 800 yards to 400 yards.
There arc no courses which have
eighteen hard holes. the holes usually
graduate toward severity. There arc
some holes on which very ordinary
playing will give the golfer q par, while
others are difficult to the most expert
enced player.
Play for Fours
NOW in playing q difficult course for
~ the first time one should not aim
for brides, or even par, and especially
is this true OF those holes which are
extremely hard. Davie Brown, the
former Engllsh'open champion, Of whom
l have spoken in a previous article.
gave me n tip several years ago which
l have never forgotten.
Don't play for birdies," he said.
Don't play for twos and threes. Play.
for fours and the twos and threes will
take care of themselves"
This is undoubtedly the best advice
which 1 ever received, and whenever l
play over a course now with which am
unfamiliar l hear Davie Brown say:
"Play for fours and the twos and
threes will take care of themselves"
On our home course we take chances.
We know every nook and corner Of it
so we'll that we try stunts on It. Take
the elbow hole on the course. where q
golfer is well acquainted. What does
he do?
Let us cay that long drive OF 225
or 2J0 yards carry will enable him to
cut across the corner, leaving q short
chip shot to the green. Probably many
times he has made the hole in three by
dropping his chip shot dead few feet