The New York herald., 1921-04-15
'WOODIE' PLATT AN
IMPROVED GOLFER
Gets 80 Yards Further From
Tee by Using Driver In
stead Of Spoon.
ny KERR n. PETRIE.

Word comes from Philadelphia that
"Woodie' Pladt. to give j. Wood Platt,
the former North Hills star, the name
by which he prefers to be known, is a
greatly improved golfer since he aban-
doned HE spoon and began to play in
the orthodox fashion by using driver
from the tee.
Platt, OF course, can't possibly be put
ting any more stop on the ball with his
mashie or holing his puts more regu-
larly inst because of this change. but
facts speak for themselves. 1t is unde-
niabie that he IS scoring better every
day, and simply because he Is now get
ting about thirty yards more on the
average than he has been accustomed
to making with the club with the set
back face.
Quite naturally Platt is finding that
thirty yards on the initial shot is sim
plifying his game. He perceiyes that II
brings him closer TO the hole and.
everything else being equal, 1t Is much
easier to aim a ball at the pin when II
Ia not necessary to press to do so.
Playing around the links of the White
marsh Valley Country Club the other
day, this being the organization to
which he now belongs. Platt demon
stra ted to a friend how his improved
work from the tee had sinphfied his
game. On that course at one stretch
there are four holes that range 800
yards or slightly more. "Woodie' was
up there every time for chip or ABOUT
fifty yards for his second. On TUESDAY
he played the Whitemarsh course in 70,
and for ninety holes over the week end
he averaged ~ round, pretty fair
work for this time of year.
From this II is plain that Platt may
easily become one of the most valuable
members OF w. C. Fownes's amateur
team at Hoyake. Last year he won
eight tournaments. was twice runner up
led the field in medal play on two occa-
sions. established two course RECORDS and
reached the third round OF the natlona'
championship after defeating $. David
son Heron, the titleholder. The year
before he was one OF the last four In the
national amateur meeting at Oakmont
where he scored a thirty-eight hole VIC
tory over Francis Ouimet.
Nor should it be forgotten that Plat'
last year defeated I. ID. Armour. the
Scotch star, winner OF the big amateur
tournament at Gleneagles and holder OF
the French championship. This victory
also an extra hole affair. came In the
final of the Nassau Country Clubs IN
vitation meeting.
AT Hoylake Platt may easily out
SDlnG EVANS, oLllitL JoiAt1- -
one thing. he is not likely to be affected
by nerves Stage fright Is thing dn-
known to him. Nothing looks too bic
fo- him to tackle and the harder the
match the better he likes IL. And while
golfers both here and abroad, are dis
cussing boy prodigles and dwelling OF
the fact that Bobby Jones still IS IT
his teens. 1t IS worth mentioning thai
.'Woodie" Platt himself is only %.
While the new Hampstead Country
Club at Hampstead, Long Island, Is not
promising It's members a full hedged
eighteen hole course for this summer, on
advice OF Peter Lees, the course archl-
tect, the officials OF the club hold out the
lure of positive fulilment of nine
holes for play by October. However. the
club does not intend to walt for the
opening Of the nine holes Of golf to get
into the field OF competitive play. 1t Is
the misfortune or the golfer that a goli
course takes much longer to build and
mature than a tennis court. But what
IL the golfers misfortune is the tennis
player's gain. On Memorial Day the
club will have its housewarmirg cere-
monies and in connection with this there
will be a tennis tournament for silver
trophy.
The membership list OF the new club
Is filling rapidly. There now are loo
names on the roster and the prospects