The New York herald., 1921-03-01
GOLF TRAINING Is
LARGELY A MYTH
American Pros Keep in Tour
ney Condition by Clean Liv-
ing and Regular Habits.
ny KERR N. PETRIE.


Since Ted Ray returned home to Eng
land with the American open champion
ship cup ana some interesting stories
anent the way Americans train" for
their big golf tournaments. Britons have
been discussing the subject from its vari-
Gus angles. In addition there have been
written about golf training many col
umns both grave and gay. The result
Is that the average gallery enthusiast
has become worked up to the stage
where he feels anything may happen.
even, as Harry F'ulford suggests. to the
spectacle OF the American professionals
leaving their train many miles from ST.
Andrews and finishing the journey to
the championship course like a pack OF
barriers.
Tackling the subject from It's humor-
Gus side. Fulford suggests that in view
OF what has been heard the British
golfers this year engage Bombardier
Wells to condition them for the open
championship Harry points to the fact
that last year J. II. Taylor complained
! that the Galashiels course left him
"winded," and that such a thing could
not possibly happen after the Bonn
bardier had had charge OF the brigade
for a month or 80. forcing them to do
ten miles or SO every morning before
breakfast.
The Americans may arrive looking
like lean greyhounds with steely
glitter in their eyes," says Fulford. but
If on inquiry l found Jim Barnes had
trained on aspirin tablets / should lay
against him. Hagen and grape nuts
would also be at long odds. Evans and
eucalyptus, Ouimet and chewing gum
would not cause me to worry; but if
one OF them confided to me that he had
not trained. and further that he con-
sid cred our bottled beer the best thing
he had met--then l should fear the
worst"
Harry then goes on In more serious
vein to steel the courage of his fellow
stars of the British links by reminding
them of what Ray and Vardon did at
Toledo In view OF this he thinks there
is no need for physical jerks" nor in
his opinion are the British pros likely
to do other than take things easy In
view OF the event.
Is Trained to the Hour.
"The Americans. we know. attach
great Importance to preparation" con-
cludes F'ulford. III any one shows
signs OF making good he Is taken In
hand, nursed and his daily round or
dered for him. He Is brought to the
post trained TO the hour. His physical
fitness leaves nothing to be desired. Our
American visitors will have no need TO
worry about the expense Of their trip,
and this, In these troublous times. is no
small item. Yet with 1t all, the hopes OF
their countrymen, the fears of ours. co
not think that any one who really under
stands golf would be afraid to lay 10
/ ~ WI n
Andrews
| While there appears to be plenty OF
excitement in Britain over the expected
invasion" by the Americans, the pro-
posal to send ten or more professionals
to st. Andrews has found many of our
stars interested. Only the other day
Jock Hutchison returned from two
months visit to st. Andrews, voicing the
sentiment that he was not very keen
about playing In the British open cham
pionship. 1t Is to be hoped that Hutchf-
son and the other headliners read tho
opinion of Fulford. for that probably is
Just about what Is needed to send over
a team OF all the talents that will de-
scend upon st. Andrews fighting mad.
Fulford Is located somewhere in the
London section He should take trip
north with some OF that 10 to ! money.
for no doubt he would find lot OF st.
Andrews golfers ready to accommodate
him They know probably as much
about golf and golfers up In these parts
as does Fulford.
/ Very likely the start of tho British
open will find the best favorites ranked
pretty well toward the 10 to /, but II
would seem that Fulford Is sort OF wh!s-
Ting to keep his courage up.
Ray q Lucky Golfer.
There is nothing to be said on the
score OF the Toledo championship 0!
last year save that Ray was very
lucky golfer to set away with the spoiis
especially after his so of the first
qualifying round. which. 1t may be re-
called. left the Oxney man considerably
worried over his prospects. Had Hutch.
ison and Diegel not been making their
70's and SOS during these two qualify
ing rounds there would have been quite
a different story to tell at the finish
Nor does the argument hold that Ray
was saving himself for the champion.
ship proper. Ted on that first round
played as well as he knew how, as any
one will agree who heard his remarks
during the round II was his off day
and he was genuinely worried. An.
other such round would have left hin
| In the discard.
Then again Fulford may have forgot.
ten the part that Jim Barnes played ir
the last British open Mt Deal He prob.
ably was too busy roofing" Duncan
home to notice that had the now Pelham
Country Club pro played his last nine
holes in anything like n decent score
ne and not Duncan would have been tho
champion.
To go a little further back, little Jacl