The New York herald., 1922-07-12

the first time in six weeks or so golfers
played off over ground that looked some-
thing like regular golf course.
sDrive Into Pools of Water.
The day before the faded, threadbare
turf had begun to reward the tired and
trudging feet with the feel as of that
of a carpet Now the contestants ac-
tually went squashing into mud pud-
dies where before there had been cakes
of clay on the worn out parts and road
ways. They drove and approached into
pools of water, scooped UP huge chunks
of wet mud with the mashies' and mid
irons. where before they had raised a
cloud Of dust, hit erring shots that dived
delightedly with hook or slice into wa
ter filled bunkers, and experienced the
horrors Of casual water on the green's.
Only in one respect did the weather
man err. The. clouds UP to mid forenoon
still were drifting threateningly over
the landscape, chockingiy inn fact like
smoke from a vast prairie fire. The
rain storm, severe all night. had melted
to drizzle as Robert A. Gardner. James
d. Standish, Jr. and the Western Golf
Association president, Albert r. Gates.
acting for the u. s. G.. A., piped the
crew to quarters for the opening OF the
days work.
In early forenoon the clouds again
started tosbofnbard out about the third
hole. Then there came a lull. The wind
shifted and under the northeast breeze
the clouds gradually drifted away. BY
afternoon there was blaze OF sunshine.
The weather man. evidently working
under duress these last two nights, finally
had relented. The championship was
saved. Skokie once again had become a
golf course instead OF an Arabian plain.
about which the golfers moved In groups.
small or large, like caravans on thirsty
yellow seas Of sand.
Normally Once More!
But there was more to It by far than
this. Normally was the order in other
directions. Drives had been shortened.
second shots heightened. The giants OF
the links again had come into their own.
Where two DAYS ago there had been fifty
prospective champions there are now
only the old half dozen or ten. wici the
dark horse, whoever he Is to prove to
he on this momentous occasion. lurking
In the background.
On all hands It was recognized that
hitters of the Hagen order rad drawn
something OF a valuable, card TO pacK
up their opening pair. Broad shoulders
and strong wrists had received conces-
sion, for now there was little or no run
to the ball, no more of that ludicrous
haste and wild and woody bounding OF
the ball which made a joke OF the course
and turned holes of the drive and haif
iron order into hole In one possibilities.
1t was hard going Of course In the early
part OF the day, especially on the green's
For II the casual water was not al
ways visible the ball as soon as 1t was
hit was almost certain TO stumble mis-
erably as II came into contact with that
treacherous sodden bottom. On the f-st
tee was posted a notice telling con-
testants that they would be allowed to
lift a ball Embedded on the fairways
and empowering scorers to clean the
rubber cores on the greens when these
became mud clogged. as they invariably
did following high pitched shot. Play
ers for the first time scooped water
with their puts and George Duncan OF
England scooped his share.
Whether the field was stronger on
the whole than on the first day the
reader Is left to judge for himself. AS
on Monday scores of 152 qualified and
this time there were exactly twenty