The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-21
TEE, PARKWAY AND GREEN
By CHICK EVANS
nANDIcAppING CHAMPIONS

Golf equipment Is being so im- proved and perfected that the ques- ton now arises whether golf cham pionshias are decided more by the man than by the ball.
 Due to this peculiar development in the game we may soon behold the handicapped golf tournament. I un- derstand that golf association oft cials are thinking seriously of that at this time.
 In all other sports the handicap rule applies. The nearest parallel to sen that I can think of at the. mo- raent is the National Trap Shooting handicap. This suggests itself per- haps because golf, with our modern equipment. has become almost as much shooting proposition as is the case with the trap men and their shot guns, with targets alive or of clay. according to state laws. In trap shooting the shooter takes q position forward or back according to his handicap. Jim Powell, Iowa newspap- CT publisher. is a good case in point He is tiny in size but mighty with his gun. so at the shoots he has to stand so far back you would hardly know he was there at all if his SCOT ing didn't talk so forcibly.
 Equal mt Second
 As it is In golf now all men are free and equal at the tee. but there is a growing idea that the game will fare best if all players are made equal at the second shot, since it is general ly assumed that the greater skill in playing applies itself between the second shot to. and then at. the green. This sort of handicap would be different from anything else in sport and at the same time 1t would lend itself splendidly to golf.
 short Game Wins
 No one contends that the long driv- CT in golf has very much of an edge on his way to the championship It Is the short game that wins, always Now let us assume that a long driver Is matched with a player who is shtrt from the tee but very accurate to and around the green. This will very likely turn out to be q one- sided d match greatly in favor of the accur- ate short-time player. But in tune and with experience the player who takes great distance from the tee improves his short game with practice until he Is good match in that depart ment for anyone. Then his long drives give him an advantage which might well be handicapped for the best in- terests of the game. Such handicap ping would serve other purposes. It would, for instance. keep the short driver from striving for long distance from the tee, and thus free him from that hazard of playing. It takes many years fer a short driver to school himself to seeing his opponent always from 50 to 75 yards ahead of him from the tee. I know because I have all ways been short from the tee.
 Improved Ball
 The constantly improved golf ball enters importantly into this. The ball gets faster and longer with each passing season. If it attains to much more distance the longest hole will mean nothing but drive, chip and a putt or two, with the game robbed of one of tho most important shots the approach. There is lot of dif- ference between an approach and a chip. The second shot, with the ball 150 to POO yards from the green. of fers great opportunity for sklllful playing. With this distance cut in half by still speedler ball. the question of handicappins at the sec ond shot is reflected fin it's full inn portance.
 Handicapping the golf champion ship is a matter that calls for some serious attention right now. I would like to have the suggestions of sport ing editors, sports officials and golf CTS everywhere. Some one may solve this interesting problem.
 Copyright, John r. Dille company)