The Washington times., 1922-12-10


From the time I began playing.
golf I have never failed to watch
ali of the leading players closely and
TO note how they make their shots.
Nobody knows It all and I have taken
something from the game Of at least
ten of our star golfers, including
Hagen, Hutchison. Barnes, Aleck
Smith, Francis Ouimet, Chick Evans,
Jesse Guiiford. Bobby Jones and
others. Jones isn't as old as any OF
the others but he has just as many
shots.
The mechanics OF my golf swing
are entirely my own. ! worked out
the stroke to my own satisfaction In
hours OF diligent practice. In fact,
hard work and plenty Of that Is
what has enabled me to win. Tour
nament play, the teachings OF George
Sparling and watching others have
helped Immensely. but practice was
and is the foundation Of my game.
BEGAN AT NINE YEARS.
I cannot too strongly emphasize
the importance Of practice. ] realize
that in some respects 1t 10 drudgery
and not nearly as much fun as play
ing O round Of golf.
But consider these few facts: IT
takes from two and one-half to three
hours to play q round OF eighteen
holes. In that round you will not
hit more than eighteen drives, nor
more than dozen Of each OF the
other shots In the bag. In an hour
OF plain, simple practice you can MT
thirty shots at least with each ciup
in your bag.
all who are aiming to improve their
game: Any time you go out 70
watch a star in action, don't
merely follow the flight OF the
hall. watch how the star ad-
dresses the ball, how he grips the
club. how ne takes the club back
and how he follows through. Note
the manner In which he plays to
the green and the way In which he
hits all his shots.
You will find yourself assimilat-
ing knowledge Of this game SO
rapidly you win have to discard
most of that knowledge and use
only that which can be fitted into
YOUR game. That's what i have
done and am doing constantly.
began caddying when i wasn't
more than nine years old. However,
I never had q club Of my own until
/ was thirteen. George Hughes was
at that time caddy master Of the
Apa.wamis Club Of Rye. He gave
me a brassie one day. and for the
rest OF the season ] put In many
an hour hitting the ball with that
club. Before got possessica OF
the brasS1e I used shinny sa'k.
with which struck at every oh 'ect
in sight. from q dandelion to a TIN
can. ~
USED DISCARDED, CLUBS.
BY the following season ! had
picked up several other clubs which
had been discarded by members. 1
played a lot Of golf that summer
that was in 1s14--and by the end
Of the year was hitting the ball
quite well.
That was the year Walter Hagen
won the national open champion
Country cS Cub one day during The the
SUMMER OF that season and played
an exhibition match. / did no
caddying on chat day. war
Johnny-on-the-spot when the champ
ion arrived and I followed him
every step Of his journey. getting
a wonderful lesson IN golf.
\ There were two things In
Hagen's play that greatly impress
ed me. One was his folIow-through,
the other his. hard hitting, Now,
perhaps II may not be necessary to
have q complete and graceful fol-
low through to get good results.
but do know that no living golfer
can hope to play well uniess he
hits the ball hard and firmly
takes his cut. a. they say in base
ball. &. ..
DEPEND ON HITTING.
the principles Of golf depend on
hitting the han; consequently one
must ever keep IN mind ---even on
chip shots---that he must hit the
hall and hit 4 hard. y.
I noticed too on thia particular
day that Hagen pitched his iron
shots high In the air which I now
consider - the correct and best
method Of playing that kind Of shot.
t After the match I returned
home and proceeded TO put into
use the knowiedgs I had gained
from seeing that mntch. began
hitting the bah harder and !
aimed 70 follow throuxh to an A.
most complete circ1e after I had
Mt. n eDdeavor1nx 70 swing
clear lhrourh 1 fnun& That I WA