San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-29
Should Win British ANA
teur Title If Any Team
Ever Will.
HANDICAPS in VISIT
Wind on English Courses
(, and Short Matches
Likely to Hurt. ~
By ROBERT EDGREN.


Walker Cup matches is the strongest
that ever represented Uncle sam
abroad. The amateur title play at
Deal goes on MAY Z to IA and the
Walker Cup matches at st. Andrews
will be played May 10 and II.
The United States has made many
valiant attempts to separate John
Bull from his amateur golf laurels
on his home courses, but succeeded
only once, when Walter j. Travis
performed the feat at Sandwich in
1904.
Walters putting at that time was
i almost miraculously good. He drop
ped 'em from everywhere on the
green's, using a Schenectady putter,
then a new implement in this country
and unknown in England.
The British were scandalized by
the spectacle of an intruder beating
them at putting on their own greens,
especially with a putter of novel de-
sign. Anything new always is an
! object of suspicion in England. The
golf authorities there Immediately
barred the Schenectady putter from
all future tournaments, just as they
afterward barred the ribbed mashie
when Jock Hutchinson won the British
Open with it.
In Travis case Travis and not the
implement, did the putting. His put
ter was no better than any other he
has used since.
Personnel Of the Team.
The American team consists of
Jess Sweetser, our national. amateur
champion, Francis Ouimet of Boston,
Davey Heron of Pittsburg, Bob
Gardner of Detroit, Fred Wright Of
Southern California, DIR. Willing of
Portland. Harrison johnson Of ST.
Paul. George Rotan of Texas. Max
Marston of Philadelphia. Oswald
Kirkby of New York. and Reggie
Lewis of Greenwich, Conn, Chick
Evans had to stay home.
Jess Sweetser lives in New York
IA,sd is a student at Yale. He had
mo intention Of leaving college to play
Igolf abroad until the faculty listened
Ito the arguments of the L. s. Golf
Association officials and gave him per-
omission to 60, although he hadn't
applied for it.
Bobby Jones. studying law at Har-
Ward, and Rudy Knepper of Prince
hton were also listed for the team
but found the six weeks absence would
cut too seriously into their studies.
There are so many goood amateurs
new in this country that two or three
champions could be left off the list
bitten without gripping the team.
Gardner. Heron and Ouimet are
hll former national champions. Ouimet
ron both open and amateur titles,
and Gardner was amateur champion
vice. "A
Heavy Winds Handicap.
The team Of stars invading Eng
and under the direction of the u. S.
Iolf Association isn't the first that
fver went over the British amateur
Iitle. In 1921 this country sent over
team of its best amateurs, but they
II fell victim to the high winds at
n1oylake.
Fred Wright. youngest member of
ivcs on the Pacific Coast. He made
he best showing among the American.
layers, lasting until the sixth
ound.
Bobby Jones. one Of the strongest
,embers of the invading golf army.
bst In an early match and tore up
is card in disgust, which severely
Booked the sporting notions of the
English golf fans.
Jones said at the time he'd never
bmpete in England again while only
ghteen-hole matches were played up
= the finals. He considered eighteen
vcles all too short to he a fair test
Thirty-six hole matches are the
lie in American championship
ornaments and players contend that
Sshorter distance is not an equable
ks OF golf when any unknown may
ay a few remarkable holes entirely
fyond his usue! game and eliminate
better PLAYER before he can get start
II. This is one condition that has
orked against American players on
other side. They're taking long
p to have everything decided in an
-hole match.
Another handicap is the heavy
nds that blow on English seaside
urses-winds rare in this country.
Mess the ball driven into the wind
hit very low it will almost come
ok to the player. Americans play
in England have to change their
hg-carry and high pitching style
Id learn how 10 drive low and de-
nd on a long run.
The winds on English seaside
urses even shift the sand dunes
hund, forming new traps and haz-
DIS every day.
deal. scene of the coming champion
8p, Is one of the historic old ing
b championship courses. In 1920
alter Hagen for the first time tried
the English open at Deal. and
only failed but made a miserable
owing. finishing 90 strokes behind
srge Duncan. the winner.
Returning home Hagen said Deal
one Of the toughest courses he
kr played because it was golf sui
to hit ball high enough for the
I'D to get hold Of il.
n 1920 Bob Gardner. former L. s.
ional champion. went over and
ced Cyril Tolley TO go to the 37th
Ie at st. Andrews TO beat him in
finals for the British crown.
n 1914 Francis Ouimot, Evans and
hvers all lost in early rounds for
i English title. strong Ameri
u team met the same fate in 1911.
&ore that year many individual
hers made unsuccessful attempts to
&c English title.
SAL Walker Cup competition is be-
cal in golf what the Davis Cup
isht fennis.