The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-17
Hagen Tells
 About Freak
 Golf Shots
Once Hit Pill From One Side Of Delaware River
 To Other
tcepyrisht, 1924. Unfsed states. Csnids and Great
 Brifsin by North Amsfiesn Newspaper lAllisnce
for The Are;H.tsIa, AZ sishts t Ie'erred)

. V N~bthSA tccpyrisht 1924. Unified states, Csnads snd Great
 Britsin by North Amsriesn Newspaper lAllisncs
 for The ss wSLYsR All siss; assss s'''v'd'
 rien twice American .ils holder A sSd ma pt.i.n, ncldsr Of the North and South open and the
 '''f''' open cSAlfas csa Ifi's IeiG' fisHr
 There have been many stories of freak shots in golf. Players are always trying new. stunts. and attempted few myself in 1916. I forgot to mem ton, in my last chapter, that in addi- tion to winning Nthe Western and open I also took the Shawnee open the same year This event used to De called the Eastern open and generally brought out good field of talent. It was in that that succeeded in pulling off one of the weirdest shots of my career.
 The Shawnee on-the- Delaware links Is. as the name implies, directly on the Delaware river, which runs close along the side of one of the holes. I had finished playing the hole nearest the river and stood on the eleventh tee close by. It occurred to mo that the Delaware itself would make good hazard if anyone could carry 1t, which was extremely doubtful. The river at that point is over 25o yards wide, and had heard that golfers had often attempted to drive across 1t but had Eailed.
 Hits One over River
 Just for fun. I teed up a pAiI, and, putting everything had into the shot let her go. The ball started on a straight line (and never remember hitting one just like 1t before or sinceJ, sailed out with a wave-lilxe, rising mo- tfon right across the river and into the woods on the other side. I often wish I had taken the trouble to meas ure the exact length of that drive. It was one of those rare occasions when swing, power and contact were in per feet harrnony--a most unusual piece of luck. -',
 It islnot a bad idea now and then to practice these freak shots, such as driving at marks, lifting the ball, cut ting, slicing or trying for distance over hazards--for these lucky breaks give a man an indication of the limits of his game which he could not discover in ordinary play. In a subsequent chapter I will tell how one of these circus tricks, which I learned from Joe Kirkwood, pulled me out of 8 tight hole.
 'e She Got A Prize For Trying
 Water hazards are always bugbears to the averaee golfer, and some strange things have, transpired where water happens to be- between the tee and the hole. One of the most difficult water hazards I know Of is at the Little Binnacle at Shawnee-a large creek, or tributary of the Delaware, which is one of the main hazards Son the course. It chances to be the six teenth hole, and onaaccount of the carry over the creek Is most important
 
 wrecked here. When tournaments are being played at Shawnee. this Is the favorite place for the gallery to gather.
 A few years ago, a worAan's tourna- ment was in progress at Shawnee, with just enough entries to make a sixteen. There was no chance for any one to fail, but it was necessary to play the awaited the winner. One of the conI testants had been playing pretty good golf up to this hole and felt certain of a high score. Some women players use a wooden club to make the carry, but the majority of golfers use midiron. and the pros and star anna teurs take it with a mashte.
 Shower Bath For Hubby
 The player in question took her wood- en club for the shot, but the sight of the creek was too much of q mental hazard for her. Instead of playing with determination and ease she un- stiffened up her stroke, with the result that the ball dropped into the creek, having failed to carry another she decided to wade in and play it out. The attempt was unsuc- cessful and the ball started to float down the river. Her husband, much at the incident, insisted that she keep on, as she must turn in some sort of report from the hole in order to qualify. -
 He secured a boat and-Eewed his bet ter half out to where the ball was She was not an expert at playing from the water, and shot after shot followed-each with an accom-. panying shower bath for her husband until finally she landed the elusive sphere half mile down stream. She then played 1t back across country to the green and holed out after 166 shots had been made--as far as know, a record for one hole of tournament play. The club presented her with special prize for her persistence.
 $50 Yards With A Bounce
 Speaking of records reminds me that I have often been asked what was the longest shot ever saw made. It is difficult to say. recall seeing an amateur, in practice play, drive a ball 250 yards. This would not be an un- usual feat were it not for the fact that the ball, instead of coming to a stop, struck the flat surface of rock, bounced high in the air again and finally came to rest over $50 yards from the tee. I think this must be close to a record.
 One of the shortest drives remem- ber seeing was made by no less celeb rity than Tommy McNamara, who hit ball in such a. way that 1t soooted at right angles between his legs into the rough behind him.
 Harry Vardon, while playing an ex- hibition match at Troon, managed to catch a ball with the toe of his club so that 1t flew off at tangent into the river.
 And I remember seeing player slash a furious drive against a tree, which caused t to bounce back 4o yards from It's starting point.
 DetermIned To win
 During the Summer of 1916 practiced a lot of these trick shots, and, as I said before, found that this sort of stunt playing gave me a fairly good idea of my powers and limitations. On the basis of what learned I began a reconstruction of my game. I had lest the open event that year, but was to win 1t the next time at all cost, and I set about making care ful preparation.
 went south that winter, played in all the open events. and toward spring found my game working to my satis- faction. In April. however, the entry of America into the World war put an end to all thought of championships. l found myself selected, with other pros and amateurs, to play Red Cross in the east and middle west.
 Tomorrow: "$l,oOO,Ooo from War Golf"