Evening star., 1927-11-29

III AINlN1 NANDON Is me uiiuiS
puted hero of the old days il
golf and Bobby Jones Of the
Il new. And until some future
star comes along to eclipse
the deeds Of the doughty Briton ant
the stocky Georgian endless ar@u
mentS as to the comparative abilities
of the two will rage in the locker
rooms of America and Great Britain
The old.timerS of the profesSionaI
circle. especially those who came from
England and Scotland. usually are en-
trenChed on the side Of Nardon. while
the home-breds and younger stars
ere stanch in their support of the
American hoy.
II is nm interesting argument. this
comparison of the old and new. Var
don was the master stylist of his day;
Jones of the present-era. Both play
every shot With rhythmic skill that
shows but few imperfectionS. 1t iS
conceded that Jones is able TO hit a
longer ball than Nardon ever could.
hut he is not quite so accurate. Bobby
has the edge in putting. hut in the
use of some Of the shorter irons
Nardon is reputed TO have been more
deadly.
Nardon in his day won six British
open championships; Jones in short
titles. tied for another and captured
the United States amateur three times.
From Il competitive standpoint he
already has eclipSed the Englishman.
and with his best years ahead. prob
ably E'ill hang IN chamOlonShlp
record that never will he equaled.
Comparison of the two is Il bit un-
fair. the writer was told by veteran
professional who grew up at West
ward Ho, and saw Nardon in his hey
day. Conditions are vastly different
now than when Harry was the peer
less performer Of golf. and while the
competition is much keener the game
has been made easier to play.
Former Conditions Poor.
Courses are vastly improved over
25 years ago." continued this veteran.
"In the old days they were not given
the careful attention one finds today.
The fairwayS were not we'll groomed
and even, and bad lies were frequent.
The green's were not the smooth. vel
vetv surfaces of today and usually
were filled with rlantain that would
throw well aimed putt off the line.
Nearly every modern bunker al
fords the player chance to get clear
without a severe penalty. In the old
unplayable and they were not so judi
ciousy placed as now, when the archi'
lecture of a golf course is given the
same consideration as a skyscraper
or n beautiful home.
Clubs have been improved: they
are more delicately balanced and the
DEVELOPMENT of the different irons has
reduced the nicely of judgment the
old-timers were called on to exercise
when they played with four irons IN
the kit instead of seven or eight.
Then the modern ball that carries
great distance has had a lot to do
with helping the players. Vardon
played his best years with the old
style ball that was many yards short
er than the one in play today"
In winning his six open champion
ships Vardon averaged 1864 strokes
per round. Such scores today would
not win many titles, and Jones aver
age in his championships is consider
ably lower Vardon never broke 800
when he was winning the British
open, while only once in the last
eight United States opens has the
victor scored so high as that.
MarvelOusly Accurate.
Vardon achieved an accuracy no
other player ever has been able to
equal. Oftentimes, when playing over
a strange course, he would send his
caddy on ahead with instructions to
stand on the spot where drive could
be most advantageously placed. Then
he would drop his ball within few
feet of that spot. His control over
the ball was marvellous and he prob
ably used fewer recovery shots than
any man of his day or any other.
Putting was Vardon's weakness and
II is Jones strength. Vardon is said
to have had jumpy nerve in his
arm that often caused him to finch
when making a putt.
The argument on Jones and Fardon
never will be decided nor ended. But
It's one of those things that breed in
terest in the game and tend to make
the heroes more heroic.