Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
STRAIGHT OFF THE TEE

- HARTMAN Paxton of the golf
committee of the Washington
Golf and Country Club has
been the victim for the past
three years of a vicious slice.
Not one of those gentle. kindly slices
that fade the ball at the end OF its
flight into the nesting arms OF the
rough or the sandy wastes of
bunker: hut the eorpulent, over-ted
slice that is so unused TO the fairway
it clears most of the difficult hazards
fringing the course and frequently
esconces the ball in an inviting patch
of honeysuckle, and some times in
its innocent way finds itself on an
adjoining fairway--if any.
Paxton's slice was classic. some
thing to inspire the duffer with awe
and the veteran golfer with envy for
the man who could make golf ball do
such weird tricks. It was worth any
mans time to see the golf committee
chairman slice his ball from the eighth
tee into the seventh fairway, and then
plav a magnificent slice-intentional-
around the grove of trees behind the
two fairways, to the eighth green.
Paxtor's slice had little competition
none, in fact. unless DR.. James T..
McClenahan, who is also chairman OF
a conamittee-this time the greens
committee-got his justly famous hook
working. And how he could hook.
Being q port-sider, McClenahan's hook
just matched and paralleled Paxton's
slice. They frequently played to-
gether, with what results can be
imagined. If caddies were scarce
there was no inconvenience in giving
their bags to one boy, for il they
were off the course they would prob
ably be on the same side of the fair
way.
This yarn wouldn't he complete
without word of support for these
two golfing gentlemen, for they are
among the leading players Of the Nir.
ginia organization. Paxton is USUAL
" around SO or 81 and McClenahan is
about the same type of scorer. Paxton
was runner-up in the club champion
ship last year and McClenahan was
r1nner-up the year before, so the
game of the pair, Notwithstanding
their fondness for hooks and slices,
didn't suffer so materially that they
lost many matches.
AS chairman Of the golf committee
Paxton arranged several first class ex-
hibition matches. John Farrell. Gene
Sarazen, Tommy Armour, Archie
Compston. Leo Diegel and Glenna
Collett came to the Washington club
In play. Paxton, almost frantic with
his round house slice, took tips from
them all on how to cure his distance
eater in the wrong direction. Bobby
Jones and Watts Gum came along
and Paxton went out on the first tee
10 see If he couldn't so emulate the
perfection Of Jones style as to cut
hut the annoying slice.
Even that didn't work. and Paxton
Fettled down into the gloom of the
confirmed slicer. He began TO allow
for the slice, mentally giving up his
hope for a straight ball. but accom-
plishing one thing at least-he kept
IN the fairway, even though his dis.
lance was lost. OF course every once
IN a while by the alchemy of the golf
giving and the mental push of a mind
that was always seeking n way to cure
The slice. he hit straight ball. And
Washington is no course for hall To
The left of the fairway. So Paxton
.wouied and fused with his slice
spending countless hours on the first
tee. when suddenly il came.
A little relaxation of the left side OF
The body, a roll of the hips and Pax
ION had it, Eureka. The habit OF
years had vanished in a smothered
hook that didn't go far. but was still
hook And now Paxton wandcrs
fown the left side If the fairway
thirruping and whlstling, for he con.
Huered the slice.
While several other clubs have EN-
parked on program of course i'm
brovement during the Fall, the Indiar
Spring Club Greens committee has
been far from inactive in working
along lines that will make the course
better one to play on next Sprini
and Summer. Virtually all the worl
undertaken on the course during TIL
Sast two months has been in TIL
Iiati-e of lengthening an alread.
long course. In all something in tn
beighborhood of Is yards will b
added TO the distant reaches Of In
dian Spring when the tee plates ar
moved back next Spring.
The first tee has been increased II
size toward the south and west. max
!ng the hole about Is yards lOnge
from the back tee. The tee Is TO b
Eowed to bent in the Spring. The to
ct the short sixth hole, which noN
measures 145 yards in length an
IS one of the best short holes aroun
Washington, is to be Increased i