New Britain herald., 1927-07-16
CHEF IRWIN AND
 HIS GOLF CAREER
Assistant Pro at Shuttle Meadow Former R. 1. Junior Champ

ne Guultlt itauoN NAo'h NA'' experiencing this year, the busiest season in it's II years existence. The course was started about 1911 when the game of golf was in its infancy hereabouts. Termed the scotch game, it has fast become one of the leading pastimes for men or all ages and classes.
 Val Flood, who has had more than 50 years of experience Tn taking care of grass, is the professional at the club and it is due in great measure to the excellent condition in which he has kept the tees, greens and fairways, that the course has gained so much popularity. Every day by the score, members and thelr friends shoot their IS holes and despite rain followers and devotees Of the game, have played just the same.
 It was up to Val when Harry Quinn resigned his position as as sistant pro at the club to select from large number of names handed to him, an assistant who would at once be capable, good golfer and man of pleasing per sonality. After careful consideration. Mir. Flood chose Chester NJ. Irwin and since his arrival and assump- ton of his duties, the choice mas proved itself to be good one.
 "Chet" who halls from Pawtuck- ct, R. l., started golf as caddy Tn the city of his birth when he was ux wears old. Since that time he has had a wide and varied career in connection with golf and many of the members of the Shuttle Mead ow club are taking advantage ot hls experience and knowledge to learn the game better.
 When he was II years old, he be- xan his golf tournament career. lie was one of the entries in the Rhode Island Junior Championship tour nament, Four years later, at the age of IS, ha again entered and qualifled as number three man. lie went through to the finals and took the worst beating he ever has taken III his life.
 His work in this tournament was of such high order that the fol- lowing year he again entered 10 play on his home course. he was the fayorite to win. He reached the finals after a fierce match and then was defeated in an extra hole Of 3G-hole match.
 He was still determined to win the junior championship and the following year, at the age or l1 years, his last year in the junior class on account of the age limit in the Rhode Island Junior cham pionship, he qualified Number man for the third consecutive time. This time, however, his great play carried him through the tournament without a defeat and he was crown ed the junior golf champion oi Rhode Island for the year 1925.
 After this, "Chet" decided to turn professional and his first success Tn this line was when he accepted position as assistant to H. H. Stall wood at the Pawtucket Golf club. Working under Stallwood for two wears was. one of the best periods of schooling "Chet" ever received. lie gained a good deal of knowledge about club making and he also was taught the best methods or lnstruc- tion.
 In his last year with StallWood, he shot the course record with e9 par for the course being Il. Last year. "Chet" tied the course record at Point Judith Country club with 69. He was then playing the course for the third time.
 After leaving Stallwood in the fall Of 1924, "Chet" went to the Florence Villa Hotel course in Florida and worked the winter out as caddy master and assistant pro. While there, he played match with Cyril Walker, who was the national cham pion at the time. and defeated Walk CT one up in IS holes.
 Upon his return from the south, "Chet" secured position with the Kennedy Clothing Go. of Pawtucket, R. I. as pro of the golf department. While there, he played in two pro- fessional tournaments, the National open qualifying round and the Mas sachusetts open. He had no luck in either one of them.
 Then "Chet" decided that no man can work in a store and play golf so he decided to look around for either a pros job or the position of assist ant. He heard about the place with Val Flood being open and he lost no time in inquiring with the re- suit that he was signed.
 "Chet" claims that the Shuttle Meadow club has the best golf course he has ever played on. He has gone only three full rounds since he arrived in this city but he has had two 16's and he predicts that after a couple of more rounds, he will get down to par figures.