New Britain herald., 1928-05-07
BATTALION OF GOLFERS
 OUT AT SHUTTLE MEADOW
Fifty Knights of the Pathways Blaze Away at Old Man Par In Opening Tournament-W. N. Johnson With Card of S7, Takes First Prze-Frank Shields, Doc Coholan and Tom Linder Tie for Second Place Little Roasting and Few Cards Heard or Seen.

After two rainy. raw week-ends the weather man came Up 10 scratch and produced one of his almost per- feet solfing days Saturday. Old Sol did his best to aid the enemies of Old Man Par. At Shuttle Meadow a battalion of the golfing army shot volley after volley from the first tee at the start of the maneuvers which were intended to put the enemy to rout.
 Fifty valiant knights Of the fair ways swung iron and wood from lunch until dinner time over the ! greensward in the first contest of against par. match play. Grand 1 father Par was in for a tussle when | the first array of sharpshooters teed | off
 strategically the golfers paired. triplcd and went in foursomes against the magic numbers em- blazoned on the flags nuttering from the bamboo poles on the greens. Ei- bows close to ribs, the knights swung their trusty weapons from the tees and on the fairways. In the doing many Il grupt escaped the knights but that was laid 10 rusty muscles. Who cared for pain. or houndering on one hole? Par had better look out on the next.
 It was q glorious battle waged in full knightly form. No quarter was asked or given. Dub and champion fought a good fight shoulder to shoulder. No lances were broken but many d prideful armour was dented. Now one and now another of the faithful host secured a birdie or by handicap trimmed Par on the greens. But in the end no one had beaten pluperfect golf. Only one contestant had left the lists on near equal terms with the enemy and he was one down.
 At the outset. that doughty knight of hazards and puts, Val Flood, strode 10 the first tee carry ing banner which announced that winter rules no longer held sway
 It was the regulation of the tour ney, the rule by which the battle would be judged. Its appearance proclaimed the official opening Of the season,
 Since fall had frozen the turf tho golfers-in- any weather had enjoyed the privilege Of making their own
  a man had begun 10 take pride in his wood shots on the fairways. Now they would have to dig them on. as the ball lies. Misgivings f'oated through m'nds when the sign appeared. Perhaps that accounts for many brassie shots going wild later on.
 Some had wondered why the course had not opened Up little sooner. Val explained. We can- no' afford to do things just as oth- CTS do them,' he said. without los ing some of Shuttle Meadows pres- tige. Nature must be considered. We are bound between these hills. which make the course beautiful but it also delays by fully two weeks the coming Of ideal conditions for good golf. Cold and wet finger here
 That means that the opening must be delayed somewhat to give time for proper grooming Of the fairways and greens. The grass has to be provided with sufficient and nourishing food to eke out the boun- the fall and early spring but that is not enough to keep the course in prime during the hot summer What the fairways and greens will be in July and August depends largely on the foresight of the greens keeper during April and May"
 The Old Master got off an cpl gram that sounded pretty good when he opined. '1ts one thing to have keen greens when the dogwood blossoms and it's quite another mat ter to have them fresh and true when the dog days come" Not much fiction there as every golfer knows who has been exasperated at dried I'D greens in August.
 But Val was not the only official opener of the course. President How ard Humphrey was jovially welcom- ing the entrants at the first driving off place. He had a brand new story to tell.
 It ran like this: White and White had just opened a new store in the Roosevelt hotel in New York and the clerks did not know the sporting trade. One of them was practicing correspondence school salesmanship on prospect who was looking at golf stockings. Buy them and they will take half-dozen strokes off your score" was his line.
 If they will do that will buy the whole store. I guess you don't know who ann
 Nix, said the clerk
 Well. I am Walter Hagen"
 Doubtless when Sir Walter later Y,. ,rt,o V,1 1J. ~I.