Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-09
TEE SHOT IS BASIS
OF GOOD SCORING
His Skill With Wood Clubs
Given as One Reason for
Jones' Wizardry.
BY WILLIE MACFARLANE.

Willie Mdctdrldne Is one OF the
finest stylists In golf, one OF the
most consistent scorers and tournd-
ntent ictnnerS He is the hero Of the
most dramatic piay-of In the his
tory OF the game, his ptctory oper
tOhich tGon him the national open
championship in 1925. Macfartdne
is professional at the Oak Ridge
Country Club, Tuckdhoe, N. J.
T BELIEVE the basis of good scoring
lies in the drive. Lots of people
swear that it's the short game, and
L point to the fact that Jerry Travers
won several championships without
the aid of his wooden clubs. But they
apparently forget that Jerry could click
the ball with No. l iron almost as far
as his opponents could with q driver.
Bobby Jones is credited with scoring
so low because he is marvellous per-
former around the green. Don't forget
that his long, slashing drives get him
to where he can lay his chips dead. I'd
say that man shooting IS on an aver
age would be rs player II he could
put his tee shots where Jones does.
Poor driving has several disadvan-
tages. In the first place, a series Of
bad drives breaks down ones confidence
and Joy in the game. The fellow who's
off with his driving usually begins
stopping his other shots. Besides that,
there is the physical disadvantage
you're under. After poor drive it
is almost impossible to get home with
the second shot. You're playing out Of
the rough or q trap.
illustrates His Contention.
I never realized just how important
the drive was until couple of years ago
when went around the Hudson River
course with Arthur Stebbins. He shot
between IS and 90, so usually gave
him a stroke hole, and we went along
pretty evenly. This day gave him ~
strokes. and then nosed him out by
getting a 66 for q new record on that
layout.
Stebbins suggested that we go around
again, he playing his second shot from
nv drive, and taking his. On that
basis he had q 70 and a IS with no
handicap at all. Here was a golfer who
drove we'll enough to get an IS or 80,
and the best I could do with his tee
shots was a rs. The drives we traded
took about 10 strokes on his game and
added Z or to mine.
The average professional who II on
his game doesn't have much use for his
brassie under present conditions. On
that round at Hudson River, played
more shots than I knew were In golf.
and had plenty Of occasion to use
my braSSie.
There is nothing unusual In my man
ner of driving. 1t is, as q matter OF
fact, entirely conventional. The straight
left arm, the elbows in, an easy back
swing, the increasing swish of power
on the downstroke, with the punch
reaching its maximum at the point Of
impact.
Relaxed Muscles the Secret.
The secret of good driving lies prin-
cipally In lack of tenseness. With an
easy looseness comes good timing, and
|, with proper timing come long, straight
tee shots.
The funniest shot I ever made was
due to wretched tee shot. Many
years ago in Aberdeen, Scotland, was
playing Harry Hampton In . team
match between Aberdeen and Montrose.
We were all even until we came to the
sixteenth-400 yards long. I sliced to
within couple yards of tool shed
that stood between me and the green.
The ball lay in front Of the door. There
was another open door in the far wall,
and, looking through them, saw that
was in straight line with the green.
I took braSsie and socked the ball
with all my might. It sailed through
the tool shed and tolled up on the
green to within six feet of the hole.
Hampton hasn't forgotten that shot
yet.
can blame it on my drive, though.
If it hadn't been terrible I'd never
have been called on to make that brassie
shot.
Copyright, 1920