New Britain herald., 1929-11-01
VAL FLOOD, GOLF CLUB PRO,
 IS GOLFER, BOXER, WRITER
Shuttle Meadow Club Expert Has Master Touch On
 Wayward Clubs-Is Noted as Grounds Keeper and Has Local Course in Beautiful Shape-Has Deve
 oped Caddies Into Crack Golfers - digger" Pays Tribute to His Abilities.
By digger


 .brassie, in my bag of golf clubs. in fcribed with the name of Val Flood. "A friend had passed it on to me. II twas a good weapon, had done it's .duty for my pal, and always served Lne well. It was not a discard but Iather a, golfing prize worthy for one comrade to present to another. = l cherished that club for it's asso- citations, for the name which it bore, es well as for it's usefulness. My Iriend had re-inducted me into the Jfoyal and Ancient after l had given Ap golf. Val Floods name stood for fomething and the brassie proved to be my salvation from the tees.
 My friend belongs to the clan Of golfers who not only play the game but also talk it The 18th hole dis Gussions often brought in the name aof Flood. Nal's opinions on golf mat 1ers appeared to have authority back spf them. My friend regarded it that away. Later I found that many other people shared his view.
 I. At that time it was clubs and shots about which We argued in the sight of the expert announcements Of the pro. Afterward I found that .Nr. Flood is as well versed in mat Aers pertaining to soil and grass as ne is skillful at club making and at Quitting. It daWned on me that here Fas man with unusual golf talents Flood and Fish Inseparable
 Now that I am more fully ac- .nuainted with him, rate him. as he As generally conceded among club members and visitors at Shuttle Meadow, a character-a personality as much an integral part of the set ting of the local course as the club house, the excellent tees, the seen fry. and Steward Fish. Any of these 1actors eliminated and Shuttle Meadow would not be quite the flame.
 Since the war, Fish and Flood -have been part and parcel of the club. The traditions of Shuttle Meadow have grown 10 be what they are during the past half-decade. @Noven into the fiber of this are the Two lords of the club house and the Gourse. ~ But this sketch concerns Flood fish deserves separate treatment. However the two are so closely al- flied at Shuttle Meadow that it seems natural to speak of them in the Eame breath and to write about them at the same time. "Jigger" Meets Val
 Now a day comes back to memory .Fhen I first play Shuttle Meadow An my second novicehood My solfing friend, mentioned above, accompan- led me in my labors. We were on the 10th tee. My drive was as bad rs usual After woefully watching fhe ball disappear out of bounds. I i became conscious that q stranger . s~as watching me. It was Val
 Here. let me show you some ! 1hing." he said as he took the club . 5rom my hands.
 ~ The Old Master whaled a ball out . 10 the end of the cedars, a mile . Away 1t seemed to me. @a Now you try it again" he in Sti uO'Su' .. Already plenty fused at the atten- | 4ion received, l was even more em- | @barrassed when my effort to emu late the pro resulted in q worse sdrive than my first and huge rdivot marked the spot where my ball | lad been tced
 ~ Did you eyer dream that you had | -salksd down Main street clad only Sn night appareI2 Or yelled ont in Ghurch? My feelings We're akin 10 . ihc embarrassment felt in such dreams dared not face Val Flood. I waited painfully for hm 10 order .ple off the links. I had committed sacrilege to the grass of the tee.
 If he had Wrathfully denounced .D1e and told me 10 go play at Good -Tin Park, I would have felt his -udgment just. But he only smiled Indulgently and said the damage could be repaired. Then I hurried along, glad to escape punishment Tor q duffer's lack Of skill
 ~ Magic Touch on Chlbs My first contact with Flood ro- ~ealed one Of hia prominent traits. mterest in the dub and an "aaor de sire to help him out Of some of his trouble. Years afterward Was prac- ficng beside the same tee with a ! .new midiron. The shots wcre not going out the way they should. " Again Val appeared from tho Gaddy house. As he watched h. analyzed the trouble. "Ief Inc tall, The club q minute" he said I hand Cd it over 10 him. He took ii 10 his work bench and soon reappcarnd. . resumed my practice with startling fesults. Now the ball sailed away for the regulation 1So yards.
 The pros magic touch haa con verted the lie of the blade 10 tho re quirements Of my stroke. Such doc toring has more than simply dem onstrated his skill at diagnosiug golf ailments. it has endcared Val Iu the hearts Of players who had no idea that q pro could help them
 ! GolfinG Encyclopctla
 One function of education is sajd 10 be teaching the student where and how 10 find the information he seeks Val's Gratutous instruction hes taught Shuttle Meadow golfers 10 turn for help when their game goes sour. He has quickly put many of them where they could score again.
 He has heightened out drives straichtencd out iron shots and steadicd the putting Of low handl- cap men as well as putting the duf- fers on the straight and marrow path . " hich leads from tee 10 green.
 Turns Caldics Into Golfers
 All this is routine with Val and .