The Washington times., 1929-08-05
HAS
UNUSUAL
CAME
~ Juno Kinerk

BY Juno Kinerk
Among the hundreds yes,
even thousands Of golfers who
frequent the municipal course
FAT East Potomac Park there
il no more arresting figure on
the links than Burton Smith
Al commanding person because q
his giant frame, for he stands .
foot I inches and weighs 235 pounds,
Smith Is man who has succeeded
III overcoming q physical handicap
To enjoy the game he loves &c
much.
IN q railroad accident some ri
years ago Smith lost his left hand.
Having enjoyed all athletics prior
70 that accident Smith had to forego
competitive games and resort 70
other exercise Only two years ago
he took UP the ancient and hon
orable pastine of golf, at the In
sistence Of his friends.
tn order to play the game of
golf Smith has had his clubs
arranged specially 30 that he
-
shaft. He uses but three clubs,
brassie, digger and putter, and
all but the pntter have . special
grip.
Half the distance of the grip on
both the driver and jigger-the,
upper falE--are inserted four small
pieces OF wood. These pieces give
the two clubs nearly square sur
face. not unlike the handle Of q
tennis racquet, but only half that
large. The reason for this change
IL twofold: first, because Of his
enormous hand which requires a,
larger grip than the ordinary hand.
and the other because IL is more
suitable to his needs
Off the tee Smith generally is
good for It's yards. With the fair
ways baked TO d concrete consis.
tency, az they now are, he often gets
200 yards. The beauty about his
tee shots are that nine out Of ten
of them are right down the nliddles
IL the green il more than 100 yards
away Smith employs his brassfe,
which is faced almost at spoon
angle. shortening his stroke. If
less than that he relies on hise
jigger. But with both he ii ac.
curate and ff his shot fails to
reach he Ii not TAR of. In the
latter case he pitches up with his
jigger. Els putting. too il steady
and accurate.
While laying no claim to fame.
Smith wculd give the average
golfer stl.ong battle. He has me-
gotiated the long G course of East
Potomac in "A strokes. while his
card for is Ii generally between
30 and S5. All OF his shots are
crisp and well delivered, with the
bali carrying most of the distance.
Smith il one of the most regular
golfers playing at East Potomac.s
Hardly day goes by but what he
gets in Is holes at least. Golf is
his greatest relaxation. he says.
Besides this he finds that 1t keeps
him tit for his many duties -
lawyer.
Playing goIf IS the hest
tonic in the world for me-"
Smith says. 1t keeps me out
in the great outdoors In the
healthy sunshine and fresh air.
Natural benefits derive from
this. but Is is the mental stim.
zs 0At&b&W&esS bAA&B.8S5 y s EHEHkV& AEWAM
golf that 4 appreciate mos"
he concludes.
In explaining the mental stimula.
ton, Smith says that 1t fits him
better to grapple with the every.
day problems his profession calls
for him to perform His theory is'
that golf keeps the player con.
centrating on the game, thus clear.
f1se f4fSA
thoughts, and that ii leaves him
tasks when he returns to his
office. 1t differs from walking. he
says, because In walking the mind
Is occupied with extraneous
thoughts or problems.
His summation Of rolf is sit 10
the ideal exercise for person n 2
any walk Of. life, ana that hs
would like to see everyone playing
it. taking the time off to do So il
necessary.
OF age and is brother Of formes
Senator Hoke 8. smith. of Georgia.
he was born in Chapel Hill, N G,
but settled ins Atlanta. where he
began the practice Of law in 1883.
He was PRESIDENT 81 fha lssorcia
Bar Asocsiation III 1902.03 and vice
president Of the American Bar
Association In 1900. He served
four years as president OF the At
lanta Athletic club and. in recent
years has kept an office IN New
York, though his work keeps him
70 Washington most of the time,
and Il was here that he began
playing golf #