Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30

find something more thar
200 nights of the replaced
divot and the sclaffed tee
shot trying to say it by saving
strokes in the qualifying round Of
the Washington Golf and Country
Club invitation golf tournament
which will open the elongated
Spring tournament season about
the Nations Capital.
And If the golfing cohorts who an
nually gather on that elevated first tee
to match their skill and vile against
the tricks and mysteries Of the battling
and hilly course do not score as they
of DR.. James T. McClenahan and Stew
art Whaley, the club greenkeepers
They are doing all in their power. and
viii continue to do it, TO make the
course what 1t always is at tournament
tine-one of the hardest and best tests
Of the game about the Capital.
Where most of the other golf layouts
near washington are slowly rounding
into condition during the first week IN
May, the course Of the Washington
Golf and Country Club always is at its
peak of condition during tournament
week. For this reason, knowing that
week in May, the club for many years
has sought, and obtained, the first
available tournament date and annually
holds the first big invitation golf tour
nament about washington. Naturally
II is one of the most literally attended,
for after q cessation of competition for
six months and more, most golfers are
ready to bite q niblick in half if they
can't get out on the course in the fierce
combat that spells q prize for the win
ner and 3 heartaehe for the loser.
Invitations at Premium.
Invitations to play in the Washington
event are strictly at premium, and the
club In past years has had one Of the
largest entry lists for its tournament OF
any invitation affair about Washing
ton, despite the restrictions that have
been imposed.
So far this year the weather man
(typifed at Washington by the veteran
Sam Mosby) has been none too gener:
Gus with good grass-growing weather.
The net result has been that the course
has not come along as fast as It usually
does IN the Spring. But even though
Mosby assures the greens committee
that good weather IL Just around the
corner and that April will turn the
Virginia layout into a vista Of green
fairwayS and enhancing putting green's,
McClenahan and Whaley are not taking
anything for granted. They have en-
berted during the past few days on a
sprucing I'D process which they are
sure viii bring the course by tourna-
naent time into the pink of condition,
win transform brown fairways into
green stretches and viii replace brown
putting green's with the velvety bent
that is Washingtons pride and JOY in
the Spring.
Rolled Last Week.
The greens were rolled last week for
the first time. DR.. McClenahan feels
that rolling putting green's too early IL
not good for them, and furthermore
the regular force Of employees on the
course has Just been augmented for the
season. Greens that have been buInpy
and slow now have become true and
fairly fast, but not too fast. McClenahan
Is q disciple of the slow and easy method
Of bringing the course into shape and
does not believe in forcing it. The sue
ess Of this method has been demon
gtrated In past years by the excellent
condition Of the Washington layout at
tournament time.
washington Is the only course near
the Capital which has q tee sprinkling
apparatus installed. It will be turned
on within week or two, as soon as the
weather warns sufficiently to preclude
the possibility Of water freezing and
cracking the pipes. Last year many Of
the tees lost their grass through heavy
play, and Charles II. Beach, foreman
Of work on the course, devised and In
stalled q system for watering the tees
which McC1enahan Is sure viii result
Ia better tees with considerable saving
n money this year.
Fairway Is Widened.
Visitors to the Washington layout for
the Arst time this Spring will find one
major improvement on a much-dis-
cuSSed hole that Is certain to result in
fewer frayed nerves. We refer to the
change IN the fairway at the seven
Seenth. Here, In former years, mar
rowing fairway, with bitches at left
and right, cautioned the golfer to hi
only straight ball and virtually
prohibited use Of a wooden club. To-
day the fsirway has been widened by
club may safely be used. Proposed
changes at the sixth and seventh greens
have not been made, for various rea-
sons, but the layout, as it stands to-
day, Is one that challenges all the best
golf any man can master to score be-
low 30.
Last year the tournament was won
~ player from the home club, for the
nrst time in more than 10 years. Frank
x. Roesch, who then held the club
championship pushed his way through
sturdy opposition TO win the final round
by 3 and 2 over the nashy, young Dick
Wilson, q Georgetown student from
North Carolina, who had overthrow
Maurice J. Mccarthy on his way tc
the final.
Nicholson Playing Well
It Is q curious fact that even though
Washington has q number Of fine play
ers, capable of holding their own ir
m more than 10 years has home -cluk
player been able to break through anc
win the tourney of his own club
Henry D. Nicholson. the present clut
title holder, won his way to the ana
three years ago. but fell before thu
steady golf Of A. L. Houghton, who nov
Is q professional. This year Nicholson
IS again at the crest Of his game, while
Roesch has practiced only a little and
has played only few rounds Of golf.
Elaborate plans are being made 81
Chairman Paxton Of the golf commit
tee and his associates for the forth
coming tournament, during which Pax
ton plans to extend to the guests OF thu
virginia organization the traditiona
hospitality for which the Washington
club Is famous A large golf committee
has been named to aid the Chairman
IN handling the many details Of tn
tournament and announcements are ex
pected to be In the mails this week
AS usual, the tournament viii be strict,
mn invitation affair, with all invitation