Evening star., 1932-03-08
den1ic Seises Capital Golf Handicap Create Confusion Here

different from that obtained under the
Calkins system.
But, after all. this matter Of handi-
caps is b minor one. Outside OF the
Maryland State events, there are few
handicap competitions played at the
clubs around Washington, and COM
paratively few Washington golfers have
anything to do with interclub handi-
cap competitions. Their club handi-
cap ratings work out well enough for
them as obtained under the Calkins
system. and so far they have shown
little interest generally in changing the
system.
A T least two clubs around Washing
\ ton have gone farther along the
road to rational handicapping than
the use of figure tables and arbitrary
tables for computing par can permit.
Washington Golf and Country Club
those in charge Of handicapping have
adopted comm on-sense" method of
handicapping, which usually ends up
by adding an average OF two strokes to
the best score average Of a golfer as
computed by the Calkins system.
In other words, II under the Calkins
system. which takes the average Of a
players three best scores, he is given
a handicap Of one stroke, the comm on
sense system gives him a handicap Of
three strokes. 1t works out very equi-
tably, in so far as the competitions at
these two clubs are concerned, and has
the a6uec-age of considerable elasticity.
GO far the Middle Atlantic Golf As
- sociation. which is the parent body
Of all the golf associations in this
kA,- hnc tfr CT a ~ al
on no system Of handicapping. no doubt
assuming that all the clubs follow the
Calkins system as used and recommend
ed by the U. S. @. A.
But the Maryland boys are proud OF
the job they have done with the Watson
Smith system, and 1t Is possible that
this system may be extended to use
throughout this territory. In this case
a change in the constitution Of the Dis
trict Golf Association would be neces-
sary.
AS a matter of fact. the whole thing
has comparatively little interest for
your average golfer, Notwithstanding the
thousands Of words that have been
spoken about it in the past fortnight.
No matter what is done, John Duffer
will continue to top and slice as he
always has done. and il he gives hoot
about his handicap he has done little
talking about 1t.
DR. J. T. McCLENAHAN, chairman
- of the Greens Committee Of the
Washington Golf and Country
Club, was receiving the congratulations
of his fellow clubmen today for q bit
of foresight which will aid in grooming
the course this year. All last week
workmen were busy putting fertilizer on
he fairways at the Washington club.
Many of the fairways were covered from
tee to green, which didn't make golf
any easier. But now, since the fair
ways are covered with snow, which was
ushered in by rain, DR.. McClenahan
is being congratulated for his wisdom.
For snow on top Of fertilizer Is the best
possible combination for bringing forth
a heavy stand of grass in the Spring.
The District Golf Association will
meet Monday at the Racquet Club TO
decide on several matters, including The
tentative lineup of tournaments pre-
pared at an Executive Com mittee meet
ing several weeks ago. The association
mas a slim tournament schedule to ratify
this year and probably ttere will be no
discussion seeking to cut down the
number Of tournaments, as there has
been in past years.