Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08

4 tend the high schools in
the National Capital, is to
be taught the fundamentals of
swinging a golf club as a part of
the athletic curriculum of the
public high schools, if the idea of
one of Washington's prominent
golf professionals finds favorable
response from the school authori-
ties.
Supt. Ballou and Assistant Supt
Kramer of the public school system OF
Washington have before them plan
by which mass instruction in goif
fundamentals may be given thousands
of prospective golfers in the high schools
of the city next year by one or more
of the outstanding instructors II the
game, the main idea being to start
Young America" right on the path OF
learning the proper way to start on the
game he is almost sure to pick up in
later life.
A L HOUGHTON, outstanding pro-
"A fessional player around Washing
ton last year, co-holder of the
PinehurSt Midsouth championship ana
Maryland State open titleholder. him
self a former Washington schoolboy,
has laid before the authorities a plan
by which large groups of students may
be taught the fundamentals of the
game at small cost and without inter-
fering with their class room studies.
II believe that proper instruction In
the fundamentals of the game is one
of the most important means of pro-
ducing better golfers" Houghton said,
following a talk with MeSsrs. Ballou
and Kramer.
with classes receiving instructions
In all the high schools of the city
throughout the school year it would noI
be long before interest in golf in the
schools of Washington reached white
heat, and certainly better golfers would
be produced if they received the right
kind of instruction. My idea is not to
have a class of 80 or 40 youngsters
driving golf balls all over stadium. but
to work out with them in a gymnasium
or class room, anywhere they can
swing a club, training them in the
fundamentals of grip, stance and swing.
They do not have to hit ball. but
they can learn in this way the funda-
mentals that are so important in getting
the right start in the game.
mfr. Ballou and Mr.. Kramer listened
to me attentively and both said the
plan has possibilities, holding out hope
that the cost of such instruction could
be betrayed through use of Community
Center funds For that matter
nominal charge to each pupil would
cover the cost Of a series of instruction
In fundamental.
A SsT. sUPT. KRAMER long has
"A been in favor of broadening the
athletic schedule In the high
schools by introducing more sports in
which more pupils can take active part
rather than acting merely as rooters
at foot ball, base ball and basket ball
games. He has mentioned golf as one
of the sports in which larger numbers
of students can take an active part.
Golf in the public schools of Washing
ton has been badly neglected. Several
years ago Charles G. Dawes, then Vice
President of the United States, put up
o cup to be played for by teams from
the high schools in Spring competition.
The matches were held for two or
three years and then Jagged because OF
lack of faculty interest and supervision.
Interscholastic tournaments have been
held, but they also have lacked faculty
supervision Last Winter The Star
offered to put up trophies for an inter-
scholastic championship, but the project
found small response and at present lies
dormant. waiting for some interested
person to take hold of it and make 1t
a real event. Golf in the high schools
needs a real push. With such push
Washington could and would produce
such players as the Chick Evans of Is
years ago, the Jess Sweetser of Is years
back. and the crop of stars who de-
veloped their games while in high
school.
ID P. HINES, greenkeeper at Con-
N. gressional and Manor. is to leave
the Capital early this week on a
tour of Southern golf courses which
will take him through the Carolinas,
Georgia and Florida, searching for new
ideas which he may use to improve the
two local courses under his supervision.
Among the courses he plans to visit
are the following: Sedgefield Country
Club. Greensboro, N. C.; Pinehurst, N
c.; the new Bobby Jones golf course
at Augusta, Ca; the Municipal Golf
Club of jacksonville; the st. Augustine
links, Forest Hill Golf Club of TAMPA.
Fla; Boca Ration, Fla; Miami-Bi't-
more, Coral Gables, Fla; the Seminole
Golf Club at Palm Beach. Savannah
Country Club, Savannah. Ga; Sea Is
land Club, Brunswick Ga. and Yea
mans Hall Charleston, S. c. He will
return to Washington about Feb
ruary IS.
On his return Hines expects to con-
fer with D. L. Thcm-on, chairman of
the Golf and Green's Committee at
Manor. regarding several proposed
changes in the first nine at Manor. 1t
is planned to lengthen at least two Of
the holes on the first nine. The initial
change will be made in the ninth hole,
where the slope of the green will be
changed to improve the putting That
ninth green has had too much slope in
it almost from the day the course was
opened.