Evening star., 1938-04-20
[|NKSSQUADB[0W
TO CASTE SYSTEM
Irish Bartender, Scottish
Clerk, Welsh Soldier
Get Recognition.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.


CHICAGO, April 2O.-Great Britain
finally has caught on that the way
to win golf matches is to have fell
lows who can it the bloomin' BALI
as Ted Ray would say-in the lineup.
Great Britain never has defeated the
United States in the Walker Cup
matches but may do so at st. An
drews this summer. because its best
golfers will be shooting against the
Yankees.
This years British team will be
selected for ability rather than social
standing. The fact that an Irish bar
tender, Scottish clerk and a Welsh
soldier are among the candidates who
will try out for the team is evidence
that the caste system which has domi-
mated British golf these many years
finally is being broken down
Brltains early Walker Cup teams
were selected largely from Oxford and
Cambridge University players. The
Oxonians and Cantabs were nice
social ornaments, but not much in
competition when chucked against our
boys. most of whom came up through
the caddv pens and we're we'll seasoned
by bristling battles with professionals
Our boys may have been bit shy on
etiquette, but they knew all the
answers with mashie and putter.
Too Swanky for Perkins.
Occasionally some artisan golfer.
the likes of Phillip Perkins. would
make British team for the reason
that champion could not very we'll
be excluded But when Perkins played
with the British team in 1923 he was
virtually ostracized by his teammates.
That was one reason why Perkins was
so happy to grab off a professionals
job here in America When Perkins
played Bob Jones in the finals of the
1928 national amateur championship,
only two Of his teammates remained
at Brae Burn to see the match. the
others being off for weekend enter
tainment
1t long has been said that there
were enough artisans playing st.
Andrews to make better team than
Great Britain ever sent against the
United States. That may have been
an eXaggeration, but at any rate the
British now are giving the clarks
and crofters a chance to place on the
Walker Cup squad. The trials at St
Andrews will produce the best amateur
talent in the British Isles. and if
Britain loses it will be because the
United States has the better men.
Team to Talk Our Language.
Our boys probably will appreciate
competing against an Irish bartender
a Scottish clerk or a Welsh soldier
Such fellows probably will come nearer
talking our boys language than those
who come from oxford and Cambridge
and are weighted down with their
social standing.
1t is doubted that Great Britain will
muster team capable of beating
Capt. Francis Ouimets squad. but it
Is on the right track. If membership
on the British team is open to compe-
tltion, 1t will draw the better talent
OF the United Kingdom, for the arti-
sans and such no longer will be so
fearful Of being considered interopers.
The United States team will be
sailing before long. and it's a we'll
balanced squad Francis Ouimet is
taking over. It's hunch that Johnny
Goodman will win the British amateur
championship this time. After his !
victory in the 1887 United States !
amateur, Johnny no longer is beset |
by a match play complex and his |
greatest hazard is some United States
player knocking him out of the field. |
If Johnny had only to match shots
with British players, I'm certain he
would join Sweetser. Jones and Little
as an American born British champion.