Evening star., 1938-12-23
Fails as Fisherman
| Where Others Had
Met Success
Forqets to Shoot When
Robbit Crosses Path
On Cunning Jount
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

On cunning Juunt
BY WALTER McCALLUM.
Witty Cox, the tall divot from
Brooklyn who bosses the golf shop
at Congressional, and is all steamed
up now over expansion of the golf
course at Congressional, thinks
Washington is ripe for major pro-
amateur golf tournament "one that
will be real championship"
Gene Larkin, Woodmont pro, is
chairman Of the Tournment Com
mittee of the District pro golfers,
but he leans on Witty for a lot of
ideas. Rubbing his aching legs,
Witty said: Lets see. I've been
around this town now for a little
more than 3 years, and I've played
in flock OF amateur-pro events.
I've heard lot of squawks from
| the amateurs about the way the
handicaps were handled, and I
think it is time that we had a real
amateur and pro championship,
starting strictly from scratch. And
I'd have the pro and the amateur
all come from the same club"
THAT would make it more sport
ing, when you figure out that some
clubs have amateurs who are darned
near as good as the pros day in and
day out" 1t also gives you an angle
on the new Witty Cox, the sporting
angle of a good guy. Wilfred never
has had much chance to develop the
sporting side Of his nature. He has
been, in many ways, the gent who
built up sick golf clubs, and made
them over. And he did a good job
with them. too But al Congress
sional, which is strictly a going
proposition, Witty has a little time
to develop his sporting side, which
is the reason for the aching gams.
Is Lured Into Fishing.
Months ago some one told Will
fred that the little pond beside the
10th hole has in it flock Of big
mouth bass. AS the season slack
ened and golf activity waned Witty
became more and more intrigued
with the tales Of fighting fish prac-
tlcally on his doorstep. He finally
gave in when Ray Moore wandered
down to the pond one day, and laid
IN WHY'S lap pair of man-sized
bass. Take 'em home and cook
'em for breakfast" said Ray. "And
If you want to try to catch a few
OF 'em use my rod" That last one
finally broke Witty down.
Day after day when he had a
spare half hour he trekked down
to the pond and wore out his arm
casting for those bass. Once in a
while, when he didn't have back
lash (Which was rare), he got a
swirl behind the plug and occa-
sionally strike. But they all got
away. He saw other guys go down
there and catch bass, but no matter
how he tried he never got one. A
few days ago he gave up, after
hanging flock of pretty plugs up
in the trees and converting a dozen
lines into birds nests of tangles.
Il can buy my fish," cracked Cox
Besides, I'm soft-hearted. 1 can't
look a live f1sh in the eye, if I think
he knows I'm going to eat him."
Consents to Go Hunting.
But VIII still had that repressed
sporting angle. And when Joe Pies,
the gardener at Congressional-the
same fellow who grows those pretty
rosebushes and keeps the shrubbery
| in uoo6 cha po-yoopt tiopoJ q oo,~1o
Of days ago that he knew where a
covey of birds hung out and where
a fellow might kick up a rabbit,
WHY'S sporting blood "berled"
again, as they say in the shadow of
the Williamsburg Bridge. Lead me
to EN-" he said, "and no mistakes
this time. I'm just an old hunts
man from way back. And bring
along a truck to carry the game
home"
So they borrowed a flea-bitten
hound from somewhere over In the
nearby country ana set forth. Wifi
fy, wearing q priced pair of golf
jeans, carried the artillery. They
tramped through deep woods, beside
rushing streams and over meadows
The dog ranged far and wide,
whooping and barking. Hear him"
said Joe, che has located a rab-
bit. That's his rabbit bark" But
when they got there the dog was
digging for field mouse, and no
rabbit was in sight.
They came to q broken down
tangle of trees and vines, where
a forest monarch had fallen down,
dragging with 1t bunch of smaller
trees and veil Of impenetrable
vines. Witty, carrying the gun,
had one leg around his ear when
a bunny broke through the tangle.
almost knocked his ear OF and
| high-balled it out of there. "Why
didn't you shoot?" cracked Joe.
How could II" said Witty, my
hands were busy. Why didn't you
fall on him? Besides I didn't come
out here to kill those pretty little
rabbits. I'm out here looking over
the golf course, or where the new
golf course will be some day"
Forgets to Make Shot.
"Next time I go shooting, it will
be with couple of other guys"
said Joe.
20. K. Hitler" said Cox. you
take the gun. But don't point 1t
in my ear like that. And if rab-
bit happens to run into that blum
derbuss you clean him. I'm afraid
Of that tularemia. They tell me it's
worse than the hives"
They hunted and hunted all aft
ernoon. The dog would yelp and
yell, and Joe would say: Hear
him. That's his rabbit bark"
But when they got there the dog
was somewhere else. Witty ruined
q $40 pair of britches, and his dis
| position may recover by next March.
You better stick to golf," said Joe