Evening star., 1938-09-18

more events for the woman golfers.
Even Philadelphia, with . lengthy
schedule for the fair players, doesn't
have the number Of links events which
the Women's District Coli Association
promotes for its players. And all this
has come about in . few years, since
the women's association took over the
reins Of management Of their own tour
neys from the men back in 1924. They
run their tournaments in business like
fashion. have definite and fixed rules,
the strictest and most flexible system
Of handicapping ever devised, and all
in all, they have the uveliest golf
body in this sector Of the land. They
far outstrip the men in the matter Of
golf activity.
PRESENT president of the women's
golf organization is Mrs. Ralph w.
Payne Of the Congressional Country
Club. . go-getter, born politician,
and An organizer Of the first water.
Mrs. Payne has gathered around her
. capable group Of assistants to man
age the affairs OF the association. She
Is serving her third term as president
and II her well wishers have their way
she will accept another term and keep
on until she becomes tired Of the work.
And 1t takes plenty Of that.
Year after year Mrs. Payne and the
other bdicers Of the District associa-
ton have seen some Of the local femi-
nine stars 60 to the national, and
either fail to qualify or lose in the
early match-play rounds Of the cham
pionship. Tirelessly they have fos-
tered the games Of the stars Of the
passing parade Of Washington golf
dom in the hope that one or more Of
their fellow townsmen might make a
mark In the big show Of women's golf.
II hope that some day one Of our
girls may do something in the na-
tional," says Mrs. Payne. ITS the one
big thing We want to see"
It's . shame Mrs. Betty p. Meckley
current Middle Atlantic champion
isn't at Chicago to bolster up tho title
chances o1 Helen Dettweiler, Mrs. HILL
Marion Brown and Mrs. Davy. Mrs
Meckley has twice won the mid-Atlan-
tic, has won the District and Maryland
title and has consistently been in the
forefront Of all feminine links events
since she came to the Capital nine
years ago. Last year she came to the
18th hole needing . half to beat the
Brown girl in the mid-Atlantic final
Miss Browns putt for = 4 stopped on
the lip Of the cup, laying Mrs. Meckley
. dead stymie. She took out . niblick
and quickly and calmly stroked her ball
over the other ball smack into the cup.
A courageous and consistent oompet-
tor is Mrs. Meckley. Yet, good as she
Is, she never has gone far In the na-
honal.
THE main difference u this: Where
tho best Of the feminine golfers
around Warrington play consistently
IN the low S0s, with IN occasional dip
into the high 70s, the leaders in the
national play quite consistently In
the high 70s with An occasional dip
below rs. That's . whale Of differ
ence IN golf. It means . difference
Of about 4 or holes In match play.
Notice the scores made by the na-
tionally ranked stars, ana you'll fnd
that they often break 90 On the tough
est courses.
When . Warrington woman gets
her score down below 30 it's something
to talk about. Yet Helen Dettweiler
won the medal in the last District
championship with 70 at Indian
Spring. rugged test for women.
And she won the medal in the Mary
land State championship with II over
the course Of the Ekridge Club, in
Baltimore. That Is getting pretty close
to the national championship stand
ard Of scoring. Two or three rounds
Ike that ct Wilmstts this week and
the ns~spspers VII b fun of Helen