The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-11
By LESTER RICE

NEW YORK, April II u.N.S).
zone Of the hardest things in
golf is to learn to take it easy
and calmly"
This sage truth fell from the
lips Of Billy Burke. who used to
be a familiar figure on metro
politan fairways but who, for sew
eral years now. has been blowing
the smoke of his IL cigars day
into the midwestern air of Ohio.
In 1881, at Inverness, Billy
Burke, became the national open
champion when he pulled the
fangs Of George Won Elm, the
blond tiger of Utah, in a play off
that lasted 70 hours, and probably
will stand forever as q record.
SCIENTIFIC PLAYER
Burke is a man who plays golf
scientifically. Seldom does he
miss a fairway. He is monoto-
nously straight. He plays the game
in comfort, without the employ.
ment of brute force or unbridled
energy. He has never been a big
hitter, because his left hand is
minus two fingers he lost during
the World War when some fuse
caps went off without warning.
II haven't much power in the
left hand" Billy will tell you.
consequently, have to use it
solely as a guide. must always
be careful the right doesn't
overcome it. It Is now more Of
a handicap than it used to be
because the big hitters are get
ting all the advantage.
FEWER HAZARDS
1.-THE old tiger country, with
It's rough, tough grasses, is dis
appearing from the face of Bum
kerland. Due to the urgings Of
club members, who want the
game made as easy as possible,
rough is no longer q hazard.
Without fear of consequences,
the big hitters let loose with all
they've got. They don't bother
about direction much, because
they know the lie won't be too
bad wherever the ball stops roll
ing. That's the real reason
scores are getting lower and
lower"
REWRITING to the woes Of the
duffer, Burke said:
1.-THE struggling players use
about three or four times as
much force as the average good
golfer needs to drive the ball a
long way. For instance, the ex.
pert, with all the science at his
disposal, uses about one-fourth
the energy that stronger man
might use who is inexperienced.
IF these struggling players
would realize that force is of
secondary Importance and that
timing and rhythm Is everything,
they would progress quickly.
Force, however great it may be,
can never take the place Of cor.
rect timing.
UNHARNESSED STRENGTH
You yourself have seen DOW.
erful 200 Founders who couldn't
drive a ball 200 yards to save
their skins. They have enormous
strength but have never learned
to harness it properly. There
are any number Of little fellows
who can drive long ball with
out, apparently, using any force
at all. Force is applied, of course,
but it is so finely distributed as
to be scarcely noticeable.
However, I'm afraid the
struggling player has only him. E.
self to blame for his failures.
AS rule he won't practice or go
to his professional for lessons
He seems content to get into q
foursome of his own level and
stay there. He doesn't make an
earnest effort to improve his
game.
IF improvement isn't immedi-
ate he thinks the pro is ineffi-
cient and revertS to his former
ways. Good golf is hard to cul.
tivate and If a man doesn't work
at it continually he can't expect
to play it we'll"
CONTINUE this interesting
series in tomorroW'S Washing.
ton Times 1Uten Lester Rice tDiH
present the young star, Dick
Meta, DIlo tDiH discuss toottUorE
and its relationship to good