Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

Official Mark at Chevy Chase
Is 81 by NonchoIont Harrison
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a care in the world, added 68
to win the sectional qualifying
medal with an almost unbeliev-
able 1872. Buck White. another
Southerner. was only two strokes
back with 68-66-134. Two
weeks later Buck had the Open
title in his grasp. but couldn't
hold 1t
That may not have been the
greatest round ever played at
Chevy Chase, but it was the low
est. In clarifying that statement.
Harrison played the 6.635-yard
course, par So. when 1t was a
scorers paradise. The watering
system had not yet been turned
on that season. For instance,
Dutch reached the first green
with a drive and a short iron,
whereas that hole usually re-
quires a drive and a long iron,
or even two wood shots.
Course Dates to 1895.
A golf course was added to the
original Chevy Chase Hunt Club
about 1895. About 20 years later
the course was changed almost
completely. Except for compare
lively minor alterations it is the
same golf course that was played
almost 40 years ago.
Chevy Chase is the "ivy" club
of this section. During their adj
ministrations it was the home
club of Presidents Taft, Wilson
and Harding. It has been played
by Lady Aston and the Duke of
Windsor and has been the scene
OF two national championships,
the Women'S in 1908 and the
Curtis Cup matches in 1884.
A long course with a par as
low as So is difficult because it
has no "breather" holes. This is
offset by the fact that the con-
dition Of Chevy Chase seldom if
ever can be offered as an excuse
for poor shots. The lush fair
ways offer a cushion and the
huge green's are perfect putting
surfaces. When guests play Chevy
Chase the golf shop gang will
tell you the standard excuse is:
Il can't putt those green's,
they're too good"
No Trouble for Big Hitters.
The startling sub-par efforts
by Harrison and White, and by
others on occasion, sometimes
are used as proof that Chevy
Chase could stand a bit of tough
ening If 1t ever became the host
club to a championship for the
top pros or amateurs. It has
been said that it's only weakness
is a lack of trouble for the big
hitters OF today.
Two names synonymous with
the club have helped build Chevy
ChaSe'S fame. It will be 20 years
in May that Bill Hardy Joined
the pro staff, and established a
reputation as one of the Nations
busiest and best cluhmakers. For
almost "a years, Dick Watson,
course superintendent, has been
the guardian of the great course
and the beautiful flower gardens
and lawns.
There are two bronze plaques
in the mems grill in the club
house bearing the names of some
Of the record holders. There are
six scores on the pro plaque and
four of them were by the late
Bob Barnett, a SO in 1923, 68 in
1925, Sc in 1926 and 81 in 1929.
The others are by Gene Larkin,
a IS in 1929. and Harrison.
The amateur plaque goes back
only to 1929, when c. Ashmead
Fuller posted a SO to tie the
amateu, record set by George
Voigt in 1926.
However, all Of the pro scores
except that of Harrison were
believed to have been made in
informal rounds with club men,
bers. Larkin, reached late yes
terday after "lambing" at his
farm in Cedar Grove. Md, said
Barnett's 81 was made in the
company of Fulton Lewis. the
commentator, and Larkin on a
holiday afternoon. May 80, 1929.
Larkin. assistant pro there at
the time. had his IS with three
club members.
The second lowest competitive