SCOTTISH GOLF.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18900, 15 January 1927, Page 13

SCOTTISH GOLF.

(By Hnrry Vardon.)

PROBLEM OP ITS DECLINE

One of tie most difficult matters ttf understand in connexion with golf is the present day scarcity of first-class Scottish players. Devotees of the pastime in Scotland axe legion. No*' where else in the world is there any* thing like it. Everybody that one meeid seems ta. hare nn equal interest in the game, and to be on the same footing when: discussion arises about results of the moment, or events that are pending, or . problems in the rules. There are never-ending processions of people,; usually with clubs under their, arms,. either making for some popular course or returning from it. St. Andrews is the place to see these comings and goings, but the activity is almost,the same in every centra of the game. Muirfield itself-is exclusive, ag surely befits a links which is owned by an: institution with a title so splendid as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers; but at the other end of, Iho village are courses of wondrous excellence, where the spirit of democracy reigns to the contentment of both inhabitants and visitors, whatever their walks m life. It is all very impressive as evidence of the vitality and universality of the game in Scotland. , The most astonishing thing, however, . is that with t|Ue pastime .thus, ingrained in every section of the people, Scotland seems almost to have, dried up as a nursery of first-class golfers. Nowadays, it-is producing none worth mentioning. This may appear a somewhat rash statement, but it can bo substantiated by facts. And it is - not without interest to ruminate as to the reasons. \ ' ■ Where is the Home Talent? . True, it is that Mr Robert' Harris, winner of the British Amateur Championship two years ago, is a Scot,'born and bred, but it is equally true that the is a product of a generation ago—the generation thai md bring forth many fine Scottish players. He has resided in London for over tweny'years, so that as a golfer he may.be deemed to have become fairly well Anglicised, lti is in . rising talent—both amateur and professions—in its native fastnesses that Scotland of the present day is so singularly lacking. A young player of Scottish parentage in the .person of W. 1.. Hunterr—now a "professional in America —secured the British amateur dhampionship - five years ! ago. but ho was born in England, where he learnt all his golf, so that this oould; hardly be regarded as ■an unadulterated triumph for Caledonia, which"is surely justified in being stern and > wild when it reflects on the deficiencies of * its modern golfers. ... i. The mantle of Mr J. E. Laidlay, Mr F. G. Tait, and Mr Robert Maxwell—who, in consecutive eras, kept Scotland'in the forefront of amateur golf—has fallen upon T'nobody. It is the fact that, in the last seven British amateur championships—the whole of those held since the resumption of the event: after-'the- war—only .four Scots living in their native land have obtains places in the. semi-final; That is a very small proportion, considering that twenty-eight such places haye had to b'e filled. Five otner' Scots'have appeared in the: semi-final in this period, but all have been players, with lohg associations in England. - Paucity Past Understanding. In Scottish 'professional golf tlio situation is even worse. Save: for t-lie veterans, Alexander Herd, James Braid, and George Duncan, there is hardly? si Scfot who counts in professional tournaments. To be 'sure, there . ,- are .those -who hav6 settled' abroad, such as Willie Maefarlahe, a native of. Aberdeen, a - recent open champion of the United States', ; and:.•lilatid'onaid Smith, who hails from CarnoUstie* but ' they have put the t American; finish to ' their play Ky long' years; of residence: . on the. other side of the: Atlantic, ;,and; : liaVe •' become American! citizens. r ' "What i§\the''exp]anatipn''.'. M '';bfitin's drooping of talent in a .country jvhere once the standard wfcs so high—and ', where,; indeed, the game had its birth and ail its heroes until Englah'd took r up golf in comparatively recent timfes ? One possible is that the great majority of Scottish courses are out oft date—viewed' in the light of modern do,not encourage the shots that tell bo ' sure,:' there are some' very-" groat' courses in Scotland, especially beside the sea, but there are' a fan greater number where both the architecture and the, upkeep-are'primitive. -" And this may conceivably affect the quality of the play..'. *