'Hoo' Da 'Man'

« **on:** February 12, 2015, 09:29:36 PM »

That would be Charles Victor Lisle 'Chubby' Hooman - English first-class cricket player and golfer who participated in the 1922 an '23 Walker cups. He was one of the long ball hitters of his day, and he had huge galleries when the cup was played at NGLA in '22. His shot at the Cape was so impressive that George Trevor wrote "Macdonald was more enthusiastic than any man in the gallery"

The shot:

The other player in the article w/Hooman is George Rotan.

Here's a short bio at the Texas' golf HOF.
http://texasgolfhof.org/index.php/component/zoo/item/george-v-rotan

George Trevor also wrote a series of articles on many of the superb shots he witnessed in 1922. I hunted them all down and they appear below. Some of these guys, like Hooman, Tolley, Barnes, could thump it for surprising distances some 9 1/2 decades ago.

« **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2015, 12:52:50 PM »

Thanks much, Jim - wonderful stuff. And interesting to see that in the Long Jim Barnes article, for example, Lido is described as one of the most challenging courses in the entire country. Of course, then as now, I guess hardly any course (that is to be played by actual golfers) can prove too challenging to the best in the world -- who, then as now, hit it a long way.

Peter

« **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2015, 04:25:23 PM »

The article is an interesting reminder of the original Cape configuration - and how the term has gotten bastardized to mean a diagonal carry off the tee. The NGLA "Cape" is not really a cape hole in the classical sense - I suppose the closest one is #5 at Mid Ocean as it juts into Mangrove Lake; interesting hole because the tee shot and orientation of the putting surface are both on a diagonal.

There is a distinct advantage to leaving the tee shot as close as possible to the waters edge because the putting surface contours are arranged in to act as a backstop from the left side of the fairway, but to shoulder the ball away when coming in from the chicken side of the landing area.

The original NGLA Cape is hole was actually meant to tempt players to try and traverse the bay off the tee, directly at the green.

« **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2015, 07:24:18 PM »

Peter,
Glad you enjoyed them.

There is a nice column on Raynor on the same page with "Cyril Tolley". There's also an article about Sand Herd's adventures in the USA, but the best thing I can say about it is that it's a reflection of its time.

« **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2015, 08:44:15 AM »

Quote from: Gib Papazian on February 13, 2015, 04:25:23 PM

The article is an interesting reminder of the original Cape configuration - and how the term has gotten bastardized to mean a diagonal carry off the tee. The NGLA "Cape" is not really a cape hole in the classical sense - I suppose the closest one is #5 at Mid Ocean as it juts into Mangrove Lake; interesting hole because the tee shot and orientation of the putting surface are both on a diagonal.

There is a distinct advantage to leaving the tee shot as close as possible to the waters edge because the putting surface contours are arranged in to act as a backstop from the left side of the fairway, but to shoulder the ball away when coming in from the chicken side of the landing area.

The original NGLA Cape is hole was actually meant to tempt players to try and traverse the bay off the tee, directly at the green.

Are you kidding on that last remark? The direct line was what, 280 yards? With hickory shafts? To a small target designed to be approached from the left? I'm skeptical.

« **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2015, 11:03:33 AM »

No, not kidding. It was always our impression C.B. knew players would one day hit the ball much further. In my view, Cypress Point #16 was Raynor's version of a Cape Hole. Let us not forget that Marion Hollins and Raynor found it.

« **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2015, 01:49:22 PM »

Some guys, like Tolley, were giving the Cape a go in 1924.

« **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2015, 02:26:42 PM »

Wasn't #10 at the Belfry where many players tried carry the creek onto the green? Why a great player like Tolley would try a shot like that seems foolhardy, but Macdonald's overriding design philosophy was to tempt the ego and then entrap golfers who push it one tick too far.

« **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2015, 02:35:44 PM »

Gib. I agree with you about the bastardization of the meaning of the term, but I don't think CBM ever intended the Cape at NGLA to be reachable.

« **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2015, 03:37:18 PM »

Out of curiousity I looked up Mr Hooman's cricket record - 38 matches for Oxford Uni and Kent. 1,758 runs, no wickets - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/14934.html

A 'Gentleman' rather than a 'Player' I suspect.

atb

« **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2015, 04:41:18 PM »

Quote from: Jim_Kennedy on February 14, 2015, 01:49:22 PM

Some guys, like Tolley, were giving the Cape a go in 1924.

On a straight line or just left like the diagram?

Always great to be in agreement with Dr. Moriarity.

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