Prospects and Niblicks

By Jack Dionne

An fnterview on the Lumbcr Situation With 'Gus lloovcr of L. A,

A. L. "Gus" Hoover, of Los Angeles, is known as one of the keenest lumber salesmen in Southern California, and likdwise as one of the most lik{able and popular members of the fraternity.

Therefore, when I started out the other day to get a line on lumber conditions, I naturally thought than an inter_ view with Mr. Ifover would be mighty well received by the trade generally. He is exclusive agent in Southern California for the Pacific Lumber Company, of San Fran_ cisco, giant producers of Redwood products, and of the Wendling-Nathan Company, of San Francisco, famous wholesalers of Fir and other lumber products, and so is in touch with all the ramifications of the various lumber mar_ kets in the State.

I found him in, and although a busy man, Mr. Hoover is always ready to receive his guests smilingly. (Califor_ nia lumbermen, please take notice. I have found lumber_ men in this state with more red tape surrounding them in their offices than you will find surrounding J. p. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Calvin Coolidge, and Old King Tut combined.)

"Mr. Hoover," said I, "I want a strong intervier,v on the lumber situation, and if you will grant me that interview I will consider it an honor."

"Shoot" ! said Mr. Hoover. .,It's your honorl"

Just then the office assistant stuck his head in the door.

"Fore !" shouted Mr. Hoover, and the head disfappeared;

"In the first place" said I, .,can you tell me about export ?"

"You've got me wrong" said Mr. Hoover; ,.I,m really not an expert. I just play a fair business-man's game. If I worked at it like C"ppy Slade does, I might become an expert, but I play just for the fun I get out of it, and when I get in the low eighties I'm very happy. An expert ? Never ! Besides, I'm a little off my game right now I've developed a slice that's bothering me considerably. One of my friends tells me that my hands are just a trifle too fast for my club-head, thus giving the ball a slight spin to the right. Others tell me I jump ahead of the ball in swinging. I'm not sure just what the trouble is.,'

"I see" said I. "How about timbers. I hear thev,re looking'up."

"Well' said Mr. Hoover, "maybe you've hit the nail on the head. Looking up may be my trouble. Sometimes a man's eye leaves the ball just before his club-head reaches it, and instead of sending the club-head right through as he should, he pulls it slightly across his line, creating a slicing tendency. You are right. It might be looking up."

"What do you think about things in the North right now," I asked him.

"I really can't say," he replied. "I haven't played the courses up there very much, but they tell me they're mighty sporty around Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Those lumbermen up there give a lot too much attention to their golf, I think. They should attend to business like we do down here. They trap their greens in the north so that one of us roll-up approach players have a hard time of it. You have to approach with a back-spin mashie or mashieniblick, and the last time I played in Portland my niblick got so hot I couldn't hold onto it, and had to quit playing."

"'What do you think about prospects for the next sixty days?" I asked.

"It all depends" said Mr. Hoover, "On whether or not I can get rid of that slice. If I can, I'll be shooting in the low eighties by fall. I want to develop a tee shot aimed at the right hand side of the course, with just a bit of a hook on it. Those kind run. My midiron is working fine, and I am getting very good distance with it. I think it straightens out an iron shot to take just a slight divot. I may buy an entire new set of irons. I think mine are too heavy. Those Crowflites are the stuff. You get an awful distance with them if you put some rhythm into your swing. Still, the prospects aren't the best on earth, because my putting is still rotten. I can't seem to get the break on my putts that Fred Golding gets. Some of these guys go down whenever they get within three inches of the line. Not me. I have to putt for what I get. Is there anything else ?"

"Yes" said I. "How about prices ?"

"Dollar, dollar, dollar, is my price system. As I told you, I play golf for fun, not for a living like some of these birds. Anything else ?"

"I don't remember:anything," I said.

"They're hard to hit from memory" said Mr. Hoover. "fs there any advice you'd like to give the trade?" I asked in closing.

"Tell them" said Mr. Ifoover, "that shortening the back swing, and snapping the club hesd through with plenty of wrist, sure increases your distance. Keep the left arm stiff, the right elbow close to the side, and send her right through. That makes her travel."

"Thanks very much for your kindness. I'll go now. By the way, how far is it to McCormick's offrce from here ?',

"About a No;3 iron." said Mr. Hoover.