The Washington herald., 1911-05-28

George Sargent. professional at the
Chevy Chase Club. has written an upusu-
ally interesting story. exclusively for
The Washington Herald, entitled The
Mental Side OF Golf" He says:
We often hear the expression in con-
nection with the game of golf. mental
hazards The average man usually takes
this to mean that il is some hazard or
obstacle in the way which the player is
afraid he will get into. 1t so gets on the
mind that hesis as sure to get into 1t as
a good player who is confident of making
good shot-does make a good shot.
Now, then, If the mental faculties can
affect YOU so much for the bad, 1t is
common sense to suppose they can af-
feet you also for the good. Right here
is the secret of one mans success and
another's downfall at the game of golf.
You can watch perhaps a half dozen
different players and they all look about
equal and still out of that half dozen
players one OF them in competition is
nearly always ahead of the rest. How
can you account for it?
You say, Well, he has more conf
dence than the rest of them which is
quite correct. But how does he apply 1t?
1t is simply this: On the teeing ground
he thinks to himself this ball is going
straight down the course for such and
such a distance. The chances are he
makes a good shot.
The other man thinks, Well, ] know
l can do It If / only hit 1t properly. In
other words, he is doubtful of his ability
to make a good shot. He is bodily capa-
BILE but mentally inefficient. That man
has a mental hazard and a pretty bad
one. too.
Now, then, how can We make the
mental balance affect us for our good?
This Is done by the simple reason of ap-
plication. You can just as easily apply
your mind to making a good shot as to
let your brain suggest all kinds of doubts
and difficulties.
What 1 wish to suggest, especially to
beginners, is this: When you are prac-
ticing or when you are playing you can
easily learn to cultivate little OF this
confidence. Don't do as l have seen
many players do. and that is. to go out
with dozen balls to practice and Just
hammer away at them, trusting to Prov
idence to put them on their game IL
YOU do this you will be one of the doubt
full, mentally inefficient ones.
Find out the weak and bad points In
your style and just steadily persevere
until YOU eradicate them. Don't say,
or the habit of topping, but make up
your mind you will master it and half
the battle Is over. In other words, make
your mental powers work for you and
not against you.
In practicing you will frequently no.
tice the brain gets tired before the BODY.
In other words, you lose interest in what
YOU are doing That is the time to stop.
for all the practicing in the world Will
not help you when your heart and soul
are not in what you are doing.
A number of Washington golfers have
sisnified their intention of attending the
open amateur golf tournament OF the
Baltimore Country Club at Roland Park,
Baltimore. Md, June 8. 9, and 10. NJ.
Tyson Eliicot, who is in charge OF the
entries, stated that already a number OF
entries have been received. and from
present indications the tournament Will
be rhe most successful in the history of
the club The names of the local players
who will participate in the tourney will
be announced later.
The tournament is open to members OF
the clubs belonging to the United States
Golf Association and such other players
as NAV be invited by the members.
The entries close on Wednesday. June Z.
for the main event and June 10 at p. m.
for the handicap event.
A number of handsome prizes will be
awarded to the winners in the various
classes The first sixteen will qualify
for the Maryland Cup. second sixteen
will, qualify for the Greater Baltimore
Cup. third sixteen will qualify for the