Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-03
GOLF GOSSIP
BY STEVEN ARMSTRONG.

irrespective or age. Also no doubt
many a professional IL he be proper
painstaking man will spare some Of his
time TO giving helpful advice to some
Of the senior caddfes who may be plan.
ming 10 take up golf as a living OF
course every professional worthy of
his calling will help his young assis-
tants to develop their game. But how
many who will spare time to turn
their assistants into good club-makers
and fine golfers ever realize that IL the
latter are going to take up positions
as professional instructors, that 1t is
Just as important that their masters
should train the young idea how to
teach. ...
Here is message from famous
teacher to his brother professionals in
regard to this matter. and can
add a personal note, as too was
handicapped from having taken les.
sons when of my game from a young
professional Of the Swing -like-me"
type, an experience 1t took me several
years to recover from In regard to
wooden clubs.
May the professionals in this coun-
try then listen to what one of their
number, George A. Philpot says in the
World of Golf:
One of the perennial problems OF
the golf professional is that of sue
cessfully teaching the game. 1t is
also, perhaps, more than anything else,
hts primary duty; and by the visible
results he achieves he is, to large
extent, judged Many are the golf
professionals who are good players
but Indifferent teachers, and though
such men may come In for a good deal
OF praise when appearing in coTnpeti-
tons and tournaments, yet among the
members Of their own club they are
held In nothing Hike so much esteem
- the professional who, while not 3
brilliant performer in big tournaments,
is, nevertheless, q consHmmately capa-
bic man in the more useful art of
teaching the game. know there are
golfers here and there who vehementlY
allege that the professional is no good
e he cannot nut the excellent advice
Of HIS own teaching into actual opera
ton in his own game, but such con-.
clueion Is only arrived at through a.
false premise, namely, that no person
should teach others unless he himself
carries out his own instruc-
ton
Clearly az golf nobody, not even its
ablest opponents. plays every stroke
perfectly, but surely this is not valid
reason for the abstention of everyone
has ever been propounded. Under GER
tain circumstances thoroughly bad
player may conceiyably be thorough
" good teacher. and undoubtedly O.
really good player may possibly be
most Indifferent teacher. Let this ar
gument be proved false and the ordi-
nary rank-and-ffle professional might
as well quit the profession. Having.
then, dealt with what Is regarded as
a considerable objection to the teach.
Ing OF the average professional, LET me
touch upon far more difficult part
Of the problem, that of the methods
professionals employ in teaching Here
Is a thorny subject upon which d.
versity Of opinions exist Ask hum
fred professionals what, In their judg
ment. is the most correct method of
and guarantee that you will
get hundred different answers--each
1ne. be it noted, the honest and ma
lure opinion Of the giver. II is this
fery diversity that makes the pupils |
task almost as onerous as that of the
instructor. II the former takes les.
sons from more than one professional
he is quite likely to be told to do |
.hings almost entirely opposite to
hose proposed by his first adviser.
| should like to point out to those of
my readers who are professional golf |
ers that am not arguing that divers
ty of methods in teaching is avoid
able: l am simply stating that the d. 4
versity exists. More than once In the
past / have brought criticism on my
self through being misjudged In this
way. quite agree with the pronounce
ment OF one or two really great teach.
ers of golf, that it is well nigh i'm.
possible to lay down categorical rules
Ter teaching, and the writer, could he |
do so. would certainly not Still the
problem remains ano must therefore |
be discussed Only the other day a |
friend Of mine asked me very knotty |
question which win serve to partly IL |
lustrate one Of the difficulties of teach.
ng. Being OF his game'-not abso-
utely, but just enough to spoil his fun
he went to professional. a pains.
.aking, but g-like-me' instructor,
Who started to violently alter his pupils
grip, stance, back swing, finish. etc., /,
With the result that at the conclusion |
IF the lesson he was in very unsatis.
actor state. Another professional, |
whose method of teaching was to de- ]
relop the players natural swing sub
put my friend right, much to
his relief.
Another error that some of us fall
nto in teaching is to preach the old.
'opy- book platitudes, unrelieved by any,
hing like an illustration, analogy or
spigram. Lessons in which the mentor
merely reiterates such sayings as
Keep your eye on the ball, Don't |
irop your right shoulder" Follow |
through" and use your wrists while
rue and essential enough in them
selves. become rather dreary and mo.
lotonous to a pupil, unless alternated
With something not quite so hack.
1eyed. To make ones tuition inter-