Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-17

University or Penn
sylvania, on the links gather that
championships and other big competi-
tions in the States are being approached
with greater zest than ever These are
| events in which every entrant has made
UP his mind to omit no precautlon that
may contribute to success, and 1t is worth
while considering how best one may ac-
quire a perfect condition of fitness for
an important occasion.
For a young man, l do not think that
any form of rigorous training such as he
might adopt for boxing or running, Is
necessary. Be 1t remembered that for golf
we want not muscles that are as hard as
whipcord and extensively developed; we
need muscles that are In a state of what
1 might call healthy fexiblllty. Golf IT.
self is as good means as any of pro-
noting that condition; the walking and
the swinging constitute just the right kind
of bodily exercise The man who is
strong in the sense that he can lift enor-
nous weights or fell an OK with a blow
of his mighty fist is not likely ever to be
much of a golfer; his muscles are bound
to be SO large and powerful that they
would render 1t impossible for him to
swing a club with that easy-fiowing mo-
tion that produces accurate timing.
For that reason, I am sure that dumb
bell and similar exercises, which some
players practice, are bad rather than
helpful in n golhng connection know a
sculptor who dearly wants to acquire
moderate measure of proficiency on the
links, but who will never be able to
WELD a club properly for the reason that
constant work in his studio has developed
the muscles of his right arm so greatly
that he cannot even manage a half
swing with complete comfort. That is
an example OF my meaning.
ts
tageous, especially when one is getting
on in life and the system Is moro suscep-
tiele to nervous and physical strains than
In youth. l confess that 10 or 20 years
ago land / could hit ball then with
absolute confidence as to where 1t would
hnish) never bothered much as to what
/ ate, but in recent times l think that a
very light diet-consisting chiefly of fish,
chicken, pheasant and grapefruit. with a
little white wine as the thirst quencher-
has assisted me to maintain such form
as l have shown, At any rate, I dieted
In this manner for some time prior to
the British open championships of 1911
and last year, and managed to win on
each occasion.
In the first instance. I even gave up
my pipe for a month before the contest;
that was the greatest struggle of all.
On the whole. however, 1 do not know
that smoking is bad for golf; the very
deliberateness OF the game and the ten
sion which one suffers while walking for
ward to execute the next shot In a criti-
cal situation constitute a severe test OF
the nerves, and nicotine Is very soothing.
have often enYied Ray when watching
him making his way round the links
puning plaeidly at his pipe, and / smoked
most OF the time that was playing dur
ing my last tour in the United States
except In the championship at Brookline,
Mass. And 1t ID an interesting commen-
2
faulty shots at Brooklins than anywhere
else.
So far as practice Is concerned my own
experience eonYinees me that when one
has an important event IN view 1t Is no
use waiting. hopefully and trustngly un-
I'll one arrives at the scene of action be-
fore setting seriously to work to remedy
any little defects that may be apparent
There Is q temptation to believe that ths
change ana an inspiration born OF the