The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-02
GOOD GOLF PRACTICE
MEANS BAD GOLF LATER
AT Least Many Golfers Find 1t to Be the Case and Are
Wary of Record Breaking Before Journeys
Fear Seems Well Grounded.

.sachusetts open champion That X was
not partly due to the fact that he had
done some scheming in his preliminary
rounds. l know that Brady has always
eased UP in his practice play before many
OF the other big tournaments In which
he has been a contestant and 1t has. i
think, helped.
The answer. secret. or whatever II is'
therefore, may find one solution In the
Intentional lack OF concentration whicn
Will bring about a shot OF uneven worth
but because of the previous knowledge
OF the player of his evident purpose will
not work a lasting harm. on such days
Is the lime to experiment with certain
shots, to be sure and be up TO the hole
with the possibility of being well over.
The golfer can feel his top form but
he can preserve II II he will.
II sounds queer, a bit foolish, perhaps.
to speak Of the intentional miss. But
Is II? Every one will admit that so
far we have found no stated or effica-
cious remedy for a golfer which Will
keep him at the top of his game physi-
cal inability. mental and eye strain and
all the rest OF IL combine to make all
odds in favor of a letup every few days.
II may be impossible to prevent the
letup. but the time Of letup may be
better determined than 1t has been. Con-
tlnuous play oils up the Joints. planning
the shots surefes the Judgment. and a
golfer OF class becomes at lines a well
regulated piece of golfng machinery.
Those whose joints get rusty or too
loose never win championship titles. Only
the men and women who are keyed up TO
the play at the right lime come through.
! know OF several players who. l feel
reasonably sure. would have done ex-
ceptionally well in amateur champion
ships IL they had not played a numbe
of rounds before the regular event where
a sum OF money was laid on the outcome
OF the matches and the efforts made
used up all the reserve strength OF play
and brought them on to their game a bit
sooner than was best. In his connec-
ton I thlnk hat the four ball matches
which are played before the champion
ship proper are very likely the un-
realized means by which most OF this
tension and chance for too good golf
has been eliminated. The tendency OF
not holing out in many cases and the
approximations which one knows are al
ways liberal help in this direction.
Match play for a week. as is tho case
In the amateur. does not come especially
under our topic II Is the three day tour
naments and the one and two day medal
play meetings which call for deep mink
iHe ~ Wv az
car benefit more perhaps h a the
amateur. Several Of the professionals In
the field at B~altusroi went on record AS
saying that they would much prefer to
play on the first day and have a rest o!
a day provided they were playing very
we'll. cut a few who had been teachins
for the most part and had few
rounds wished to have another practice
round on the Tuesday and play on the
Wednesday keyed up TO real necessity
In this way they expected TO get to the
top OF their game.
There Is a difference between playint
too much golf and too good golf. Il
would not be said truly OF Nichols tina
he had played too much golf, for he hac
golfed no more than a hundred others II
the tournament he simply played super
finely al the wrong time.
j. H.. Taylor tells US that We play bes'
when we LAY the vacant mind, which
means, however. when we are not wor.
ried by anything. II. therefore, on,
hnds himself before the proper tim,
playing with undue precision. particu
larly when medal play Is the feature. h,
should study his game. his mental at
titude toward II and experiment ever,
now and then in the course OF "A round
foregoing the glow which might com,
from an especially brilliant round. Prac
tlce rounds are never mentioned wher
the real ana Is on. Try variations OF
your shots when the mood Is on for {
killing round. This might we'll AXE IN,
form of a resolution which when car
rled out would send the ball past tn,
hole on both the approach and the putt
That seldom happens, YOU NOW