Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-12
NERVE AND CONTROL OF NERVE
THE SECRET OF STEADY GOLF
Players With Raw Courage to Charge a
Lions Den Haven't Control to Make
Three-foot Putt in Tight Match.

! if ne had been off by himself playing a
few practice shots.
1t isn't for every man to have or to
develop the Travis or the Ouimet tenn
permanent. but he can at least greatly
improve his own by mengal application.
! By schooling his mind or brain just as
ne schools his hands and arms and
feet. And he must keep at it until ii is
fixed through force of habit. Just as the
St2nce and the grip are fixed.
Thinking about it once in a while
, won't do any good. He must keep at it
until control is fairly well established,
tina how much steadier his game is
growing, and how much strain is lifted
from him through a round.
Ouimet has cultivated the system of
entering each hard match with the idea
uppcrmost that he will take the game
as it comes. ~ believe" he SAYS chat
II is bad policy to start a hard match
100 optimist;c--too confident in your
success. For then ii the tide turns
against you. if you meet unexpected
opposition, YOU arc much more likely to
start Wort wing. Lack. OF confidence is.
of course. fatal. The thing 20 do is not
possible, but to play each shot as it
comes"
Game of Repressed Energy.
Golf is an entirely different game from
base bali, foot ball, or tennis. These are
all contests q constant action where
nervous energy can aelp drive the PLAYER
forward aEI keep hin al Top speed.
But %olf IS . game Of repressed energy
AID mat in the main is the answer to
the question as to Why :; player feeling
unit, often does unexpectedly well, and
on the next day. pr;rneG Ior fine
round, does very poorly.
On the first occasion his energy is
dormant. His nerves. tired down, are
at rest. There are no j-naping, am
bilious nerves to repress lie doesn't
looIS UP as badly. for he doesn't care
enough where the shot goes. The re-
suit is relaxation and an easy, natural
attitude, for, not caring or feeling in
the mood to care, the player isn't
working under any stra IN.
But il lie goes out expecting to play
Well, feeling tit Tor it, the odds are
and will soor get the best of the bat
tie. causing him to look up from the.
bail frequently through overeagerness
to follow the result Of the shot.
\ player takes one stance and one
grip for cacn club as he starts his
round. and he must practice the knacI.
OF taking, as far as possible. one mem
tal attitude-the attitude OF ease ara
control, Of concentration upon the
work ahead
Most troubles in golf. after one has
developed the main principles of a
natural swing, are mental, rot phys:-
cal
These mental troubles come in vari-
Gus ways. Golfers very often on their
home courses have holes that furnish
them any amount of trouble, holes not
particularly hard. perhaps. but that are
associated with missed shots, until they
get on the golfers nerves.
TfoG5ie OF this sort is al mental
The golfer. remembering that he has
played the hole badly on the round be-
fore, becomes OEeranxious is too
careful, and either Jerks his head up
or presses his shot. When he has play
ed hole badly two or three times in
succession he makes up his mind the
hole is hoodoo proposition. aad so
begins TO worry about it from the