The Washington times., 1916-07-09

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they call for the existence of two wholly
different frames Of mind. The type Of
individuality that would succeed. in a
match might-and often does-fail In
| stroke round. Let US endeavor to dag
nose those two mental conditions. and
see how we can learn to bring each
into operation at the proper time. 1t 10
q matter Of training the Temperance
and that can be done In all save cases
Of exceptionally impulsive people.
Many members OF what are known az
the old school Of golfers condemn stroke
competitions as being soulless institu-
lions that breed a spirit which ought to
be foreign to the game-a spirit of eau
ton. Personally. 1 think that they af-
for the finest education that any golfer
could obtain because they teach him to
use his head. He might never learn to
do that II he played practically nothing
but matches: in all probability. he would
continue till the end of his days at
tempting downright foolhardy things
when little Of the sense Of proportion
which he acquires IN stroke ruLiids wound
be invaluable as q guide In tactics. BY
Ro a. Sa. am never IN s OF Hso
the front rank. but this sense OF pro-
portion 10 as much a necessity as the
ability to swing the club properly. and
nothing develops It with greater GER
But there are right and wrong ways
of playing a medal round. The most
common feature Of the wrong way 10
as we'll tear up ones card. That is the
match-play spirit run riot: II Is like
giving up hole Immediately on foozl-
ing tee shot. EverypouS KNOWS that
a
II could mention many instances where.
after a seemingly disastrous occurrence
in a stroke competition person has
gone on to triumph. Several such cpl
my own career. There was a thirty
six holes open stroke competition In
which all the leading professionals
competed at Musseiburgh about fifteen
the fact that in the first round, ! took
8 for the short fourth hole. Thatonade
my position look helpless, but events
showed that other people could lose
A rather curious thing happened in
the final Of the monthly medal compe-
titions at my home club. South Herts,
a short time ago. All the winners dur
ing the year were eligible to compete Tor
DeG nay . anS .ssy ssS me
either the morning or the afternoon Of
the appointed day They. were coupled
with non-compctitors. The majority
went out in the morning. and every one
not know this. and the afternoon men
did exactly the same except the last
player to finish. He. too. wanted to re-
tire but was persuaded by his partner
to continue scoring, with the result that
he won.
Has Felt Out of II.
In championships I have often felt
rather out of 1t after taking two or
three 6's in the FIRST round, but have
found myself well up with the leaders
Mt the end of the round, because others
had taken SIS elsewhere. Tho moral Is
tc remember that. however badly you
| may be doing, your rivals may De far
ing worse. IL you have registered about
four ss. there may be some 5ustificatio
for abapdoning hope. but. personally. !
believe in going on trying till the end
| of the round.
The ideal frame Of mind for the stroke
game Is one in which reasonable pru-
dence prevails until an opportunity pre-
sents itself OF gaining a stroke. when a
spirit of ambition and resolution takes
temporary command. Caution, pure and
simple. from start to finish will never
| do great deal Of good. but II Is impor-
| tant to give courage It's outlet at the
rein at the first hole unless / had an ex-
| traordinarlly fine chance of accomplish
ing the hole In stroke letter than the
par figure, but as the player warns to
the work, It is necessary every now and
again for him to take a risk SO long al
! II Is not a downright foolish one.
That is why I think medal play Is In
| every respect the best test Of the game.
Apart from the fact that the victory
hits the largest number OF correctly
played shots and that luck Is reduced
to a minimum. II affords a searching
test Of the golfers power Of judgment
In a match. his mind is, as often as not,
mades up for him by the doings Of his
opponent. II the rival has reached the
green with a long and difficult second
| shot. II Is little use thinking of playing
short after him. One may not fancy an
| attempt at the tour de force which he
has performed. but II has to be CHANGED
| In the stroke game, one has to weigh up
| the situation, and decide without any
promptings from outside sources-ex-
cept, perhaps, an unreliable caddie-
which is the best thing to try.
Endeavors to Win.
| Personally. I always endeavor to beat
my partner in medal rounds as ono
has to do to stand any chance at all
Of winning. but I do not allow his
shots to influence my way of playing
the holes. II he makes practically GER
tain OF 4 by virtue OF an exceptionally
fine brassie second. and I do not relish
a similar sort Of shot, 40 not essay
1t because experience has taught me
that. sooner or later. the positions will
be reversed. II you make duel of a
medal round. you are most likely to
play below form.
Sometimes II Is unavoidable, as in the
British open championship at Prestwick
two years ago, when. on the last day,
Taylor and | were coupled. Our POSI-
ions were such that each could not
avoid the belief that he had only 10
beat the other In order to win. and as
a result we bungled sundry shots which
In other circumstances. would have pre-
scented no trouble at all. always con-
slider that was very lucky to win that
championship. remembering the way In
which strokes were being FILTERED away
through the strong element of hand to.
hand struggling that entered into the
proceedings.
It was an indication of the conditions
that played ono shot without seeins
the ball at any stage Of the swing or
| even during the address. II was buried
| in the corner Of a bunker on the left
side Of the eleventh green. and although
the sand was scrBped away TO give me
view OF the top of the object. the soil
| was so fine and loose that II Immediate
ly closed over the ball again. I was
in such a highly strung state that I
could not walt Tor the sand to be re-
moved q second time. simply let fly.
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