The Washington times., 1916-07-23
Four Out Of Five Players Have
Adopted Game Quite Late In
Life.
BY HARRY VARDON.

1t Is not too much to say that four
out Of every Ave present-day golf en-
thusiasts took UP the game compare
lively late In life, when long period OF
assiduous attention to business had
earned for them a little leisure or over
work had necessitated II.
They realize from the frequency or
their foozling that there IL only one
golden age for beginning. II Is the age
OF early youth. mat, no doubt. Is why
many parents who appreciate the enor-
nous value of the pastime as health
sustaining influence like their sons ana
daughters to learn its rudiments in the
intervals between college terms when
they have no opportunity OF practising
It at school. Every year / receive moro
and more requests for advice as to the
best way to train the young idea In the
game; whether to let the boy or girl
60 out and play in the way that comes
naturally or proceed upon the basis OF
q course OF lessops.
The latter Is undoubtedly necessary In
the case OF q person who starts to play
when youth Is but a memory, and the
older he Ia when he becomes q convert,
the greater Is the need for instruction
by both precept and example. Hut
where a youngster Is concerned 1 would
not give a lot In the way of special di-
rections.
Are Born to Initiate.
Tne average boy-and girl. tools
! usually q born imitator. II you take
him out and show him q good golfer
and tell him to hold the club and swing
It In the same way as the model. ne
| will usually copy the style with won
| derful faithfuiness. II may be as well
for the professional to watch him occa-
sionally. and. II he develops a kink In
the swing. put him right by means Of
one piece Of advice on a certain point,
but I would never give boy an hour
| or even half an hours lesson at the
game. lie Is usually very hard to teach
In this way; perhaps II reminds him too
alone to watch first-class players and
copy them: his faculty for mimicry Is
generally very pronounced. Inc reason
! suppose, that 80 many youthfuI Gao
dies swing SO we'll II that they initiate
| the styles OF the professionals OF the
clubs at which they carry.
The most enthusiastic golfing father
Is hardly justified In asking his son
outdoor recreation. Personally I was
very fond of cricket. football. and
track athletics In my younger days
and I do not wnow that they inter-
fered with my progress asa golfer
At the same time 1t II well worth
' while to give the boy the chance, OF
, learning how to swing the club, be.
cause he will master the art with far
greater ease than In his later years
and Will never forget It. Be II re-
membered that, for a man who has
to work at high pressure, as the ma
Jority OF people do nowadays, golf IL
the finest recreation that the world
nervous breakdown and q cure for thai
dread ailment. there Is nothing like the
pastime OF getting a ball into q hole
with implements singularly ill-adaptet
to the purpose" as q professor once
described the game,
Two Rounds Enough.
It's influence as a dispelIer Of thoughts
of work and indisposition Is megical
I have heard not q dozen, but Nterall,
hundreds Of people. say that they neve,
knew what 1t was to feel really wei
until they took up golf. II Is impos
sible to think Of anything except tn,
task in hand when one Is engaged II
round Of the course. and that surel!
Is n heavenly dispensation for o MAJ
who. obsessed with business response
bilities, is apt to get mopish and mood!
titled to take. Such an individual j
well advised to make II a rule to devot
half a day In the middle OF the weel
: and at least one day at the week-en,
! to golf. 1t will do him more good thai
all the physic imaginable. I would no
recommend him to crowd into the al
lotted period every bit OF golf that !