Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-16
OVERLOOKING NEVER ATTACKS
PROFESSIONALS LIKE AMATEURS
Affection Is One That Money Makers Usu-
ally Are Able to Avoid, But Which
Attacks the Others Frequently.

The recent four-ball exhibition match
between four prominent amateurs at
Hackensack in which 1t was claimed
that the poor showing of one was due
to overgolffng. brings up the question
as to the proper amount of play which
is necessary for golfer if he will find
himself at his top notch in his most
important matches. writes John Ander-
son in the New York Sun. 1t is ques-
ton which has been touched upon at
random by various writers from time
to time but the difference of tempera-
ment of the various golfers. as well as
the difference in strength and environ
ment. make it almost impossible
task to treat correctly.
To say that one is overgolfed may
have two meanings, to my way of
thinking It may be that the playing
of the different shots day after day and
week after week, particularly II sue
cess has crowned the efforts OF the
player. becomes such a matter of rou-
tine that the pleasure of the play is
taken out of the game, which inevita bly,
suffers. Few people indeed there are
who are poor players or even medium
in golfing caliber who would admit to
being overgolfed; this condition is in
variably attributed to a crack golfer.
when, after a series of victories, he
finds himself unable to compete with
brilliance
Then there is the golfer who cannot
deliver the shots which brought him
former trophies. because of physical
inability. After a trying series OF
matches when the golfer is keyed up
to nervous tension and the muscles
are made to respond freely there comes
the relaxation due to physical and
mental momentary weakness. and II Is
that vNa'c
game will suffer. Yet there are many
golfers we know who, when they are
on the crest of their play. do not
realize that from that point they must
standard of play. More often than not
they believe they are on crest of the
goffing wave which will carry them to
further victories and more brilliant
scores.
Better to Be Coming Forward.
1t is true. and always has been, here.
abroad and everywhere. that the golfer
who is coming to his game with a
three, four five day match contest
ahead of him. stands far better
chance of winning than the golfer who
is at the zenith of his power in the
qualifying stage. Very few titles
have been won in the various cham
pionships by the winner of the low
gross score.
What are the symptoms which de-
yelop when a player gets near that
stage which is reckoned as overgolfed?
One surely is the interest which the
golfer takes in the game. One who is
overgolfed cannot have the same zest
or get the same pleasure out of
round over the links one who has
not played so frequently. More often
than not when a golfers game begins
to lag 1t is because a too severe strain
has been put upon his eyes. Particu-
larry Is it true that a golfer gets in
this "overdone state when he has
taken part in a series of tournaments
and has had his mettle tested severely
] speak of this because it is some
times brought up that professionals do
not get overgolfed. although they may
play day after day.
There are a number of reasons for
this. / might say at the start how
ever. that one reason why profession
ais do not get overgolfed. as do the
overgolfed amateurs. is because they