Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-13

T EAVING aside the matter of purely
course, essential to success, there is still
world of argument abroad as to just
what the second-best essential is.
Should II be classed as nerve--lack of
nerves-lacS of magination.-muscular
control--or what? 1t is well-estabished
fact that many golfers who are superior
shotmaters are not nearly as successful
in hard tournament play as others who.
in addition to physical skill have this
other ingredient.
Ned Sawyer's View
Ned Sawyer is one of the best golfers
in America and one of the closest stu
dents OF the game. In regard to this
matter Of golf psychology. or whatever
you may care to call it, Ned writes us to
this effect:
THE various psychological aspects sur
rounding championship contests and the
possible effects OF these on results make
1t almost obligatory to take the psyche
logical feature into consideration in estab-
fishing relative merits of certain players.
But does not a man become more promi-
nentiy of championship calibre when,
through the control Of his mental attitude,
he throws off the psychological effects
which border on the superstitlous and en-
deavors to attain success through sound.
consistent golf built on the foundation
of determination?
I'm my opinion, there are several req
uisites to the winning of q champion
ship, principal among these being ones
confidence in his ability to execute shots,
perfect concentration as the result of
nerve control and persistent determination
to get there. Were this combination to
attain it's most ideal condition it would
positively prohibit psychological effects"
Great Shot Players
Superior shot players" continues Mr.
Sawyer, Frequently fail in the combina
tion through lack of the proper determina-
tion-the kind that would move heaven
and earth to wn-and which would give
them the perfect concentration SO abso-
lutely necessary to properly use their
knowledge of the shot Here "the cure
lies within the man"
Unquestionably in many, many cases
the thought of failure has put fear into
the heart, and has thereby affected the
LAY. No thought of even possible fail.
ure should enter the golfers mind, for
surely nothing succeeds like success"
while, to the contrary, nothing fails like
failure" Trav9rs, perhaps, more nearly
approaches the ideal combination than
any other amateur we have at the present
time, Through his tenacity and deter
which necessarily give him con-
centration and nerve control, with his
natural ability TO play the shots, comes
most of his success"
Ouimet and Gardner
"Oulmet is also blessed with these de-
sirable characteristics, and while his de-
termination is perhaps not quite so APP
parent, his singleness of purpose is well
demonstrated on the golf course through
his complete indifference to any outside
influences.
Robert Gardner also has the COM
bnation of golf ability and temperament
supplemented by marvellous physique
which stand him we'll in hand through
out the mental and physical strain of a
week, and while his COM
mand of shots may not be quite as good
as one or two others, this slight deficiency
is more than overcome by his never say
die temperament and the consistency to
back this TO finish"
Ned Sawyer hit upon a most impor-
tant word in connection with successful
golf when he hit upon determination -
II some one could coin a word that ex-
pressed both determination and ma
tience" he would about have the proper
description of the right golf tempera-
ment' Iheie are number OF golfers
vino are determined enough, but whose
play is warped by impatience when re-
suits fail TO come. There are others
who are patient enough. but who have
no great determination to keep them
selves going
No golfer should look ahead for fail.
ure. but, on the other hand. he must
know from experience that all shots are