The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-03
Anderson Tells Of His Expert
ence With Others Ill In
a Hospital.
ALL SEEK SUGGESTIONS
NJ JOHN q. ANDERSON.

After the FIRST few hours II seemed
that there were no topics left on which
there might be even good natured dis.
cussion. The war news naturally
pleased everybody; all happened to be
Republicans and there was no chance
Of a two sided debate on the Presidents
political letter and Mr.. Roosevelt's
lengthy reply. For two days only cas-.
ual pleasantries were INDUCED in. un.
J I'll one bright afternoon the tall, light
haired athletic looking victim in the
corner called rather impatiently to the
doctors ''When. doctor. when do I get
out to the lnks?'
That statement was sufficient At once
bobbed my head up from the coverlet
but only just in time TO see that four
others had shifted their positions as II
their future pleasure too depended upon
the answer, while upon each face was
q recognition of tho fact that hero was
a common ground for conversation which
would never run dry.
30 indeed 1t proved. When the doctor
left there was immediate conversation
Where do you play7 What is your hand.
icapr Who holds the record of the
course? How many golfers are there
In the club? What are the dues? It's
great game, isn't It? These were
some of the queries tossed back and
forth. From then on the lawyer, the
manufacturer. the civil engineer and the
member of the War Indus, les Board
mentally trod the hills and Wales OF
golflng endeavor.
Rarely have enjoyed listening TO
more interesting opinions on the game
for they came from men who loved the
game. acknowledged their physical weak.
neEses In Its pursuit. confessed freely to
an INABILITY to get around a moderately
easy nine hole course under the century
mark.
The Uppermost Question.
It was evident from the conversation
that the desire to play even ono or two
strokes better was uppermost in the
minds OF them all How may I become
a better player? The last professional
had filled me so full of theory that
have never hit a brassie shot for two
months Am I in the hopeless class be-
cause didn't start the game until
was IS? Has this game secret which
If found opens up the fountain OF golfing
youth? Can count some day on going
round in a ninety-ive? What makes
my putt from feet go feet past the
hole? Must I forever be thinking of
hitting with either the right or the left
hand, wrist. arm or shoulder
These and a score OF other questions
opened up the field for talk which began
soon after the breakfast was eaten and
lasted Off and on til the shores OF the
early sleepers proved too noisy a bunker.
Now. II is not in our province TO at
tempt to answer all the questions put
forth accepting them as absolutely stand
ard for all men, but l mention a few
queries to show that when a man is laid
fiat on his back his mind more often
turns 20 his favorite sport rather than
to his business and the particulars OF his
ideas and feelings run to the possibilities
of improving in that particular branch,
anad more especially II 1t is golf
There was at this session of ours but
little talk OF Dues of course. or MEM
berships, or records. after the first trivial
openings. but rather a wondering as to
the class in which man should be at a
given age, and If below that how one
might acquire the needed additional skill
Which sets one thinking of the count.
less number OF golfers who are probably
in the same plight, undoubtedly are
responsive, and perhaps just little anX-
ious about their game and its pcssib!li.
ties. If We can help them the pleasure
is great; II We fall In our attempt il
will not be because we were not keen to
try. We offer first a short series of sug.
gestons.
FACTOR.
/. Most OF the great golfers of this
country and Great Britain. particularly
the latter. including Braid, Taylor, Var
don, Sherlock Duncan, Travis. Trayers.
Hilton, Hutchinson and Fulford. who
have put into books their personal
thoughts on the matter. even though
they may differ widely on many points,
agree with one accord that practice IL
the one secret for golhng Improvement
and success, And yet In spite OF the ad :
vice from the best players and thinkers
not one golfer in 10000. although all
are anxious to Improve, accepts the eau
ton and advice
There is no telling IL they ever will,
80 that we must perforce arrive at the
conclusion that most golfers are trying
TO prove themselves the exception to the
general rule, striving TO attain excellence
by some short cut method usually OF
home manufacture, unwilling through
practical, practice means. To that per-
son who Will write a book entitled How
Ia Excel at Golf Without Practice" will
be returned n fortune. for the adherents
Of that faith are beyond number
,. 1t Is many times easier for a man
TO reduce his daily or weekly round
from l20 to 100 than for the &c man to
leverage a u, The possibilities looking
toward a partial perfection narrow an
probably when the golfer goes below rs.
but they are wide open ones score
is over 100.
g. The low handicap man keeps his
low handicap because he keeps careful,
The high handicap golfer continues TO
mako high scores because he loses con-
centration. The last nine holes OF golf
ers with high handicaps are usually
higher than the first nine. while the
reverse is generally true Of the better
player,
4. Since scores rather than form please
the ninety and nine II follows that sue
cess can be achieved II the golfer vii,
decide on carefulness, which is really
concentration. even II no real practice is
INDUCED in I have yet to see n high
handicap man playing worse golf than
usual when he played with much better
players. More often than not he I'm
proved several strokes, and 1t was due
to the fact that he took greater pains
with his strokes and the result showed
Immediately. That is the only advice
which TO my mind ssems OF value to those
golfers who have not the inclination 10
put in an hour each day or week Just
practising, Be careful and don't get
discouraged in the first two or three
rounds