The Washington times., 1921-09-04

understand psychology and are able
down the right lane on a short cut to
"A good game Is one thing. but the
nerve TO put 1t over under any and all
conditions Is another proposition, and
quite the most important OF the two.
Golfers work hard over their game
striving to perfect every shot in prac.
tice and then fail nniserably when the
supreme test comes. They hate. too.
to admit even TO themselves that II
was their nerve that failed instead Of
their game.
The sooner one realizes this. the
quicker viii come the cure. II has
been said that II is possible TO buy the
art Of making golf shots. but II Is not
possible TO buy any part of the mental
or nerve department. One must work
this out for himself. IL is impossible
TO tell a pupil how to win golf matches,
or TO play his best when the best As
needed. 1t Ii possible, however. to
make some suggestions which, IL
needed, viii be Of the greatest help TO
tournament players. +.
Exp9rience counts for lot in golf
more than in any other gene that
know of. There are certain things
| that can only be learned by good hard
beatings. and these do not hurt anyone
In the end. Find the golfer that hasn't
received a few humiliating defeats
often. at the hands OF weaker oppo.
nents. and you win find rare bird
indeed.
Two Systems.
There are two distinct ways Of play
| ing golf. One is the medal round.
where every stroke counts. and the
other is match play. where each hole
Is separate and distinct. In one you
are practically playing against your
self. or the field as whole. while In a
match you're fighting an opponent.
Both are difficult. The pros are
usually confronted with the mccall
test, while amateurs nearly always
with the exception OF quaiifying
rounds--play match. The latter oiters
! a man a chance TO let up occasionally.
when a hole Is actually lost, he II not
under the strain OF hoiing out, and
| this IA a relief, as he can then concen-
trate his efforts on the next hole with
out thought Of what has happened Al
the last one.
No PLAYER ever goes into a match
without giving his opponent some
thought. It Is only natural that
he should want to know whether he
is good or bad player. or whether
he has fine long game and poor
short game, or weak long game
ana a good short game.
But when you begin TO inquire
too deeply into your opponents skin
YOU are beginning to work yourseif
into a mental state that shouldn't
exist. The ideal way would be 10
accent your opposition as being
\ worthy OF you In every respect.
II you could turn a deaf ear to
III OF the praises or criticisms OF
him YOU are to meet you Will have
no surprised or disappointments.
Never hold any opponent too cheap
and never admit defeat beforehand
when facing a player Of superior
skrI In the latter case his reputa-
ton often beats you instead OF his
skill.
Golf is peculiar competitive
game. II IL quite possible for q
player not scoring any better than
ninety TO beat q player who has
made an eighty. This has happened
more than once.
II Is not a wise idea to let your
opponent lead you into making a
serious mistake, but he will do this
| II you attempt to, measure your
both the good and the bad oppon-
ents. In playing q weaker opponent
you will play little better II any
than he does, II you watch his game
| 90 closely. In playing a stronger
opponent he will undoubtedly lead
you into pressing II you attempt to
measure shots with him.
| Why Is It that golfer can stand
on practice tee and drive fifteen
or twenty very good balls and then
enter a match or medal round and
not hit one In three satisfactorily?
This has always been one OF the
mysterieslof the game to the duffer,
The answer is simple enough. When
practicing there IL nothing at stake
and the mind is at rest and the
body relaxed. In competition there ts
the strain that goes with the I'M
portance OF making the shots. The
player stiffens and his whole game
Is cramped.
Many a player can go through q
tournament playing his game and
winning every match until the final is
reached. Then the awful thought
creeps into his mind that he must play
carefully this time. because the goal
Is WITHIN sight. tournament players
have said that II takes a lot OF ex-
perience to win that last match. This
Is another form of the nerve test that
crops UP sometimes unexpectedly.
It is said that in every open cham.
pionship surprises come in low, scores
In the first and the last rounds, but
usually from players who have no
earthly chance OF winning the tourna-
ment. The reason Is obvious. There
Is no particular strain attached to
either one.
4 4 1t 90 happens that. many players
| get tournament In their grasp and
then lose out In the final round when
they begin TO play them safe" This
Is not wise procedure an a rule. II
is not wise TO hold back on your shots.
You win find many Of them In traps
and bunkers.
Golf Is not the only sport that pro-
vides nerve test. Many baseball
players can hit when there In no ono