The Washington herald., 1921-09-18

came to me with this remark:
II can't understand what Ia the
matter with my game. seem to
be getting worse and worse. 1 had
an important match yesterday with
a man I was anxious to beat. /
never worked harder to get ready
or played more golf before the
match, and I can't remember when
was ever worse"
How much golf did you play be-
fore the match?" / asked.
WELL" he said, Il played thirty
six holes three days In succession
and practiced little on the side"
And yet, accustomed to playing
only once Or twice a week, he won.
dered. after three ss-hole rounds in
succession, why his game was
ragged and he had no touch.
When he spoke OF this I imme-
diately thought Of Harry vardon,
J. H. Taylor and James Braid even
in their younger days before an
open championship.
You might find them strolling
around the course for exercise, but
for two days before you couldn't
get one of these to touch a club.
They knew the value of starting
a tournament, of facing a hard
match, when one was keen for the
game, whereas the man who played
those three 36-hole rounds started
footsore and muscle sore, stale and
nervous, and in no condition to
handle his usual game.
The Amateur Championshfp.
The amateur championship starts
this week at st. Louis over the
Country Club course.
In this championship there will
be a number of very fine players
who will be worn out by the sec
ond round, men who have already
reached the edge of going stale by
too much play.
Some of them have been playing
two rounds over the course for sew
eral days and their keenness has
already begun to slip.
/ remember, back in 1915, when
the championship was held at De-
troit. The course that year was
very long. Many crack golfers who
had been playing steadily all sum-
mer came there a week ahead for
thirty holes a day. But there were
two men who had been playing
much less than most of the others
They were Robert Gardner and
John Anderson.
Both were fresh and keen for
play when they came, and later on
when the others were sagging
these two were just hitting their
stride. And they were the two
who reached the final round.
The best way to train for a
championship or a big tournament
of any sort is to play all the golt
you can, in a reasonable way. for
ten days or two weeks ahead. Then
rest for day or two, have another
workout. another rest and ther
play only one round during tho
two days preceding the tournament
play.
Keenncss for the game is neces.
sary for good golf. especially wher
you have several days of steady
play in front of you. And yet
| should say that when a tourna
ment starts eight out of every ter
golfers are badly overplayed.
The Winning system.
played just one round of goll
| over the Columbia course before
fvfn
round.
Last year at the Engineers many
were predicting trouble for Chick
Evans because he was so late in
arriving. Chick" got there just in
time for one practice round. But
Chick" was smart enough to know
that he would need all the
strength and keenness for the hard
weeks grind, and he was not work
ing himself out in advance.
/ believe that was one trouble
with the American team in the
British amateur championship al
Hoylake Thye were on the
ground nearly two weeks ahead OF
time. Most of them played only one
round day, but that one daily
round over the same course. with a
gallery following every stroke was
enough to take away their sting
when 1t was needed later on. They
were at the top for the interna-
uonal matches on Saturday, but
starting down hill by Monday and
all fading by. Tuesday or wednes-
day.
When the others were playing in
tournaments or hard matches be-
fore the last British open, Sandy
Herd was laying off almost COM
pletely. He was getting keen for
the big test, and the result was
that at So he was tied for the lead
at the end Of the third round.
For the Duffer ms Wen.
This article is not intended alone
for the championship golfer or the
tournament player. 1t is intended
for the duffer as well.
Golf is a game where it is very
easy for one to go stale. 1t is far
more of mental staleness than a
physical staleness. 1t is a game
thar you take home with you after
the round-where you feel like tell
ing the world what happened after a
a good round-and where you feel
down in the depths after a poor
one.
1t is game that sticks with you