The Topeka state journal., 1922-05-20


What is a golf complex? What Is
| the Freudian explanation of the fraiI-
ties and failings of a golfer?
Sure there is an explanation-a.
course as well. as in every other rhu-
man activity.
Why does a good player who ordi-
narily could tee his ball on his watch
the watch, suddenly find that every
time he tries to drive he grounds his
club and spoils his shot? Surely
there must be some reason. Is It that
such a man is trying to raise a gar
den at home and that when he at
tempts to drive his subconscious Enind
is thinking of the garden and makes
him dig into the dirt, with his club
instead of hitting the ball cleanly?
Or. take the man who in business
and social life has perfect control over
himself man who never bobbles.
never loses his temper or his -fTead--
man of iron nerve. Why is it thar
such man on the golf course often
will throw away his club when he has
dubbed" a shot? YesS this is an
easy one for Freud. Such a man is
in his relaxed state Of recreation Civ
ing way TO the suppressed desire that
often comes to him in his every day
affairs
There is the mai who play a steady
game without a gallery. Give him two
spectators at the first tee and he will
fear of being watched, being observed
in action. Why is a man afraid OF
being observed in action? Wen, ask
Freud. Or maybe HaverIock Ellis
could tell you
And there is the man whose game
goes to pieces when a woman whom
he knows appears near him on the
same course. That's an easy one too.
But how about the man who plays
a rotten game in a mixed foursonnS /
with and fhau
mixed foursome with his own wife be
is a shining star?
And there is the man who slices
for a spell and is unable to correct
the evil no matter what he does. MAY
be his wife makes him slice potatoes
when he gets home early for dinner.
Or perhaps he has forgotten to trim
the corn on the little toe of his right
foot and 1t is paining him; thus sub
consciously he hits the ball in such =
way that 1t curves to the right
There is the man who is too weak in
his putting. Take IT from the best OF
psychoanalists such a man would
never be anything but a hand-kissing
BON Juan.
There is the man who goes to pieces
when his opponent talks when he
shoots. Such a man might say his
prayers to God devoutly in the secfu-
sion of his own room. but you can bet
he goes to church for business or
social reasons.
And then there is the old tough
hide who never plays his best game
unless the breaks go againt him. or
his opponent tries to get HIS goat
You can bet such n man never went
broke looking for aces.
A well known Topeka player started
out the present e ason in great way.
1t looked like his best year. About
the time he began playing e also be-
gan to grow a mustache One Of his
! friends suggested that the mustachs
would keep him looking in the rough
most Of the time. And the power OF
suggestion is working on him SO
strongly ne mas confessed to his wife
that he will have to give up the mus
tache or golf.
Oh, yes. there Is a motif. or motive
| behind every sin committed on . golf
course. 1t is not impossible that the
man who delibei ateIy cheats IN Civ
! ing his score is satisfying a suppressed
! desire TO cheat in the more important
things of life. Perhaps he is the soul
| of honor in his business life So
judge not. But. remember you win be
judged just the same-