The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-05-18

play any of the more strenuous ga
Il am a duffer myself. Perhaps
I am the worlds worst golfer, but
/ get a lot of benefit and pleasurs
in fooling around on a golf course
take a man like old John ID.
Rockefeller, as an instance. There
are lot of men like him.
Rockefeller, or any other man
advanced in years, can play just
as hard or just as easy as his con-
dition permits. He can play nine
holes or eighteen holes or one hole.
He can play and not even get up
a, perspiration Or he can hit them
hard, for him, and get up a healthy
sweat. Golf is a perfect form OF
exercise"
Out on the links the other day
a golfer said to me, after q par
ticularIy good round:
isn't it remarkable what a
difference in your peace Of mind
and happiness a few good shots
at golf can mlake?"
And it is remarkable when you
come to think of it--that hap.
piness can hinge on such small
If has probably been the ambi-
ton of every golfer of any degree
of enthusiasm to own private
golf course of his own.
It is a sort of last word in lux
ury. the final gesture of wealth
But what do you think of man
who owns such a course-a nine
hole one-for three years and yet
has played only three rounds on 1t!
And even the three rounds were
in the nature of a compulsion.
Shades of Colonel Bogey and Cen
eral Parl Such neglect of ones
opportunity is golfing sacrilege.
on a certain perfect golfing day
iourneyed out to this privately
owned course-and found the ow1-
er moving his spacious back lawn!
Charlie Erbstein still mows his
hack lawn on his 'day of"
His boy is away at military school
preparing for a future at West
Point. Neither of his daughters
plays golf. And Mrs. Erbstein
would rather be hostess to their
innumerable friends.
Here's private" golf course
for some one almost for the ask
ing.
A dollar a day gives you all the
thrills of the millionaire golfer.
Playing with a professional IN
the rain day or so ago, asked
! him:
why Is it that rain bothers the
average golfer so much and hardly
seems to affect the play of a good
professional or a first class anna
teur?''
We'll" he answered, rain and
bad weather, wind and cold and
water soaked grounds all affect
somewhat the play of even the best
of golfers. It is harder to play un.
der such conditions no matter how
great master you may be of your
stroke.
But the average golfer hasn't
had much experience in playing
under adverse conditions. Most Of
them don't go out except when
the conditions are ideal. Compare
lively few Of them play in rain
or cold weather.
Take the matter of wind, with
which the average golfer has more
experience. The professional or the
good amateur has several kinds of
strokes at his disposal.
He can play a low-flying. far
travelling, long-rolling ball into a
stiff breeze and get almost as much
distance as on a still day. But the
average golfer knows only one shot
for all kinds of weather.
Then the average golfer Is trou-
bled mentally by bad weather con-
ditions. They become a mental
hazard. With the first-class play
ers bad weather means a little
more concentration, a little extra
effort to make the shot intelligent
and effective. In short, the good
player is able to play his game
in all. circumstances; the poor golfer
can play it only under ideal condi-
tons"