| The first secret of golf betterment is an emotional | | | | better way. |
| one. You must have or develop the desire to | | | | In addition, it is an excellent idea to obtain all the |
| improve. The strength of this "want" will determine | | | | visual instruction one can. This can come from a |
| one's persistence, and persistence is the secret of | | | | study of still pictures, or films, or from observing |
| success | | | | professional golfers, particularly when they are |
| The desire to improve should be strengthened by | | | | practicing. Written instruction from golf books and |
| being based upon strong needs. Great interest can | | | | magazines is also valuable, provided it is followed by |
| thus be generated. Great interests produce other | | | | the objective observation of your professional. |
| interests, which in turn produce others, like the | | | | Otherwise, a misconception of what the author |
| branches, twigs, and leaves of a tree. | | | | intended will bring about confusion in your golf |
| Ed Furgol, Bobby Cruickshank and others took up golf | | | | learning. It has taken golf 500 years to develop the |
| originally for reasons of health, and they can give | | | | modern grip, stance, and swing. It is the height of |
| testimony to the additional stimulus given to the | | | | folly not to take advantage of these discoveries. |
| development of interest when it grows out of real | | | | In the early stages of lesson taking, it is advisable to |
| needs. | | | | spread the instruction time over many parts of the |
| For those who have the highest ambitions, the | | | | game. If, for instance, you had the good fortune to |
| undiscouraged young, the want to improve must be | | | | be able to take a series of lessons from someone of |
| long-lasting. It cannot be discouraged by either minor | | | | the caliber of Arnold Palmer, it would be best to |
| or great defeat. It must be strong enough to endure | | | | obtain instruction in all broad aspects of the game, |
| much sacrifice. It must be concentrated. It cannot | | | | such as might be obtained from a playing lesson. |
| concern itself with the desire to achieve greatness in | | | | Generally speaking, it has been found that learning is |
| a variety of games. It must concern itself with the | | | | tied together much better if one goes through the |
| development of a passion for correct practice. | | | | whole process than if he learns it piece by piece. This |
| Nothing will be lost because of great effort, for | | | | should be followed up with considerable practice |
| ultimately the final reward is suitably large, and the | | | | before the next lesson. By "considerable", we would |
| effort itself produces many pleasures along the way. | | | | mean at least a thousand shots each for woods, |
| You Must Capitalize on Past Experience | | | | irons, chips, and putts. |
| A great deal of time can he saved if we absorb | | | | Why Practice is a Necessity |
| what is already 'pretty well known about the game. | | | | The greatest pleasure in golf comes from continuous |
| Each generation of golfers is better than the | | | | improvement. This can only come about through |
| preceding one because use is made of the | | | | correct practice. For those who aspire to creditable |
| experiences of those who have come before us. | | | | play, practice is doubly necessary. "Creditable play" |
| Hence the individual can speed up his mastery of the | | | | implies a competitive element, in that one's ability |
| game by sticking close to present orthodox form. | | | | becomes "creditable" if it is more skillful than that of |
| A description of this form is the stock in trade of the | | | | others. Other things being equal, the practicer has the |
| professionals, and should be acquired from them. It is | | | | advantage. |
| true that there are good golfers who profess never | | | | We now have "practicers" in great profusion. Golf |
| to have taken a lesson, but most of these have | | | | achievement at the highest level is virtually impossible |
| been good imitators. | | | | without it. It is a necessity at the amateur level even |
| This does not mean that many lessons should be | | | | if one's ambitions are relatively modest. |
| taken ad infinitum. Fewer lessons, spaced so that | | | | With the right attitude and plenty of practice, your |
| ample time is allowed for the learning to sink in, is the | | | | game cannot help but improve. |