GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 293, 3 May 1913, Page 7

GOLF.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. The New Plymouth Club's links are in yery good order. The grass in the fairway is very short, and the greens are "improving' as the result of the breaking up of the spell of line weather. The programme of matches will be drawn out next week. The following is the draw for the men's foursomes, to be played this afternoon:— Glasgow and Mcllardy play C. H. Burgess and Brown; S. Burgess and Coxhead play Steeds and Stow; Johns and Millar piay Paton and McClelland; A. Bewley and Dempsey play Bain and Moyes; Elliott and Gaudie play Ward and Honan; Hutchen and Seldon play Peterson and Bloxam; Bary and Button play Baily and Nicholson; W. Bewley and Anderson play Johnston and' Kibbell; Smith and Sinclair play McCord and Burton. A bus will leave the Fitzroy stand for the links at 1 o'clock, leaving again for the links at 5 o'clock.

Golf is an all absorbing game, so absorbing, indeed, that it, has added another complaint or disease to the numer--1 ous ills which flesh is heir to. A few "weeks ago this was demonstrated at ■ Guy's Hospital, London, when an amateur golfer was admitted to that institution suffering from a trouble which •has since been given the name of "golfer's neurosis." From being a "plus ' player the victim to the trouble suddenly lost his wonted accuracy in hitting the ball, and he found himself absolutely incapable of even swinging a club, although [' in other'respect's he was in perfect physical condition. Nerve specialists diagnosed his case as caused by over-concen-tration and a consequent "strike" on the part of the harassed nerves. But no docI tor was able to cure him, until someone thought of hypnotism, and the experiment was tried accordingly. It was carried out in a large hall at Guy's before an assembly of medical students and doctors. A well-known Harley street specialist liynotised the patient, and i simply told him that he could hit a golf ball, and must go and try. The patient did go, and when he arrived at his golf links surprised all by driving, without the least hesitation, a long and accurate ! ball from the first tee —the first he had been able to drive for several months. I Golf is not the only sport, however, which renders the player liable to forms of neurosis. A nerve specialist of considerable experience tells of the case of 1 a billiard player who, when he took a cue and attempted to strike the ball, found himself practically paralysed, though if he used a stick or umbrella as a cue he could move it with his accustomed ease. Tennis players have been known to suffer from a similar complaint. "Golfers," a specialist says, "are notoriously nervy people—especially fairly good players. I knew a man—an average player—who one day developed into a veritable Braid or Vardon. He did marvellous things for a few holes, and then all of a sudden he developed | nerves." The muscles of his arms absolutely refused to work, and he could not hit the ball. Cricketers, footballers, polo and hockey players, and other sportsmen, arc all liable to this form of nerves. There is a growing conviction among specialists that hypnotism is the only efficacious cure for these cases of neurosis, which are not likely to be influenced by ordinary medicines. "It is no use putting medicine into a man's stomach to make him think," is the pronouncement of one eminent specialist, "and you cannot teach anyone the multiplication table by giving litin a powder."