I’m Worried about his Golf Obsession

Dear Doctor Golf,My husband is a follower of your Eagle-Ho form of golf. He takes little or no interest in me, his children, or his home. He gets off the commuter train at Ardsley at 5:20 and instead of coming home he goes directly to the first tee at the Country Club. Upon finishing nine or eighteen holes, depending on the season of the year, he showers at the club and comes home. During winter months he leaves work two hours early and tees off at 3:30 to avoid playing in the dark.

When he arrives home he is nervous and irritable and finds fault with everything I do to make him a nice home. He cannot stand the children and will only visit them when they are asleep. You would think that a round of golf each day plus all day oil Saturday and Sunday would be enough, but apparently it is only enough to whet his insatiable appetite.

During our late dinner he reads from Eagle-Ho texts and periodicals, often aloud. After dinner he polishes, waxes and caresses his clubs before the fire and has brandy with them. Lately he is having a slump in putting and he will rise in the middle of the night and tap balls across the bedroom rug toward the night light.

Doctor Golf, I am used to his late arrival, the fatherless children, his complete avoidance of anything domestic, and the steady tap-tap-tapping far into the early morning; but lately I have a new and deeper fear and one in which I hope you will offer some help. Last week my oldest boy, Robin, age 6, picked up a putter stick and began putting the balls with his father. At first I thought my husband would harm the boy, for a weird and strange light came into his eyes. It developed that my husband now thinks the boy has natural talent and he has set out a program to develop his game. His first move was to take the boy out of school. They ride to his office in the morning and there, I am told, lock the office door and putt all day.

I’ll not go on; the rest by now must be obvious. I am in desperate need of help. I have reconciled myself to the life of living with this man, but the thought of losing the boy in the same manner frightens me.

I realize I have painted a rather dark picture of my life with my husband; perhaps I have not been altogether truthful. Often we have whole days and week ends together. During the rainy days in February he stays home. During Hurricanes Carol and Edna we passed many happy hours together and he explained the true significance of Eagle-Ho. A wet season, however, is my only hope of seeing him with his children and then the wetness must be of an extreme quality. No ordinary rain or threat of lightning will keep him home, but when the hurricanes strike and the cold rains of February come I make the most of our brief encounters and End the happiness I need to sustain me throughout the long season. My only problem and fear is for the boy.

MRS. M. WILKINSON

Scarsdale, N. Y.

P.S. My husband’s handicap has been 11 for seventeen years.

Dear Mrs. Wilkinson,

There should be more women like you. I have often proclaimed that behind every good golfer stands a great woman. A woman given to long silences and a stately, steady, abiding love uncluttered by the frivolous ideas of togetherness and other trite and absurd philosophies. How fortunate Mr. Wilkinson is to have married such a splendid, understanding woman. Again let me express my respect and admiration to you and the most gratifying life you are surely living.

As to the boy, I believe your apprehensions are too accelerated. The years change not only handicaps but ambitions. Soon this lad will be in college, he will be among the friends he will make for life. Here the battle will be waged for his interest, his vocation, his calling.

I would like a more detailed account of the lad’s progress in golf, but I would like for you to wait at least six months before setting this information down. If by the age of seven he shows an indication toward an upright swing and is able to impart wrist action in his middle iron game, I would be interested in seeing movies of his game. At that time we will decide what should be the proper course his life should follow.

Mrs. Wilkinson, talent-true talent-in golf is one of the brightest stars in the constellation and if it can be discovered before the age of eight what a magnificent thing it can become.

As ever,

Doctor Golf

P.S. The club you referred to as putter stick is incorrect. The correct word is putter.