Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-11-22
THE GAME OF GOLF.
what the Popular Sport is and How 1t 10
PLAYED,


what the Popular sport Is and HOW " "
Played.
Briefly stated, the game OF golt con
sists in driving small gutta-percna
hall around course provided with u
number of holes, generally eighteen,
from one hundred to five hundred
wards apart, by means OF Variousiy
sboned clubs. However tame inns
statement may seem, the real game 70
trimming over with life ana Joi''y
and strong excitement
The balls used in ancient days were
made of leather and stuffed with ieath-
ers until they were as hard as stohet
hut the golfng-ball in use to-day Is Oh
Cutta.percha, painted white so that IL
NAV be seen easily, with a Corrugated
surface, and its weight varies IRON ono
and three fourths to two ounces -.
At the bidding OF the golfer TINS llt.
t,e hall. sometimes called the guilty
dies over bridges, and streams ana
sand-hills, through thickets OF gorse
and alasl sometimes into sand-plts or
even amid CONSCIOUSNESS, from when IL
is recovered with great difficulty, lor
the rules are memorable, and bail
must be hit exactly where IL lies,
when n hole is 'made," however al
the ball has settled into the goal OF inc
nlaver's ambition, it is, OF course I'M
possible TO play it for the neNt no,o
until it has been removed tihy p'ie
of sand or earth, called a tee, Is then
made for it. lust outside the hole, ana
within certain fixed limits called the
teeing-ground, and the little PAL j"
then ready TO set out on its next long
tourney. The player or side that WINS
the greatest number Of holes IN inc en-,
tire round has the games or ~ mccall
NAV. the victor is the side or the
player making the round in the least
number of strokes, and as certain con-
ditions cause the loss Of n stroke, ono
needs to be very careful how he strikes.
Holes are punched out OF the ground
with an iron especially made for TINS
purpose, are four or FIVE inches IN dam
eter. and lined with iron. The holes
on the outward journey are usually
designated by white flags, and those
coming in with red flags. The space
in the immediate vicinity of hole is a
very interesting part of the GROUNDS
because, even If your ball lies quite
near the hole, wrong shot may send
it not quite near enough or far beyond
and so give that hole to your opponent
This space is called the putting-green'
and the process of holing the ball from
here is called putting.
Perhaps you may suppose that the
golfng-ground or links has been care
fully prepared for the convenience OF
golfers, but no such consideration IS
shown. and indeed the most important
feature Of the game, and that which
adds its greatest interest and excite
ment. is the overcoming of the various
obstacles in the way Of lfpolls, hillocks,
thickets, and sandpits to be avoided,
called by one general name, hazards,
which tax the players skill to the ut
most.
But we have not yet spoken of two
very important matters connected with
golfng-the clubs and the "caddies,"
OF clubs there must be generous va
riety, though the tendency OF later
wears is to discard many that were once
considered indispensable. The ball is
capable Of assuming so many singular
positions that the player must consider
carefully what club will best suit his
purpose at the time.
A very important parsonage on the
links is the caddie, the man or boy who
carries the stout holland case or bag
in which are kept the various clubs,
also balls to replace those which may
be lost; who hands the clubs when
needed, and who usually gives advice
whether it is needed or not.
The ground best suited to golf is a
broad stretch of undulating land with
sandy soil, covered with short turf,
and supplied with occasional sand
holes and fair amount of growing
bushes The links of st. Andrews by
the sea, in Scotland, is the most famous
of all golfng-grounds, and the towT
is not better known for its ancient uni
versity than for its golfng. -Heler
Marshall North, in St. Nicholas.