The San Francisco call., 1895-12-22

can only be obtained by frequent indul-
gence. The popular idea that golf can be
played in ones back yard will be found to
be mistake when it is better understood.
To begin with the course, or the "links,"
as they are generally called, cover several
square miles of territory, a considerable
part of which is covered with low shrubs
and sand dunes, all of which make the OBJ
structions that the skillful player learns
to avoid in time, and which make the un-
skilled player lose his temper and the
game.
To the laymen the following brief
description of golf will be found valuable ::
small gutta percha ball, 1ss
inches in diameter, painted white so as to
be easily seen at any time, is placed on
the apex of small pucker of sand, and
the player stands over it with the driving
club, some four or five feet long, so con-
structed as to possess elasticity and proper
weight. Some hundred or two yards
away the distance varying with each goal
is small hole four and one-fourth inches
in diameter. The object is to get the ball
in that hole in as few strokes as possible.
The player starting out from home or the
''tee" first strikes the ball in such way
and with such force that it is carried as
near the first goal as possible. In deliver
ing the blow be swings his anatomy with
graceful motion, and the gutta- -percha
globe, when squarely hit, sails into the air
like bullet, frequently covering over 200
yards of space inside of two seconds. The
player then follows it over the ground, and
by careful driving and striking gets it near
enough to the hole to place it in with the
"putter."
He may succeed in winning each goal
with from four to six strokes, and some
times three, but it is not unusual that
several times that number are frequently
taken. There are nine goals in all on the
land when the ground justities it there are
eighteen. After getting the ball in the
first goal it is taken out and placed in
position again on the "tee," one of which
is near each hole, and preparations are
made for another drive to the next. Thus
the game continues until all are made. A
score of forty-tive drives to cover the nine
holes is considered unusually good, but it
will be some time before such scores will
be made here.
There are a great many things to over
come in golf If the ball becomes lodged
in brush one has to keep on striking
until 1t is free again. no matter how many
strokes it requires to accomplish it. Each
stroke counts against the player. In some
parts of the ground are high sandhills,
over which it is well to get the ball, for if
drive it up hill and over the obstruction.
Deep gullies and clumps of thick brush are
scattered over the ground, all of which
make it difficult to do as you please.
Around each hole for the space of fifteen
yards the ground is leveled off and planted
with grass, which is kept short and level,
so that skill in rolling the globe will be re-
warded with success. Flags of rel bunt-
ing, mum pered consecurively, mark these
goals so they can be seen from distance.
It requires an hour or two to play game,
but the exercise is invigorating, and in the
excitement of following the ball one for
gets that there are hills to climb and sand
bars to wade through.
Should the ball be lost, the player who
is following it is allowed five minutes to
find it, falling in which he loses the goal
for which he is leading.
1t will never do to lose your temper, for
it unnerves you for precision of stroke,
and precision is one of the chief requisites.
There are a great many different kinds
of clubs for playing the game, but the
driver, the brassey, the cleek, the ioftlng
iron, the mashie and the putter are the
most generally used. They all have their
value in lifting the ball from all sorts Of
localities, from the center of brush to q
rabbit hole.
Altogether golf is game that any
American citizen can well afford to play,
if he is in need of exercise ana open air
treatment. 1t cannot be indulged in with
out walking. and cold and bracing air is
preferred by those who play often. It