Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-01
GAME or GOLF.
Some Useful Hints for the beneht Oh
beginners.

| II seems strange that u" S"''"
| and simple rules for such popular ana
growing game as golf have been puhli-h-
| Cd for the benefit OF the beginner-that is'
for those who have no knowledge What-
ever. 10 enable them 10 understand inv
various manuals which seem rather 70 ne
| u.vi,ton with a view TO set forth the teen
nioue Of the game 20 It's deVOtee ina"
| TO explain the first principles 10 tlose
| who do not understand anything ABOUT
| n Tho various articles which have APP
reared in the magazines. althougn very
| interesting from a literary point or VieW'
bo-dlv serve TO clear W the very hdzy
ideas of any one VINO has not seen or
| tried the game SO. perhaps, as there
NAV be many who would like TO "ch1se
a ouinine dill around a ten-acre iot' II
they knew just how 10 go about II, Few
| eirnnle and condensed rules may be or
service The first step is TO procure CLUBS
an entire kit. which is both troublesome
expensive and puzzlng, Is not necessary
for a beginner. Three are really all that
are essential for an ordinary player-a
| driver" used 10 drive the ball from the
"tee" or starting point; a "ceek.' for
long distance shots and, in absence OF
"putter." TO use on the putting green
and q "lofter" to raise a ball over
"bassrd" or obstacle or ont Of cav
ity. Great care must be taken every
time before playing 10 see that the heavy
heads are firm on the sticks, as very ma
accidents have occurred from the heads
flying off when a shot has been made.
No. z is the ball generally used.
Although links which are laid out by
a professional and kept In perfect order
by a club are generally best 70 play on
any one who has sufficient ground may
law out a course which will serve well
enough for amusement and exercise. If
possible there should be nine holes about
25O yards apart; but five or six or seven
viii do. These may go from angle TO
angle in any direction. so that in a limited
space the track may be doubled. The
holes should be four inches in diameter,
and are usually lined with iron, although
for an amateur course a sunk nower-
pot Is just as good. These holes are
placed in the centre Of a moved square
of grass about 20X20. The distance be-
tween holes is called a link" and the
object is. of course, to go over each link
with as few shots as possible, hitting the
ball into the hole at each terminus.
Each OF these holes should be marked
with a small flag, which is taken out Of
| the hole for the stroke. and then replaced.
At each hole the ball may be lifted out
| and placed on a tee" This is a slight
elevation of sand or earth which a player
generally arranges for himself. a box Of
earth being put beside each hole for the
purpose After the first strike from the
| tee the player follows his ball and
| strikes from where it lies each stroke
counting against his score.
| A golf ground should abound In has
| ards or obstacles Of every description.
| These may be anything that is difficult
| to get over, long grass, roads, water,
or even mole hills. or rough ground Of any
| description. one great advantage in this
| game is that il may be played alone. by
/ trying 10 beat a former record: or in
| pairs. where the score is kept for each
| person; or by four together, called
"foursome" each couple playing part
| ne-s with one bail.
| At no time may the ball be pushed"
| "scraped." or "spooned." IL must be
| fairly struck at, any movement Of the
| club which is intended as a strike being
| counted. When the ball gets into water
| or any impossible situation the player
may take out. and drop it over his
shoulder, paying one stroke by way Of
| penalty. II. on going over the course. a
| loose impediment is encountered within a
/ clubs length Of the BAH, it may be re-
| moved; II further away the penalty Of a
| stroke is counted. Where many play
Il
| etiquette TO be observed. which is en-
| forced bT the club regulations; but on
| private grounds II is sufficient to remem-
Der that any player in front must be
| on his second stroke from the tee so
| as 10 be out Of range, and that IL people
are playing together the ball furthest
from the tee should be played first the
honor being a privilege Of leading in
the drive for the next hole that is granted
TO the winner of the preceding hole. Golf
| Is game for all ages, ana very old men
are often capital golf-players, but TO be-
| come proficient one cannot begin too
! young.
Although TO the unnitiated the game
| Of golf seems very simple and unexciiing,
| its worth is proven by its popularity.
| and its advantage to health and spirits
is undoubted. May its disciples increase.
and long may it flourish in our land