Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-08-28
COURTESY ON THE LINKS.

the OBJECT ball without going through
what has been called by the uninitiated
striking attitudes in scarlet" AS the
flourish of the bat to the baseball player
and cricketer, or the several approaches
OF the billiard players cue to the object
pail before striking, SO is the 'wiggle"
TO the golfer. The club is laid first in
front of the ball (this may be unneces-
Sary, though 1t is a custom more hon
0red IN the observance than III the
breach), then carefully raised over the
top and placed behind the ball, and
drawn back several times, each time fur
ther and further from the ball, until it
ascends for the last time with full body
swing, ready to descend with full and
what should be unerring force on the
Oall. Striking attitudes" indeed. 1t
| IS no such thing. 1t is next to impossi-
bic to strike a golf ball fairly and with
the center of the club, a most important
| point, unless the club has been so han
died. The object of ''wiggle'' is to
steady the player, to get the balance
| OF the club and the exact position and
| lie of the ball. Try for Yourself and
! such preliminary, drive 4 ball far and
| sure, You will accomplish feat which
has seldom been done by the most emf
nent eXponents of the game.
Similarly most golfers have a partiality
! for certain club or clubs, often carrying
! this to extremes and using favorite IN
| der circumstances for which it is wholly
| unsuited. This is 4 habit which cannot
too quickly be unlearned.
Stick to old friends, advises an old
| golfer. When you get a set of clubs to
suit you. and this takes time don't keep
constantly changing them. The longer
you use q club the more familiar YOU will
JIvIfh o,,l H. I
be your attachment for it. OF course
clubs will not last forever; but when one
falIs try to replace it with its twin
brother. 1t stands to reason that a man
OF i've feet cannot properly handle a six
| footers clubs and vice versa Half an
men IN length or an ounce in the weight
or club will make all the difference in
| the world
Always try to get the services of a
! good caddie He should know the green
thoroughly, and the club and game better
fnan yourself, even though he may not
hlmsef be player. lie should also be
able to give you advice when it is called
! for. A smart caddie is worth his weight
IN gold: He will keep his eye on your
ball, which in consequence will seldom
be lost. and will hand you the proper
your play the better he knows what club
| to hand you. SO stick to a good caddie
| when you once get him.
The choice of 4 ball also is no unin-
| pOrtant matter in golf Some makers
| balls fly" better than others. Made up
balls never fly like new ones, and are
| only ut for practice. This is one of the
| most expensive parts of the game of golf
as a new ball is required for almost every
| game. Though hard as bullet. they are
| easily Knocked out of shape especially
III warm weather, when the guttapercha
| IS more or less affected by the heat In
| frosty weather bad balls will invariably
| crack.
In match and medal contests the play
! differs somewhat. In match your OBJ
| ject is to make the holes" in as few
! shots as possible. In the former case it
| is especially advisable ito play to the
score Thus your opponent has taken
| three shots to fetch the green" where
as you have accomplished this feat in
| two. You play the like with your
third. Your object should now be TO
lie dead anyway. Your adversary can
not possibly hole OUT in less than four.
and four four will give you at least half,
! chance of hole is thus the correct play
! Take another case. Your opponent
u,
third is twenty feet from the hole. To
obtain half you must run chances and
make the long putt" These are two
| simple instances of playing to the score
| "a most important factor in match play
ing and one often overlooked by young
| players. There is no use struggling to
make a hole in three when four will win
it. Play to the score should be photo
graphed on the golfers brain.
| Don't hesitate to play away from the
| hole when doing SO is the safe or pru-
| dent course, but of course do not go
! further out of your way than is neces-
| sary, and don't take the bee line if
the bee line is dangerous and it is more
! prudent to hold either to the right or to
| the left. The safe player is the best
player, and will in the long run wear
| out his more fashy and reckless oppo-
nent.
Never play rashly or carelessly. The
better you know a green the better
| should be your play upon it. 1t is half
the battle, and like the barnyard cock.
| you should be able to crow lOudeSt on
| your own ground. If you are on a
! strange green, ask your caddie for ad-
| vice, or, better still, go over the course
| before playing and note the lie of the
green's and hazards. Remember it
amounts to a great deal on a round of
eighteen holes to strike few snags.
Should your ball and in water, as a
rule lift" but here again the depth of
water and the state of the score would
perhaps justify your running chances.
If the ball is only partially under water
it is simple enough matter to drive it
out. Still it is always more or less a
risky shot, and the rule to lift" should
be stuck to unless under exceptional cir
cumstances. Players have been known
to get on the caddie's shoulders or even
! back to make water shots.
Remember the poor caddle is a human
being and has feelings just like yourself.
Don't, then. fall foul Of him because you
are running in hard luck or playing bad
! ly; probably the latter is the case if your
plumage has got ruff1ed. The better you
treat him the better he will serve you,
and if he cannot call you fine golfer
| it Will be some little satisfaction for you
to know that he considers you good fell
| low.
| RpD1pmhpr that there are both written