Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-09-04
WOMAN AS A GOLFER.
Never Marry . Woman Until You Hayo
Played Golf with Her."

An experienced person---cXTCrlenced both
In golf and ia matrimony-of my ac-
qunintancc gives this piece Of advice TO
bachelors: "NcvcrS' he says, marry a
woman until you have played round of
golf with her; ol better still, watrh:d her
unobserycd during the varying fortunes OF
competition. Place yourself incon-
spicuously by the side Of some first class
bunker on the ladies' course, and the dis
closures Will bc Invaluable To yolr future
life, A woman will show you Il good deal
of her character during three minutes in
Il bad bunker \ round of golf is alto.
gether such an excellent alleEcry of the
game of life that | feel convinced thnt II
woman who can pass crditabiy through
the ordeal Of public golflug competition
has certain useful gifts Of character and
temperament In the days to couc, when
feminine cOnscription becomes the law of
the land, | should certainly, If ! were
commanding officer Of the forces. select
my generals from among the goliing anna
IONS Of the day. Frivolity apart, what are
the powers and capabilities Of Ladies' on
the golf links: Iot us be bold and touch
question full ui delcdcv aud over which,
ns rule, many loose and inaccurate 10
tions SIN prevail How docs the game Of
scratch lady may the incloeant term
be parloncd-comIare with that of the
scratch man.
Well in Tie first place, everything de
pends upon the course over which the sup
posed trial game OF comparison would be
played. but, generally Speaking the odds
10 be given or received would he IN inverse
ratio 10 the length, not necessarily the
fIi.lfPfifE lf lac sy M tf Sandwich
whcrc, for instance the driving carry
is extreme, it would probably be found
that the best lady played in her highest
form could safely III "a match receive "a
half from the average man at scratch.
Now, wherein lies this discrepancy be
tween the relative games Of man and
wonan< Undoubtedly the answer will be
not IN the short game nor necessarily in
The driving from the tee but in the wear
and tear Of play through the green. And
with apologies To tho late lady champion
tss, who stands undoubtedly at the head
Of all her English and Irish compecI s-of
the Scotch representatives of the game we
have, unfortunately, been given little
chance of iUdgiug--I venture the opinion
that it was precisely in the length and
strength OF her driving through the green
that her superiority was shown. On the
question as tn whether this weakness in a
woman $ game could be remedied by more
frequent play on courses where long driT
ing through the green is a necessity, |
would rather not discuss, or even consider
AS things are at present COnstit ltcd,
that blessed and acknowledged 'h2lt be
tween mo and the girl who is now honorct
Is my partner on the links OF lic--ycs
that sand bunker is rcsponsiblc-is Iny
sole remaining source of authority and
power and may heaven defend me from
the day when my wife shall learn hard
hitting through the green. There is how
ever, good deal more than the mere play
ing of the game which deserves cousidUra-
ton; and, III a competition over long
course, involving the continuous physical
and mental--to say nothing OF the Iu-ral
strain Of perhaps two hard rounds a day
for four or five consecutive days, it will be
not always the best player who secures
the victory, but she to whom nature has
given, in addition To the average proper
lion Of skill cool nerves and indolnitablc
Will and plenty OF stamina, physical hardi-
hood and endurance. But the new woman
seems CAPABLE of evolution and develop
ment in any given direction, and, for my
part, ! do not grudge her the pains and
tribulations of II goliing education. 1t
ought to improve her character and temper
rs well as her physique. st. james Ga
2etta