The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-15

back the club. Now, as the club head
should describe circle, it must be quite
clear to every one that when the head is
raised with the arms, the head of the
club is thrown off the circle, and it is
just chance if the players head comes
back to the exact place from which 1t
started. If it does not, the club head
comes down either behind the ball, and
strikes the turf, or hits the ball on the
top. If the head of the golfer comes too
far down, the ball is ''sclaffed," and if
not far enough, the ball is topped"
This is the cause of great amount OF
topping and sclaffing. The head and the
right leg are the only parts of the body
that should be kept perfectly steady,
and they should be thrown in at the end
of the swing with the follow through.
These are points which ought to have
the players careful attention.
There is another thing would like to
bring before the golfers of this country,
and that is give up this perpetual Medal
play, as it is called; this continual score
play, going round and round your links
with your caddie and your score card.
1t is not good for golfer to play alone.
If you start away by yourself with the
sole intention Of breaking your record,
and at the second or third hole get into
trouble las is often the case) and it may
be, have to put down two figures on your
card, opposite that hole-you play the
remainder of the holes on that round in
a melancholy and half-hearted fashion;
you spoil the whole round; you are not
of temper with yourself, your caddie,
your clubs, the green. and, in fact, make
yourself generally disagreeable. This is
not sport; this is not golf! There is
another form of this: You start off at
the first tee, and at, say, the fourth
hole you get into trouble, and take per-
haps zine strokes; you pick up your ball
and go back to the first tee, and try 1t
over again-neither is that golf. Get a
companion who is better player than
yourself, if possible. If he is not better,
or even as good as yourself, give him a
start, a stroke on each hole, or half
stroke; but by all means have something
to play up to, something to overcome.
Take no notice of the number of strokes
you have taken, but play with the sole
object of beating your opponent, and In
short time you will be astonished at the
result, and progress you have made.
Or, this is another way of doing it, If
you can't get a companion: Make
DOGGY score for yourself on your own
links, say one more than the lowest you
have ever done each hole in; take hole
of 200 yards-if you have done it occa-
sionally in four give Mr.. Bogey five, for
as the probabilities are you will only
halve it with him; or, for hole of 300
yards, where you may have a drive of
$50 yards, brassey play of 1875 yards,
an approach on to the green with your
iron or mashie, and two puts; that is
five; if you beat him with that you will
do well. This plan will give you some
thing to play up to, and if you get into
difficulties at any hole, he wins it and
you lose. In this case, tee your ball and
go on to the next hole, with renewed
vigor, and greater hopes of beating him
at the next. Let your caddie keep your
score, if you choose, but play to beat
Mr.. Bogey; and if you are victorious
over him you have not got bad score.
Do not try to play against time. If
you have only one hour to spare do not
attempt to cram eighteen holes into that
space of time; it has a tendency to make
you careless in your play if You are think
ing all the time of the train you are
going to catch. or the young lady with
whom you have an appointment. There
is no use in trying to play golf under
such circumstances; you would be far
better employed in spending the time
you have at disposal on putting green,
or in your practicing approach shots.
Moreover, hurrying round the course is
not only injurious to ones self, it is very
annoying to the players in front, for
there is nothing more disagreeable than
being pressed from behind either by the
cry of fore" or by having ball fly
past your head.
If these few points which have given
here are studied and put into practice, |
am sure that both beginners and others
who have already begun to play will
benefit by them, for it is only by patience
and perseverance,, and practice in the
right way, and by a thorough determine
to try to master this game, that success
can be attained.-From GoLfing, New
York, February, 1898: