Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-13
PLAY "GAWF."
The Game Has Several Devotees in
Augusta.
The Prospect Of Club and Increasing Popu-
larity for Golf.

The time is not far distant when
Augusta will be among the leading
cities of the State 50 far as golf play
ing is concerned. 1t will be remem-
bered that some of the other cities
have started the game, but it has 81
expensive to some of the players that
only the richest Of the people could
play, on account of the elaborate man
ncr in which they went into the game.
Golf is by no means a new thing to
Augusta. 1t has been played here for
two or three years, Rev. James S. Will
hanson now of Haverhili being an en-
thusiast and teaching many of the
young men the game. They have been
seen playing upon the State muster
| field at times for several summers.
Last summer there was quite an in
terest displayed by half dozen or
more young men.
| 1t was not until this summer, how
ever that any degree of unity was dis
| played. The ones who played in
iluenced others to go up and have a try
at 1t, and the result is that now there
| Is strong following of the game in
| the Capital city. When one is once in
| terested it is said there is no going
| back on the game for the interest
grows with age. rather than decreases.
There We're those among the present
| players VINO remarked at the start be
fore. they ever had a golf stick in their
! hands, that twas n fools and lady's
| game, and there was nothing to ii.
| This same thing is often said of tennis
yet those who have tried tennis and
golf know il does not take one long to
see the point Of the game and to be-
come interested.
Go up on the State grounds any
afternoon along about o'clock, and
sometimes at other times Of the day
and there on the links that has been
laid out. will tie found the devotees
the old players and the beginners. at
their sport with All the enthusiasm Of
the experts who frequent the links OF
the Kebo club at Bar Harbor. where
they have given up every sort of sport
for the sake of the game.
Hon. Byron Boyd is among the late
converts ana another who has become
an expert is II. F. Bond. an athlete
who Is good at any sport, who scorned
golf at first, but is now dcVoting hi.
spare hours To it. Then w. II. Gannctt
often joins them. BESIDES these are DIR.
w. II. Harris. L. l.. Cooper. :. s. Pat
ten. II. {. Pishon and half dozen
others.
The usual number Of holes has not
been made. but five are used here in
stead. The distances from other to an
other varies from 15O to 225 yards The
grounds are excellent for the game as
they are level as 2 rule. There are no
bunkers to rise the bail over and but
the ball into which will cost the player
several strokes, on account Of the deep
grass.
The round Of the holes is made in
about 50 strokes. though Of course.
some cannot go in that number, re-
quiring more on account of lack Of
skill, 1t Will not be long, however.
before they will be able to compete
with one another very evenly for the
beginners are learning 50 that they are
fast catching up with the experienced
players
This is not a game that requires
muscle" said Mr. Bond. Monday after
noon. Il had an idea that it was. but
there | was mistaken. Muscle III one
way sort of acts as a hindrance more
than anything else, if there is too
much. \ supple wrist and Skill is Of
more Importance. My first attempt t.
hit the ball ended disastrously, and |
struck twice without touching the rub
Der sphere that rested on the rubber
starting plate That is the same diff
Guilty that all beginners experience.
Il find" he said, that the skill of
one. one must be balanced 50 that the
weight is first on the right and then on
the left as the swing is made.
1T is supposed that one must use q
great deal of force in the drive of the
ball, but the longer one plays the less
muscle he places in the drive. 1t is
more in the skill Of properly hitting
the ball than in the force that it is
struck.
1t is usually understood that a num-
Der of clubs are required for playing,
but the players here say that a begin
ner can start with three styles, and
that will be all he will need on these |
grounds, until he has become an eX-
pert and wishes to try others. ON
some links it would be necessary to
have other styles for the different sorts !
of drives that are necessary.
Have you all acquired the golf |
vocabulary" was the question that |
was naturally asked.
We can talk golf in the true golfing |
style to a certain extent while among |
people who know nothing of the game. |
but as yet we are not proficient enough |
to attempt to talk to professionals.
We are almost able to understand what |
professionals mean when they are adj |
dressing us, but they often say things
we don't pretend to know"
There is the prospect of a club being
formed here in the city, of several
other young men than those mentioned.
for the purpose of learning the game
and conducting links. They are plan
ming upon using the same links with
he gentlemen who are now playing, as
it can be done without any conflict.
With such prospects why is not Au-
iyb along in the