St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-11-07
GOLF PLAYING YEARS AGO.
4 Quaint Account of the Game in 1915

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Golfng is played with a club and bail.
! The club is from three to four feet long,
according to the height and length of the
arm OF the player. 1t is seen curved and
scope, massive toward the end head to give
it weight and strength. This head or knob
is formed for strength from some very
tough wood as beech, and as it curves
and proceeds upward, it is planed off, so
as to adapt itself to the handle, to which
it is very firmly glued, and tightly corded
down. A want of due attention to these
particulars, in manufacturing it, will
render the head liable to split and fly off
by either a very hard or indirect stroke
The face of the club is further secured by
piece OF hard bone, and occasionally of
ivory, at least halt an inch thick. 1t is
also loaded with four or six ounces of
lead, according to the will OF the player.
The handle is usually bound with cord,
list or velvet at the pleasure of the own
er. 1t is true, however, that the form of
the club the materials of which it is
made and the numbers taken to the
golhng ground vary considerably, &C.
cOrdlng to the circumstances and to the
habits OF the players, the attendant cad
or caddy having usually many varieties
to suit every popularity under which the
ball may be placed, tor in many clubs it
can never be touched by the hand until
holed
The golf ball is about the size of an
egg, and is made very firm. 1t is COM
posed Of stout leather, which, having
previously been soaked in boiling water,
allows OF its being first very firmly
sewed, and then turned inside out, leav-
ing small opening only, by which it is
very firmly stuffed with feathers. The
leather being yet wet. it contracts into a
ball of the dimensions stated. but nearly
as circular as that used in the game OF
cricket. 1t is subsequently painted over
with several coats Of white paint in
doing which it is requisite that the white
lead should be pure and exceedingly we'll
ground down, as well as that each coat
laid on should become per fectly dry and
herd before the other is applied.
The game is PLAYED by two or more
persons, so that there is an equal num-
Der on each side; but only two balls are
used, one belonging to each party, each
party also striking in turn, But if the
last striker does not drive his ball so far
as that of his opponent one OF his party
must then strike one, or perhaps two
more, and the game is thus marked by
calling out one, two. three or more, as
the case NAV be- If more than two are
playing the same person does not strike
twice in succession; a miss is counted
one. The party that puts the ball into
the hole in the iewest strokes wins the
game.
The grounds used in this sport vary in
different parts of Scotland. Some are
nearly square, i'll which case the holes
are at each corner; but if it be irregular
in figure it is not uncommon to place one
at each angle, so that the party still
traverses the whole surface, and finishes
at the spot whence he started, quarter
of mile, more or less, being usually al
lowed between each hole.
Besides the club described, as already
stated, there are Others, usually carried
by an attendant for each party. These
are called, by way OF distinction, putters,
OF which, however, there are several
sorts, one beng short, stiff and heavy,
similar in figure, but larger in the head,
tor making steady and direct stroke
when near the hole. Another, formed Of
iron instead OF wood, is used for making
a hit at ball when very unfavorably
placed, as in rut, where the common
club would be in danger of breaking
When a ball tails into hole or rut from
which it is impossible to strike it out tn,
party is allowed by special agreement
in some clubs to take it out with hi.
hand, and to throw it up in line with the
spot, which is accounted as one, and hi
then strikes from where it chances tc
rest. But, as already observed, this in
diligence does not extend to every golf
ing society," Illustrated London Alma
mac, 1S45.