The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-11-13
SOME "DGEIS" FOR GOLFERS.
Things that shsuia BE Omitted for the
Coed of the Game.


From Golf Don'ts" by H. L. Fitzpatrick: Double
day, Page & Co.. New York.
Don't mount the clubhouse stairs as though You
were going TO funeral, yet do not be too affable
Geniality should never degenerate into seryiIity
Don't. however act as if the place was your wood
shed and re persons sitting about waiting for a
JOB to split Up kndlings. Yet better Cyrano than
Uriah Heap in department
Don't play simply to get up muscle The game
produces a symmetry rather than the abnormal de-
yelopment Of Ssndow.
Don't take up the game a pretext for gay at
tire alone, yet the advice of Polonus costly thy
habit as thy purse buy, yet not expressed in
fancy" has no apP alton to golfers and golhnes.
Don't however, wear red wssteosts on the brain,
or let plaids dominate the intellect.
Don't be slave 10 either long or short trousers,
to playing with L coat or without one, to wearing
braces a belt, shoes or boots. Be superior to
the trsppings Of the game, and wear whatever Is
most convenient or comfortable But on red-letter
days and bonfire nights uphold your dignity in the
formal coat the club colors.
Don't place fashion before comfort nor foppishness
before the score.
Don't. when you need a new set OF clubs, rush OF
TO some S9-eent bargain counter for il. Give the
club professional chance
Don't fail to make a stranger feel at home with
out waiting TOT an introduction. II an old member
or committeeman. special courtesy becomes a
duty.
Don't loiter about the clubhouse before starting
out any longer than circumstances require. BY
prompt starting it is often possible to get clear
links.
Don't act the speure before the match II you
would be on edge, yet eat your fill Of plain and
wholesome vands. A hungry can't golf well,
lOr can he who has made Gargantuan feast
Don't though thirst Expresses, drown the match,
at least until you have 1t finished.
Don't make the club Of any famous player i
fetch 1t is the man behind the club that counts.
yet good players better guides in the choice of
clubs than buffers
Don't place too much dependence on the dashing
manner OF your ''wagge." One good swipe on the
ball is worth score Of fantastic swings over it.
Don't think IL snObbish 10 have the eaddie make
your teas. if he is smart enough. On hot day the
effort Of bending down during long match takes
something out OF a player. In a week of t0urna-
ment play the task may well be shifted 70 another
who is paid DO H.
Don't cause delay by locking for lost bali''
five minutes. Do not drop another ball down
the trGuser leg nc matter how important the
match, but surrender the hole with apl0mb
Don't let any idea that il is your unlucky day
make you nervous on the green. This is the time
the wise player tries TO exert his psychic influence
rot on the hint-like ball. but himself II you
can cast hypnotic spell over your opponent, there
is NJ law 10 prevent il.
Don't curse your bad luck; 1t will not help your
own game and nay spoil utterly the pleasure Of
your opponent who will be justified in not gOfng
with you again. Take the rough with the smooth
once mastered this is the secret to win In many a
match.
Don't minglv, whate'er your sex. repartee with
tee shets, airy badinage with the nblck thumps
in a bunker or puns with puts. There Is a time
for everything
Don't. when playing without a esddie, use your
opponents csdde in any way without his permis-
sion II the request is granted, remember that the
esddie is entitled 10 an extra payment
Don't forget that the custom TO let match with
caddies pass one without csddies Is new obsolete.
The right TO pass in all cases, should be asked as
a concession from the players In front. 10 keep up
the gOod-fellowship Of the links.
Don't ~ such stiekler for the reckoning OF
strokes in the orthodox way TO confuse your
opponent Instead Of eight more" II Is less
fatguing to the gray matter OF the awaiting PLAYER
20 state frankly you playing nine" Rather
be like the young woman IN championship who
said with acidity, when asked how many more she
had played: Il have played six, and you two; now
figure the Scotch Of IL for yourself"
Don't hesltate 10 claim match on one round Of
the links but nine holes shall not constitute a
round unless so agreed. Eighteen holes is the true
game OF golf.
mont sneak or move when an opponent or any
PLAYER is making a stroke, nor crowd forward be-
hind the line for fear you might force his eye from
the ball.
a match that has the honor of gallery" pro-
viding always that the applause does not Gene
until after the hole has been won.
Don't envy the winner. Your turn viii come
some day for compliments and the cup.
Don't enlist the services of your friends to cajole
or bully the handicap committee in your behalf
Medals won a false rating soon tarnish
Don't encourage eht-ehat from your partner in
foursome for II may put him on his game. This,
Of course, does not apply in mixed foursomes-
Don't coneede an advantage in play, and never
accent me In a match game each player should
paddle his own canoe" while in strict medal
competition by compelling strict attention 10 the
rules YOU protect the interests Of the entire body
Of players.