Evening star., 1901-11-09
The Fasoi1ationb Of the Game De-
scribed by an Expert.
WHY GOLF HAS FRIUMPHED
Ascendency Based on Its Popu-
Iarity and Humanizing Influence.
THE GOLFERS LICEN S e
lCopvricht hy d. r. Pierce.l

Copyright by D. T. Pierce)
Written for The Evening Star by DR.. ]. G. Nc
Pherson.
No game has increased in popularity SO
rapidly during the last twenty years as
mas the exhilarating game of golf For
during even the last ten years the number
of golf clubs has widened over the world
from 27O to 2,70O-tenfold. That surely Is
proof positive of the ascendency of the
game.
There is no doubt that in it's modern form
Scotland is the alma mater of golf though
from this center it has now ramifieo
throughout the civilized world. There are
legends more or less credible about the
origin of the game; and many are the jokes
as to its universality. Still with that in
| nate "dourness'' of perseverance so char
aeteristic of Scotchmen, the alumni OF
golfs university have carried it wherever
they went. They are said to keep the
sawbith, and everything they can lay their
hands on they have. at any rate, spread
the best of games with exceptional Vlgor
and success.
All must admire the high ethical stand
ard OF the game, the player, especially
| when off the course, is so often left to his
| own honor; in that way it Is splendid
trainer. Golf, without violence or undue
excitement, has a marvellous power OF ao-
| sorbing the attention SO as to dispel cark-
| Ing care, and it has an exhilarating infiu-
ence, which is so health engendering for all
| ages in that way it is capital medicine.
Golf requires not only zest and pluck, out
| calmness and perseverance, 1t is suited to
| all temperaments, and is a capital educator
| of the irritable To the uninitiated 1t ap-
| pears as silly a paStime as dancing is &c
| one who stops his as not to hear
the accompanying music. But to the man
| or woman who has come under its magic
| spell it has a fascination which no other
game continuously affords.
The Rest Players.
The best players were teethed with golf
club handle; youngsters possessed by the
mystic glamour will follow a keen profess
| sonal match. and behind a knoll initiate
| the brilliant drivers swing. And, no doubt,
| for all golfers brilliant driving has the
most intense fascination. With beginners
| putting is a secondary matter; they have
| to learn by experience. A short-hole course
| alone would have no more lasting charm
| than croquet; and it would be nothing
without the presence of lady players. Who
| that has witnessed the terrific drives of
| James Braid the present open champion,
| has not stood spellbound at the brilliant
| carries? Against the wind he makes the
| ball rush through the air like rifle bullet,
| with deadly .straightness and telling effect
| fully dozen yards beyond any living play
| er and that with unfailing accuracy. The
| exhibitions of the game by the finest ex-
perts are capital means of spreading it
/
| batants the match is over, it is not to the
| young enthusiast; he will set to and drive
away at corkS near the first hole, until in
| wrought-up excitement he thinks he
| challenge one Of the stars to combat. Thus
| is the swing well learned, and without
| good swing, early secured, there is very up
hill work in learning the game well. Soon
| thereafter golf becomes second nature to
| him.
The Mecca of the Game.
| The most famous club Is the Royal and
| Ancient Golf Club, at St. Andrews, the
mecca of the game, instituted there CEN
tury and half ago. and the very name
of the club gives historical evidence of it's
dignity and age. Mary, Queen Of Scots,
| Charles l, James VI and others of the royal
| line enjoyed the pastime. And nothing
| pleases enthusiastic golfer more than to
| know that our present king takes deep
| interest in it. The late Sir James Gardiner
| Baird, Bart, of Edmonstone, was King Ed
| wards first partner, and Tom Brown
| his first caddie. When the royal player
was getting his first lesson he gave the ball
| a push at the last hole instead of the
thodox hit. on which he was reproved by
manded Tom for this, whereupon the cad
die. to the amusement of his royal master,
remarked that His royal highness maun
| learn, for if he had dune that in a mawtch,
| he wud hae lost the hole.
The church tried to stop the spread of the
game in early times, for players were ne
| glecting the 'preachin'." The parliament
| backed up the clergy, because men We're
| forgetting the martial practice of archery.
Yet to no effect for golfers would stand in
| the ''stool of penitence' before the con-
| gregation on Sunday, making up their
minds for game on that day week. while
the minister was cursing them for their
| godlessness. Those who yielded to the pres
| sure of the church did so with deep regret.
| In 1888 these lines of lamentation ap-
peared:
And ye, my clubs, who must more prepare
! To make your balls flee whistng in the air;
| But hing your heads and bow your crooked craigs,
And dress You all in sackcloth and in rags.
why Golf Has Triumphed.
The 'ascendency'' of golf is based upon
| it's innate popularity and humanizing in
fuence. It's kingdom embraces many ranks
of players of both sexes, from the tyros to
the champions. buffers are sometimes as
much excited over their -four more play
| ing as are the brilliant amateurs when
| studying the putting green the like"
| 1t is a charmer that catches all ages The
elastic school boy is not more absorbed in
| it than is the veteran who, half-cripped by
| gout has to ride on his pony between the
Shots as did Sir John Low of Clatto Stu
dents throw off the worry of cram and
exam" by rushing to the links Officers,
who without the culver of an eyelid have
faced the deadly charge in many battle,
get excited over putt, even blaming TIE
lark for whistling, should they miss it.
Learned professors require to put them
sport when they tackle those whom other
wise they would despise. Senators put
aside their wonted dignity, and d--n ever
topped ball Country squires drive in
thrice week in all weathers to have their
couple of rounds as the best of appetizecs
| Clergymen throw on their tiles and long
coats and assume the garb Of ordinary NOR
tails, glad to banish for a few hours the all
engrossing worry of sermon manufactur-
ing. Hard working artisans Joyfully rush
to the sport on the. long summer evenings,
as the cheapest of all health-gving amuse-
ments. Shopkeepers on the weekly half holt
day can breathe the exhilarating air, and
clear their lungs Of all the varied smells of
their professional business. Young ladies'.
too, have, in their enthusiasm initiated the
sterner sex. in the innocent, non-fatiguing,
elegant and charming game. No wonder,
then, that golf has become so popular.
Golf suits all weathers. What true golf
er cares for q wet skin? His caddie keeps
! the grips of the club dry in the golf bag;
! and the revolution of the preference for
3 numerous iroR-headed weapons lessons the
; -wetting damage when compared with the
4 n xyi,,rr