The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-07
HOW GOLF IS,
/. MANIPULATED
HERE'S JUST THE WAY YOU
PLAY 1T.
Although Everybody Talks Golf Few
Not Among the Initiated Know
Much About 1t and This Article
Will Inform Them-America Now
Golf Crazy.

nodicum Of practical knowledge of
the principles and nomenclature of the
Scotch importation. Many persons
strictly up to date in other respects
confess absolute ignorance as to the
ins and outs of golf, and their chief
excuse is that the game Is too In
Vlved with teChncalities." Others
there are, pretending to know much
anent golf whose observations convey
about as much information as would
their views on the manufacture of
fromage de Gorgonzoa.
Notwithstanding all that has been
said to the contrary, golf is among the
simplest of games. Rapid progress is
easy for the beginner, and IL he will
but devote himself to conscientious eff
fort he will he surprised at the degree
u proficiency he can attain in "A
months practice. | will undertake to
give seasonable and not too technical
explanation of the rudimentary prin-
ciples Of golf as it is played today, so
That he who runs may read" and to
show that the mercst tyro need not find
the game very difficult proposition
after all.
There is no reason for this, and even
the origin of tho arbitrary measure is
unknown No two courses are alike in
distance between holes. as they vary
according To the lay of the land. SINH
larly there is no reason why the num-
ber of holes should be the same. AS
matter Of fact is hole courses are not
very numerous. most links, in fact,
ample except for clubs having an
unusually large membership. Match
games are always played over Sc holes
and II is well for the number of holes
TO be some multiple of three. It is Just
as easy to play three times over a II
hole course or four times over a Q hole
course as it is to go twice the round
of the regulation links, and the play
is then much fairer to strangers, for
they are enabled, by each recurring
round, to get better acquaintance
with the ground.
Holes are from so to 100 ya$ls apart,
and the first is always the longest one
The general rule is that the distance
shall be such that each badly played
ball is accompanied by some penalty
TC aid in this advantage is taken of all
natural obstacles within range. and
when hindrances are lacking artificial
cnes are constructed. Anything inter-
fering with the play of the ball is call
ed hazard" and different names are
given TO varied obstructions. \ bun
ker formerly was a sand pit. but now II
may be a stone wall or rise of earth
common forms of hazard.
The fair green of the course, which is
the space in the direct line of play be-
tween the holes. is kept free from un-
dergrowth. stones, etc, leaving but the
roads, bunkers, bitches and other i'm
portant hazards to be overcome. The
ground on either side of the course
however, should have as many hazards
as possible to perplex the player unfor-
tunate enough TO stray there.
The essential idea of golf is simplici-
ty itself Starting from certain point
the object is to land the small compo-
stion ball in hole 100 to 200 yards
away with the feweSt possible strokes.
The player who reaches the hole in the
smallest number of strokes wins the
hole and the captor of a majorit:' of
The holes lands the match.
The clubs with which the game is
played appear more or less formidable
to the novice, but are not so myster-
ious as they seem. The most remark
able thing about them is their nomen-
Ciature. First. in point of utility is the
driver, the club of general play. Like
all the other sticks, il consists of "A
wooden hanClc or sha'. made of touLn .
est hicEory and ending in head. I he
l"'t side of TINS head i'm right handed
stick is termed the face. and it is this
particular part that comes in contact
with the ball The far end is called
the toe, while the bottom of the club
is the sole The face of the driver -
Usually perp' HdiCular. though man.
players alter it 70 suit their fancy. TIE
tiriVtr Is supposed To keep the ball low
er after being struck than any othcr
club. In choosing it due regard must
he had 10 length, weight, springiness
3ld balance of shaft. \ novice
should take a comparatively stiff one,
as the dllurinG springiness requires OK
periente in adapting it to conditions
and is for the expert. Length and
weight depend on the height and swing
OF the player.
Concerning the balls little need be
and composition and are painted white
For play when snow is on the ground
red balls ar used.
The golf course is divided into three
parts-.-tne tecing ground, from which
plays begin; the fair green, which Il
the remainder of the course To within
few yards of the hole, and the put,
trg green, a smooth though not hori
Ia, -
the ball is driven preliminary to tn,
delicate task Of putting" it into thu
hole Put" in this connection, by tn,
way, is pronounced TO rhyme will
but
Play begins on the teelng ground
This is. to quote from the language o
the rules, indicated by two marks
placed in a line at right angles 10 tn,
course, and the player is not allowed
TO tee in front of or on either side o
these marks or more than two clul
marks behind them" In practice the
teeng grounds are generally parallel
ogram in whitewash marked on tn,
ground perhaps five or six yards il
length and two or three in breadth
within the limits of which the bal
must be teed. This ground is usual,
level or else sloping slightly backward
from the norc,
Tees are slight pinches or Pyramid
OF sand, upon which the balls are PLACED
preliminary TO driving. Patent pape
tees are found to be a great conven
ience
The first thing following the teent
of the ball is the determining of wher
TO stand to strike the sphere with III,
best effect, Concerning this position
or stance" as 1t is called, much ha
been and much is still in dispute Tn,
best. authorities agree on the position