Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-12-06
GOLF AT SEA.
Strange Words Hedoient of Greens
Ring Out over Eillows.

King Out ONcr EAliOWss
"As stepped OH deck from the sa-
loon one morning on my return trip
from abroad" said Frank NJ. Morris
of the Book Shop, II heard a voice
cry, You've sliced a drive. and you're
in the grass For a moment | Won
dered whether | was at sea or on the
ExmoOr links at home. | saw a gray
ocean, which might have made a good
golf links If it Only had been solid,
heaving against the sky. and Lands
End, last glimpse Of England, disap-
pearing on our weather quarter. So l
was quite sure our vessel was a night
out from London and on the open sea.
But there were people OH deck undOubt-
edly playing gOlf-playing it with the
absorbed, eager air that marks the dey-
otee Of the game on dry land"
Ocean golf is one Of the novelties Of
the transatlantic summer season. 1t
was first introduced on the boats Of the
Atlantic Transport line and has been
taken up enthusiastically on the larger
steamers of all lines. Mr. Morris re-
turned on the MinnetOnka. 1900 tons
burden. coo feet from stem to stern
and with an after deck 200 feet long
and 40 feet in beam. Golf links had
been laid out on this deck In the lee of
the cabin.
"The golf course about the deck"
said Mr.. Morris. consisted Of nine
circular chalk marks n foot in diameter
in lieu Of holes The golf balls were
shuhlebOard disks five inches across
and an inch thick. The clubs were
shuhleboard sticks with cJds followed
out to fit the disks. With these clubs
the disks were sent sliding about the
decks by vigorous shoyes instead Of
free strokes. The hazards Of the course
were furnished by wheelhOuse 20 by
30 feet in size, ventilctCrs, two matches,
four donkey engines. a capstan. spars,
coils Of rope and galloway leading
to the deck below.
"a good player could make round
of eighteen holes in half or three
quarters of an hour The third hole
required a display of skill and Il slight
knowledge of billiards. 1t lay snug
behind a group of big ventilatOr fun
nels. The only way TO reach it in a
single stroke was to drive your disk
against the side of the after hatch and
make It carom toward the hole. In
driving from the fourth to the fifth
hole you had to reckon with the wheel
house. which lay between them. In
working back from the taffrail TO the
cabin you entered on little campaign
full of difficult problems. The way was
beset with such bunkcrs as steam
donkey. scuttle over Il galloway, a
number Of vcatilatOrs ard a capstan.
In making the final hole you drove
your disk straight from one side Of the
deck to the other through three foot
alley between cabin and hatch.
"If there was a sea on and the boat
rolled the difficulties Of play became
complicated. Then, in driving, you
had to allow for the list of the deck.
If your stroke was not sure. there was
the annoying possibility that your disk
would turn on edge and roll hundred
feet or so down the deck and fetch
up in the scuppers. When the disk
went into the cutters. the players said
1t was in the grass
There was nothing but golf aboard
from the beginning of the voyage to
the end. Billiards, chess. whist and
poker were wgved aside for golf. Every
passenger became as brown as a berry
from playing golf on deck in the wind
and sun. At times they almost fought
for possession of the links. We had
match plays. foursomes and one tour
nament."- Chicago Chronicle.