Milford chronicle., 1903-01-09
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COLE AT SEA.
Strange Words ReGoIent of Greens
Ring out Over BilIows.

Strange Words ReGoIent of Greene
Ring out over BilIows.
"As stepped on deck from the sa-
loon ole morning on my return trip
from abroad" said Frank NJ. Morris
Of The Book Shop. Il heard a voice
c.. You've sliced drive. and you're
in the grass For a moment l Won
dcrcd whether l was at sea or on the
Exmoor links at home. l saw 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 on deck undoubt-
edly playing golf-playing it with the
absorbed. eager air that marks the dev-
otce Of the game on dry land"
Ocean golf is one Of the novelties Of
the transatlantic summer season. II
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. Norris re-
turned on the 8Iinnetonka, 14000 tons
burden. 600 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.
'eThe golf course about the deck"
said Mr.. Morris. CONSISTED of nine
circular chalk marks a foot in diameter
in lieu of holes. The golf balls were
Switchboard disks, five inches across
and an inch thick. The clubs were
shufieboard sticks, with ends followed
out to fit the disks With these clubs
the disks were sent sliding about the
decks by vigorous shOves instead of
free strokes. The hazards Of the course
were furnished by wheelhouse 20 by
30 feet in size. ventilatOrs, two matches,
four donkey engines, a capstan, spars,
coils Of rope and a galloway leading
to the deck below.
"a good player could make a round
of eighteen holes in half or three
quarters of an hour. The third hole
required a display of skill and a slight
knowledge of billiards. 1t lay snug
behind group of big ventilatOr fun
nels. The only way to reach it in q
single stroke was to drive your disk
against the side of the after hatch anC
make it carom toward the hole II
driving from the fourth to the fiftl
hole YOU had to reckon with the wheel
house. which lay between them. II
working back from the taffrail to thu
cabin you entered on little campaign
5 full of difficult problems. The way wal
beset with such bunkers as a stean
r donkey. a scuttle over a galloway,
2 number of ventilators and a capstan
In making the final hole you drOv
Y YOUR disk straight from one side of tn
e deck to the other through three foo
r alley between cabin and hatch.
IF there was a sea on and the boa
/ rolled the difficulties of play becam
y complicated. Then, in driving, 20
z had to allow for the list of the deci
If your stroke was not sure, there wa
e the annoying possibility that your dis
t would turn on edge and roll hundre
g feet or so down the deck and fetc
|. up in the scuppers. When the dls
went into the cutters, the players sal
d it was in the grass
"There was nothing but golf aboar
,, from the beginning Of the voyage
the end. Billiards, chess, whist an
= poker were waved aside for golf. Ever
passenger became as brown as berr
d from playing golf on deck in the win
e and sun. At times they almost fougl
for possession of the links. We ha
i match plays. foursOmes and one tou
= 5:mcnt."-ChicagO chronicle.
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