Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-16


The little. delicate. ladylike at
tempts at driving. or the strange CON
tortions with which women beat the
air. are seldom seen on golf courses
now. Women swing out like men and
put snap into their wrists and the
ball goes. The only difference be-
tween their driving and that Of the
men is the actual muscle behind the
! ball. and that is handicap nature
has made.
The eastern women outclass those
Of the west. because athletics have
firmer hold in the east. Eastern yom-
en- are accustomed to riding. shooting,
sailing and tennis. They play games
from their earliest childhood. SO that
their muscles are more thoroughly
trained. and they are accustomed to
competitions Golf was merely one
more game to be learned. and they
went about 1t in the systematic way
which comes alone from experience.
Golf is the first sport in which west
ern women have INDUCED to any ex-
tent. and consequently they have not
the sporting instinct fully developed
as yet The young girls In the west
the ones who have learned the
game since golf became a universal
craze, and consequently have had the
benefit of the best instruction and ex-
ample-arc the only ones who can
ever hope to compete upon an equal
basis with the best women players OF
the east.
However. the sporting instinct is
growing apace in the west. and golf
is, Il anything. more on the wane In
the east than west Of the Alleghenies.
Other sports occupy the eastern
mind. but in the west we have as
yet only developed a taste for golf.
New clubs are still being started. and
new players are still making futile
attempts to dislodge the ball from the
tee. This may apply more to the
men than to the women. but even the
latter are still enthusiastic.
Mixed foursomes are the best pos
sibIe scheme to keep both men and
women interested In the game. In
fact, at many of the courses they have
proved to be tho only club events
which called forth a large field. Mixed
foursomes may be merely social golf.
but they serve the purpose of keeping
the golf ball rolling and for that. If for
no other reason, they should be en-
couraged.
There Is another point In connection
with golf upon which can never re-
sist giving my views. ] mean the
practice Of professional caddies in
matches. 1t seems to me unsports-
manlike to employ such extraneous
aid In matches
To say the last word have to say:
Golf is a glorious game for women.
The exercise Is not too violent and 1t
NAV be INDUCED in by the young and
the old, the lame. halt was going
to say blind. but one must keep ones
eve on the ball. II Is a game for all
players of games and. il one is con-
tent to plod alonk in ones own class.
a game 10 give pleasure TO all. The
difficulty in the road to championship
honors is the necessity for constant
and unremittsng practice. Again. to
play through a tournament is ter
ribie strain upon ones nerves and vi
tality: therefore, don't take golf too
seriously, unless you wish to become
a subject for a rest cure-Some WON
en- do take golf too seriously. and
when their whole happiness becomes
involved in the winning and losing Of
matches they become objects for
commission rather than emulation.
Play the game primarily for the
sake Of the game. not for the ficcting
DONORS II brings. II Is plessan,
enough 10 be a champion. hut no. at
the cost Of health and happiness. and.
after all. a champion Is only nine
days' wonder 'o very small num-
Der Of The worlds inhabitants. Play
tho game for tho diversion and cxcr.
else and play II sauarcly. IL champion
ships result. so much the better. br:t
We can't all be champions. and csrn
those who arc sometimes get conccit.
cd and are therefore no. the pleasant
esi rcDpIe In the world to meet
Golf IL a game for women. than
which there II none better. hut We arc
10 bc congratulated upon the fact that
Il has reached the pasiirne stage. As
a pnac q was ridiculous: as a purpose
tnsuaerablc. but as q game u Is giori.
t<1~ ~ Hro'