Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-30
GOLF GOSSIP

In these days Of our Legislation IN
golf 1t is rather refreshing TO come
across the following article In Ladies
Golf on ''The Ideal Rules" under the
name of r. X. Risk:
The other day, in a private library
Of music, had the good fortune to
come upon the Rules OF Coli, set
out succinctly. clearly, and with CON-
prehensiye completeness, in some
thing under 500 words. The code
which binds us today runs to some
10000 words, be the same more or
less, and l hardly think they can be
fewer.
The broad sheet containing the ideal
rules of golf ia all told had, accord
ing to the computation of its present
owners, lain undisturbed between the
sheets of a piece of music for some
20 or 80 years. II is headed Golf,
the Name OF a Game Among the
Scots" But the impression given by
the second line in the title, that the
sheet is of English origin. is at once
corrected by what may be described
as the imprint, though there is no
printers name, Commissions Punctu-
ally Attended To. Orders addressed
TO Colin Campbell. Club-maker, Golf
House, Leith."
So the document contains the rules
of golf as it was played on Leith links
about a century agO-Leith links,
where Charles ii, on an historic occa-
sion. suddenly abandoned his round,
on hearing the news of rebellion in
ireland, and forfeited his prize in the
match: having to choose between
losing HIS crown and his half-crown-
The sheet, which measures 1fsinches
by 8, finds room for piece OF golf
history. as well as the rules OF the
game.
Among them (the Scots) ''it has
been very ancient, for there are stat
utes prohibiting it as early as the year
1857, lest 1t should interfere with the
sport Of archery. It Is commonly
played on rugged broken ground. GOV
cred with short grass, In the neighbor-
hood OF the seashore. A field of this
sort Is in Scotland called links. The
game is generally played in parties of
one or two on each side. Each party
has an exceedingly hard ball, some
what larger than hens egg. This
they strike with q slender and elastic
club, of about four feet long, crooked
IN the head, and having lead run into
II to make II heavy. The ball, being
struck with this club, will fly to the
distance Of 200 yards There were
giants In those days also) and the
game is gained by the party who puts
his ball into the hole with the fewest
strokes.
But the game does not depend
solely upon striking the longest ball.
but also upon measuring the strength
Of the stroke, and applying II in such
direction as to lay the ball In smooth
ground whence 1t may be easily moved
at the next stroke. To encourage this
amusement, the city of Edinburgh, A.
ID. 1744, gave the company of golfers
silver club to be played for annually
by the company, the victor to append
a gold or silver ball to the prize. 1t
has been played for every year except
the years 1746 and 1747. For their
better accommodation, % members
Of the company subscribed ESQ each
in the year 176S to build q house
where their meetings might be held.
The spot chosen for this purpose was
the southwest corner Of Leith links,
where an area was taken in feu from
the magistrates of Edinburgh, and a
commodious house and tavern built
upon il"
These particulars about "the Com
rany Of Golfers" (which. is, Of course,
today's Honorable Company of Edin-
burgh Golfers) date my document
hack first Of all to 1881, when the
Honorable Company deserted Leith
links, and then further back to 1900,
when the Edinburgh council conferred
the title now used, by special charter.
1t is an assumption almost amounting
TO certainty. that Colin Campbell, an
official of the club, would never omit
from the club rules its title of hon
durable, had 1t in his time been con-
ferred. ]. c. Copper, the honorary
secretary of the club, has very cour.
teously put himself to the trouble OF
searching the records and minutes for
Colin Campbell, but without success.
However, the precise date of this doc
ument is Of less importance than the
fact that a century ago some dozen
rules were all-sufficient They con.
tain not only the germs of much in.
genious and painful modern law-mak.
ing, but everything essential to a thor.
oughly sporting match, on any links,
cid or new.
.