Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-09
GOLF GOSSIP


many years ago-when those who
were interested in the more violent
forms OF athletic pastimes were not a
little inclined to look down upon the
royal and ancient game as merely a
form of exercise for the elderly ath-
Iete," writes Harold Hilton in Golf H.
lustrated only some Is years ago
we had occasion to be travelling in
railway carriage with a very noted
crieketer. The month was December.
and the point to which We were both
travelling was one not altogether I'M
associated with a famous golf links.
In the course of conversation the eriek-
eter was asked whether he ever en-
ployed his time in playing golf when
in the vicinity of these famous links.
With somewhat deprecatory smile he
replied, NO. have not got down to
that yet" 1t was a remark made in
all sincerity and good faith, and was
in no way meant as a gratuitous slight
on game in which he knew well that
the other was a persopage of some i'm
portance. He was simply viewing 1t
from the standpoint Of so many noted
athletes in the past-that the game Of
golf could not be classed in the cate
CORY of violent form of physical rec
reation, and must therefore be consid-
cred game suitables only. for those
who were past their athletic prime.
In the years Of long ago, how many
times have we heard those who played
cricket, and even those who played
lawn tennis, remark that there was
plenty of time for them to begin play
ing golf They have since had ample
opportunity to discoyerer the error of
their views. We now hear them con-
tinuoHsly lament that they did not
take up the game earlier in life. 81
shall never be any real good at the
game now, as took to It too late" Is
the lament of many an athlete who in
his younger years regarded the game
|of golf with amused and tolerant con.
tempt. .g-..s~ +
But during recent years the opinions
Fof the sathletie world have materially
changed. and there are very few am
ateur cricketers nowadays who are not
on more than nodding terms with the
royal and ancient game. In truth,
many of our very best players have
been recruited from the cricket field
and the tennis courts That these
recruits. when taking up the game.
hold am advantage ever those who
have never previously l36en accustomed
to sport admits Of little doubt, as al
though they may be prone to many
faults. due to having served their APP
premiership in pursuit of other pas
times, still they have the inestimable
advantage of knowing how to hit q
ball. and that stands them in good
stead in their earlier golfing days.
To. prove this one has only to watch
two recruits tosthe game. one of whom
has played cricket and the other who
has not previously taken part in any
form of athletics The former may
swing the club somewhat clumsily, but
he will nevertheless swing it to some
purpose; he finds no. difficulty what
ever in making at least a valiant effort
to hit the ball very long way. On
the other hand, the non-athletic indi-
yidual more often than not has not
the faintest idea of how to place him.
self in position In order to hit the ball;
and even when he Is placed by his
mentor In a more or less correct atti-
tude he will be found to. be singuIarly
wanting in the knack of knowing how
to take the club back in order to lift
at the ball. He has to be taught how
to hit, while the cricketer knows all
about that, and the main task for him
is to discover the distinction between
hitting ball in. motion and hitting
ball at rest. .-.- 81: $50. Z -....s... I'D
What chiefly appeals to the athletic
recruit to the game is the extraordi-
nary complicated difficulties of game
which at first sight appears so simple.
To hit moving bah requires quick
ness of eye and, moreover quiekness
of motion: hitting a stationary ball
requires neither of these attributes,
and is therefore a task which would
appear to be comparatively simple
But it is this very simplicity which
serves to deceive the would-be player,
and at first he can not understand
why, with everything in his favor, he
fails to hit the stationary object. 1t is
just this difficulty which is mainly re-
spensible for so many devotees of
other pastimes deserving their old
loves and taking to the comparatively
sober game of golf. which at one time
they were prone to look down upon
as. unworthy; of the consideration of
man who could still run smartly be-
tween the wickets or play hard five.
set match at tennis
We believe We are not far wrong
when We say that If the same opportu-
mites were accorded the general pub
lie for the playing of golf as are grant
ed to those who wish to play cricket
and other sports. it might become the
game most generally played in the
United Kingdom. Whether it will ever
be possible to afford these facilities is
a point on which We will not venture
to pronounce an opinion