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

In regard to a recent newspaper dis
cussion, which took place In England,
Cecil Bancroft has a few words 10 say
In the World OF Golf which are worth
repeating and may be Of assistance TO
golfers who are suddenly assailed by
some of those charming people who
mock at our enthusiasm.
Since the amateur championship the
columns of The Times have been de-
luged with correspondence under the
heading Of Antioch" Golf and golf.
ers have been attacked and probably
more nonsense has been written about
the game during the last fortnight than
all the previous years golf has been
played. To the attacks a few replies
have been mace, those most valuable
being that Of Mr.. Darwin, rational and
pertinent to degree, showing sweet
reasonableness and the avoidance Of
extremities where others have been In.
tolerant, and that OF "A Scot who,
with fullest candor, tells the writer's
that tn alleged evils are due to the
peryersion of the game by the Saxon.
Here, perhaps, l should apologize for
begging the question, as the premise
that golf Is q game Is strenuously de-
MED, opponents deeming IL merely a
pastime. The nice distinction drawn
by them between games and pastimes
is indeed hard to define, but this much
most of the anti-golfers have In com.
mon. To constitute game a moving
ball must be struck and the player
affected by the action of the opponent
II the bail is stationary, one Is en-.
gagged In a pastime. Granted that the
rules OF golf prohibit the hitting of a
moving ball, It cannot for a moment be
allowed that what our opponent does
does not affect our subsequent action
very considerably, directly In the case
of a stymie, indirectly as regards what
policy. we should pursue. The line Of
argument Of the antigolfers can only
be applied to stroke play, and even
then cannot be fully applied, because
In many stroke competitions the player
becomes aware Of the scores handed
In and his play is affected thereby.
But cheerfully grant that the medal
play is neither game or pastime-it
Is competition, wherein the pleasure
is subsequent rather than present.
Passing from questions Of game or
pastime as being too hard to define, Is
golf q first class gamer NO." says
b. ]. BOsanquet, In a most interesting
and reasonable letter, his line OF ar
gdmeAt being that golf does not call
for physical courage and physical At.
ness as do cricket and football While
thoroughly agreeing with much that
he says. and with those others who
are opposed to golf being allowed to
play a considerable part In school
games, golf, in its serious AFFAIRS, de.
mands far more courage than its de.
tractors would allow. Although phys.
ique and training may tell less no
other game so sorely tries ones pluck,
and only those who have engaged In.
OF who have closely followed. the great
events OF golf can fully realize this
fact.
:, The very slowness of the game IL 80
trying: long delays between the
strokes permitting much Fermentation
and much irresolution. In game like
lawn tennis, the most difficult Of ell
commonly played games at which to
acduire great proficiency. the quick
ness of the intefchanges makes the
strain less. Granted that one has TO
think In fraction Of second, there
by calling for an attribute never re-
uuired at golf, there is no time for
worry. Passing from the question Of
whether golf is q firstclass or second
class game, let US examine It more SUD
jectingly Anttgolfers would have us
believe that golf Is most deleteri0us
to the human character, making us
selfish and neglectful Of our business,
.pettish: that ii panders to our worst
and nowise develops sportsmanlike IN.
stinct. These are weighty charges, the
answering Of which in detail would &C.
cupy far more space than Is fortunate
" possible.
Generally speaking; II man enters
into game In sp0rtsmanlike spirit,
the game win develop that spirit. Some
games do so more than others, cricket
and football more than lawn tennis
and golf because the former piayea col
.lectively call for esprit de corps. From
the mystical side football and lawn ten
mis- make much greater demands than
does golf. Yet despite these facts, ne
who attacks the royal and ancient
game in the right spirit can learn
MANY valuable lessons, the acquiring
Of which may or may not make him
GOOD player, but VIII certainly be none
the less valuable.
Into no other game does the element
of fortune so greatly enter, and it Is
here. that golf affords US line chance
of playing the man. The chance Is two
fold-that of rising to the occasion un'
daunted by ill-fortune. and the even
harder part of cheerful submission.
For in golf we are brought into per
sonal contact with our adversary more
than In any other game, and Il must
always be remembered that there are
two people trying to enjoy themselves
Those who attack the game In the