The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-06
ON THE WING
Golf, Gowns, Gourds, Etc.
By JAMES H. HARD

Palm Beach, Fla.-We can hardly real ize that February in this latitude is as warm as June in north Alabama. When there are snowstorms and sleet and cold weather from Maine to Alabama, one can see here children playing out-of-doors in the sunshine, women in summer gowns, men in white duck suits and Panama hats, groups in bathing in the surf or promenading or riding in wheeled chairs down the long concrete walk under the cocoanut palms, and blossoming olean- ders, playing golf flirting.
 Palm Beach is a great place for golf CTS. The links are said to be the finest in the country, and they are usually crowded with players. As many of my friends have not yet graduated into golf, and are not familiar with the game 1t may be interesting to them to hear some thing of it.
 First, you need big field, with no glass windows in the neighborhood to be broken by flying balls if the field has some hollows or ravines in it, and few hills and streams, so much the better for then you don't have to scoop holes or heap up mounds to make the play more diffi- cult and thus test your skill On the field several hundred feet apart are cleared spaces about 10 feet in diameter, in the center of which are sunk tin cups and little red flags are stuck up so as to signal the ball to stop somewhere in the neighborhood. The game is to start at one point and drive the ball over the course, putting it into each of the nine or IS cups, successively, according to the size of the links. The one making the circuit in the fewest number of strokes is it. The game is usually played in couples, and 1t is more agreeable, al- though some consider it also more dan gerous, to have the players of different sexes. Many men prefer playing with men, because one cannot always ade- quately express his sentiments in lan- guage suitable for use in the presence of ladies.
 It Is related of Scotch minister who, in learning to play, repeatedly struck the ground instead of the ball; greatly to his chagrin, he, on account of his calling could not on these occasions prop erly express his feelings. Finally with a sigh of relief at his reaching a decision, he said: Well, 'tis no use; I'll hae to gie it up."
 What, mon, gie up gowf." exclaimed his amazed companion.
 Ma, na, not gowf; gie up the meen- estry.''
 golf ball is smaller than tennis ball and almost as hard as billiard ball. It Is painted white, so it can be easily seen, and a fairly delivered stroke will send it hundreds of yards.
 The sticks with which the ball is driven resemble an old-fashioned shinny stick. They are called drivers, brasseys and put ters, lofters and other outlandish names, and are used to drive the ball accord ing to the position in which it lays. The ball Is sometimes put on a tee, which is a little cone-shaped piece of wood. A tee is sometimes made by pinching up a little dirt and placing the ball on it so that there will be a better chance of hitting the ball and less chance of strik- ing the earth and dislocating the Eng fish language.
 A golf bag, in which the several sticks are carried, is necessary. and the carry ing of that requires a caddy or caddie, who, in addition to carrying the bag. keeps his eye on the ball and advises the golfer frequently as to how he should play.
 A caddie is usually small boy who can take a cussing without answering back and without a cadde and the ac- compartment, golf would be to some a very dull and uninteresting game.
 At Palm Beach, however, many of the