Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-07-28

washington. July 2s.--Evcr plny
auction golf7 II Is a game Oh s',"'
possjbilIties. IL ~ the newest Nhr"
ton OF the ancient and honorapie epoi.
tina, Ia acclaimed one of Scotlhnds
two grestest contributions to mankind
n was invented by one Of those rest
less souls who are always seeking ne"
thrills or a little extra KICK IN "hh'-
ever they door imbibe. mo loenIi'y
Of the inventor cannot be herhioeo W
an anxious world, but one or these
days fame will seek him out n pfass
plate will mark the spot wnefe ne
first teed off In this vale OF tears
and monument will be erected "nere
he dropped his last putt.
Compared with auction golf the olo-
time nassau is fiat. insipid and aito-
gether Volsteady, while the conVen-
,ionsl ls-hole match in as penny-ante
TO table stakes poker.
Bridge. plnochle and pitch players
will recognize Immediately that when
you add the auction feature TO goh
you have introduced o. highly specula-
tive element into an otherwise staj1
pastime. They will grasp the idea
and possibilities OF the new game TO
others II will he necessary to give
somewhat detailed explanation
Auction golf may be played as a
/ twcsome, but II is essentially a four
ball match. when partners have been
arranged. the pair having the honor
on the first tee make a bid for the
first hole. That In to say they an
nounce that they are prepared TO con-
tract 10 play the FIRST hole with a Ger
tain aggregate scOre Their opponents
may then hid one less. may permit the
original bid TO stand or may double
that bid In any event. the bidding
continues until one pair In satisfied
to let the other have the contract
In case Of n double there may DO a
e-double, and unless a limit has been
fixed, tho re doubling may be carried
on until one side weakens.
a contract having been established,
play begins. The pair that has the
contract strives to play the hole in
the stipulated number n strokes, or
less. II they make their contract they
collect the amount Of tho agreed
, stake. II they mako the hole in one
stroke less than their contract. they
| collect double the amount Of the
stake II they fail 70 make their con-
tract by one stroke. their loss Is
double the stake. II they fail by twr
strokes. II is four times the stake
! All settlements. of course are subjec'
. to whatever doubling or re-doublinf
e there may have been on the tee
Complicated But Sporting.
Thus auction golf is seen to h
complicated but sporting--"Not 81
= dusty" as the latest English slant
has H. II IS apparent that an erro
:. Of judgment in bidding. or a bit O
a hard luck--a bad break--in the play
4 will lead TO disaster. On the othe
= hand. however. sound bidding ant
!. steady playing will bring homo IN
Il bacon
L a concrete example may serve bet
ter TO elucidate the finer points O
the game, A and are playing and
and D and have the honor on the frs
tee. The first hole is a par four.
Is a consistent four-getter on Numbe
One, while r usually requires a Ave
Il Accordingly they bid nine for the hol'
It G and d are feeling a bit chesty thi
ir afternoon, thank you. and they bi
y eight. Just 10 put a little pep into th
al game at the very outset A and
l. double. c and d decide 20 let the cor
D tract stand without a re-double.
l. Right here It will he objected tn;
~ A and 3 have nothing 70 play for. 4;
he their play would not affect their o.
d. ponents who have the contract, al
the game would become one whe
only one pair played out each hol
81 However, the ingenious individual wi
'S' invented auction golf has made pr
vision for that objection. There Is
81 best ball stake on each hole. It shOu
be at least twice the auction stah
Then. II the bidders are doubled, or r
~ doubled. the best ball stake Is increa
ad ed proportionately.
\ This gives A and 3 something
play for to offset losses in event
oe and D make their contract, or to !
he crease their winnings If the bidde
are set. OF course the bidders nj
win the best ball stake. as well as tht
~ contract. or they may lose their co
no tract and still save something out
to the wreck by having the best ball.
= Bookkeeper Not Needed
III Ofhand 1t would appear that an e
pert bookkeeper would be required
keep the scores and figure out the vi
- ners and losers after the match
, over. but such Is not the case. tt
Is obviated by the simple expedie
of having each player carry a certa
II number OF markers which have val
II corresponding 10 the agreed stal
/ Settlements can thus be made aft
4 each hole Is played out, and no boo
4 keeping Is necessary.
II Advocates OF auction golf ella
h many virtues for 1t aside from
|. speculative feature. They say ii
/ 1t tends 10 make players more cons,
L vative and decidedly more careful
their play. is a splendid test Of nerN
and at the same time calls frequen
! for brilliant and spectacular golf
II One who has not yet tried the n
game Is inclined TO agree with III
/ at least in so far as the nerve I,
II part Of 1t goes. Think Of the ord