The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-21
Golf and Other Troubles
By BARRIE PAYNE
AN EASY GAME
GA page from the autobiography oi
 Mir. Layon NIcDufferl.

l7
 hesitated to take up golf because 1t looked too easy.s Knocking a little chunk of gutta percha around over two or three counties was my idea of noth- ing to do. ITO much walking to make a good game and just enough game to spoil good walk"-to quote somebody or other. @ One day. in company with another non-golfer, happened to be passing the swattaputta Golf club. we stopped to watch the players, driving off from the first tee. Three outFo of four dubbed their shots. &g.
 "A fine bunch of one-piece skulls they've got in this club" l snorted. Any man with half a brain ought to drive better than that. Hitting a golf ball is bound to he ridiculously easy. used to play baseban and I always batted like house afire."
 "A house afire is usually put out, 1" my friend suggested E Ignoring his feeble joke, I continued, Now if a man can take round bat and hit a baseball that is speeding through the air he certainly ought to be able to take a big club with flat face and hit a little ball that is lying perfectly still on the ground, All you've got to do Is to raise the club over your head and bring it down. again. I don't see how you can miss the ball, unless you're blind and sparalyzed."
 A week later accepted an invitation from golf maniac in our office and went out to play my first game
 The first hole was about two hun dred and sixty yards long, well guarded by bunkers. My friend offered to show me the correct stance. grips, and so forth. s"Never mfnd,"s I said. "that, FRz d. roA nm by the golf professionals so they can make money by giving lessons. But 1t doesn't deceive meJi,A free and natural swing is all that Is necessary"
 "All right. Bobby Jones. Go ahead and hit it your own way Let's see, you lift one oyer, that ditch"
 t'rhe only thing that worries me- announced calmly, "is the fear of over shooting the green. It's only two hun dred and sixty yards"
 I selected a heavy wooden club, teed my ball, took firm stance, glanced at the ball to note its location, then shut, my eyes, brought the club back quick ly and swung with all my might.
 What do you think happened? No, you've guessed wrong. The club struck the ball sQuarely, with terrific impact. l opened my eyes to watch it's flight. It crossed the ditch like flash of lightning, rising gradually. It cleared the far-away bunkers and came to rest on the green, a few. feet from the pin! Two hundred and sixty yards!
 Well" growled my friend, "any- thing can happen 1tn a. golf game" could see that he thought my drive was an accident. lighted a cigarette calm ly and remarked; This game is a cinch-especially ohs these short holes. I'm not exactly satisfied with that drive, however. I was a little off line, and several feet from the pin. With
 Keep quiet minute, while shoot" he interrupted.
 He topped his drive and 1t rolled into the ditch. I laughed. And you've been playing golf for eight years" I said. He smiled grimly and said nothing. He was on the green in six and took three puts. My putt was a short .one--oniy fifteen feet. I tooke butter and tapped 1t careleasly with. 5sone hand. The ball trickled into the cup.
 Well" remarked. "I suppose a two on this hole does very well for a be- ginner, what? With little practice can improve, and--"-
 Let's see what you can do on the uext one"
 The next was a longer hole-five hun dred yards. I teed my ball up, glanced