On tie Links

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 15

On tie Links

REPLACING DIVOTS

GOLF HOGS AND OTHERS.

The Hutt Club, proposes a new step in connection with the replacing of divots question. At their next annual meeting they will consider the question of instituting a fine of 10s for each offence after any one player is found guilty of three omissions to replace divots.

One of the burning questions perpetually before club committees is that of replacing divots dug out during the execution of an iron shot. It is astonishing how even the most thoughtful and best-intentioned golfer fails in. his duty towards himself, his club mates, and the green in this matter of gathering up displaced turf and filling in the divot mark, writes a special contributor to the Melbourne " Globe."

I have used the pronoun ■" he," but I fear the ladies are not a whit better than the men in the observance of the oft-repeated behest " Please replac* divots." It is very doubtful indeed if they are not more than the menfolk. The stronger arm of the man sends the club-head right through, generally leaving a clear " skelp," but the ladies frequently just dig in their club-head, and withdrawing it leave not only a hole, but a raised little bank of turf as well, which bunkers, the ball a3 effectually as any sand hazard. And it is wonderful how often it happens that the ball finds a way into one of these tiny pitfalls. What a. happy retribution when the player is caught in his own little trap ! or never recognises it as such, and merely curses the whole mob of golf hogs for their bad manners in the most wholehearted and ingenuous way.

What ore "golf hogs" ? Luckily we have an excellent definition of one of the species from the pen of Max Pemberton, an enthusiastic follower of the royal and ancient game. " Playing upon a crowded green," says Pemberton, "the golf hog is sublimely unconscious of thos» behind him. Having missed a putt he will. try it over again, or hie partner having picked up, he decides to -finish the hole in a well-played sevens The golf hog, having lost his ball, rarely signals to the party behind to come on. The golf hog replaces .no divots. He considers that his money has gone to purchase, the links, and that he has some title to the'■ subsoil. The air is often dark with the turf he hoists, but he leaves it to rot. If his caddie does his duty by it," he swears at him for not coming on. The golf hog is never in good health when he loses a match. Lumbago, rheumtism, or something always accounts for his fa/ilure."

Pemberton has hit the golf hog hard, but the latter deserves it all—and more. It is wonderful how blood tells in this matter of the amenities of the links. Early training in the best golfing atmosphere makes for the meticulous observance of that etiquette of the golf course which goes so far to free the game from the little unpleasantnesses which so largely mar the pleasure of the average 'round. J. H. Taylor and Sandy Herd, the veteran champions, recently made a successful tour of^ the United States. For all that they are just plain professional golfers; they are gentlemen of the links. This feet was continuously commented upon by the American Press, and especially was their absolutely strict attention to replacing their divots made the subject of praise. They always either replaced the divot themselves or saw that their caddies did. These men !were brought up in a wholesome golfing atmosphere. /

Thi's atmosphere can be cultivated around any links. It rests with the leading men of each club to do it. They must set a good example to the main body of members in all matters touching the conduct of matches, deportment' during the round, the fearless administration of the rules no matter what hardship that may mean in individual cases, nor how eminent or popular the member may be who is called upon to suffer disappointment or disgrace. For besides breaches of the rules, breaches of common honesty unfortunately are not unknown on the links. Not so long ago a well-known player engaged in a match with a ''suspected person" caught the opponent in the act of kicking his ball into a better lie. A little later the opponejit asked him how many he had played. "The same as you," was thi startling reply, "three and a kick." Stern measures must be taken with such gentry, even if it were only for their own sakes, for in many cases conviction is ah essential preliminary to conversion.

But, to return to the consideration of the divot question, many devices have been suggested for the suppression of the evil An ingenious American official has tried a plan which embodied alike commands, coaxing, and commendation, and affirms that it was followed by fairly good results. He got six large notices painted, fixing one on the first tee and the others at intervals round the eouree. The first read "Divots," the second "Replace divots," the fourth "Keep on replacing, the divots," the fifth "Remind your partner to replace his divots," and the last-"Thank you. so much for replacing the divots." "

Very drastic action has been proposed by a star player who in^. this matter would make the punishment fit the crime and render the lot of the neglectful divot extractor, like that of the policeman in the play, a most unhappy one. His proposal involves' the employment of a camera fiend to follow round the players on medal day, snap a few of the deepest unfilled divot holes, and post the developed photographs, appropriately labelled, on the notice-board the following Saturday.