GOLF AND THE WAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 4 December 1914, Page 5

GOLF AND THE WAR.

THE POSITION «IN ENGLAND,

At the end of two months of warfare the game of aolh like most other in.---.strtßtwngi that- 'have their Muz m Britain, has settled down to m"ai»W itwlf m a 'changed siting that befitsthe period \says The Sportsman, London, of October 5). It has givent freely and willingly a worthy share" cf its resources for the country's cause;;. it has shrunk appreciably ia placer and phases, as it was only right that a pastime should do; its spirit has been modified; the grip of economy has sefc tied upon it; and yet we have not.faiv to look in order to realise that, *in spite of its necessarily and appropriately moderated appearance, it is as firm-. ly rooted as ever. That is true, indeed, of all the establishments and customs which go to make up our daily iife in the piping times of peace, and for the fact that their maintenance is possible we have to thank the finest chain of.forts and the best "frontier" m the whole world, namely, his Majesty's battleships, and the North Sea. There. is at present no means of placing on record the names of all the golfers who have gone on active service. We know.. that, apart from the countless devotees of the game in the Navy and the Army, of whom several unfortunately have already been wounded, . notably - Viscount Castlerose, who was in the Gam-'.. bridge team a year or so ago, and Captain W. Green, who won" the ArmyChampionship »in 1911, many prominent players have volunteered. There : are plenty more, less distinguished* perhaps, on the links,. but equallyvaluable for the purpose of the latest and greatest work of the nation. And yet while so many members of the/ younger generation are away, it is de- :■.; clared by people who have visited the.. popular golf courses during the recent fine week-ends that they present nothing more noticeable than the appearance of an ordinarily quiet period. They wear an air of sombreness; there are gaps here and there which would be crowded in a happier season, but the depopulation which was so emphatic when the war broke out liast given way to a policy of commonsense. Those who cannot serve haver restarted playing; the "carrying-on 1* campaign is in operation.