GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 10

GOLF.

ADVICE TO BEGINNERS. ■

Edward Ray, open golf champion, has given some advice tc beginners. Let every novioo (he says) plaoe himself in the 'bands of a. .practical man, both .as - regards ' the selection of his clubs and. foe. a course of lessons. Adopt the inter-locking grin; that is, let tho little finger of the right hand overlap tho forefinger of the left. • The righ* thumb is not lo be kept straight down the shaft, but a little on the ball side of the club. Adopt the "open" stance, with the right foot about six inches in advance,' and place the ball in a Line with the left heel, Keep your eye on : the ball. . Never over-swing; trio hands should not be allowed to risi above the shoulder; the club will still go back to its correct distance by reason of the wrist action. .:s Don't , press,; swing easily, and bo content for a while with short straight drives. Keep the body 'from swaying, and remember that the arms do the work. Keep vour head down and eye fixed on the ball, ; and this will prevent the body going back with tho club. Stand a little closer to the ball with a oleek than when using your brassjo. With all iron shots follow through wffll, and grip tightly. Do not keep the arms too far- out ;; from ; the body; rather shoul.l the right elbow be brushing against tho tide. Don't use your, Tnashie for any shot of oyer 120 yds. In using vour niblick, us© brute force, grip tight, and trust to Providence. Bay .also says: Don't 1 make an idiot of yourself by taking part in matches before you have acquired some little skill.

"GOAT GOLF." ; --My, ;;'" Goat': golf" is a term which ; has bwn applied in America to a form of competeti.in which has became very popular in the United States. The narixe, it must be admitted, is a ridiculous one,' but the competition has many good features, and has olreadv been adopted by at least one Melbourne cluo. The modus operandi • is for every member of the club who so desires to purchase from the committee a small silver badge, in America, termed a " goat," which costs about half a guinea, and bears: the initials 'of the purchaser and those of the club. . Each member owning one of these badges is entitled to. challenge any other ■ possessor of a badge, to play for it on club handicaps, and the challenged member is compelled to play within a month. The winner takes the other's badge, and may, by playing other; matches, secure any number of such trophies. Once having lost his badge a member may attempt to regain it by making a wager of a ball or two, as the committee may decide,; and playing for them' against the owner of the' badge. A player with more than ; one badge in his possession may, on being defeated, hand over someone ' else's badge -to the victor, if ho so desires. At the end of the year, or fixed term, the member who has most badges is in America termed the goatherd.- and receives a prize from the club. The club receives a fee of Is, or thereabouts, every time a match is nlayed for one ; of the badges, and is thus able to provide the subsequent prize without loss. The Melbourne Amis says that the idea is to have a trial in Melbourne. By encouraging match play, it is likely to do,a lot of good.