GOLF.

New Zealand Mail, 8 February 1900, Page 48

GOLF.

A GOLF STORY. At a meeting of the Tooting Bee A Golf Club, of which Mr Balfour was af;A one time the captain, a remarkably good story was told by air Outlining” Map; ; dona, M.P., in proposing the health of,-v the chairman. Mr Maedona narrated!' how he managed to make goll known in?.; Texas, and obtain a goir link. The 4 words of the hon gentleman, as reported in “Golf” are as follows: —“When I got ‘ to San Antonio, I looked about to see-C whether a suitable place could be pro - cured to serve as golf links. The grass there was strong and! high, and it was > nob easy to find a spot readily suitable for the game. But, after some explo- - ration and survey, I thought I saw a - place in San. Antonio which would do • for golf links • but unhappily it was used!for other purposes. It was” the military parade ground; and I had great diffiYfaculty in convincing the cavalry officer in'Ncommand that the parade ground could not be put to anything like an adequate Av use-until it was made into a golf course: - But I was determined to have that pa; ’ rade ground at all costs. I was told that the commanding officer was suffer-% ing from illness. I made myself known J to him, and told him that 1 was sorry ? to hear that he was a sufferer. ‘Oh he said, ‘l’m so bad that I shall in all probability have to resign my command I N J have tried every remedy.’ I said to . him, ‘I do not think that you have tried C golf’ ‘What is golf?’ ‘ I said ‘Golf is the best cure for your ailment that I ?. : know.’ He said, ‘I will take golf with the greatest pleasure; order me a dozen.’. I then tried to explain the' mysteries of the game, and said, ®" Uolonel, if you wish to add fifteen years to your life, try golf. You have only K to buy a few white balls.’ ‘‘Yes ’he * quickly rejoined, ‘I have taken so man/ white balls that there is no effort now required in taking them.’ As I had @1 my clubs with me, I called upon the colonel next morning, and we went to the parade ground. When we sallied % forth, a sentry in full marching order saluted us. The weather was hot and sultry, and I marvelled at the patient..' endurance of the sentry, who was ;!; biougnt along with us to witness' his:-.', commanding officer’s first game of golf n Ai uved at what we decided to consider our first teeing-ground 1 showed the 1 colonel the preliminary waggle of tho . club ami how the ball was to be struck, l <-hen hit off a good tee shot. The' :• oolonel gave orders to the sentry to go - and bring the ball; but I romonstrat- C. ed, and asked that he should be allow- ' ed to go and mark its position. This L the sentry was told to do ;and when . ®?/ dler to the ball, he saluted ltary A s , hlon Wlth the greatest ! gravity, and then stood beside it t* m order to show its position. The colonel attempted to follow suit to mj . tee shot; but like, most beginners, he ' foded lamentably. A second shot scar- : waf wl t\more success, and a divot M £% du g out behind the ball; but oven- ! shot *xr C 0 hit a gopd square tee w Umr i fj 6 was anxious that the sen- .- wy should go and bring back the balls; AfH him that we must follow • ji , a , nd Ph*y m the same fashion until tk! V s r oached. The delight of f rrrATf o °Ael on hitting the tee shot was . Bio , a Tu having to play, as it were, . full i scntr y again walked oil in V ; LUlmarching order and saluted the ball T to YL y , hall was lying a little .. took- fhe colonel’s; and, as I hcassie for tho second shot, I overran the hole. To my ntenso astonishment, the sentry, in sa_i a? e j and without moving a mushls face, said’ in the broadest of sffi Scottish Done, ‘Eh, mon, but ye ccht .' tae hae ta en yer cfeok tae that!”