GOLF. NOTES BY BULGER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 36

GOLF. NOTES BY BULGER.

One of the ohief fads of the golfer is the ball. Every year one hears of a new ball whioh is going to eclipse all previous efforts. Massy, the open champion, recently made a test of some of the most popular balls now in use at Home. Ten balls of each make were driven by him indiscriminately off the tee. The wind was slightly favourable, but tie ground was spongy after heavy rain, and the average run of the ball after pitching was only five yards. This test took two and a-half hours, and the distance was most carefully measured. Massy was dissatisfied with only about 12 drives during 1 all this time, and these particular shots were not taken into - account. The best average was 228 yards with the Profession ale (red dot). The Kite was 225, Spatding (black-and-white) 222, Colonel 218, Buzzard 215, and the other nine kinds varied from 221 to 213 yards. The ignorance of the rules amongst good players— -especially amongst professionalsis amusing, as is shown by a report of a recent match between Arnaud Massy (open champion) and Sandie Herd. Mubsy's ball , was lying two inches from the hole when | Herd played and hit it away, leaving his (Herd's) ball a stymie to Matsv. Massy at once took his mashie and tried to loft the stymie, failed, and lost the hole. One would think the open champion ought io know that he could replace his ball from. where Herd strucSc it, and had no 6tymie, but a certain putt. The movement io create golfing societies, which has been such a conspicuous feature of development in the game during the past_ few years, is tloubtlo&s inspired more lyy its social than by its scientific spirit. Members of the learned professions, graduates of the universities, professional men occupied in a special form of business, find that the game is as good for the fostering of the social pleasures of life as it is for the maintenance of health. With the increasing deevlopment of the game it was soon made evident among the member* of the Bar. the solicitors, tho doctors, V_e ministers, the teachers, the county cricketers, the i army and the navy, the stockbrokers, Mincing- Lane, Lloyd's and Licensed Victuallers, the actors and the musicians that there were enough players in each section to form a. golfing sooiety wholly representative of the professional body. That move- j ment has grown rapidly within the past two ! or three years and the pro«peot is all in j thd direction of seeing the number of these I societies multiplied. ' Though the object which leads io the formation of the9e societies may not be plainly confessed in the articies of their constitution, there can be no question that the principal incentive is to create a bond of social union, mingled with ajittle wholesome rivajiy of skill in the chosen pastime, j In tbii view of their jnissioa there ia *k> ;

doubt that the members are keeping alive one of the most valuable benefits to be extracted from the game. The members of each society may be all members of clubs scattered widely .ipart, with rare opportunities of meeting one another except in* a hurried hour of transacting business. The social side of each member is merged in the conduct of practical affairs — the lighter side of personality has no chance of being shown. But when the members of a profession band themselves into a, golfing society the aim is to become "as sociable as a basket of kittens." Anyone who has listened to tho speeches at their golfing dinners is strongly impressed with that aspect of their corporate activity in promoting the cause of golf. These societies have no course of their own whereon to hold their competitions, either among themselves or against kindred societies. They play their matches and their competitions here, there, \and everywhere, being inindebted for "the courtesy of the green" to one or other of the principal olubs in possession of good l courses. When the society's oup is won or when a team match is played, then it is that frolicsome quip and crank are exchanged, and " laughter holds both its sides." New friendships are created, and old and almost forgotten ones renewed by a firmer link; and when the speeches are made at the annual dinners one can hoar drop from the lips of Successive speakers sentiments expressive of what an unspeakable blessine golf has been in lubricating the social intercourse among the members of their own society as well as those belonging to kindred professions. It is a pleasing relief, therefore, to find that there is no present danger of the social side of the game being overwhelmed by the hardening tendency simply to play a round with the matter-of-fact desire to take a little exercise with any stranaer who may opportunely turn up at the club, or practise exclusively with the aim of winning the club medal or cup. The formation of such societies carries with it no danger to the game. Such societies threaten the rule of no authority, and they do not meddle in what some may be disposed to look upon as the high politics of the game. Rules and other aoute problems arc not suffered to vex their spirits. The game is played with abandonment of reserve, and with the one i>ervadsng hope that the day's recreation will bring with it abundance of ; health, toy, and ease of mind. In pursuing ' that policy these golfing societies are really taking one baok to the more free-and-easy times of the old golfers, whose great contentment was after a hard day's olay. to make a loni? sittiner and to ioast the (?olf green, which was the source of all their \ enjoyment. — Field. j