THE GAME OF GOLF

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4403, 17 March 1941, Page 8

THE GAME OF GOLF

GOLF IN WAR-TIME.

“THAT IS THE SPIRIT.” The great golf clubs, and the smaller ones, too, are feeling the effects of the war, writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne Age, under date of March Ist. Many playing members have thrown down the niblick in favour of the rifle, and those who remain in civil life have but little time to devote to their favourite game. Consequently club finances have become somewhat demoralised. Trenches run across what once were attractive fairways, for no opportunity is being given to parachutists to land their planes on a convenient golf course.

War risks have led some clubs to legislate specially in their rules, though one hardly fancies that the Royal and Ancient will do anything more than tolerate such legislation. The rules of the great game are too sacred for any interference. But one club has thought it wise to issue special instructions. It has ruled that during gunfire or bombardment from the air, players may take cover without penalty for ceasing play, and that players whose play is affected by explosion of bomb or shell, or by machine-gun fire, may play another ball from the same place, with a penalty of one stroke.

A ball removed by enemy action may be replaced as nearly as possible, or, if it is lost or destroyed, another may be dropped without penalty. Positions of known delayed bombs are marked by red flags “at a reasonably but /iot guaranteed safe distance.”

Whether there are players who will venture out when enemy planes are about is doubtful, but certainly the rules give a spice of adventure to the game additional to what it ordinarily possesses. If the war interferes with the game, then so much the worse for the war. That is the spirit.