COURTESY COSTS NOTHING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21064, 16 June 1938, Page 9

COURTESY COSTS NOTHING

Common Fault In South Canterbury Signal Through Should Stand Is there anything more exasperating on the links than to be called through by a four ahead only to find that a lost ball is suddenly found and the four who did the calling again take up the running? And how’ often does this happen on the courses in South Canterbury! There is no rule on the subject and there should be no need for one. Courtesy should be placed far above hard and fast rules, because is there not a great deal in what has been said by a well-known authority “that the quality of a golf club is known by the etiquette of its members on the links?”

The other day at Highfleld and this is only one of dozens of similar instances on the course this season—a four were playing Lindsay’s and another four were ..ooling their heels on the tee and probably blessing the four ahead, one of whom was “lost.” There was general relief when the player who was hunting in the rough for his ball did the right thing and called the me., on the tee through. No sooner had the signal been given, however, when he found his ball and his partners in the hunt hurried to their lies and resumed play. Only the fusilade from the men behind made them realise that the four called through meant to take full advantage of the chance and the erstwhile hunters had to give up and rather unwillingly acknowledge the greetings and thanks of the four who had rightly been given access. The Easier Way How much easier and how much more pleasant it would have been it they had not carried on after calling their clubmates through! Most golfers dislike losing their places on the links, no golfers like losing a ball and no golfers like being held up. But there is only one correct ethical and practical solution, if a ball is lost and a reasonable time is spent seeking it without success, the four behind must be called through and allowed to go through without resumption of play by the four in front. If any of the four behind become “lost” the obvious thing to do is to signal the four in front on again. There should be no hesitation about giving the call through. Cases 1 have been known, and not irfrequently, of a player who has given the through signal to be subjected to mild abuse by his partners for not holding the four behind up a little longer in a hope that the ball would be found. The player, however, need have no worry about such an action as courtesy is one of the biggest things in golf and soars far above pettiness. Is it not just as easy to look for a ball while others are continuing an enjoyable game? Points Worth Considering While talking about etiquette the following points are all worthy of consideration, especially by beginners, who, if they observe them carefully, will worthily uphold the traditions of a truly great game. (1) Keep still and don't talk when a shot is being played. (2) Don’t stand immediately behind a player, or on the line of his putt.

(3) Don’t tee your ball until your turn to drive. Always wait until the player furthest from th” hole has played, before going ahead. (4) Move entirely off the green as soon as your match has holed out. If the match is won before you have holed out, pick up your ball and move off unless playing for medal score. (5) Never play into the match ahead, unless, having the right, you have signalled them you will play through. <6l Provided there is a clear hole ahead of you, you must not clog the course if the match following you is waiting to go through, but beckon them to go through. Do the same in the event of a lost ball. (1) When a match plays through you, do not resume play until they are out of range. (8) Replace grass divots you cut. (9) Do not constantly complain of your hard luck, bad lies, etc. The average is generally about the same. <lOl Remember that a single player has no rights on the links. GLEN-ITI CLUB The qualifying round for men will be played during the week-end. The draw as made for last v>eek will apply. Starting times will be Glen-iti 8.50 a.m. and Seaview 8.45 a.m. The team to play Temuka at Temuka on Saturday will be: Baigent, Enting, Faulls, Grant, J. Menzies, senr., D. Menzies, J. Menzies, junr., Parker, Price, Provan, Stafford, Struthers. Tlie ladies competition on Saturday will be a bogey match and the draw will be Tnade at the club house.