THE ROYAL GAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5955, 21 August 1897, Page 7

THE ROYAL GAME.

[By Niblick.]

For some years past I have been, through circumstances unavoidably, familiar with the patois employed by golfers. "Warned, however, by the example of friends seized by the mania and neglecting business, family and even meals for the infatuating pursuit, 1 have hitherto resisted the temptation to add golf to my other vices. Recently it chanced I was inveigled into making a personal investigation of the game under circumstances related below, and it is for the benefit of those who, like myself, have hitherto abstained that I purpose giving a few hints which may enable them to take an intelligent interest in the ladies' tournament now about to be held in our midst.

There is probably no game so rudimentary in its scheme. A number of holes are dug, and the sole object of the player is to hit his ball in the fewest strokes into each hole in turn. The holes are so far apait thab a good player will usually take three to six strokes each to perform this feat. I happened to be staying with a sort of high priest of the craft, -who offered to give me three strokes in each' hole and play me for half-a-crown. Being blessed with plenty of self-confidence and some (theoretical) knowledge, I accepted, and should have won with the greatest ease, but for a series of most unfortunate accidents. Once my ball fell into a trout stream, and under the absurd rules I had to take it out, count two strokes and drop it-over my back, which prevented my observing a rabbit burrow. Another time it fell in a rush' clump and I was given a blunt instrument called a niblick with which, of course, II could make no impression.

I will not, however, labour an episode which I can recall with no satisfaction, but would like to explain to non-golfers some of the mysteries of scoring,' which I have myself found so incomprehensible. The first point to grasp ia that there are two modes of counting— "holes " and " strokes," analogous to runs and wickets at cricket, and tho object is to make as many holes but as few strokes as possible. Tho following score was given me by a very eminent lady player, and it will be found on examination that of the three players going round together and playing by holes that A beats B by one hole, B . beats C by a like quantity, while fi beats the redoubtable A also by one hole, and this though none of the party have tied at a single hole, and the score, by strokes is " even all."

Snrely jio apologist can stand thiß sort of thing! The game is further complicated by a pedantic adherence to the language of the Picts— who first played the game amongst their northern holes— but I would not counsel tho amateur to cumber his memory with "stymys" and "dormys/' &c, which are mostly trivial in their meaning. The sticks, too, have odd names, but these likewise can be disregarded by the lookers-on.

One word of warning. Hagley Park North -will be no place next week for people of short sight or weak head and children should bo protected in stronglyhooded perambulators. The practice on descrying a stranger is to call "Fore !" and then fire. This system of clearing the course also came from the Picts, who, however, did not wear soft heads.

Ist hole ... 5* a a' 2nd hoi* 645 3rd hole 0 5 1 .4th hole ... ■• 6 7 a sth hole ... r.v. .„. 6 5 a 6th hole ... „ 7 •'•• 4 ft 7th hole 8 q in Bthhote... "-../-■•■■. 4 5 „ 9th h01e... w, .... 4 .7 5 ','.' ' .7r, • -•■,.,,tr'? !! " 52 52.