GOLF POPULAR WITH WOMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 11

GOLF POPULAR WITH WOMEN.

“ IS HEALTHY FORM OF RECREATION.” (Specially written for the “ Star ” by Miss Cecil Leitch, former .British Ladies’ Golf Champion.) The increasing popularity of golf among women is little short of phenomenal, and at every’ golf club the list of “lady members” is growing annually. It is no exaggeration to say’ that for every one woman golfer, twenty’ years ago, there are now a score. The Ladies’ Golf Union embraces nearly one thousand clubs, and this total has risen from its original handful since 1893.

Golf has been made possible for the multitudes by the advent of the rub-ber-cored ball. Had the old guttapercha ball been in use to-day, very few women would have given the game more than one trial. A missed shot with the hard, unsympathetic “guttie” was a painful experience, while the knack required in the hitting of the old type of ball was not easily acquired. Particularly from the point of view’ of the weaker sex, this innovation came as a* boom and a blessing. The young

girl has been supplied with a game at which she has -a reasonable chance of becoming good, the old members of the sex, especially those unable to follow the more strenuous branches of sport, have a healthy form of recreation, from which they will always derive pleasure. MOULDS CHARACTER. But golf is even more than a game—it is a moulder of character. This remark may be said to apply to any game, but it is more marked in golf, where team play, partnership, and single combat are all embodied. In a single contest, it is one of the few games in which a player’s success is entirely dependent upon her own ability’, and this alone will always emphasise any absence of good qualities or presence of faulty’ traits. One round will provide a deeper insight into a player’s character than months of casual acquaintanceship. Those who take to the game late in life do not expect to excel, but. with young players the case may be different, and a girl who shows signs of promise after a short apprenticeship, has many temptations to resist. In the first place, she must not imagine that success in her own club events enables her to conquer all-com-ers in an open field. Over confidence is a heavy’ handicap for a young player to carry into senior competitions and the bestowal of local praise may be her undoing. For this reason, the girl’s open golf championship is a wonderful nursery. Here a competitor meets opponents of her own age, and fifteen or sixteen who qualify' annually’ should return to their home clubs with the valuable knowledge that they still have much to learn. The winner must remains conscious of the fact that, successful though she has been in this meeting, the standard of play’ was inferior to that which she must be prepared to face when she’ enters for bigger events. Any suspicion of unsportsmanlike behaviour would be nipped in the bud immediately at this meeting. Referring to golf in his very interesting "Reminiscences,” Mr S. M. J. Woods (the world-famous Rugby footballer and cricketer), writes: “To become a moderate player I thing it is the easiest game I ever attempted; to become a great play'er one of the most difficult.” There is a world of truth in this statement, as every true golfer will admit the great difference that lies between a ‘good golfer, and a ‘firstclass’ golfer. “WHEN SHE PLAYS WELL.” Among women there are any number of players capable of producing a brilliant round at intervals, but this is not good enough for a first-class qualification. The latter must produce good form consistently. One of the truest and cleverest remarks ever made in connection with this point was that of an old player who remarked, after a disappointing exhibition, in a friendly foursome, “1 have come to the conclusion that when I play well nowadays, I am off my r game.” A play’er must not regard her occasional brilliant round as her real form; it is the average which counts. The skill of a play’er is similar to thal of the proverbial chain “whose strength is equal only’ to that of its weakest link.” Those who do not take the trouble to strengthen the weakest link can never hope to reach the. topmost heights. That there must be many in this class is easily proved, otherwise the women players would furnish a greater number of first-class representatives.

This weakness is not necessarily in the actual playing of the game. It is often found in the nerve or temperament of the player. A, who may’ be a good match play’er and poor medal player; B, who is the exact opposite to A.C. who is a good foursome partner, but weak in singles; D, who is the opposite to C, would all master their individual weaknesses in temperament. A low handicap play’er should be able to play to that handicap in every’ form of the game. There is a tendency on the part of some good players to neglect the young or weaker exponents of the game. Some club and county captains are inclined to leave out of their teams the young improving play’ers, and to include in their stead those who may have gained in experience, but lost in skill. This form of training goes more to help the young players’ game and character than years of ordinary friendly matches among her local club members. If the older and better players would mix more freely with the young and weaker there would then be no cause for the public’s complaint regarding “snobbishness in sport.” In tennis or team games the inclusion of a poor performer may spoil a match, but at golf it should not affect anyone’s game to Vie opposed to, or partnered by, an inferior player.