Does Golf Girl Marry Happily?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17853, 22 May 1926, Page 11

Does Golf Girl Marry Happily?

Round on Links often Helps to Remove Little Household Cares.

(Specially written, for the «Star ” by lClea Cecil X.eitch, former British Baflles* Golf Champion.)

There was a time—not very long ago —when. Mrs Grundy looked upon women golfers with feelings of disdain. Mr Grundy's opinions were similarly unkind regarding the pioneers, who realised that the Royal and Ancient Game was, in every way, a suitable pastime for their sex. Apparently he did not object to a woman’s presence in the hunting field of on the tennis court, but he considered “the links is not the place for a woman. First, women talk too much; second, they never stand still; third, if they do stand still, the wind won’t allow their dresses to stand still.” Elsewhere, Mr Grundy expresses the opinion that ‘‘at golf, ladies are simply in the road.” During this period Mrs Grundy considered that marriage was out of the question for any woman who made golf her form of exercise. She imagined that golfers thought of nothing but the game, that they were useless as far as domestic duties were concerned, that they lost their looks owing to exposure to every kind of weather, that their whole mode of dress and behaviour was unbecoming.

Judging by the early pictures of women golfers, we must agree with that severe critic regarding clothes. A long full skirt, tightly belted blouse, stiff sailor hat, and unsuitable footwear, could not be a very attractive outfit, while it must have been a severe handicap to the player. In spite of all adverse criticism, the pioneers were undaunted, and their numbers rapidly increased, until now we find women’s golf is considered one of the subjects of public and international interest, and is given a prominent place in modern journalism. What is still more to the point, golf has been proved to be compatible with matrimony.

We have only to look down the list of entrants for the ladies’ open championship to find proof of this fact. New names appear each year, but they are mostly of those who. the previous meeting, were playing under their maiden names.

Among the spectators at any big women’s meeting there is always, a large proportion of men, who come to praise (and, in many cases, to envy) the skill displayed by those whose maternal ancestors were unwelcome on a links. To go further to show the change that has occurred, in a quarter of a century, the ladies’ open championship and other important events are always played for over the full course of a men's duty, the members of which are only too willing to place the course and clubhouse at the disposal of the competitors for a week or more. Evidence of a hyisband’s.pride and interest in his wife's play can be found

in an incident, which happened during a late round in a championship meeting.

Two spectators joined a match, in which a previously unknown player was creating a surprise by passing into the next round. One of the spectators turned to her friend and said: “Who is this woman, and where does she come from?” but before her friend could answer a man near by stated: ‘‘That’s Mrs Blank, and I am Mr Blank. ’ This case of reflected glorv is on a par with that of the man who, on marrying a well-known golfer, remarked to a pal: “I suppose, in future I shall be referred to as ——-’s husband ! ”

Further proofs of the change in the attitude towards women’s golf are to be found in the popularity of mixed foursome events. The entry for the Worplesdon mixed foursomes includes many married couples, and the readiness of the men to play in this particular event is evident by the numbers who apply for partners to be found for them.

Mrs Grundy has certainly had to alter her views about women on the links, and has recently admitted that “more marriages are now arranged on the links than in the ballroom,” despite the fact that the methods of the modern woman golfer are much more forceful than formerly. With more suitable clothes the present-day golfer is able to emulate more or less the methods adopted by the stronger sex, and the old-fashioned full, smooth swing has disappeared with the clothes of its period.

With the help of designers of golfing clothes (who are themselves devotees of the game) the modem woman golfers can be, and are, most attractively and suitably turned out. In. the-early

days women golfers must have compiled a golfing outfit from the cast-off clothes originally fashioned for less streuous pursuits.

To turn no*w to the question of character. Where better can one study this than during the playing of a round of golf ? Every good or faulty trait is eventually brought to light on a golf course. When we hear a player grumbling about bad luck, we are led to thnik (but probably refrain from saying so) that it is not so much the greatness of the trouble as the lack of spirit to deal with it, which causes the complaint. The impression left on all concerned by the player who takes the rough -with the smooth and keeps smiling when facing, fearful odds is a contrast to that left by the grumbler. There are the players whose actual play is decidely inferior to their own opinions of it, but perhaps they are more to be pitied than condemned. One of these (whose identity must be concealed behind the letter A) was readily offering to play the best player at a certain holiday resort, and freely offered strokes. A invariably volunteered the information that he always gave B (one of the best players present) two strokes. A few inquiries revealed the fact that A certainly ha.l given B two strokes a round, but during the many games played A had always been severely defeated. Apropos of which the following story may not be a chestnut. A golfer was discovered in a corner of the club room looking very depressed-. Questioned by a friend as to the cause, the golfer said that he and his partner had just come in from a round in which they were beaten. The friend expressed surprise that this should cause such depression, and was then told that the result was ten and nine. “Ten and nine?’* said the friend. “Yes,” replied the “You see, we were giving them one up.” The veracity of this story is not vouched for, but if it, and others similar, were true, golf widows would perhaps be deserving of a little sympathy, But even the golf widow is becoming extinct, and the golf widower is difficult to find. Who has ever heard of a nongolfing husband who, on marrying a golfing wife, has insisted upon her givng up the game, or vice versa? No! What usually happens is that the non-golfer of the .partnership immediately takes up the game and becomes wildly enthusiastic. It is readily admitted that a round of golf gives absolute relief from business or professional worries (or domestic cares in the case of a wife), and makes all concerned more capable of resuming their work on the morrow. In conclusion, let it be pointed out that women golfers are exceptionally versatile. Their work during the war was proof of this (if proof were, necessary), and even in these post-war days the majority of unmarried women golfers follow some profession or occupation.