GOLF 329 



LONG DRIVING 

 (From the Badminton Magazine*, March, 1896.) 



Error ubique patet; falsa est doctrina periti : 

 Sola fides numeris intemerata manet. 



In the great drama, familiarly known as a Round of Golf, there are many Acts, 

 each commonly but erroneously called a Stroke. Besides Acts of Driving, to which 

 this article is devoted, there are Acts of Approaching, Acts in (not always out of) 

 Hazards, and Acts of Holing-out. There is another class of Acts, inevitable as 

 human beings are constituted Acts of Negligence, Timidity, or Temerity. Of these 

 we cannot complain, and they give much of its interest to the game. A philosophic 

 professional, after missing an easy putt, put this aspect of the game in words which 

 could scarcely be improved : " If we cud a' aye dae what we wantit, there wud be 

 nae fun in't." Besides these, there are, too frequently, other Acts wholly superfluous 

 and in general injurious, to the game : Acts of Gambling, Fraud, and Profanity. 

 These, however, belong to the domain of the moral, rather than of the natural, 

 philosopher. 



Each Act of golf proper has several Scenes. An Act of Driving essentially 

 contains four; besides the mere preliminary work of the caddie, such as teeing the 

 ball (when that is permissible), handing his master the proper club, and clearing 

 loafers and nursery maids out of the way. These are : 



SCENE I. Stance, Waggle, and Swing. 



Here the only dramatis personae directly engaged are the player and his club. 

 This scene is rarely a brief one, even with the best of players, and is often absurdly 

 protracted. 



SCENE II. The Stroke Proper. 



The club and the ball practically share this scene between them; but the 

 player's right hand, and the resistance of the air, take some little part in it. It is a 

 very brief one, lasting for an instant only, in the sense of something like one ten- 

 thousandth of a second. Yet in that short period most important events take place. 

 [Sometimes, it is true, this scene does not come off at all, the club passing, instead 

 of meeting, the ball. It is called a stroke for all that, and is sedulously noted on 

 the scorer's card.] 



SCENE III. The Carry. 



Here the action is confined to the ball, gravity, and the atmosphere. The scene 

 may last for a second or two only, if the ball be topped, or if a poor player is at 

 work ; but with good drivers it usually takes six seconds at the very least. 



1 The parts in square brackets were on a first proof preserved by Tait, but were deleted 

 in the final proof. 



T. 4 a 



