290 



GOLF 



GOLIATH BEETLE 



than his rival wins that hole. Now, if it is agreed 

 that the match shall fall to the player who holes 

 the entire round in fewest strokes, as in playing 

 for medals or other prizes, each stroke is scrupu- 

 lously recorded, and scored on a card ; but if the 

 match is to be yielded to the winner of the greatest 

 number of holes in a round, the number of actual 

 strokes need not necessarily be reckoned. Golf, 

 like all other games, has its especial phraseology. 



Thus, he who is 

 about to play the 

 same number of 

 strokes as his 

 antagonist has 

 already played, 

 plays the like ; 

 if he is about to 

 play one stroke 

 more than his 

 rival has already 

 played, he plays 

 the odds; if one 

 stroke less, he 

 plays one off 

 two; if two 

 strokes more, 

 two more, and so 

 on. This method 

 of reckoning, 

 though some- 

 what confusing 

 at first, is after 

 a little time 

 easily acquired ; 

 and, from its be- 

 ing universally adopted on golfing courses, should 

 receive especial attention. In the accompanying 

 illustrations the method of holding the club when 

 driving, and the swing, are shown. 



Method of holding the Club in 

 driving. 



The Swing in driving. 



To play the game of golf well requires long 

 practice, and very few attain to great excellence 

 who have not played from their youth. But any 

 one may in a year or two learn to play tolerably, 

 so as to take great pleasure in the game ; and 

 for all who have once entered upon it it possesses 

 no ordinary fascination. It has this advantage over 

 many other outdoor games, that it is suited for 



both old and young. The strong and energetic find 

 scope for their energy in driving long balls ( crack 

 players will drive a ball above 200 yards ) ; but 

 the more important points of the game an exact 

 eye, a steady and measured stroke for the short 

 distances, and skill in avoiding hazards are called 

 forth in all cases. Along with the muscular 

 exercise required by the actual play, there is a 

 mixture of walking which particularly suits those 

 whose pursuits are sedentary walking, too, on a 

 breezy common, and under circumstances which 

 make it far more benelicial than an ordinary ' con- 

 stitutional. ' 



Golf associations are numerous in Scotland, and 

 in most cases are governed by the rules laid down 

 by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews 

 ( 1754), which is the chief, and one of the oldest clubs 

 in the country. These rules have been very gener- 

 ally adopted all over England. English golfers are 

 at the same time much indebted to the exertions 

 of the late Mr George Glennie, sometime captain 

 of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club, for keeping 

 the game alive at Blackheath while for many 

 years it was imknown elsewhere in the south ; and 

 it was mainly his fostering influence which pro- 

 moted its growth on other southern greens. Many 

 professional players make their livelihood by golf, 

 and are always ready to instruct beginners in the 

 art, or to play matches with amateurs. Among 

 the most famous professional golfers were Allan 

 Robertson (died 1859), and latterly young Tom 

 Morris (died 1875). 'Amateur' and 'open' cham- 

 pionship meetings are held annually on different 

 greens in Scotland and England. The first cham- 

 pionships were held alternately by old Tom Morris 

 and Willie Park, sen., for many years. 'Young' 

 Tom Morris was the only player who, winning the 

 trophy three years consecutively, became its per- 

 manent possessor. 



For information concerning the rules of golf and the 

 history of the game from the earliest records, see Golf: a 

 Royal and Ancient Game, by Robert Clark (Edin. 1876 ; 

 new ed. 1894) ; Golfinri ( W. & R. Chambers : Edin. 1887) ; 

 The Art of Golf, by Sir W. Simpson (Edin. 1888) ; Golf 

 in the 'Badminton Library,' by H. Hutchinson, A. J. 

 Balfour, A. Lang, Sir W. Simpson, and others. 



Golgotha. See CALVARY. 



Goliath Beetle ( Goliathus), a genus of tropical 

 Lamellicorn beetles, in the sub-family Cetoniidas. 

 They are distinguished by their large size, by the 

 horny processes on the heads of the males, and by 



Goliath Beetle. 



the toothed lower jaws' or maxillae. Several species 

 frequent tropical and South Africa, and related 

 genera occur in tropical Asia. The male of the 

 largest form, Goliathus druryi, from the Gold 

 Coast, measures about four inches in length. In 

 colour, as well as size, these goliaths and their 

 relatives are splendid insects. The family Cetoniidte 



