OUT-OF-DOOR RECREATIONS. 



irrespective of the player, must be submitted to, 

 being considered a rub of the green. If a ball is 

 lost, the owner loses the hole. Such are the prin- 

 cipal conditions of the game. 



As so much depends upon the golfer's clubs, we 

 will here give their names, and endeavour to 

 explain the circumstances under which the more 

 important ones come into play. They are named 

 as follows : The play-club, long-spoon, mid-spoon, 

 short-spoon, baffing-spoon, driving-putter, putter, 

 sand-iron, cleek, and niblick : the last three have 

 iron heads, the others are of wood. In some links, 

 several of these clubs may be, and usually are, 

 dispensed with, and the number reduced to six 

 or seven ; but in greens such as St Andrews, 

 Musselburgh, Prestwick, and some others, they 

 all come into requisition more or less. 



The play-club, or driver, is for swiping off the 

 tee and is further used throughout the green if the 

 ball is lying fair, and the distance more than a 

 full drive between the ball and the hole you are 

 approaching. 



The long-spoon comes into play when the ball 

 lies in a hollow, or a declivity, or on slightly 

 rough grassy ground ; it derives its name from 

 having the face scooped, so as to allow of its 

 getting under the ball, and driving it forth a 

 longish distance, if well struck. This club is 

 useful, too, for elevating a ball, and driving it 

 over hazards, such as bunkers, whins, &c. 



The short-spoon is a very useful club, and is 

 frequently in the golfer's hands during the course 

 of the day. It is used for playing either good- 

 lying or bad-lying balls when within a hundred 

 yards or so from the hole ; this is termed playing 

 the ' short game.' Much depends on this short 

 game ; and many a far, and even sure driver 

 through the green has been beaten by the in- 

 different swiper but deadly short-game player. 



The putter ( as in ' but ') is a short-shafted, 

 stiff club, with a flattish head, and square face ; 

 it is used when the ball arrives within close prox- 

 imity to the hole, generally within thirty yards, 

 and is usually considered the best club for 'holing 

 out ' the ball. To be a good putter, is what all 

 golfers aim at, and comparatively few ever attain. 

 Long and showy driving is of much commoner 

 occurrence than ' deadly ' putting, and one who can 

 gain a full stroke on his opponent between two 

 far-distant holes, frequently loses his advantage 

 by missing a ' put ' within a yard of the 

 hole ! 



The sand-iron comes into play when the ball 

 lies in a 'bunker,' or sand-pit. It is a short, 

 thick-shafted, stiff weapon, with an iron head, 

 hollowed out in the centre, and somewhat sloped 

 backward. On its lower edge, it is straight and 

 sharp, which allows of its digging under the ball, 

 and pitching it out of ' grief on to grass. When 

 a ball lies in whins or other hazards of a similar 

 nature, in roads amongst 'metal,' or over the 

 head in long deer-grass or bents, the iron is the 

 best club for freeing it from such impediments, 

 and is, therefore, the one generally used. It is 

 well adapted for lofting balls over hazards. 



The cleek is not so thick in the shaft, and is 

 rather longer than the sand-iron ; it is used chiefly 

 for driving balls out, or lofting them over, certain 

 hazards that happen to lie between the ball and 

 hole near the putting green ; it is also useful for 

 putting where the ground is rough. The iron 



head of the cleek is straight in the face, and slopes 

 backward. 



The niblick is of very important service when 

 the ball lies in a cart-rut, horse- shoe print in sand, 

 or any round or deep hollow not altogether beyond 

 the player's reach, and not well suited for the 

 iron. The head is very small and heavy, about 

 one half the size of that of the sand-iron, and 

 is shaped into a hollow about the size of a 

 crown-piece, with the iron sloping slightly back- 

 ward. This peculiarity of shape enables the 

 player to raise his ball out of difficulties from 

 which no other club could extricate it, and ought 

 invariably, where there are bunkers and roads, to 

 form one of every golfer's set. 



Wherever golf is played to any extent there are 

 sure to be professionals, and into the hands of one 

 of these the tyro wishing to learn the game should 

 commit himself. This will insure him learning 

 the game in one-tenth part the time it would 

 otherwise take him, will insure for him a good 

 style to begin with, which, unless he wilfully 

 changes it, is never likely to forsake him ; and 

 besides will act as a check upon his attempting 

 too much at first. If the novice attempts to teach 

 himself, from merely observing others play, the 

 chances are that he will acquire an erroneous style 

 and false ideas that may cling to him. Should it 

 be impracticable to obtain the services of a pro- 

 fessional, the learner may consider himself fortu- 

 nate if he is taken in hand by some friend who 

 knows and practises the game well. Should he 

 lack the services of both professional and friend, 

 his difficulties are much increased, but may be 

 lessened by attending to the following directions. 

 Practise with short clubs at first, as they insure 

 the steadiest play. Wear shoes with strong nails, 

 to insure a firm footing on the grass ; and if your 

 hands are tender, wear an old pair of kid gloves, 

 of not too tight a fit. 



The true method of handling the club will be 

 seen at a glance in the subjoined figure. Let the 



Fig- 15- 



wrists be free, and grasp your club with moderate 

 pressure, but not tightly ; in striking, or swiping, 

 as it is called, the eye must never for a single 

 instant wander from the ball, and the club should 

 be swung with moderate speed over the right 

 shoulder, and brought down quickly to the ball 

 three-fourths of a circle being described by the 

 action. This mode of handling and swinging 

 should be practised before attempting to strike 

 a ball. Never exert your whole strength in 

 delivering a swipe ; golf is a game of skill 

 and nice art, not one of brute force, and if too 

 much force be used, the chances are that you 



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