316 SPORTING STORIES 



was never done in less than roo strokes. In the last- 

 named year Mr Oliphant performed what was then thought 

 the extraordinary feat of holing out in 97. Up to 1855 

 that score was only once beaten, by a 90, and there were 

 only three others under 100. Mr MacGlennis won the 

 Medal with 88 in 1858 — a score which remained unbeaten 

 till Mr Horace Hutchinson made another record in 1884 

 with 87, which, in its turn, was wiped out by Mr S. Mure 

 Ferguson in 1893 with 79. 



But Allan Robertson's feats are even now spoken of 

 with awe, and his admirers will not admit that he has ever 

 had his equal. If his records have been eclipsed, it is 

 because the Links are easier and the clubs and balls better, 

 not because the skill of the players is greater than his — 

 for that could not be. Allan was wont to be up and on 

 the Links before the sun had risen, like the hero of Gray's 

 " Elegy "— 



" Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn 



Brushing with hasty steps the dews away, 

 To meet the sun upon the upland lawn." 



There, with the Links all to himself, he went conscientiously 

 over the course, picking up fresh wrinkles in every round, 

 till none could compare with him in his easy style and his 

 deadly " putting." 



Allan Robertson was never beaten. He and Old Tom 

 Morris played in a foursome for ^400 against the two 

 Dunns at Musselburgh, St Andrews, and North Berwick. 

 The Dunns won in a canter at Musselburgh by 13 holes 

 and 12 to play. At St Andrews, Robertson and Morris 

 retrieved 2 or 3 holes. When the last round began at 

 North Berwick the Dunns were 4 up and 8 to play. Allan 

 and Tom, however, by magnificent play, won the first and 

 second, and halved the third hole, won the fourth, halved 

 the fifth, and won the sixth. This made them all square 

 with 2 to play. Allan and Tom won these 2 holes and 

 the match by one of the most extraordinary exhibitions 

 of cool, determined play ever seen. Allan was renowned for 

 his coolness and nerve, and his play was never deadlier 

 and surer than when a crisis was desperate. It was said 

 of him, as " keeper of the green," that " he arranged 



