FOREST AND STREAM 
A New Game For Rod Casters 
Described for Forest and Stream by Benjamin M. Kutz, 
President Golf Casting Club of America. 
Casting golf, a new game, has just been evolv¬ 
ed, is attracting widespread attention and al¬ 
ready has many enthusiasts. Instead of striking 
a ball by aid of a club as in golf, the round 
piece of lead, of three or four ounces, as is 
optional with the player, is attached to a fishing 
line, which is wound around a reel and attached 
to a casting fishing rod. One might say that it 
is a captive golf ball, with the difference of pro- 
j ection. 
Holes at a designated distance have been pro¬ 
vided, as have certain hazards. Thus accuracy and 
long distance efforts are closely co-rel'ated, and 
a caster may by accuracy accomplish that which 
his limitations in casting prohibit. So far only 
four holes have been provided, thus enabling the 
course to he laid on a fairly small ground, hut the 
game is being developed as the players are at¬ 
taining the proper spirit of it. Several well 
known surf casters and golf enthusiasts have 
formed the first club, called the Golf Casting 
Club of America, with headquarters at the Staten 
Island Fair Grounds, at Grant City, S. I., and 
a number of very interesting matches have been 
played. The course is mapped out with suitable 
flags and covers a plot of ground 350 feet 
square, the reader being referred to the accom¬ 
panying diagram for the laying of the course. 
Every Sunday during the past fall and present 
winter the club has met, barring bad weather, thus 
giying its devotees all the open air and practice 
casting possible. The holes are placed 350 
feet, within one-half foot of the present casting 
record held by Dr. Carleton Simon, thus making 
each cast in the open field a practice cast for the 
record. 
The following rules have been adopted, and 
include the provisions for properly laying out the 
course: 
To play the new game of Casting Golf, a 
square plot of ground, either with or wtithout turf 
is measured, each side of such square being 350 
feet long. 
Upon each corner of such square a flag is in¬ 
serted in the ground. Over this flag an iron or 
wooden hoop is passed and laid upon the ground, 
such hoop being 18 inches in diameter. This is 
called the hole. 
A forty foot circle is drawn around the flag, 
being twenty feet in all directions from the flag. 
This is called the circle. 
From the starting hole to the first hole there 
should be a clear field. 
From the first hole to the second hole a plot 
of ground is marked off by flags, by stakes or by 
lime, to represent a river, which imaginary river 
is to be exactly 240 feet from the first hole and 
to be twenty-five feet wide, or its furthest line 
to be 265 feet from the first hole. 
From the second hole to the third hole there 
should be a clear field. 
From the third hole to the fourth hole or back 
to the starting hole, there should be a plot of 
ground marked off by flags, by stakes or by lime 
which plot is designated as the mount, and which 
should be 25 feet wide by 25 feet long, the near¬ 
est line of which should be exactly 200 feet from 
the third hole, its furthest line 225 feet from the 
third hole. 
Rules of Playing. 
The players must be provided with a rod and 
reel, the selection of three or four ounce lead 
sinker to be optional with the player, said lead 
to be oblong or pear shaped, without swivel, 
attached, but of the variety commonly known as 
bank-sinker. With such lead a linen line is to be 
used. Players may compete with half or ounce 
weight, in the event of which bait casting rod 
may be used and silk line, but such contestants 
are not permitted to compete against those hav¬ 
ing a heavier lead or salt water tackle but must 
remain in their own class. 
The least number of casts that the entire 
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25 Ft 
Diagram of the Course. 
course is covered in to be decided the winner. 
Each cast to count as a point. When the lead 
strikes the ground it is not to be pulled in any 
direction, but a bounce natural to the force of 
cast is permissible as unavoidable. Any inten¬ 
tional moving of lead constitutes foul and con¬ 
testant must go back to where the cast was made 
and forfeit one point. Any throwing off of lead 
to count as a cast, player then trying again from 
his position. Any snapping of line to likewise be 
Considered a cast. With a snarl, the player to 
accept the position where his lead strikes the 
ground. Two or three contestants may play 
for one hole, each awaiting his turn but 
must wait at the holes cast for, until it is reached 
by all players participating, thus going over the 
course together and decreasing any danger from 
flying lead. 
Manner of Play. 
Player is to cast from the starting point as 
close to the fourth hole as convenient, such start¬ 
ing being on one side of the flag, and as a hole 
is reached a similar rule to prevail. He is to 
cast in 'the direction of the first hole. Should 
his lead drop into the first hole, he is to start for 
the next hole. Should he cast within the twenty 
79 
foot circle without going into the hole, he is to 
go back to the edge of the twenty foot circle and 
then try for the hole until he succeeds in reaching 
it. He may, however, cast from any point of the 
twenty foot circle, after once going within the 
boundaries of said circle- This to apply to all 
the circles of the course. 
When he has reached the first hole he is to 
cast for the second hole in as many as he wishes 
to use. which rule likewise applies to the entire 
course. Should the player go within the boun¬ 
daries of the river, or in a line of extension of 
that river across the field, he is to forfeit bis 
cast and go back to the position of his last cast. 
The idea is to go over the river and not into it. 
When once over the river he is to attempt for 
the second hole. 
From the second hole to the third hole, is a 
clear field and when the third hole is reached, the 
player essays for the fourth hole. 
Casting from the third hole to the fourth hole, 
he must place his lead upon the mount and if he 
casts over the mount or upon the side, he can¬ 
not proceed until he has cast upon the mount, be¬ 
ing allowed to cast from any position he may be 
without the necessity of going back to'the third 
hole. From the mount he is to cast in the direc¬ 
tion of the fourth and last hole. 
[We believe that there are possibilities in this 
game. The rules as drawn apply to surf casting 
or to regular bait casting, but with a little effort 
the game might be made available for fly casters 
as well. The advantages of the game are that it 
affords pleasant practice, both as to length and 
as to accuracy and permits playing in company 
with a definite object in view. Angling clubs, or 
in fact outdoor clubs of all kind's, can easily lay 
out the course necessary within a small space of 
ground. We would not be at all surprised 'if every 
outdoor association in the country sooner or 
later would take up the new game, which affords, 
not only sport, but practice that otherwise could 
not, or would not be attempted—Ed.] 
FEDERAL GAME BILL. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
We understand that the sportsmen of Indiana, 
Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and 
Oklahoma feel they have been “handed a 
lemon’’ in the Federal Game Bill, and propose 
to get State game wardens to take some step 
to start a movement to have the Federal law 
amended so as to put these States in a third zone. 
These States have very little shooting in the fall 
and were willing to stop spring shooting, under¬ 
standing that to be April, 'but the Federal 
authorities cut out all winter shooting as well. 
There is nothing left, the sportsmen believe, ex¬ 
cept to trade their guns off for a brush pile, 
and then burn the brush pile. 
The United States District inspectors now 
claim that they are going to get yachts, to patrol 
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and state that 
they will make cases and that a few heavy penal¬ 
ties will put a stop to killing wild duck in seasons 
that are closed by the Federal law. 
This is a peculiar stand for the Federal Gov¬ 
ernment to take, as it sounds like a spirit of 
revenge by the Federal authorities rather than 
the pure enforcement of the law. It is hardly 
possible that the judges will inflict punishment 
to satisfy the deputies’ desire for revenge. 
J. R. Hickman. 
Secretary Missouri Fish and Game League. 
