REFLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS
Good golf to come--Giants of the past--The amateurs of to-day--The
greatness of "Freddy" Tait--Modern professionals--Good sportsmen
and good friends--A misconception--The constant strain--How we
always play our best--Difficult tasks--No "close season" in
golf--Spectators at big matches--Certain anecdotes--Putting for
applause--Shovelling from a bunker--The greatest match I have ever
played in--A curious incident--A record in halves--A
coincidence--The exasperation of Andrew--The coming of spring--The
joyful golfer.
I think that every good golfer of experience reflects upon his past
history with mingled pleasure and sorrow--pleasure when he calls to mind
all the many glorious matches in which he has taken part, and sorrow
when the thought arises that all that golf has been played and done
with, and can never be played again. But we have all this abiding
consolation, that even if we cannot retain our very best form to the end
of our days, we can hope still to play a good game to the finish, and
there is the heroic example of rare old Tom Morris to stimulate us in
this hope. Much is given to golfers,--perhaps more than to the
participators in any other sport,--but they are rarely satisfied. The
wonderful fascination of golf is indicated in this eternal longing for
more. Sometimes when I glance over the records of the history of the
game, I feel a twinge of regret that it was not possible for me to play
with, or even to see, such giants of the past as Allan Robertson, David
Strath, the Dunns, Willie Campbell, Willie Park, senior, or the famous
young Tom Morris. Golf is great to-day, but it must have been great in
those days also, even if there was less of it than there is now.
But I have had the good fortune to play with all the well-known amateurs
and professionals of my own time, and it is pleasant to think that they
are nearly all still alive, and that therefore I may sometime or another
play with them again. There is one great exception--Mr. Fred Tait, who
was killed in South Africa. I don't think anyone could ever have the
smallest doubt about the reason for his enormous popularity. I had the
delight of playing against him two or three times, and I thought that he
was not only a very fine golfer indeed, but one of the very finest
gentlemen that I could imagine. It is something for me to remember that
I played in the last important match in which he figured before he went
out to the war--an international foursome, England _v._ Scotland, that
was played at Ganton, Willie Park and Mr. Tait representing Scotland,
while Mr. John Ball, junior, and I were for England. From all the
amateurs with whom I have ever come in contact I have always received
the very greatest kindness and encouragement, and I do not know a single
one with whom I would not like to play again some day or other. It has
always seemed to me that there is something about golf that makes a man
a good fellow whether he is amateur or professional.
I wish to speak in the same way about my professional brothers as I have
done about the amateurs. I have always found them all first-class
sportsmen in the strictest and best sense of the word, and some of the
best friends I have in the world are among them. There are some very
fine players among the professionals of to-day. I have often watched and
greatly admired the splendid skill of such friends and constant
opponents as J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Alexander Herd, Jack White, and
many others whose names would fill a page, not forgetting my own brother
Tom. I have from time to time been indebted to many of them for various
acts of kindness. There is a fine spirit of freemasonry amongst us
professionals. Whenever we play against each other each of us does his
level best to win, and gives no quarter with a single stroke, but it has
been my invariable experience that when the match is over the loser is
always the first to congratulate the winner, and to do it not as a mere
matter of form but with the very utmost sincerity.
And here I should like to say a few words with the object of removing a
misconception which still seems to linger in the minds of followers of
the game. "Dear me, Vardon, what a grand time you fellows have,
travelling all over the country in this manner, and doing nothing but
playing golf on the very best courses," is the kind of remark that often
greets me when I have just returned from playing in one match or
tournament, and am due to start for another in a day or two. But I am
not sure that we have such a grand time as those who say these things
seem to think. We enjoy it just because we enjoy everything connected
with golf, and particularly the playing of it; but playing these
exhibition matches is not quite the same thing as going away for the
week-end and having a quiet round or two with a friend, however hard you
may try to beat him. Some people entertain a fancy that we do not need
to strain ourselves to the utmost in these engagements, and that
therefore we take things easily. I can answer for myself, and I am sure
for all my brother professionals, that we never take things easily, that
we always play the very best golf of which we are capable, and that if a
championship rested on each match we could not play any better. It must
be remembered that when we are invited by any club to play an exhibition
match, that club expects to see some golf, and thus it happens that the
fear of a great responsibility is always overhanging us. We dare not
play tricks with such reputations as we may have had the good fortune to
obtain. We are always well aware that there are very good golfers in the
crowd, who are watching and criticising every stroke that we make.
Therefore we keep ourselves in the very best of condition, and do our
utmost always to play our best. How difficult is our task when sometimes
we are not feeling as well as we might wish--as must occasionally
happen--I will leave the charitable reader to imagine. Has he ever felt
like playing his best game when a little below par in either mind or
body? This is where the really hard work of the professional's life
comes in. There is no "close season" in golf, as in cricket, football,
and other sports. When a cricketer plays indifferently, after two months
of the game, his admirers cry out that he is stale and needs a rest. But
there are eleven players on each side in a cricket match, and constant
rests for all of them, so that to my mind their work is very light in
comparison with that of the golfer, who enjoys no "close season," and
has all the work of each match on his own shoulders. Surely he also must
become stale, but such a state on his part is not tolerated. Again, one
often hears that a certain match between professional players has been
halved purposely--that is to say, that it was an arranged thing from
start to finish. Such things may have happened in other sports, but take
it from me that it never, never happens in golf. One man never plays
down to another, whatever disparity there may be in their respective
degrees of skill. It does not matter how many holes one is up on one's
opponent; there is never any slackening until the game has been won. It
makes no difference if the man you are playing against is your very best
friend or your brother, and one has sometimes to pass through the trying
ordeal of straining his every nerve to win a match when in his heart of
hearts, for some particular reason, he would like the other man to win.
I intrude these affairs of our own in these concluding reflections only
for the purpose of indicating that, though we love our game and always
enjoy it, professional golf is not quite the same thing as that played
by amateurs, and must not be judged from the same standpoint. I think it
is because of this continual sense of a great responsibility, and the
custom and necessity of always--absolutely always--trying to play our
very best game, that the leading professionals are constantly a stroke
or two better than the most skilful amateurs, even though the latter
practise the game quite as much, and have apparently just as much
opportunity, or even more, of making themselves perfect.
I have mentioned the spectators. I have generally found the crowds who
follow a big professional match round the links both highly intelligent
and exceedingly considerate. But sometimes we overhear some strange
things said. Taylor and I were once fulfilling an important engagement
together, and when my opponent had a particularly difficult shot to
play, two ladies came up quite close to him and persisted in talking in
a loud tone of voice. Taylor waited for a little while in the hope that
their chatter would cease, but it did not. Then, in a feeling of
desperation, he attempted to address his ball; but the task was
hopeless. The conversation went on more loudly than ever, and he was
doomed to certain failure if he attempted his stroke in these
circumstances. So he stood up again, and looked round in the direction
whence the voices came. "Oh," said one of the ladies then, "you can go
on now. We've quite finished." We must be thankful for small mercies.
James Braid and I were once playing down at Beckenham. At one of the
putting greens we were both a long way from the hole. My ball was a
trifle the more distant of the two, and so I played the odd, and managed
to get down a wonderfully fine putt. Then Braid played the like and
holed out also. These were two rather creditable achievements with our
putters. When his ball had trickled safely into the hole, and the
spectators were moving towards the next tee, Braid and I were amused,
but not flattered, by the words of a man who was speaking to a friend in
such a loud voice that we could all hear. "Oh," he exclaimed
deprecatingly, "those fellows only do that sort of thing for the sake of
the applause!" How happy we should be if we could always make certain
of those long putts without any applause at all! It was with Braid also
that I was playing in a match at Luton towards the close of last year,
when I overheard a singular remark. I happened to be bunkered at the
fourteenth, and took my niblick to get out, but lost the hole. We walked
on together to the next tee, and Braid was taking his stance when we
heard two gentlemen eagerly discussing and explaining the recent bunker
incident. Evidently one of them was supposed to know something of golf
and the other nothing at all. "You see," said the former to his friend,
"there is really no rule in the matter at all. Vardon or any other
player could have used a shovel in that bunker and have simply shovelled
the ball over on to the other side." I was surprised that Braid got his
next tee shot in so well as he did. And how very often have I heard the
question asked in the crowd, "Why do those fellows chalk the faces of
their clubs?" and how invariably has the answer been, "So that they can
see afterwards where they hit the ball!" When I write my recollection of
these things, I do not wish it to be imagined that I am making any sort
of accusation against golf crowds generally. They are excellent from all
points of view; but it must inevitably happen that there are some people
among them who know little of the game, and others who do not appreciate
what a trying ordeal a hard-fought match usually is.
Such questions are often put to me as, "Vardon, what was the greatest
match in which you ever played?" or, "What was the most extraordinary
occurrence you have ever seen on the links?" and so forth. They are
questions which it is difficult to answer, for is not nearly every match
that we play brimful of incident and interest, and at the time do we not
regard many of the incidents as most extraordinary? It would, then, be
too serious a task to attempt a selection from such a huge mass. But,
looking back over the last few years, it seems that my L100 match with
Willie Park is that which remains uppermost in my mind, and the one
that I am least likely to forget. There was more talking and writing
about it than about any other match in which I have played. The
"gallery" that followed this match was the greatest I have ever seen or
heard of. And as I am questioned also about the curious and the singular
in golf, I may say that there was a coincidence in this game that struck
me at the time as being quite unusual. In a closely-fought match it is
often interesting to notice how nearly each player's ball often follows
the other. Frequently they are side by side within one or two clubs'
length after the drives from the tee. But in the first stage of this
match against Park, after he had driven a long ball from the tee at the
eleventh hole, I drove and my ball pitched exactly on the top of his!
The Messrs. Hunter were kindly serving in the capacity of forecaddies,
and they were both positive upon this incident. My ball after striking
his rebounded slightly, and then stopped dead about two feet behind. Its
position rather affected my follow-through, so that I duffed my stroke
and lost the hole. This record--if it was a record--was also the means
of eclipsing what I believe was another record in first-class golf. The
first ten holes in this match were halved, and it was the incident of
which I have just been speaking and the duffed stroke that followed it
that led to the breaking of the sequence.
"Now, Vardon, how often have you holed out in one?" they ask me also,
regardless of the fact that this event demands not only a perfect shot
but a perfect fluke, and that the professional player is no more likely
to accomplish it than anyone else. Well, I have only been guilty of this
fluke on one occasion--and that was not so very long ago--and when it
happened it was at a hole a little over two hundred yards in length. On
one occasion, also, I have enjoyed the coincidence of holing out with my
mashie approach at the same hole twice in one day. That was in the
course of a tournament at Elie, in which I had the good fortune to
finish first. As it happened, Andrew Kirkaldy, who hoped to end high up
in the list, was my partner for the first round, and it came about also
that he was watching me play when the holing-out process was
accomplished for the second time. Then he lifted up his hands in horror
and delivered himself of his famous remark, "Ye're enough to break the
heart of an iron ox!" During the last round of this same tournament
Andrew, who was playing some holes behind me, and was then himself in
the running for the first place, was kept posted up by a friend as to my
score for each hole. He did not seem to derive much encouragement from
the reports, for when the last one was carried to him he asked the
friend who brought it if he thought that there was nobody who could play
golf besides Vardon, and intimated at the same time that if anyone else
brought him any more of those tales he would strike him with his
niblick! Of course we all know what a really fine fellow is Andrew
Kirkaldy, and how much poorer the golf world would be without his
presence and his constant humour.
And now I think I have holed out on the last green and this long match
is finished. After all it is better to play golf than to write or read
about it. What anticipation is more gloriously joyful than that of the
man who handles his driver on the first tee on a bright morning of the
spring-time! He has all the round, and all the day, and all the spring
and summer and autumn before him. And at this moment another spring is
breaking brightly, and the golf that is before each of us promises to be
as momentous and soul-satisfying as any that has gone before.
APPENDIX
THE RULES OF GOLF
_Authorised by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews,
revised by the Club to September 27, 1904, and in force at the date
of publication of this work._
1. DEFINITIONS.--(_a_) The Game of Golf is played by two sides, each
playing its own ball. A side consists either of one or of two players.
If one player play against another the match is called a "single." If
two play against two, it is called a "foursome." One player may play
against two playing one ball between them, when the match is called a
"threesome." Matches constituted as above shall have precedence of and
be entitled to pass any other kind of match.
(_b_) The game consists in each side playing a ball from a teeing-ground
into a hole by successive strokes, and the hole is won by the side which
holes its ball in fewer strokes than the opposite side, except as
otherwise provided for in the Rules. If the sides hole out in the same
number of strokes, the hole is halved.
(_c_) The "teeing-ground" is the starting-point for a hole, and shall be
indicated by two marks placed in a line as nearly as possible at right
angles to the course.
The hole shall be 4-1/4 inches in diameter, and at least 4 inches deep.
(_d_) The "putting-green" is all ground within 20 yards of the hole,
except hazards.
(_e_) A "hazard" is any bunker, water (except casual water), sand, path,
road, railway, whin, bush, rushes, rabbit scrape, fence, or ditch. Sand
blown on to the grass, or sprinkled on the course for its preservation,
bare patches, sheep tracks, snow, and ice are not hazards. Permanent
grass within a hazard is not part of the hazard.
(_f_) "Through the green" is any part of the course except hazards and
the putting-green which is being played to.
(_g_) "Out of bounds" is any place outside the defined or recognised
boundaries of the course.
(_h_) "Casual water" is any temporary accumulation of water (whether
caused by rainfall or otherwise) which is not one of the ordinary and
recognised hazards of the course.
(_i_) A ball is "in play" as soon as the player has made a stroke at the
teeing-ground in each hole, and remains in play until holed out, except
when lifted in accordance with the Rules.
(_j_) A ball has "moved" only if it leave its original position in the
least degree, and stop in another; but if it merely oscillate, without
finally leaving its original position, it has not "moved."
(_k_) A ball is "lost" if it be not found within five minutes after the
search for it is begun.
(_l_) A "match" consists of one round of the links, unless it be
otherwise agreed.
A match is won by the side which is leading by a number of holes greater
than the number of holes remaining to be played. If each side win the
same number of holes, the match is halved.
(_m_) A "stroke" is any movement of the ball caused by the player,
except as provided for in Rule 3, or any downward movement of the club
made with the intention of striking the ball.
(_n_) A "penalty stroke" is a stroke added to the score of a side under
certain rules, and does not affect the rotation of play.
(_o_) The "honour" is the privilege of playing first from a
teeing-ground.
(_p_) A player has "addressed the ball" when he has taken up his
position and grounded his club, or if in a hazard, when he has taken up
his position preparatory to striking the ball.
(_q_) The reckoning of strokes is kept by the terms--"the odd," "two
more," "three more," etc., and "one off three," "one off two," "the
like." The reckoning of holes is kept by the terms--so many "holes up,"
or "all even," and so many "to play."
2. A match begins by each side playing a ball from the first
teeing-ground.
The player who shall play first on each side shall be named by his own
side.
The option of taking the honour at the first teeing-ground shall be
decided, if necessary, by lot.
A ball played from in front of, or outside of, or more than two club
lengths behind the marks indicating the teeing-ground, or played by a
player when his opponent should have had the honour, may be at once
recalled by the opposite side, and may be re-teed without penalty.
The side which wins a hole shall have the honour at the next
teeing-ground. If a hole has been halved, the side which had the honour
at the previous teeing-ground shall retain the honour.
On beginning a new match, the winner of the long match in the previous
round shall have the honour, or if the previous match was halved the
side which last won a hole shall have the honour.
3. If the ball fall or be knocked off the tee in addressing it, no
penalty shall be incurred, and it may be replaced, and if struck when
moving no penalty shall be incurred.
4. In a threesome or foursome the partners shall strike off alternately
from the teeing-grounds, and shall strike alternately during the play of
the hole.
If a player play when his partner should have done so, his side shall
lose the hole.
5. When the balls are in play, the ball further from the hole which the
players are approaching shall be played first, except as otherwise
provided for in the Rules. If a player play when his opponent should
have done so, the opponent may at once recall the stroke. A ball so
recalled shall be dropped, in the manner prescribed in Rule 15, as near
as possible to the place where it lay, without penalty.
6. The ball must be fairly struck at, not pushed, scraped, nor spooned,
under penalty of the loss of the hole.
7. A ball must be played wherever it lies or the hole be given up,
except as otherwise provided for in the Rules.
8. Unless with the opponent's consent, a ball in play shall not be moved
nor touched before the hole is played out, under penalty of one stroke,
except as otherwise provided for in the Rules. But the player may touch
his ball with his club in the act of addressing it, provided he does not
move it, without penalty.
If the player's ball move the opponent's ball through the green, the
opponent, if he choose, may drop a ball (without penalty) as near as
possible to the place where it lay, but this must be done before another
stroke is played.
9. In playing through the green, any loose impediment (not being in or
touching a hazard) which is within a club length of the ball may be
removed. If the player's ball move after any such loose impediment has
been touched by the player, his partner, or either of their caddies, the
penalty shall be one stroke. If any loose impediment (not being on the
putting-green) which is more than a club length from the ball be
removed, the penalty shall be the loss of the hole.
10. Any vessel, wheel-barrow, tool, roller, grass cutter, box or similar
obstruction may be removed. If a ball be moved in so doing, it may be
replaced without penalty. A ball lying on or touching such obstruction,
or on clothes, nets, or ground under repair or covered up or opened for
the purpose of the upkeep of the links, may be lifted and dropped
without penalty as near as possible to the place where it lay, but not
nearer the hole. A ball lifted in a hazard, under such circumstances,
shall be dropped in the hazard.
A ball lying in a golf hole or flag hole, or in a hole made by the
greenkeeper, may be lifted and dropped without penalty as near as
possible to the place where it lay, but not nearer the hole.
11. Before striking at a ball in play, the player shall not move, bend,
nor break anything fixed or growing near the ball, except in the act of
placing his feet on the ground for the purpose of addressing the ball,
in soling his club to address the ball, and in his upward or downward
swing, under penalty of the loss of the hole, except as otherwise
provided for in the Rules.
12. When a ball lies in or touches a hazard, nothing shall be done to
improve its lie; the club shall not touch the ground, nor shall anything
be touched or moved before the player strikes at the ball, subject to
the following exceptions:--(1) The player may place his feet firmly on
the ground for the purpose of addressing the ball; (2) in addressing the
ball, or in the upward or downward swing, any grass, bent, whin, or
other growing substance, or the side of a bunker, wall, paling, or other
immovable obstacle, may be touched; (3) steps or planks placed in a
hazard by the Green Committee for access to or egress from such hazard
may be removed, and if a ball be moved in so doing, it may be replaced
without penalty; (4) any loose impediments may be removed from the
putting-green; (5) the player shall be entitled to find his ball as
provided for by Rule 31. The penalty for a breach of this Rule shall be
the loss of the hole.
13. A player or caddie shall not press down nor remove any
irregularities of surface near a ball in play. Dung, worm-casts, or
mole-hills may be removed (but not pressed down) without penalty. The
penalty for a breach of this Rule shall be the loss of the hole.
14. (1) If a ball lie or be lost in water or in casual water in a
hazard, a ball may be dropped in or as far behind the hazard as the
player may please, under penalty of one stroke; but if it be impossible
from want of space in which to play, or from any other cause, to drop
the ball behind the hazard, the player may drop a ball at the side of
the hazard as near as possible to where the ball lay, but not nearer to
the hole, under penalty of one stroke. (2) If a ball lie or be lost in
casual water through the green, or if casual water through the green
interferes with the player's stance, the player may drop a ball, without
penalty, within two club lengths from the margin directly behind the
place where the ball lay, or from the margin nearest to the place where
the ball lay, but not nearer to the hole. If the ball when dropped roll
into the water, or rest so that the water interferes with the player's
stance, it may be re-dropped, without penalty, as near to the margin as
the nature of the ground permits, but not nearer to the hole. (3) In
dropping a ball behind the spot from which the ball was lifted, the
player shall keep that spot, or, in the case of water, the spot at which
the ball entered, in a line between himself and the hole. Wherever it is
impossible to drop a ball as prescribed in sections (1) and (2), it
shall be dropped as near as possible to the place where it lay, but not
nearer to the hole. (4) If a ball lie in casual water on a
putting-green, a ball may be placed by hand behind the water without
penalty. The penalty for a breach of this Rule shall be the loss of the
hole.
15. A ball shall be dropped in the following manner:--The player himself
shall drop it. He shall face the hole, stand erect and drop the ball
behind him from his head. If the ball when dropped touch the player he
shall incur no penalty, and if it roll into a hazard it may be
re-dropped without penalty. The penalty for a breach of this Rule shall
be the loss of the hole.
16. When the balls lie within six inches of each other on the
putting-green, or within a club length of each other through the green
or in a hazard (the distance to be measured from their nearest points),
the ball nearer the hole may, at the option of either the player or the
opponent, be lifted until the other is played, and shall then be
replaced as near as possible to the place where it lay. If the ball
further from the hole be moved in so doing, or in measuring the
distance, it shall be replaced without penalty. If the lie of the lifted
ball be altered by the player in playing, the ball may be placed in a
lie as nearly as possible similar to that from which it was lifted, but
not nearer the hole.
17. Any loose impediments may be removed from the putting-green,
irrespective of the position of the player's ball. The opponent's ball
may not be moved except as provided for by the immediately preceding
Rule. If the player's ball move after any loose impediment lying within
six inches of it has been touched by the player, his partner, or either
of their caddies, the penalty shall be one stroke.
18. When the ball is on the putting-green, the player or his caddie may
remove (but not press down) sand, earth, dung, worm-casts, mole-hills,
snow, or ice lying around the hole or in the line of his putt. This
shall be done by brushing lightly with the hand only across the putt and
not along it. Dung may be removed by a club, but the club must not be
laid with more than its own weight upon the ground. The line of the putt
must not be touched, except with the club immediately in front of the
ball, in the act of addressing it, or as above authorised. The penalty
for a breach of this Rule is the loss of the hole.
19. When the ball is on the putting-green, no mark shall be placed, nor
line drawn as a guide. The line of the putt may be pointed out by the
player's caddie, his partner, or his partner's caddie, but the person
doing so must not touch the ground.
The player's caddie, his partner, or his partner's caddie, may stand at
the hole, but no player nor caddie shall endeavour, by moving or
otherwise, to influence the action of the wind upon the ball.
The penalty for a breach of this Rule is the loss of the hole.
20. When on the putting-green, a player shall not play until his
opponent's ball is at rest, under penalty of one stroke.
21. Either side is entitled to have the flag-stick removed when
approaching the hole, but if a player's ball strike the flag-stick
which has been so removed by himself, or his partner, or either of
their caddies, his side shall lose the hole. If the ball rest against
the flag-stick when in the hole, the player shall be entitled to remove
the stick, and if the ball fall in, it shall be deemed as having been
holed out at the last stroke. If the player's ball knock in the
opponent's ball, the latter shall be deemed as having been holed out at
the last stroke. If the player's ball move the opponent's ball, the
opponent, if he choose, may replace it, but this must be done before
another stroke is played. If the player's ball stop on the spot formerly
occupied by the opponent's ball, and the opponent declare his intention
to replace, the player shall first play another stroke, after which the
opponent shall replace and play his ball. If the opponent's ball lie on
the edge of the hole, the player, after holing out, may knock it away,
claiming the hole if holing at the like, and the half if holing at the
odd, provided that the player's ball does not strike the opponent's ball
and set it in motion. If after the player's ball is in the hole, the
player neglect to knock away the opponent's ball, and it fall in also,
the opponent shall be deemed to have holed out at his last stroke.
22. If a ball _in motion_ be stopped or deflected by any agency outside
the match, or by the forecaddie, the ball must be played from where it
lies, and the occurrence submitted to as a "rub of the green." If a ball
lodge in anything moving, a ball shall be dropped as near as possible to
the place where the object was when the ball lodged in it, without
penalty. If a ball _at rest_ be displaced by any agency outside the
match, excepting wind, the player shall drop a ball as near as possible
to the place where it lay, without penalty. On the putting-green the
ball shall be replaced by hand, without penalty.
23. If the player's ball strike, or be moved by an opponent or an
opponent's caddie or clubs, the opponent shall lose the hole.
24. When a player has holed out and his opponent has been left with a
putt for the half, nothing that the player can do shall deprive him of
the half which he has already gained.
25. If a player's ball strike, or be stopped by himself or his partner,
or either of their caddies or clubs, his side shall lose the hole.
26. If the player, when not intending to make a stroke, or his partner,
or either of their caddies, move his or their ball, or by touching
anything cause it to move when it is in play, the penalty shall be one
stroke. If a ball in play move, after the player has grounded his club
in the act of addressing it, or, when in a hazard, if he has taken up
his stand to play it, he shall be deemed to have caused it to move, and
the movement shall be counted as his stroke.
27. Except from the tee a player shall not play while his ball is
moving, under penalty of the loss of the hole. If the ball only begin to
move while the player is making his upward or downward swing, he shall
incur no penalty for playing while it is moving, but is not exempted
from the penalty stroke which he may have incurred under Rules 9, 17, or
26, and in a foursome a stroke lost under Rule 26 shall not, in these
circumstances, be counted as the stroke of the player so as to render
him liable for having played when his partner should have done so.
28. If the player when making a stroke strike the ball twice, the
penalty shall be one stroke, and he shall incur no further penalty by
reason of his having played while his ball was moving.
29. If a player play the opponent's ball, his side shall lose the hole,
unless (1) the opponent then play the player's ball, whereby the penalty
is cancelled, and the hole must be played out with the balls thus
exchanged, or (2) the mistake occur through wrong information given by
the opponent or his caddie, in which case there shall be no penalty, but
the mistake, if discovered before the opponent has played, must be
rectified by placing a ball as near as possible to the place where the
opponent's ball lay.
If a player play a stroke with the ball of a party not engaged in the
match, and the mistake be discovered and intimated to his opponent
before his opponent has played his next stroke, there shall be no
penalty; but if the mistake be not discovered and so intimated until
after the opponent has played his next stroke, the player's side shall
lose the hole.
30. If a ball be lost, except as otherwise provided for in the Rules,
the player's side shall lose the hole; but if both balls be lost, the
hole shall be considered halved.
31. If a ball lie in fog, bent, whins, long grass, or the like, only so
much thereof shall be touched as will enable the player to find his
ball; but if a ball lie in sand, the sand shall not be touched. The
penalty for a breach of this Rule shall be the loss of the hole.
32. If a ball be played out of bounds, a ball shall be dropped at the
spot from which the stroke was played, under penalty of loss of the
distance. A ball played out of bounds need not be found.
If it be doubtful whether a ball has been played out of bounds, another
may be dropped and played; but if it be discovered that the first ball
is not out of bounds, it shall continue in play without penalty.
A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.
33. A player shall not ask for advice from anyone except his own caddie,
his partner, or his partner's caddie, nor shall he willingly be
otherwise advised in any way whatever, under penalty of the loss of the
hole.
34. If a ball split into separate pieces, another ball may be put down
where the largest portion lies; or if two pieces are apparently of equal
size it may be put where either piece lies, at the option of the player.
If a ball crack or become unfit for play, the player may change it on
intimating to his opponent his intention to do so. Mud adhering to a
ball shall not be considered as making it unfit for play.
35. When no penalty for the breach of a rule is stated, the penalty
shall be the loss of the hole.
36. If a dispute arise on any point, the players have the right of
determining the party or parties to whom it shall be referred, but
should they not agree, either side may refer it to the Rules of Golf
Committee, whose decision shall be final. If the point in dispute be not
covered by the Rules of Golf, the arbiters must decide it by equity.
37. An umpire or referee, when appointed, shall take cognisance of any
breach of rule that he may observe, whether he be appealed to on the
point or not.
SPECIAL RULES FOR STROKE COMPETITIONS.
1. In Stroke Competitions, the competitor who holes the stipulated
course in fewest strokes shall be the winner.
2. If the lowest scores be made by two or more competitors, the tie or
ties shall be decided by another round to be played on the same day. But
if the Green Committee determine that to be inexpedient or impossible,
they shall then appoint the following or some subsequent day whereon the
tie or ties shall be decided.
3. New holes shall be made for Stroke Competitions, and thereafter
before starting no competitor shall play on any of the putting-greens,
nor shall he intentionally play at any of the holes nor on to any of the
putting-greens, under penalty of disqualification.
4. The scores for each hole shall be kept by a special marker, or by the
competitors noting each other's scores. The scores marked ought to be
called out after each hole, and on completion of the round the cards
shall be signed by the marker, under penalty of disqualification, and
handed in. Competitors must satisfy themselves before the cards are
handed in that their scores for each hole are correctly marked, as no
alteration can be made on any card after it has been returned. If it be
found that a score returned is below that actually played, the
competitor shall be disqualified. For the addition of the scores marked
the Secretary or his deputy shall be responsible.
5. If a competitor play from outside the limits of the teeing-ground,
the penalty shall be disqualification.
6. If a ball be lost (except as otherwise provided for in the Rules of
Golf), the competitor shall return as near as possible to the spot from
which the lost ball was struck, tee a ball, and lose a penalty stroke.
The lost ball shall continue in play, if it be found before the player
has struck another ball. The penalty for a breach of this Rule shall be
disqualification.
7. If a competitor's ball strike himself, his clubs or caddie, the
penalty shall be one stroke.
8. If a competitor's ball strike another competitor, or his clubs or
caddie, it is a "rub of the green," and the ball shall be played from
where it lies. If a competitor's ball which is at rest be moved by
another competitor or his caddie, or his club or his ball, or by any
outside agency excepting wind, it shall be replaced as near as possible
to the place, where it lay without penalty.
9. A competitor shall hole out with his own ball at every hole, under
penalty of disqualification. But if it be discovered, before he has
struck off from the next teeing-ground, or if the mistake occur at the
last hole, before he has handed in his card, that he has not holed out
with his own ball, he shall be at liberty to return and hole out with
his own ball, without penalty.
10. A ball may be lifted from any place under penalty of two strokes. A
ball so lifted shall be teed if possible behind the place where it lay.
If it be impossible to tee the ball behind the place where it lay, it
shall be teed as near as possible thereto, but not nearer the hole. The
penalty for a breach of this Rule shall be disqualification.
11. All balls shall be holed out under penalty of disqualification. When
a competitor's ball is within 20 yards of the hole, the competitor shall
not play until the flag has been removed, under penalty of one stroke.
When both balls are on the putting-green, if the player's ball strike
the opponent's ball the player shall lose a stroke. The ball nearer the
hole shall, on request of the player, be either lifted or holed out at
the option of the owner, under penalty of his disqualification. Through
the green a competitor may have any other competitor's ball lifted, if
he find that it interferes with his stroke.
12. A competitor, unless specially authorised by the Green Committee,
shall not play with a professional, and he may not willingly receive
advice from any one but his caddie, in any way whatever, under penalty
of disqualification.
A forecaddie may be employed.
13. Competitors shall not discontinue play or delay to start on account
of bad weather, nor for any other reason whatever, except such as is
satisfactory to the Committee of the Club in charge of the competition.
The penalty for a breach of this Rule is disqualification.
14. Where in the Rules of Golf the penalty for the breach of any Rule is
the loss of the hole, in Stroke Competitions the penalty shall be the
loss of two strokes, except where otherwise provided for in these
Special Rules.
15. Any dispute regarding the play shall be determined by the Rules of
Golf Committee.
16. The Rules of Golf, so far as they are not at variance with these
Special Rules, shall apply to Stroke Competitions.
RULES FOR THREE-BALL MATCHES.
In matches in which three players play against each other, each playing
his own ball (hereinafter referred to as "a three-ball match"), or in
which one player plays his own ball against the best ball of two players
(hereinafter referred to as "a best ball match"), the Rules of Golf
shall apply, subject to the following modifications:--
1. Where, in a three-ball match, at any teeing-ground no player is
entitled to claim the honour from both opponents, the same order of
striking shall be followed as at the previous teeing-ground.
2. Except as hereinafter provided, the side whose ball is furthest from
the hole shall play first, but a ball lying nearer the hole and
belonging to one of that side may, at their option, be played before the
ball lying furthest from the hole. If a player play when his opponent
should have done so he shall incur no penalty.
3. If a player consider that an opponent's ball on the putting-green
might interfere with his stroke, he may require the opponent either to
lift or to hole out his ball at the opponent's discretion.
4. If an opponent consider that the ball of another opponent might be of
assistance to the player, he may require that it be either lifted or
holed out at the other opponent's discretion.
5. If an opponent consider that his own ball might be of assistance to
the player, he is entitled to lift it or hole out at his discretion.
6. If an opponent consider that the player's partner's ball might be of
assistance to the player, he may require that it be either lifted or
holed out at the player's partner's discretion.
7. In a three-ball match, a ball on the putting-green, which is moved by
another ball, must be replaced as nearly as possible where it lay.
8. In a best ball match, if a player's ball move his partner's ball or
an opponent's ball, the opponent shall in either case decide whether the
moved ball shall be replaced or not.
9. If in a three-ball match a player's ball strike or be moved by an
opponent or an opponent's caddie or clubs, that opponent shall lose the
hole to the player. As regards the other opponent, the occurrence is "a
rub of the green."
10. In a best ball match, if a player's ball strike or be moved by an
opponent or an opponent's caddie or clubs, the opponent's side shall
lose the hole.
11. In a best ball match, if a player's ball (the player being one of a
side) strike or be stopped by himself or his partner or either of their
caddies or clubs, that player only shall be disqualified for that hole.
12. In all other cases where a player would by the Rules of Golf incur
the loss of the hole, he shall be disqualified for that hole, but the
disqualification shall not apply to his partner.
ETIQUETTE OF GOLF.
1. A single player has no standing, and must always give way to a
properly constituted match.
2. No player, caddie, or onlooker should move or talk during a stroke.
3. No player should play from the tee until the party in front have
played their second strokes and are out of range, nor play up to the
putting-green till the party in front have holed out and moved away.
4. The player who has the honour from the tee should be allowed to play
before his opponent tees his ball.
5. Players who have holed out should not try their putts over again when
other players are following them.
6. Players looking for a lost ball must allow other matches coming up to
pass them.
7. On request being made, a three-ball match must allow a single,
threesome, or foursome to pass. Any match playing a whole round may
claim the right to pass a match playing a shorter round.
8. If a match fail to keep its place on the green, and lose in distance
more than one clear hole on those in front, it may be passed, on request
being made.
9. Turf cut or displaced by a stroke should be at once replaced.
10. A player should carefully fill up all holes made by himself in a
bunker.
11. It is the duty of an umpire or referee to take cognisance of any
breach of rule that he may observe, whether he be appealed to on this
point or not.
INDEX
Addressing the ball, 62, 81, 171, 173.
Alps at Prestwick, 222.
Amateur Championship. _See_ Championship.
Amateur golf in Great Britain, 233, 234.
America, golf in, 232, 234;
tour in, 235;
spectators in, 238;
novel experiences in, 242, 243, 244.
American Championship, 23, 235, 241.
Anson, American baseball player, and golf, 240.
Approach play. _See_ Mashie, play with the.
Arms, action of the, in driving, 67, 69, 72.
Ashburnham links, 227.
Auchterlonie, Willie, 13, 15.
Backward swing in the drive, 65, 68, 173, 174.
Baffy, possibilities of play with, 83;
stance for, 83.
Balfour, Mr. A.J., how he learned golf, 30;
anecdotes by, 252;
preference in caddies, 253;
and "Big Crawford," 254;
interesting compliment, 255.
Ball, clean, 170;
rubber-cored. _See_ Rubber-cored balls.
Ball, Mr. John, jun., 223, 234, 260.
Beckenham, incident at, 263.
Beginners, advice to, 25.
Beginning, Vardon's, at golf, 2, 4;
first clubs, 5;
first matches, 6;
how he learned, 8.
Berwick, North, 17, 21, 225, 245, 247, 254.
"Big Crawford," 254.
Birth, Vardon's, 2.
Blyth, Mr. Edward, 256.
Body action in following through, 71.
Boomer, Mr. (Schoolmaster), 3.
Boots and shoes, 167.
Braces and belts, 166.
Brae Burn, match at, 235.
Braid, James, 96, 260, 263, 264.
Brancaster links, 228.
Brassy, play with in Championship, 23.
---- the, points of, 44, 49, 79.
---- play with the, first attempts, 32;
occasion for, 78;
stance for, 79, 80;
from good lie, 80;
from cuppy lie, 80, 81.
Brewster, Mr., at Jersey, 4.
Broadwood, Mr. C.C., 21.
Brown, D., 14.
Bunkers and bunker play, 131;
mistakes in regard to, 133;
swing with niblick in, 136;
long balls from, 138;
filling holes in, 175.
Bury Golf Club, professional to, 12.
Butcher, Mr. S.F. (Bury), 12.
Caddie, advice of, 171;
opponent's, 175;
anecdotes of, 245 _et seq._;
the ideal, 248;
girls as, 249;
caustic humour of, 250;
human kindness of, 254;
excess of zeal of, 257;
sorrows of, 258.
Campbell, Willie, 259.
Care of clubs, 50.
Carnoustie, merits of course, 225.
Championship, the Amateur, 233, 234.
---- the American, 23.
---- the Open, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23, 248.
Cleek, the, varieties of and characteristics, 46, 49, 99.
---- play with the, first attempts, 33;
versatility of, 99;
stance, 103;
swing, 104;
push shot with, 105;
shot for low ball against wind, 108;
comparison of different shots, 108.
Clothes for golf, 166.
Clubs, golf (implements), 37;
first purchases, 38;
limitations, 40;
care of, 50;
for different strokes, 168;
experiments in competitions, 184.
Competition play, disappointments in, 177;
steadiness in, 178;
continuing
with card, 179;
tactics in, 181;
caution in medal play, 182;
new clubs, 184;
time of play, 186;
watching opponents, 187.
Counting strokes, 167.
Course, studying in competition play, 183;
construction of. _See_ Links.
Cox, Mr. Charles S., 240.
Cricket, 3.
Cromer links, 228.
Crowds, great golfing, 21.
Cruden Bay links, 225.
Cupped lies, play from, 81.
Cut stroke, the, with the mashie, 127.
Deal, tournament at, 15;
merits of links at, 228.
"Debauchery of long driving," 52.
Despair, golfer's, 26.
Diagrams, explanation of, 57.
Divots, replacing, 175.
Dogwood heads, 42.
Dollymount links, 226.
Dornoch links, 225.
Driver, the, points of, 40;
scared and socketed clubs, 41;
heads of, 42;
length and weight, 49, 53;
loft on face of, 54.
---- play with, first attempts, 32;
long balls with, 35, 36, 52, 75;
pleasure of, 53;
stance, 55, 56, 57;
the grip, 58;
the address, 62;
backward swing, 64;
follow-through, 71;
faulty driving, 72;
summary of advice, 77;
intentional pulling and slicing with, 85.
Dunn, Tom, 22, 30, 254, 259.
Dunn, Willie, 236, 237.
Dwelling at the tarn, 68.
Etiquette of golf, 161, 164, 165, 175, 277.
Excuses, golfer's, 26.
Experiments in golf, 172.
Eye on the ball, how and where to keep, 63, 65, 169.
Eyesight, defective, 174.
Faces, artificial, to wooden clubs, 42.
Findlay, American golfer, 242.
Finish of swing, 72, 173.
Florida, golf in, 236, 241.
Follow-through, the, in the drive, 71.
Football at Ganton, 3.
Formby links, 228.
Foursomes, partners in, 171;
old style, 188;
four-ball, 189;
tactics in, 190;
sociability of, 191;
mutual understanding in, 192;
junior partner in, 193;
handicapping in, 195;
classical story of, 196.
Freaks of style, 62.
Frosty weather, play in, 167.
Ganton, professional at, 15;
match with Willie Park at, 22;
caddies at, 246;
international foursome at, 260.
Gloves, 168.
Greens, putting, gauging strength of, 158;
etiquette and policy on, 165;
damaging, 175.
Grips, Vardon's overlapping, 59;
the two-V, 59;
tightness of, 60;
thickness of handle, 168.
Grouville, 2;
golf introduced to, 3.
Gullane links, 226.
Hands, right and left, grip with, 59, 60, 61;
variations of tightness, 61.
Harlech, links at, 227.
Head still, keeping the, 65, 172.
Herd, Alexander, 12, 14, 15, 260.
Hilton, Mr. Harold, 234.
Himalayas at Prestwick, 222.
Hints, general, 160.
Hoods for golf-bags, 50.
Hoylake, merits of course, 223;
best holes at, 224.
Huddersfield links, 231.
Hunstanton links, 228.
Hunter, the brothers, 21, 265.
Huntercombe links, merits of, 230.
Ilkley, 14.
Impact, moment of, 69, 70.
Improving one's game, 163.
Inland golf, 229.
Ireland, links in, 226 _et seq._
Iron, the, points of, 47, 49, 113.
---- play with the, first attempts, 33;
time for, 113;
stance for, 114;
swing, 115;
relation of swing to distance, 116.
Islay, splendid links at, 225;
most difficult hole, 226.
Jersey, golf at, 2, 4.
Jersey Golf Club, Royal, 4.
Jigger, the, use of, 130.
Kay, James, 17.
Kilmalcolm, tournament at, 13.
Kilspindie links, 226.
Kingsbury, Lord, 257.
Kirkaldy, Andrew, 13, 14, 19, 142, 266.
Kirkaldy, Hugh, 13, 14.
Ladies, faults of, 71;
freedom on links, 198;
improvement of ladies' play, 199;
keenness of American, 200;
good pupils, 201;
same game as men's, 201;
swing for, 201;
clubs for, 202;
bad upward swings, 203;
need for tuition, 204.
Lahinch links, 226.
Laidlay, Mr. J.E., 223.
Lawrence Harbour (U.S.), match at, 237.
Leach, Henry, vi.
Learn golf, how to, 25.
Leather faces, 42.
Length of clubs, 48, 49.
Lie of clubs, 45.
Lindrick links, 231.
Links, on construction of, 205;
made in a hurry, 205;
long handicap men's links, 206;
time and study needed, 206;
maturing of, 206;
land required for, 207;
preliminary survey of, 208;
clearing of land, 209;
"penny wise and pound foolish," 209;
experimental drives, 210;
short holes, 210;
varieties of holes, 211;
too lengthy, 212;
direction of course, 213;
position of bunkers, 213;
class of player to suit, 213;
bunkers at the side, 215;
undulating greens, 216;
double tees, 217;
the best links, 219 _et seq._;
superiority of Sandwich, 220.
Littlestone links, 228.
Lloyd, Joseph, 15.
London links, 230.
Long heads, 43.
Lowe, George (St. Anne's-on-Sea), 9, 10.
Luffness links, 226, 254.
Lunch, golfer's, 169.
Luton, incident at, 264.
Machrihanish links, 225.
Maiden at Sandwich, 222.
Manchester links, 231.
Mashie, the, points of, 47, 49, 119.
---- play with the, first attempts, 33,
value of good, 119;
varieties of, 120;
stance for ordinary shot, 121;
the swing, 122;
danger of scooping, 124;
taking a divot, 124;
the running-up shot, 125;
the cut stroke, 127;
stance for, 128;
points of, 129;
chip on the green, 129;
the jigger, 130;
mashie on the putting green, 155.
Mashie, the driving, 49, 100.
---- ---- play with, 100;
difficulties of, 101.
Master stroke in golf, 85.
Match play, 171, 172, 180.
Medal play, 178, 181, 182, 183;
rules, 274.
Middle-aged golfers, 29.
Mid-Surrey links, 230.
Molesworth, Mr., at Jersey, 7.
Money matches, 22.
Morris, Old Tom, 22, 23, 149.
Morris, Young Tom, 23, 259.
Mount Zion at Islay, 226.
Muirfield, first Championship at, 16, 19;
merits of course and best holes, 224.
Nails in boots and shoes, 166.
Nervousness, 9, 12.
Newcastle (co. Down) links, 226.
Newquay links, 228.
Niblick, the, points of, 47, 49, 135;
swing with, in bunker, 136.
Nicholls, Bernard, matches with, 235, 239.
North Berwick. _See_ Berwick, North.
Novelties, avoidance of, 168.
Oakland (U.S.), 237.
Oiling clubs, 50.
One-armed golfer, 27.
Open Championship. _See_ Championship.
Opponent, one's attitude towards, 161.
Ormonde, match at, 235.
Over-golfed, 186.
Overlapping grip, 59.
Park, Willie, senior, 259.
Park, Willie, junior, 20, 21, 148, 230, 260, 264.
Pau, visit to, 15.
Persimmon heads, 42.
Photographs, vi.
Pivoting of the body, on the waist, 67.
---- on the toes, 68.
Pleasures of golf, 1, 29, 32, 53, 266.
Point Comfort, match at, 236.
Pointgarry out, Mr. Balfour at, 255.
Portland (U.S.), novel experience at, 242.
Portmarnock, merits of links, 226.
Portrush, tournament at, 13;
merits of links, 226.
Practice, early system of, 32;
amount of, 35.
Pressing, 75, 173.
Prestwick, 13, 20, 23;
best holes at, 222.
Professional golfers, money matters, 22;
difficulties of, 261.
Professional tuition, 30.
Pulling, causes of, 67, 71, 73, and Plates X. and XI.;
method of intentional, 91;
in a cross wind, 92.
Purves, Dr., at Jersey, 7.
Push shot, the, 105;
advantage of, 106.
Putter, the, points of, 47, 49, 146.
Putting, a curious experience, 18;
first attempts, 33;
confidence in, 142;
no rule for, 143;
the natural stance, 144;
the grip, 147;
hitting the ball, 148;
the swing, 148;
on being up, 148;
on undulating greens, 150;
borrowing from slopes, 151;
the cut stroke, 152;
down steep inclines, 154;
use of mashie, 155;
playing stymies, 156;
running through, 157;
gauging strength of greens, 158;
etiquette and policy, 165.
Redan, the, 256.
Redcar links, 228.
Regrets, golfer's, 28.
Reserve clubs, 45.
Ribbed faces to iron clubs, advantages of, 102.
Ripon, golf at, 10.
Risks, on taking, 162.
Robertson, Allan, 22, 259.
Rubber-cored balls, life of, 170.
Rules of golf, 167, 267.
Running-up approaches, 125.
Rye links, 228.
St. Andrews, 15;
merits of course and best holes, 224.
---- style of play, 64.
St. Anne's links, 228.
St. David's, Royal, links, 227.
St. George's Golf Club, Royal, Sandwich, 3.
Sandwich, 3, 14, 23;
the best course, 220;
reasons for selection, 221;
best holes at, 221, 222.
Sandy Parlour at Deal, 228.
Sayers, Ben, 18, 19.
Scared clubs, advantage of, over socketed, 41.
Scarsdale (U.S.), match at, 236.
Scotland, links in, 222 _et seq._
Seaside courses, advantages of, 229.
Seaton Carew links, 228.
Shafts of clubs, 43.
Sheffield links, 231.
Sheringham links, 228.
Shoes, golfing, 166.
Shoulder, right, movement of, 66;
dropping, 74.
Simpson, Archie, 15.
Skidding with iron clubs, 102;
with driver, 168.
Slicing, cause of, 67, 69, 72;
how to find, 73, Plate XII.;
method of intentional, 87;
distant slice, 88;
short slice, 89.
"Slow back," 64.
Smith, Will, American champion, 238, 241.
Smoking, on, 185.
Spectators at golf matches, 263.
Speed of the club, 69.
Spofforth, Major (Jersey), 9.
Spoon. _See_ Baffy.
Strath, David, 259.
Stroke competitions, rules for, 274.
Studley Royal Golf Club, Ripon, professional to, 11.
Stymies, playing, 156;
running through, 157.
Successes in competitions, 9.
Sunningdale links, merits of, 229.
Swaying during stroke, 67.
Swinging, first attempts at, 31.
Tait, Lieut. Fred, 21, 223, 234, 260.
Taylor, J.H., 15, 16, 240, 241, 260, 263.
Tee, the, for the ball, 54;
disadvantage of high tee, 55;
low tee with wind, 172.
Teeing grounds, 217.
Three-ball matches, 276.
Tightness of grip, 61.
Tobacco and golf, 185.
Trafford Park links, 231.
Training, on, 185.
Travis, Mr. Walter J., 233.
Troon, merits of course, 225.
Turf, replacing, 175.
Two-V grip, 59, 62.
Upward swing. _See_ Backward swing
V, two-, grip, 59, 62.
Vardon family, the, 2.
Vardon, Fred, 3.
Vardon, Tom, 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 17, 23, 260.
Waggling the club, 63.
Wales, links in, 227.
Wallasey links, 228.
Walton Heath links, merits of, 229.
Washington (U.S.), match at, 244.
Weather, wet, care of clubs in, 50, 168.
Weight of body, how balanced, 67, 70.
Weight of club, 44, 49.
Westward Ho! merits of links, 227.
Wheaton links at Chicago, 238, 241.
Whip of shafts, 43, 44.
White, Jack, 260.
Wind, play in a, 92;
pulling in a cross, 94;
driving against, 95;
driving with, 96;
low tee with, 172.
Wrists, action of the, 66, 70.
---- mistaken notions concerning, 70.
Yorkshire championships, 231.
_Printed by_
MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED
_Edinburgh_.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Complete Golfer [1905], by Harry Vardon