GOLF FOR WOMEN.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15047, 15 August 1914, Page 14

GOLF FOR WOMEN.

(By "Clementina Cornbloom" in the

Sydney "Mail.")

Lacrosso, crickot, hockey, golf! I Which of these four takes precedence as a sport for women ? Each has its ardent adherents and admirors. Roll the ball of discussion among tho crowd, and instantly there is a babel of query and reply. One hears tho fervid shout of tbo lacrosse player as she valiantly and feverishly propounds bet many good and definite reasons for the superiority of lacrosse. Drowning her excitement rises the load and forceful affirmation of the so often aggrossivo and talkative wielder of tho bat. Both are followed by the swinging, ringing underehant of the hockey players, ruddy-cheeked girls, broad-hipped and deep-chested, cheerful, merry—athletes With them comes tho chatter of tho school girls, who are mostly Btaundi advocates of the game. Lastly comes the earnest voice of tho goiter, quiet, persistent, positive, wearing her opponents put by her very stubbornness and inability to see the merits of any other form of sport beyond her own.

Picture her standing there, in tho midst of tho wildly gesticulating and gossiping group, her stout leather bag niied to tho utmost with clubs, iron and wooden, its pockets bursting with balls, her eyes keen and shining, brimming with anticipation, yot filled with lingering reminiscences of many a delightful game, while tho memory of mirth-creat-mg eolf yarns tilts the corners of" her mouth ever upward. Is sho not the very personification of youth and dehght, of energy and determination—-for does golfer exist, either masculine or feminine, who does not daily live- in tho hope of lowering his or her score on the little whito card? Add the alluring, open-air atmosphere of ono of tho most fascinating games which the centuries have evolved, and you have the picture complete. But search the group again, and you will find her elder SKter—the marrfed woman or spinster of uncertain years. Both wear tho same qmet anile of the younger woman, a smilo of rare, deep enjoyment. How S \«n ? ° fl ,inster worships her little golf baU in lieu of the uncertain and tantahsmgly elusive masculine fetish l tSfiTtSf^" ,1 w with her bi ™ «£.* s svz ys L Ehoul i P s f-Wm lte . a . U :P oWc rful fascination and charm which are irrestiblo, captivating te followers gradually or with meW I'Su?*" ?. eSS, fc n ere is its "Pf** l to «wi •* i °/ c aU games ' " oli is admir - ibly euitod for women. It k not violent, like tennis, which may be mado strenuous to the last degree. Lacrosso is much the same. Crickot, feminine enckot, I fear, ie greeted mostly with a masculine laugh of tolerance. The disconcerting "duck" ia at onco a signal for heated argument, strife, nnd heartburning: and what woman has not felt that horrible, indescribable sensation, almost of fear, at sight of a round, hard, and viciously determined ball as it shoots from the hand of a pitiless bowler? Still, cricket gives the mon a chance to prove their aeon-old superiority—which etancb at present like 'some old statue tottering on its pedestal. Pit a man .against a woman at cricket, and you but feed his ego, flatter his own idea of his prowess in all sport, and leave him with the pleaeurable sensation that, even if you havo scored higher than he has, it has been chiefly owing to his ill-concealed manronvres to blind you to his foagnanimity and generosity in allowing you to do so.

As a sport for women cricket is a failure. Not co golf 1 The woman may not -be able to astonish the bystanders with the 160-yard drive of the masculine player, yet she may hold her own in the real science of the game. You realise it in the clean, swift uplift of tKo ball as it leaves the teo to rise and skim like a bird over fairway and bunker. In the high upward flight of the masliio stroke a- woman can shine above her masculine opponent, for here mere length of arm and superior strength count for less than in the drive. Then, tot> t putting calls for all ncr accuracy in judging distance—she is not at a disadvantage in tho—finesse of this most essential part of the game, and may easily prove herself her partner's equal. And the question of health. In golf every part of the body finds exercise and is brought into action. Driving,- approaching, putting, each brings different muscles into play;, all three- _ require different methods of accomplishment. Look at the nervous typist shouldering her bag to the links, ■weary, yet keen on her game. Watch her return with the wild rose flaunting in "lier cheeke, eparklee in her ©yes, her mind completely off the jading routine of oflico work. V&3, golf is the ideal game. There are football oafe and racing fiends. Yet meet a man or woman who speaks of the next door neighbour as living but a short mashio shot from the back gate, or learn casually that th« local parson possesses a nose simila-' t. < midiron, or listen patiently while Mrs a. informs Miss 1 , , volubly and at great length hertv Mrs Jones, with a good drive and a lone cleek against a head wind at tho eighth, found the green and won the hole comfortably in an approximate four, her opponent getting into difficulties in the bunker short of the green. How Miss D. plays a deplorable gamo, in spite of her lessons from tho ex-champion. How Mies J. had a stroke of good fortune in giving her opponent a Thalf etyntio and winning in three as against four. Watch them gloat over little cards, black and unintelligible to the uninitiated, with venomous-looking figures, U5 6~~4 4 3 4 5 6 5 3—40 4433 7 444 3--36

And you have the golf, maniac! The grocer or the butcher can probably tell you how ho was almost decapitated with a niblick as ho came suddenly round the corner of the kitchen, at tho side of which-Miss J. was practising her swings. Or if you want something spicy—for above all games golf is a epicy game— you will doubtless bear bow a certain Mr Skinner appeared unexpectedly m town and electrified the community by claiming Mrs Skinner—who accomplishes the round in only two abovo bogey and wbo had given the world to understand that Skinner was long since dofunotr-as his wife. How Miss J., whose ago has cautiously boon guessed at as something near 50, had been imprudent enough to remark that ''such coings-on were not to her taste," thereby bringing the concentrated scorn of the infuriated Mrs Skinner full upon her in a withering "Wait until you can catch a husband before you Rive advice-" the end of the story being that Mrs and the irrepressible bkinuer left town by the nest train, and that Hiss J nxufe violent efforts to land the secretary of tho golf club, presumably Sdisiug that she did not need espcrienco. , • *.t „ Golf is a social, chatty game—in tna clubhouse—with the spirit lamp full blast, tho cup* and seed cake spread but on the Sable, and the pictures on the walls calling; forth anecdote, ancient and modern. On tho links it is ouite different. There is a look of do or die on everyone's face, and the stride of tho Amazons as they marched to battle was surely as nothing compared with the determined advance of the experienced lady golfer making her way round tho links—Michael O'Grady, tho caddy, stalking solemnly in her wake. "And does the ladiea swear, tew,

Michael, ladlP". ~ O'Grady on the return of luffiS*S ¥ promising son. "Well » \S*ltf •J>-nP without muses a ball," Xh£P* icntly. "Bnt Miss J., U ," agin swoarm' an> that *<f set a ho»mplo tor tie *«££&* -out loud that is. Oact !.•£>. whisper to 'erself. 'Blow tl iQ \il?!\ * I'll stand 'ere till't 'it over Mount Ararat.' Sho doafit'fe that is, over tho 'ill ncM S&& yer know." *****w^ exhilaratinfi at the siS^RS*. and a poll ball will act aTa t<. conversation with more *|«fS"* tho rarest champagne. It » a which there is found a wholeaon»^j a heai-tod spirit of camaraderie* eT* , .which draws old and young 'fate **S* open air, in sun, wind, or rah, t«t*J£!' oontent4.xlly for miles over sinH* v?' locks, sun-baked earth, JtfLS' sweefc-smel'.inc: re'inge. -For weelll , especially beyond tin? mere the game, it is an ideal whole- body, mental and phrocal « only strengthening tho player'j B clos and sinews, but ausrmentia* power of judgment making h«■eoiSf of eye and brain, clean and in spirit, nt tho very l«>st.-«-ebunri companion for brother or frie&T'n, let, it bo golf, Kirls. waverintc before tho racquet, eirwLbt ' and club! ~->uk»