GOLF THE FINEST GAME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 191, 10 February 1912, Page 5

GOLF THE FINEST GAME.

To the Editor. Sir, The publication of Mr. Bewley's statement that "Golf is the finest game there is," can scarcely be expected to pass, without some remark, for apart frpm the question as to whether it is wise to-make such an assertion about any particular game- or pastime, the statement in this instance is manifestly absurd. Golf is a particularly fine game —but for a limited, class >of people onlyi viz., for those who are for different rea-,, sons past the stage of indulging or are .unable t6' indulge in a pastime which demands strength and activity and cbura S e of the athlete. To compare golf with, say, Jtugby football or boxing as a pastime for young men (andin speak- /.' ing of the relative merits of games we must consider the class of player from which the best exponents, are furnished) is equivalent to a comparison of pingpong with Davis Cup lawn tennis. Imagine the result if the pick'of our New Zealand athletes devoted themselves to tgolf to the exclusion of football, boxing, cricket and athletics! How should we then compare with the "youth of other countries! It may be freely admitted that golf demands and inculcates skill to a considerable degree, patience and "temperament." But what of pluck, strength, physical fitness, stamina and the matching of the brain and resource- . fulness of the respective epponents? These latter qualifications are called upon only to a very limited, extent,the "game of, golf- jet: tbe-i^ie^l#tlie'' 1 '• 1 ? qualifications mentioned are absolutely , , essential for the equipment of a firstclass exponent of the other games'anil, v pastimes -mentioned; Mr. Bewley is also, reported?" to have said, "It is going to be th<i most univer-' sally played game in the world." I take it he is aware that golf is not yet the l national game in England, Australia or ' Ifew Zealand, but possibly he is unaware that on the Continent lawn tennis is the Rational game, and is there increasing in popularity to an extraordinary extent.— I am, etc., BALBUS,