THE RULING PASSION

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13934, 12 July 1919, Page 4

THE RULING PASSION

GOLF OiN' VIM if KiDGK .ies, we- iiave la-id out a 9-hoie uviil «;ouiiia cm, Vimy iiidgo—-or to ii-tj exact, oux. the liatg that sk>pe gtnUy up to the top of the ridge but ween Arras and Lens 1 We were uumped in this aieighbo.ua-b.ood lor intensive tcraimng tor the spring otiensive a few days before the signing, of the armistice, aaid here we have remained. Well, the outlook is not exactly : like the Riveria, asnd except Tor 1 football (which, includes a mud bath), catching rats, and parades, tnere wa.s nothing to do. borne oi us (wniL-eg C.F.H. in, the London Daily Mail) were too old for the' Mud bath football, so that afternoans. hung heavy on our hands. Hence the golf course. . i iWe have laid out wine holes,, crossing, numerous trenches, which , form bunkers of varying difficulty— that is, varying from hard to get out of to impossible, according to the type of trench. Two or three long communicating trenches are, with the parapet,,,Bft to 10ft deep and water-logged at the bottom, which is only, 3ft wide. Not much hop© til ere, believe me! .; . !i ah© whole the course is very • :uid gives us endless occupation '.- :umisement>—occupation in roll;a.i the "greens," ajnusemeat v

trying 'to get round without losing balls or temper. The fairway still has the lines and ridges of plough, with* he^e and there tufts of thick coarse grass. There are "dud" shells .about, shell boles (large and,, small), and plenty of wire still, though w© are steadily clearing where necesisairy and desirable. ..'■■. ■" . .." ■■•'■■': Some of the. greenß are "greens," and becoming quite good, others are just mud flats, very fast and true on a dry mo-rniing, but quite impossible after heavy rain or a frost. Holes are made of &J>'m howitzer cases, flags are signal bass, easily seen. We start a,nd finish close 'to our bn-tftalion- hejadquartersi mess, io ( that we play the'"l9bh" hole iv tm? orthodox fashion. We shall l>e '■nly.'.too glad to welcome Visit'-i .:>•">■-bring their own golf-balls aisl Iq.'id refreshments, -.and we . are seriously considering! the ■.possibility of some, competibioins.