no IP Put FOI; M! ^ CIRCULATES ALL OVER THE WORLD. PUBLISHING AND ADVERTISING OFFICES— London: 80, CHANCERY LANE, W.C. "!!!PW» Qolt Club & Ball Maker, fl. ThompsonMUSSELBURGH, , N.B. CLUBS of every description, all made by Experienced Workmen from the Best Materials, and Carefully Finished. ALL CLUBS HAND MADE. PRICE LIST ON APPLICATION. Wholesale, and Retail, Agents Wanted. Every requisite ot the Game supplied. R. CONDJE, St. Andrews, N.B. The leading GOLF CLEEK and IRON MANUFACTURER to fclio twdw has always on hand a large stock of well FOBaEn heads of boat material and workmanship. Engraved Golf Ball Moulds, newest pattern, also supplied. : I*rices ou application. ; T- STE"WAE-T, f iGQLF CLEEK A.ND IRON MA.KEB, I Qreyfrlars Garden, St. Andrews, N.B. Hole Cutters, Flags and Tins, Ball Presses and Ball Moulds Supplied. J "• No Cast Jron Heads sold. All Hand Forged. I "~ DEAN'S | CHAriPfON HANDBOOKS. 1 Post Free 1/1 each. CRICKET Bv ROBERT ABEL. .BILLIARDS. ... ... BY W. MITCHELL. CHESS. Bv H. E. BIRD. SWISIMIMG. BY PROF. DALTON. CJYIIWASTICS. BY SERGT.-MAJOR NOAKES. AMATUUK, ClTCl.I]*r«. ' BY G. LACY HILLIER. London : DEAN & SON, LIMITED, 160a, FLEET STREET. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY. PRICE ONE PENNY. THE LEADING GOLFING PAPER. The Most Readable Journal of Its kind In the World. CONTAINS EVERY WEEK, INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE ARTICLES BY THE MOST CELEBRATED GOLFERS AND CYCLISTS OF THE DAY, Including Full Accounts of all the Latest Matches. THE TONE OF THE PAPER ESPECIALLY APPEALS TO THE HEART OF THE Golfing Cyclist, "WHOSE INTERESTS ARE SYMPATHETICALLY CATERED FOR // Enjoys a Large Circulation, Which is Rapidly Increasing. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 6S. 6d. PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. Published by Arthur E. Chadwick. 18, IVew .Bridge Street, London B.C. Scotch Office : 93, Mope Street, Glasgow. DEAN'S CHAMPION HANDBOOKS, GOLF. BY J. McBAIN & W. FERNIE. LONDON : DEAN & SON, LTD., I6OA, FLEET STREET, E.C. INTRODUCTORY. OF the origin of golf we have no record. When, where, and by whom it was discovered or invented, is not known. All that is known is that it was a favourite pastime among the people of Scotland four hundred and fifty years ago. Golf indeed seems to have been thus early so much in favour among the people of that part of the British islands, that it was made the subject of "at least three repressive statutes of what constituted the Scottish legislature of the fifteenth century. In the reign of James II. we find parliament enacting that all able bodied persons were to practice shooting with the bow and arrow, " and at ye fut ball ande ye golf be utterly cryt doune and not usit . And as tuichande ye futball and ye golf we ordane it to be punyst bo ye baronys unlaw." This enactment was made in 1457, and it appears to have been so little heeded, and bow and arrow practice still so much neglected in favour of "ye fut ball and ye golf," that in another Act of Parliament—1471—the legislators thought it expedient "at ye futball and ye golf be abusit in tyme cumming." That the "abuse" was however of little avail in repressing the 4 GOLF. love of the Scots for their spoils is clear from still further con- demnatory legislation in 159c when it was ordained that "In na place of the Realme be usit fut bawis, gouff, or olhir sic unproffit- able sportis, bot for common glide and defence of the Realme be hantit bowis schuting, and markis yrfore ordinit in ilk parochin." It is generally believed, and there is good ground for the belief, that the game was introduced into Scotland from the Low Countries, but if that is so it is curious that it was not also at the same time introduced into England, between which country and Belgium and Holland there was at that time much more inter- course than between Scotland and that part of the continent. Be that as it may Golf secured a firm footing in the northern part of the island some time about the middle of the fifteenth century, and it has been there practised, in all probability without inter- mission, from those early days till the present time. It is con- sidered the national game of Scotland, and it has certainly some title to be considered so, though it has a rival to that distinction In the winter pastime, Curling. The merits of the game of golf are unquestionable. In the estimation of the enthusiast they are supreme, and it certainly is a matter for surprise that the super- lative qualities of golf were, until quite recently, recognised only by Scotsmen. There has in recent years, however, been a remarkable awakening to the advantages of playing golf. Fifty years ago there were just twenty golf clubs, with a very limited membership, in existence, and only two of them—B1a.ckheath, and INTRODUCTORY. 5 Calcutta—were out of Scotland. Up to ten years ago the number had progressed slowly and steadily up to rather under two hundred. Then set in a revival of the game, which, up to the present time, is nothing short of phenomenal. The figures relative to the matter as taken from the Golfing Annual are the best evidence of what has been taking place during the last decade. In 1887 the number of clubs was 200; in iSSS, 230; in 1889, 277 ; in 1890, 3S7 ; in 189r, 529 ; in 1892, 634 j in 1893, 759 ; in 1894, 999 ; and in 1895, 1,280; and the relative increase for the following year was as great. The aggregate of clubs and links south of the Tsveed now far exceeds that in the home of golf, and the game is spreading rapidly all over the world, especially in America, where clubs are springing up in every county. Indeed, so widespread is the game becoming that it is not improbable that if universal brotherhood ever reigns its regime will date from the golf links There are no two opinions among sensible and unprejudiced people about the value of golf, as an amusement and as a healthy exercise, both mentally and physically. Its irresistible advance in general favour, in the face of persistent abuse and ridicule, and the tens of thousands of persons that have within the last few years enlisted in the ranks of its votaries, are conclusive testimony to its value as an outdoor pastime. It is difficult to decide exactly wherein consists the charm of golf, and its superiority over many other pastimes, but there can be no doubt that the personal 6 GOLF. element has a good deal to do with its attractive qualities. Unlike most other games it is dependent entirely on the skill of the individual playing it. In many other outdoor gomes, as for instance, cricket, football, bowls, &c, the results of the player's skill are greatly affected, or modified, by other players ; but one of the chief features of golf is the circumstance that each performer, exclusively, deals with his own game, and nobody else has any (or at all events, any but an occasional) influence on it. He plays his ball over a course of three or four miles, and no one has anything to do with it but himself. He does not play against the field as in cricket, in football, or in hockey (which game, as to the implements used, it somewhat resembles), other players trying to thwart his purpose, but he plays his garni independently of all others. One of the many advantages of golf, further, is that the full game is played by only two players. Even one player may, and often does, enjoy a round of the links, play- ing without an opponent. In cricket or football the full game cannot be played without a considerable congeries of individuals. You can at all times arrange with your friend to have a day at golf, or go down to the links without him,and have a pretty good prospect of getting a game, but you cannot at all times, when you desire it, arrange on the same satisfactory basis for a game of football or cricket, and it is the independence golf gives in this respect that makes one of the principal charms of the game. As, moreover, a comparatively large expanse of ground, about the extent of a 1 1NTR0SUCT0BV. 7 hundred acre farm, is needed for an ordinary eighteen hole course, and as such an area is rarely to be found within the precincts of a town, the golfer has perforce to betake himself to the country for opportunities of indulging in his favourite pastime. It can also be played the whole year through, in frost and even in snow, and in open weather the game in winter is even more enjoyable than it is in summer, On the other hand, however, golf is more expensive than most other outdoor pastimes, on account of the upkeep of clubs, balls, payment of caddies (who carry the player's clubs for him), probable railway fares, &c. It is all outlay in golf, and no income from gates, and there is often also the payment of heavy entrance fees, and annual subscriptions. So that until municipal corporations take upon themselves the duty of provid- ing golf courses for the common weal, out of the rates, the game is likely to remain outside the scope of the working man's income. Facilities for Playing Golf. From what has already been said it will be seen that the difficulty of procuring a golf course is considerably greater than that attending the formation of a suitable cricket or football ground.