The Out of Door Library; Athletic Sports (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...in addressing it, --it is his business to count the stroke, for stroke it is, just as much as the longest drive that was ever struck from the tee; and, except when playing for a medal, he should be left entirely to himself in the matter. To put it shortly, the word " claim " has no place in the golfer's vocabulary. It may be argued, of course, that your opponent may then take advantage of you. If he does, your remedy is simple, --never to play with him again. In the meantime, if every golfer were intent upon acting up to the very letter of the law, there could never be any possibility of dispute. After all, it is a game for gentlemen; and, unless that is kept in mind, unpleasantness becomes endless. Perhaps it is this very fact which has made it so popular in this country, where the other great games are in danger of getting entirely into the hands of professionals. That being the case, it is most important that the tendency to multiply tournaments and lavish handsome trophies on indifferent players should be checked at the outset of our golfing history. Ten years ago the best players in the world were content with the custody of one or two small medals which they could not even keep; and I confess that, in the best interests of the game, I wish the same state of things existed now. Possibly we shall have a revulsion of feeling in a short time, and golf will take on again its garb of Caledonian simplicity. LAWN TENNIS By Robert D. Wrenn (Champion of the United States, 1896.) Fere-hand lrolley. HOUGH the tennis enthusiast is loath to admit the fact, it must be conceded that during the last two years lawn tennis has not held its own in this country, or, in fact, abroad. If we look into the reasons for this temporary falling off in popularity of a game...