Thomas Kincaid's diary: extract 12
An extract from the diary of golf enthusiast and Edinburgh medical student Thomas Kincaid.
Transcription
'waiting on the coach but could not get it, we came up to John watts where we gott some collips I spent 14 shill[ings] and was exceeding seek.
- Wed[nesday] I rose at 7 I thought upon the method of pathologie and on playing at the golve I found that in all motions of your armes ye most contract your fingers verie strait and grip fast any thing that is in them for that doth command the motion exactly, and keeps all the muscles of the arme verie bent. I digested the rules of playing at the golve into verse thus.
Gripe fast stand with your left leg first not farre
Incline your back and shoulders but beware
You raise them not when back the club you bring
make all the motion with your bodies swinge
And shoulders, holding still the muscles bent
play slowly first till you the way have learnt
At such lenth hold the club as fitts your strenth
The lighter head requires the longer lenth.
That circle wherein moves your club and hands
At forty five degrees from th[e] horizon stands.
What at on[e] stroak to effectuat you despair
Seek only 'gainst the nist it to prepare.'
More diary extracts:
extract 1 | extract 2 | extract 3 | extract 4 | extract 5 | extract 6 | extract 7 | extract 8 | extract 9 | extract 10 | extract 11