Spirit of the links

V
THE HOPE OF THE GAME 3
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vagueness as they do, but it does seem that all the
strong emotions of the golfer combining to make up his
grand devotion to the game, are clustered round the
simple human instinct, most human and most potent
of all, the instinct of Hope. It is this hope that leads
the golfer on through all his troubles and disappoint-
ments, and it still urges him forward when he has
already ascended to a great delight. It is a hope that
will never permit complete satisfaction. This simple
formula that the mystic charm of golf is hope, will
explain all the emotions that rise up in the golfer in
the course of a year of play. Take him from the
first tee to the end of his game. It is the fresh morn-
ing, and the ardour of the golfer is warm within him,
and he has a yearning and a high hope for a great
day's sport. Here, on the teeing ground, he is
animated by a great desire to play the first hole as
well as ever before, and to drive a clean far ball that
shall speak well of his skill and make good augury
for the strokes that are to come. If he succeeds his
hope but increases. Does he play the tee shot badly,
and his hopes go forward to a great recovery with
the second shot of the game. If that should fail,
vexatiously, there may still be the chance of a
wonderful approach, and though the approach be
not so wonderful, is there not the possibility that the
gods may be so kind as to steer a very long putt into
the hole? These are exactly the alternating senti-
ments ; and if the fulfilment of the hope be denied
to the last putt, and the hole be lost, at the second
tee there is hope again that the indifferent start will
be succeeded by a flash of brilliance as shall restore
the position and the complete equanimity of the
player.