Spirit of the links

1
56
THE SPIRIT OF THE LINKS
A celebrated golfer, being in one of his lighter
moods, discussed with me the future association of
aeroplanes and golf, and he observed that when the
flying machines came they would be such boons
and blessings to the golfing fraternity above all
others as nobody imagined at the present time.
He opined that no sooner did the flying machine
become workable and reliable than every golfer
who considered himself at all thorough, and took
any proper care of his game, would think it his
bounden duty to possess one. It would be as
necessary to the playing of his true game as the
nails in the soles of his boots and shoes, and he
would be just as seriously handicapped without the
one as the other. This was a startling proposition ;
but though it was a great exaggeration of an idea,
the idea itself was sound, and was based on the
wisest and most generally-accepted philosophy. It
was submitted that the aeroplane would be
very
good for golf, inasmuch as it would do less towards
putting a man off his game at the beginning of
the day than any other form of locomotion from his
place of residence to the golf course.
It is a disturbing reflection that practically every-
thing that one does in these days that is not golf
tends to injure one's golf. Nothing has ever been
discovered that with any consistency and regularity
will improve it, except golf; the effect is always
adverse, and perhaps this trying jealousy of the
game adds something to its general fascination.