24 DECEMBER 1898, Page 27

Golf. By Garden G. Smith. (Lawrence and Bullen.)—This is a

reprint from the " Encyclopmdia of Sport." It will not be for want of teachers if the public does not become expert. Mr. G. G. Smith is practical and clear, and emphasises one or two points in a particularly useful way, the difference, e.g., between the "cricket grip" and the "proper grip" of the club. And all through the book there are hints -which will be found serviceable Here is one. "If the ground be at all hard and there are no hazards intervening, it is always better to play an approach by running the ball up with a straight-faced club, such as a cleek or putter . . . . the ball is much more likely to be deflected from its course on alighting [when it has been lofted] than when it runs along the ground."—Along with this may be mentioned a little pamphlet of really good golf verse, A Foursome at Rye, by John Somerville (J. L Deacon, Rye). Here is an account of how prehistoric man first played the game

" One day where rabbits abounded. He strolled the primeval scrub, Struck a pebble, water-rounded, With the knob of a knotted slab : Then the Gods who watch from heaven Looked deem on Man forlorn : To his vacant brain was given The idea of Golf new born.

Fair Language stept from her hiding In an ameneh of hie brain, And grafted on guttural chiding The gift of Speech made plain ; Men spoke with an intonation Be had never need of yore,— The slogan of civilisation, The strident cry of 'Fore' I"