Golf Etiquette c 1900
Golfers will be aware of the psychological knife-edge they exist on from the moment they step on to the first tee in every game. For it is here that the nerves take over, reason goes out the window and a strange grip (in more ways than one!) is taken on the practitioner.
It must ever have been thus. A small and beautifully bound volume entitled "The Golfer's Manual" has been unearthed at the A K Bell library. Written by Robert Forgan of St Andrews around the turn of the century, the title includes the bye-line "History and Rules of the Game, with Hints for Beginners". The book sets out to introduce the uninitiated into golf's unique place in sport and society and, as well as tracing history, explaining the game and its conventions and rules, it also seeks to say a few words on etiquette. The narrative is often amusing, as illustrated by the following extract on "Conversation":
"In the fourth place, it is worth while, perhaps, to devote a separate paragraph to the question, How far conversation is permissible or desirable during the course of play. In all great matches it is observable that players talk little. A look, a smile, a word now and then, are found to be quite sufficient to maintain mutual courtesy and preserve the social amenities. In ordinary play a somewhat larger liberty of speech is often claimed, but it is a safe rule in the interests of the game, and that even in sociable foursomes, to curb the talkative tongue, and observe a discreet measure of kindly silence. The game of golf is far too serious for the incessant flow of small talk. Attempts to be witty or facetious are apt to distract either one's partner or one's opponents - and in either case the result will probably be disastrous. For the same reason, very little should be said by way either of commendation or of censure during the course of the game. A player is seldom wise in offering advice to his opponent, or in consulting him about his own play. Each player ought, by the rules, to judge for himself and act on his own responsibility. When this is disregarded, mutual recriminations may follow.
And here in this connection, let me try to put the guileless beginner on his guard against one of the very few really dubious practices sometimes resorted to in the game of golf. It cannot, I fear, be denied that cunning attempts are occasionally made to put a man "off his play" by the insidious use of flattery. The man is told once or twice in complimentary tones that he is certainly playing his iron, or perhaps his putter, with (for him) unusual brilliancy today! When that is done, the chances are that the brilliancy will forthwith cease. Pride goes before a fall. The flattered man becomes self-conscious about the particular part of his play which has excited so much admiration. Accordingly, he begins to "press" in order to keep up his reputation, and lo! the spell is broken. Of course, this is precisely what the unscrupulous flatterer had calculated on. When any one discovers that he has been tricked in this way, there is but one course open to him. He must on no account ever play with that flatterer again! The outraged honour of the game cannot otherwise be avenged."
It would have been interesting to study Mr Forgan's face as he penned those words! It appears that little has changed over the century, or that it ever will change as long as golf exists. There are of course, many more up-to-date golf books, videos and information in the library of the twenty-first century!
