Page:Out-door Games Cricket and Golf (1901).djvu/206

are other considerations. To begin with, players are often apt to consider themselves stymied when such is not the case. A scientifically hit ball with lofting iron or putter will hole the ball out in the hands of a skilful player in many a case where an ordinary player, angry at being what he thinks stymied, gives up the hole or plays wildly. A ball can be lofted neatly and can be made to curve round the opponent's ball in many a case, and the main objection I have to the abolition of the stymie is that if finally abolished, a very beautiful stroke will be abolished with it. I always find in these days there is far too great a tendency to sacrifice "form" to something which people call effectiveness, but which to my mind has a sordid and vulgar element about it. There is no doubt but that a pretty lofted shot on the putting-green into the hole is a beautiful stroke, and I fail to see why it should be sacrificed because another player finds that his score, which he is keeping when he should not, suffers by being stymied. I do not say that I blame the player who is always keeping his score when he plays matches—everybody can do what he likes—but I do protest against