Without going into history, it may briefly be stated that in the early part of the century the only golf-ball in use was the old feather ball, which was made by forcing feathers into a spherical leathern case. The introduction of gutta-percha revolutionised ball-making, and gutta-percha balls have now entirely superseded the feather balls, which are only to be seen among relics of the past. Gutta-percha balls were, speaking of modern times, in the first place moulded round, and then notched by being hand-hammered with a hammer for the purpose. Experience has proved that unless balls are notched they will not fly. After notching they were painted white or red as occasion required, and were then ready for the market. Hand-hammered balls have within the last dozen years been superseded by machine-made balls, which go through the same processes, except that the notching is done by machinery instead of the hand, and these in turn are being superseded by balls which are moulded and notched at one and the same time. Different makers have generally distinctive arrangements of the notches on the balls to distinguish more readily their makes; but it need scarcely be said that although the notching is of the utmost importance, one arrangement is as good as another.

It may be explained that the balls painted white are those most usually seen and played with, those painted red being used for playing when the ground is covered with snow - for in Scotland a slight snowfall dues not prevent the more ardent golfers from indulging in their favourite game.

Golf-balls are made in the following sizes, viz. 26, 27, 27 ½, 28, and 29, these figures representing the weight in drachms avoirdupois; 26"s and 29's, the two extremes, are not much used, the one being considered too light and the other too heavy.

Gutta-percha is not without a rival: balls are made of various compositions, of which gutta-percha is a component part, and rival authorities uphold the merits of their favourite ball with no little vehemence. The controversy waged on this subject has caused the balls to be known as the 'gutty' and the 'putty' respectively. These are for all practical purposes the only two kinds of ball in the market. Celluloid has been tried, but up to the present time has not proved to be a formidable competitor against the others.

Of the gutty and the putty balls the former are the harder in substance, and there is no mistaking the sharp, firm click emitted when struck. The putty has quite a different feel to the player, as it is heavier for its size and is softer - it has more of an indiarubbery nature, m fact. A putty ball does not carry so far as a gutty, but at the end of its flight it has considerably more running power. Its adherents maintain that it is less liable to be deflected by side winds, and that it will glide over or run through hazards in which a gutty would stick, and it cannot be denied that it possesses the last-mentioned quality. Notwithstanding this, 1 consider the advantages of the gutty ball more than make up for any disadvantages. It is always an object in playing the long game to get a ball that will carry as far as possible, and here the superiority of the gutta-percha ball is undoubted. The player who uses a putty ball will also find that it will not rise so quickly off the club as its rival; and hence, if the ball be lying in a hollow, or close to a rising face, he may have to play the stroke with an iron, whereas, using a gutty ball, he might be able to take a brassy or a cleek. In approaching, the running power which a putty ball possesses renders it difficult to make it fall dead, and all golfers know how great an advantage it is to be able to do this. For putting, too, the gutties are more manageable than the putties, which roll about the green and are apt to run over the hole instead of going in. For these reasons I recommend gutta-percha balls.

The sort of ball he uses is not, to a beginner, a matter of much importance, but it is better that he should, from the first, use that to which he intends to adhere.

In selecting gutty balls, care should be taken to see that they are at least six months old; but they should not be much older than this, as, if so, the paint is apt to chip off, and they lose some of their elasticity.

They should be good 'stotters' - that is to say, when dropped on a flagstone or pavement they should rebound with a clear, hard click, and those that rebound furthest are generally the best. Some balls when placed in water will float, while others will sink. I prefer those that sink, because they are heavier than the others. Floaters are too light; they leave the club quickly, and their carry is soon exhausted. The size of ball most generally used is 27½, but the larger it is the better, as, in putting, a big ball will fall into the hole more readily than a small one, and is less likely, from its weight, to be deflected by a stiff blade of grass or such obstacle on the green. Of course it requires more strength to play with a big heavy ball than with a light one, and I would say to golfers, ' Play with as big a ball as you are able to manage comfortably.' A golfer who is not a hard hitter will probably play best with a ball that floats in water, but a strong player will knock such a ball out of shape in a very few strokes. Experience will teach every one the ball best adapted to his game better than anything that can be written on the subject. Some makers have recently brought out balls made of selected material, which are sold at a correspondingly selected price. I think, however, that they are too light in weight, and for a powerful player ordinary balls are preferable.

After a ball has been played with a few times the life yets knocked out of it. and it loses the elasticity which characterises a new ball. Although not good enough for using in an important match, it is good enough for practice; but by degrees it will become useless, from hacks made with clubs and the chipping off' of the paint. Balls arrived at this stage can be remade at moderate cost; but in remaking there is always a slight loss of material, and thus a 27½ when remade will be scarcely larger than a 27. Remade balls are not as a rule so good as new balls; at the same time, a ball remade for the first time is not much inferior, and I could name certain balls that are rather improved by the remaking process. After being remade a couple of times any ball is useless, as it gets too small, and fresh gutta-percha cannot be added satisfactorily.

A few years ago golf-clubs were carried in a loose bundle and secured by a strap round the shafts when not in use, but nowadays most golfers carry them in a bag for the purpose. Such a bag is a useful requisite, and in wet weather it helps to keep the clubs dry. 'Caddie bags,' as they are called, are made in different styles to suit individual tastes. They are practically all equally good so long as they are sufficient for the protection of the clubs.

It is absolutely essential that a golfer's shoulders should be free for the swing of the club; and he must therefore take care to see that his coat, and indeed his whole clothing, is so loose as not to interfere with perfect freedom of motion. It used to be the almost invariable rule for golfers to wear red coats. After being to some extent discarded, red coats are again coming into fashion, and I think that the good old custom should be adhered to. Each club usually adopts for its uniform a red coat with distinctive collar facings, or buttons, and the members of the various clubs should be enjoined to wear their club-coats. More important than his coat are a golfer's boots or shoes. It is not possible to play golf unless a linn stance is obtained, and therefore the soles of the boots or shoes should be studded with nails or 'tackets.' It is better to have the tackets put in singly, an inch or so apart, over the sole, than in groups of three or four; the latter do not give such a firm hold, more particularly after a little wear. It is with the fore part of the sole and the toe that the hold is taken, and when any nails come out they should be replaced. Rubber soled boots and shoes are good in their way, and in dry weather take a better hold of hard, slippery ground, but for all-round wear they are not equal to tackety-boots.

Golfers with tender hands frequently find it necessary to wear gloves. If the hands will not harden naturally, 1 do not know of any effectual remedy except gloves. The play of gentlemen who wear them does not seem to be prejudicially affected thereby. This is, however, a subject on which I cannot speak from personal experience, as I have never tried the experiment of wearing gloves.