One of the earliest references to Ladies' Golf (if we exclude the probably apocryphal story of Mary Queen of Scots as a golfer) says that in the eighteenth century "the women of Musselburgh often played Golf on holidays." And on the minutes of the Musselburgh Club is recorded, in 1810, the decision to present prizes ("a new creel, a shawl, and two silk handkerchiefs "), to be played for by the fish-wives of the town.

Leaving these earlier records, we find that some of the oldest Ladies' Golf Clubs are the Westward Ho! Club, which was originally founded in 1868 and reconstituted in 1893 ; the London Scottish, started in 1872 and reconstituted (as the Wimbledon Ladies' Golf Club) in 1890; the Pau Club, founded in 1874; and the Lytham and St. Anne's, in 1886. Several other clubs, notably the Royal Eastbourne, Blackheath, Ashdown Forest, and the Royal Belfast came into existence within the years 1887-1889. The Ladies' Links at St. Andrews is only a putting course, and this club can hardly be included among serious golf clubs.

The progress of ladies' golf can only be appreciated by those who have carefully watched the scores returned in club competitions, the records of inter-club matches, the championships, and, above all, the extraordinary improvement in style displayed by ladies on the links. This progress has only been attained by infinite perseverance and pluck, and in the face of many adverse criticisms by captious golfers of the other sex. At this point we may say, without undue conceit, that the form displayed in the Ladies' Championship this year (1897) at Gullane has done much to dispel the doubt, still lingering in the minds of old-fashioned golfers, of the ability of women to play golf well.

In many clubs where six or seven years ago there were only two or three good players, there are now often eight or ten, whose freedom and accuracy of play would hold their own on any links. As every year the tendency is to lengthen ladies' links, giving them more brassy and cleek play through the green, ladies' golf is sure to improve still more. This will make them stronger players, and induce greater steadiness of play, with those qualities of endurance and grit so necessary for a successful golfer. Even now, all the best lady-golfers play regularly over the full men's courses, where, in almost every instance, they are welcomed and encouraged by the members.

This desire of scratch lady-players for a longer course and one of eighteen holes is perfectly natural; for they know that if they are given longer carries, and many and more difficult hazards to negotiate, they will, with practice and determination, surmount these obstacles, and become longer drivers and more skilful in their approaching. Ladies will not be satisfied now with the drive from the tee and the short approach shot that have hitherto been their portion. True, there are still very few eighteen-hole courses, and not many long ladies' links, but it is safe to predict that this will not be the case a few years hence. The smallness of the greens on ladies' links is also a very real grievance, as the approach - putt becomes almost an unknown quantity. There is certainly too great an element of luck in approaching on to a small green, as any inequality in the surrounding ground may unduly punish a good approach, which, if played to a really large green, would pitch on it, and, of course, stay there.

In speaking of the leading qualities of ladies' play, one does not intend to draw any comparison with that of men, but simply to discuss as shortly as possible the points in which the average player shines or fails. So, while freely acknowledging her many excellent qualities, one is bound to say that it is more often in the lack of nerve or the fault of judgment, than in any actual defect of play, that her mistakes are made. And yet a woman's natural quickness of perception and rapidity of thought should stand her in good stead at critical moments in a match. Having found this one fault, it is difficult to speak too highly of the quality of a really scratch lady-golfer's play. Her easy full-swing in driving, her accurate approaching, and her marvellous putting compel admiration from the coldest critic. Perhaps the most striking feature of her play is her accuracy. She may not be an enormously long driver, but the ball is driven as straight as a die, and no distance is wasted by driving out of the course. And this straightness is what scores so heavily in her favour in the long run. For where a long and somewhat wild driver may drive some excellent balls from the tee, or through the green, many of the other drives will probably land the ball in hopeless trouble, far out of the course. Her accuracy in approaching is remarkable, whether in the short chop stroke on to the green, or in the far prettier and more scientific wrist shot. It is this neatly played wrist stroke which puts the hall-mark of excellence on any golfer. Her accuracy on the green is often wonderful, and perhaps needs less comment than other points of her game. But here it must frankly be confessed that, on the green, many indifferent lady players, who at other points of the game take a very humble position, come well to the front, and putt with consistent excellence. Both in the long approach putt from the far edge of the green, and also in the deadly yard-long putt which is the undoing of so many players, she holds her own with the best. Indeed, one is often much disconcerted by the play on the green of a lady who has excited sincere pity by her efforts to reach it.

The golf-clubs used by ladies are in almost every case rather lighter in weight than men's clubs, and, of course, shorter, in proportion to the height of the player. All good professionals advise ladies to use light clubs, especially light drivers and brassies, and in very many instances this advice is followed with complete success.

In these up-to-date times it is hardly necessary to say anything about the suitable dress for lady golfers. For though at any open meeting one still sees a few grotesque figures, either aping man's attire, or limply trailing about in frilled petticoats and flower-trimmed hats, the bulk of the players are neatly and serviceably dressed in plain tailor-made coats and skirts, sailor-hats, and strong nailed boots.

With the numerous golfers' annuals, guides, etc, giving particulars of the eighty or ninety ladies' golf clubs in the United Kingdom (fifty-four of which are in England), it is, perhaps, rather invidious to single out any club for special notice. It is enough to say that, of the London clubs, Prince's (Mitcham) is perhaps the best, or very soon will be so, when the new eighteen-hole course has been put into thorough order. Of the provincial clubs, the West Lancashire (eighteen holes) is quite one of the best. Other good links are the Ashdown Forest, which is a very sporting course of nine holes, and immensely improved lately ; the Mid-Surrey, in Richmond Park, which is a long course, but somewhat monotonous; and Wimbledon, which is short and tricky, and most unhappily hedged in by the restrictions of the Conservators of the Common.

In the management of their club affairs women succeed all along the line. Many clubs that one could name are excellently carried on, the tact, energy, and resource displayed by the secretaries being truly admirable. It takes all those qualities, and more, successfully to carry through the work of a large open meeting of players from all parts, to say nothing of the everyday work of the club itself. Very careful financing is also needed in managing the funds of ladies' clubs, as in many cases the subscription is a moderate, not to say an insignificant, one, and much is expected by the members in the up-keep of the green, and in many other ways.

The Ladies' Golf Union, which was founded in 1893, has done much in bringing together the various clubs belonging to it, and in trying to institute some approximately uniform system of handicapping. To the Union's excellent hon. secretary, Miss Pearson, is due practically all its success. The Union also inaugurated the Ladies' Championship, which was held first at Lytham and St. Anne's in 1893; then at Littlestone-on-Sea in 1894; at Portrush in 1895 ;at Hoylake in 1896, and at Gullane (N.B) in 1897. The winners of their respective years were, in 1893, 1894, and 1895, Lady Margaret Scott ; in 1896, Miss Pascoe ; and in 1897, Miss E. C. Orr. This year's championship was of very special interest for several reasons. The entries (over 100) were more numerous than ever before ; the championship was held for the first time in Scotland ; and last, but certainly not least, the Scotch representatives came splendidly to the front.

If women will only strive to keep up the steady progress in the royal and ancient game which they have shown during the last few years, they may face their golfing fate with a light heart.

Louie Mackern.