The course of the golfer, like that of the lover, is not always unruffled; misfortunes come to both the just and the unjust. Be the Fates ever so kind and the player ever so good, he is often called upon to deal with shots requiring the exercise of nerve, pluck and intelligence by reason of perverse circumstances. "Cupped" and "hanging" lies are of frequent occurrence, and you will sometimes be guilty of laying yourself a stymie on the putting-green, even if your opponent should try his best to avoid such a con-tingency. Then the wind takes its turn to prevent any possible suggestion of monotony in the game, and the occasion arises now and then for displaying as a virtue what is commonly regarded as a vice—the "pulling" or "slicing" of a shot.

1. A cupped ball.—The selection of the club depends upon the desired length of the shot and the degree of the depression. Given the latter to be only moderate, the distance from the hole under favourable conditions will be your guide. If, however, the "cuppiness" is very pronounced, the chief aim will be the happy issue out of your affliction, and the question then resolves itself into one of "loft"—the iron or mashie (the baffy, if you prefer it) being invited to your deliverance. The principle to be observed in the stroke is that the club-head must nip in between the edge of the cup and the ball. If the depression is only a slight one, the eye should rest on the extreme edge of the ball or even a spot on the turf just behind it. The right foot should be well advanced, and the swing more upright than usual, i.e., the club-head should be taken back in a straight line as far as possible, and brought up well over the right shoulder. This will help to ensure the requisite return-path and enable the club-head to get into the turf a little behind the ball. There is, of course, more or less a jerk according to the amount of the depression. But the idea must not be entertained for a moment that the jerk is to be intentional; the club-head must be allowed to complete its course. The supreme importance of this feature of the stroke compels one to repeat what has been urged before; the notion that "loft" can be contributed by any sort of ladling movement must be at once and for ever abandoned, and complete confidence placed in the co-operation of the face and swing of the club. Sometimes a ball is so badly cupped that there is no question of the need for a well-lofted iron. Whatever may be the club chosen, however, the aim must be to get well behind the ball, and the eye must be directed to some point an inch or two in its rear. In such cases, the straight up and down character of the swing and the nature of the depression will produce a sharp jerk that will take off most of the club's momentum; this, however, is only natural and, as noted before, needs no assistance from the player. It only remains to be added that the grip must be very firm.

2. Hanging lie.—A well-driven ball, keeping its flight along the middle of the course, usually holds out hopes of a favourable lie in the next shot, one having most of the advantages of the tee—a level patch, an agreeable poise on short, stiff turf and—a condition not to be despised—a slight upward slope. But when the last is reversed and the slope inclines downwards in the line of the stroke, a difficulty is created that gives the beginner some uneasiness at first. The chief point to be observed is that the slope of the ground must be "averaged" by the loft of the club, the aim being to swing the club with the usual sweep as if the ground were quite flat. Here again the temptation to do the lofting of the ball with some extraordinary performance with the wrist obtrudes itself, and once more the warning is repeated. The only precaution needed is the arrangement of the stance and the aim to be more behind the ball than usual. The normal sweeping stroke, the right shoulder being kept in due subjection, will, with the aid of the club-face, do the thing needful.