The etiquette of golf should also be most carefully studied. You may not be a good player, but you may at least equal the very best exponents of the game in your manner of playing it. As far as the rules go, be most scrupulous, even in an ordinary practice game,to observe the strict letter of the law, and never take any concession from your opponent. If he asks you to remit a penalty, that is another matter. You ought to be in a position, however, to refuse him everything that is not his by right. On the other hand, do not quibble about technical points which obviously do not enter into the spirit of the rule. For instance, no one, whose mind is not clouded by enthusiasm, could ever think of claiming a hole because his opponent accidentally drops a club in a bunker where his ball is lying some distance away. Be very careful, however, to do nothing, either in action or in words, which may annoy your opponent and so spoil his game. There are many subtle ways of irritating him if he is at all a nervous player, and to tell the truth, there are a number of prominent golfers who are not above employing these questionable methods; not that they would intentionally put him off a stroke, but they seem to think that remarks which are quite unnecessary, and which may prove rather annoying*, are perfectly legitimate.

In England or Scotland players who resort to these devices are very easily dealt with. No one plays with them. Here it is not so easy to act in that way, because there are so many tournaments and prize competitions that for at least half your season you cannot choose either your partner or your opponent. I have actually heard a player admit that he sometimes plays more slowly than is absolutely necessary, because it may assist him to defeat his adversary. If he only thought about it for a moment he would see that such a course is really just as reprehensible as a deliberate attempt to interfere with a player's swing. He ought, on the contrary, to be particularly careful to avoid undue deliberation, which might unintentionally be a cause of annoyance.