NOT so many years ago golf as a game was but a dead letter as far as ladies were concerned. Now, however, the case is vastly different, for a big boom occurred about six years ago, and since that date ladies' clubs and sections have sprung into existence throughout the whole of the kingdom.

Going as far back as some twenty-two years, if my memory serves me aright, there was a ladies' club in existence at Westward Ho, although, no doubt, the course over which they played in those days would provoke a smile were it to be seen now.

It was in reality a series of putting holes, just these and nothing more, and with not the slightest inducement held out for the playing of anything approaching a violent game. Under these circumstances it is not surprising to learn that interest in the pastime languished and declined, the members did not follow the idea up with any degree of zest, and at length the club died a natural death. But it has risen again, phoenix-like, and in 1900 the Ladies' Championship of the world was decided on the Westward Ho links.

It is a difficult matter to assign any particular reason for this sudden accession of interest. Of course, the gentler sex has become more and more athletic year by year, and the bread-and-butter miss so dear to the average novelist of the last generation has passed away, probably for ever. But I fancy the real reason of the ladies taking up the game with so much keenness must be attributed to the fact that their husbands and brothers were playing day by day, and naturally they did not wish to be left completely out in the cold.

In this decided favouritism for golf the ladies, I think, have displayed excellent judgment. It is not exercise of a too violent description, it is far superior to cycling, and it is not an expensive recreation.

While in the act of playing every muscle of the body is brought into use, and should be under control, and if fatigue is felt, what is easier than to rest? The pedestrian exercise involved in following the ball from hole to hole is calculated to improve the general stamina of the person engaged, so that golf works for the good of the player in every way.

That there are grievances attaching to the game as played by ladies may be taken for granted; never yet has anything been invented or suggested that will suit one and all. Ladies' courses are usually shorter and do not present so many difficulties as a course laid down for the use of men. Here possibly is a more or less real grievance. I have frequently heard lady players complain that their links partook too much of the toy variety.

In this respect the general complaint is that the extent of the course is far too short. It cannot be denied that there is some little justification for this, though after all, a woman is not generally physically capable of playing over such a long and tiring course as is laid out for the use of men.

But despite the differences in strength and stamina, I would certainly suggest that the courses set apart for the use of ladies might with advantage be made longer, while the hazards to be overcome might be rendered of a more difficult character. The aim of the designer of the alterations I have suggested must be to strike the happy medium in respect of the severity of the tests upon the course ; but as the Ladies' Championship is decided over a course that has been laid out for men, it is manifestly unfair to any competitor to be asked to come off a short course and be set such a big task as playing in the principal event of the year upon a long one.

Ladies are considerably handicapped in this way, and although I would not advocate the making of their courses too difficult, I would endeavour whenever possible to secure a course of 18 holes. I say "whenever possible" advisedly, for in some cases ground sufficient in extent could not be secured, and it would be far better to lay out a good round of 9 holes than a poor, or even moderate one, of 18. Still, the latter should be tried for, and I will attempt to prove why this endeavour should be made.

It is a very real fact that the best women golfers are those who have learnt to play the game upon a man's course. They are freer in their style, more at their ease, and there is a noticeable absence of anything cramped in their play, a disadvantage that would probably have arisen had they learnt solely upon a smaller and more confined area. My argument is that a freer style would be secured were the links more nearly to approach the full size, and this means that the class of game would likewise be advanced.

As far as the actual play is concerned, there are a few things upon which a woman must needs be cautioned. It is a great and glorious pastime, but to get the fullest degree of enjoyment out of it a lady player must exercise care in the selection of her clubs, and see that she does not overburden herself in the matter of weight.

This, curious to relate, is just where a woman, as a rule, is most prone to make a mistake. She should never attempt to play with a too heavy driver or other club. She lacks sufficient physical power to properly wield it, and instead of its being the woman that swings the club, it is the club that swings the woman. No doubt the idea of every player who makes this mistake is that the additional weight is a great advantage in getting a distance, but this, I would point out, is quite an erroneous idea, and one calculated to work considerable harm in every case, but especially so where a woman is concerned. When swinging a heavy club a considerable expenditure of physical force is rendered necessary, the result being that instead of being able to play freely and at her ease, she evolves an ugly and a laboured style, and the damage done irreparably it is impossible to surmise. The task of controlling her club is too great, and once perfect control is lost, the prospect of success is gone.

A golfer must feel that he or she is complete master of the club throughout the playing of the whole of every stroke, or the ball goes off at a tangent, anywhere except in the right direction.

Putting, however, is invariably the strongest point in the play of any lady golfer. In this they excel, and once upon the green they are capable of holding their own against all comers, no matter who they may be; the reason is, I suppose, that every woman is possessed of a natural delicacy of touch. This delicacy is absolutely necessary when you are upon the green, or near the edge of the hole, so a lady player is in the proud position of being able, in one thing at least, to score over the majority of her male competitors.

The weakest point of a woman's game, on the other hand, is generally in driving. Here it is that wrist play comes into operation, and the absence of this power in ladies militates against full and complete success. The stronger the wrist the longer the "carry" it is possible to get upon the ball; so with stronger wrists and forearms it is not at all a matter for surprise that men should prove themselves capable of driving a longer ball than their sisters or wives.

Another fault to be guarded against, in the majority of instances, is the very decided tendency for a woman to overswing. They are far too apt to think that a long swing is an absolute necessity to secure a long drive. But here again they are wrong, for in so playing a stroke they simply, by excess of effort, defeat their object. As a matter of fact a short, concentrated swing is all that is required in order to apply the fullest possible power to the greatest advantage.

The absence of sufficient wrist power is also noticeable in the playing of the iron and intermediate strokes, so that a woman, in order to make the best use of the power she possesses, cannot afford to throw any chances aside, and must be careful in watching that she does not unwittingly allow herself to develop any bad points, always difficult to tone down or remove successfully.