ERS.

The influence of this "democratization" on the etiquette of what was
once an exclusive sport has been, in many instances, deplorable, and
I am sure that our golf-playing forefathers would turn over in their
graves were they to "play around" today on one of the "public" courses.
In no pastime are the customs and unwritten laws more clearly defined,
and it is essential that the young lady or gentleman of fashion who
contemplates an afternoon on the "links" devote considerable time and
attention to the various niceties of the etiquette of this ancient and
honorable game.

A young man, for example, when playing with his employer, should
always take pains to let his employer win. This is sometimes extremely
difficult, but with practice even the most stubborn of obstacles can
be overcome. On the first tee, for instance, after the employer, having
swung and missed the ball completely one or two times, has managed to
drive a distance of some forty-nine yards to the extreme right, the
young man should take care to miss the ball completely THREE times, and
then drive forty-eight yards to the extreme left. This is generally
done by closing the eyes tightly and rising up sharply on both toes just
before hitting the ball.

On the "greens" it is customary for a young man to "concede" his
employer every "putt" which is within twenty feet of the hole. If the
employer insists on "putting" [Ed. note:--He won't] and misses, the
young man should take care to miss his own "putt." After both have
"holed out," the young man should ask, "how many strokes, sir?" The
employer will reply, "Let me see--I think I took seven for this hole,
didn't I?" A well-bred young man will not under any circumstances remind
his employer that he saw him use at least three strokes for the drive,
three strokes for his second shot, four strokes in the "rough," seven
strokes in the "bunker," and three "putts" on the "green," but will
at once reply, "No, sir, I think you only took six, altogether." The
employer will then say, "Well, well, call it six. I generally get
five on this hole. What did you take?" The young man should then laugh
cheerily and reply, "Oh, I took my customary seven." To which the
employer will sympathetically say, "Too bad!"

After the employer has thus won his first three holes he will begin to
offer the young man advice on how to improve his game. This is perhaps
the most trying part of the afternoon's sport, but a young man of
corre