Octavus Roy Cohen

“ Chapman hesitated a moment, then tore a bit of paper from an envelope in his pocket. This he placed on the ground. "Right there!" he announced triumphantly.
"Oh!" She smiled. "Now I understand. That's what you call a tee?"
"Yes—no, that's not a tee. That represents where the ball would be if there were a tee and the ball was on it. Is that perfectly clear?"
"I—I—suppose so."
"Now that we have learned to keep our eye on the ball, the next thing is the grip. It is vitally important that the club should be gripped correctly. Take the club in your left hand." She did so. ”

“ A two-ball foursome is a test of every hazard in golf. First one partner shoots, and then the other plays the same ball from wherever it lies. The partners alternate from the tees.
Ramsay's drive screamed down the fairway, then curved violently to the left and landed in the edge of the rough, two hundred and ten yards from the tee. ”

“ The sixty-four-hundred-yard links of the Sunrise Valley Club were considered the best south of the Mason and Dixon line, and the hotel became a Mecca for golfing enthusiasts who played on Northern courses in the summer and in Florida during the winter. The Sunrise Valley scheme banged across to success for the simple reason that golfers seek golf twelve months in the year, and the new hotel was the first one in the East to give them first-rate spring and autumn accommodations. ”

“ Chapman, being a well-built and attractive young man, promptly received invitations to fill out foursomes. To each invitation he returned a polite refusal. Pressed for a reason, he declared that he was afflicted with rheumatism. They looked him over and became skeptical.
"He doesn't play golf," accused one.
"Then why did he come here? This is a golf resort."
"Ask me something easy; but I'm twice as sure that he doesn't play. No golfer with rheumatism could stand the strain of being near good links, and within sound of tournaments, without pitching in." ”

“ Surrounding the velvety green a few innocent-looking bunkers concealed vicious sand-traps. No. 1 at Sunrise Valley is a diabolical hole.
Chapman and Enid found themselves playing with Donald Ramsay and Miss Olive Robertson in the qualifying round. There was scarcely a doubt that the club officials had conspired to intensify the ignominy they were due to suffer. Ramsay usually shot the course comfortably under eighty, and had been seven times the club champion. Miss Robertson was considered one of the three best women players in the club. ”

“ It's—it's—"
"It's what?"
"I—I can't explain."
"Well, whatever you do, don't lay the blame on your rheumatism. As for my playing, you've told me yourself that I'm going to make a wonderful golfer."
"Going to make—yes; but that doesn't mean—"
"Very well, Mr. Carter Chapman, I'll withdraw; but my idea of sportsmanship is to play in tournaments for the fun of the thing. If we're beaten, we're beaten, and that's all there is to it."
"But, Enid, we haven't a chance!"
"Of course we haven't; but we can have a lot of fun." ”

“ Yes—that the practise tee is right by the place where all the games start. There's always a crowd around there, and I'm frankly embarrassed. It seems to me that the folks under instruction are the butts of morbid curiosity, and I don't relish the prospect. ”

“ Pretty girl, secluded spot—say, some chap was going to be dog-goned lucky! The very thought of taking this particular young lady out daily where prying eyes could not pry, and under conditions where she would have to follow orders! ”

“ Enid shook her head.
"I don't know, Mr. McTavish. I'm new to the game, and I'll leave that to you."
A gleam of keen interest was born in the eyes of the Scot.
"H-m! Ye'll be wanting nice clubs, of course, and plenty of them. 'Tis a verra gude idea for the new beginner to have an assortment. Soomtimes they don't worrk as they should."
An hour later Carter Chapman staggered out of the golf-shop weighed down by Enid's equipment. Regarded solely as an equipment, it was a wonder. There were clubs for every possible lie and for several impossible ones: a plain driver and a bulging one ”