Page:Out-door Games Cricket and Golf (1901).djvu/172

Rh of the Sandwich, Westward Ho, and St. Andrews type. I am inclined to think this is the case, for one or two reasons which I have already discussed. The inferior player is not so much bothered by wind, has not the same crowd of bunkers to avoid, has more chance of being helped by luck in the way of devious strokes being kicked the right way by lumps of clay or stones, and may find himself putting fairly well compared with the strong player. There are few inland greens of very great length. It is not easy in the country to get long stretches like those of the sea-side, and yet the scoring, in consequence of the bad lies and inequalities of ground, is far higher than on much longer sea-side links. A player with a big handicap, if he has any intelligence, is an awkward customer to give long odds to on an inland course. He finds it far easier to keep out of difficulties, and this is what kills him at North Berwick. By playing with the clubs he knows and is accustomed to, like the cleek and putter, by having no pride in his constitution and never attempting any risks, he may find himself doing pretty well. His opponent, on