Page:Out-door Games Cricket and Golf (1901).djvu/253

214 the abolition of the stimie. They do not consider the niceties of the game, or what may be called its æsthetic side; to them it appears to be a matter of no moment to preserve an artistic and beautiful stroke; all this is nothing in their eyes. Medal or score play is a necessity in these days of competitions and spring and autumn meetings, and stimies no doubt must be abolished in this sort of competition; but I for one object to the spirit of score play being allowed to pervade the whole game of golf. The agitation in favour of the abolition of the stimie is, I believe, largely due to the fact that many players, even when playing match games, are keeping a score, and no doubt stimies do damage a round where every stroke is of importance. Nobody objects to a man keeping his score, provided that he does not stand for some minutes by the hole while he is counting his strokes and putting them down in a book to the great inconvenience of those behind him; but what seems to me pernicious is the idea that a stroke, beautiful to look at and delightful to play, which has been part of the game ever since it was first played, should be sacrificed because it is in some cases hard luck to its