THE GAME OF GOFF, OR GOLF.

THIS

HIS favourite summer amusement in Scotland is played with clubs and balls. The club is taper, terminating in the part that strikes the ball, which part is faced with horn, and loaded with lead. There are six sorts of clubs used by good players; namely, the common club, used when the ball lies on the ground; the scraper, and half scraper, when in long grass; the spoon, when in an hollow; the heavy iron club, when it lies deep among stones or mud; and the light iron ditto, when on the surface of chingle or sandy ground. The balls are considerably smaller than those used at cricket, but much harder; being made of horse leather, stuffed with feathers in a peculiar manner, and boiled.

The ground may be circular, triangular, or a semi-circle. The number of holes are not limited; always depending on what the length of the ground will admit. The general distance between one hole and another is about a quarter of a mile, which commences and terminates every game; and the party who gets their ball in by the fewest number of strokes are the victors.

Two, or as many more as choose, may play together; but what is called the good game never exceeds four; that number being allowed to afford best diversion, and not so liable to confusion as a greater number. The more rising or uneven the ground, the greater nicety or skill is required in the players; on which account that is always given the preference to by proficients.

Light balls are used when playing with the wind, and heavy ones against it. At the beginning of each game the ball is allowed to be ele

vated to whatever height the player chooses, for the convenience of striking; but not afterwards. This is done by means of sand or clay, called a Teeing. The balls which are played off at the beginning of the game must not be changed until the next hole is won, even if they should happen to burst. When a ball happens to be lost, that hole is lost to the party; and if a ball should be accidentally stopped, the player is allowed to take his stroke again.

Suppose four are to play the game, A and B against C and D, each party having a ball, they proceed thus: A strikes off first-C next; but perhaps does not drive his ball above half the distance A did, on which account D, his partner, next strikes it, which is called one more, to get it as forward as that of their antagonists, or as much beyond it as possible; if this is done, then B strikes A's ball, which is called playing the like, or equal, of their opponents. But if C and D, by their ball being in an awkward situation, should not be able, by playing one more, to get it as forward as A's, they are to play in turn, two, three, or as many more, until that is accomplished, before B strikes his partner's ball: which he calls one to two, or one to three, or as many strokes as they required to get to the same distance as A did by his once playing. The ball is struck al ternately, if the parties are equal, or nearly so.

THE GAME OF SKITTLES.

RULES.

1. THE bowler must stand at the mark with one foot, and from thence deliver his bowl fairly out of his hand; which bowl should run upon the board, fixed for that purpose, before it arrives at the frame: for if the bowler does not cause his bowl to run along the board, (or touch it in some part) he loses the benefit of bowling.

2. If the bowler throws the bowl so as to cause it to run double, (as commonly called) and any one of the opposite party calls out, A foul bowl; if it has not reached the pins, the player must bowl again but if it arrived at the frame before the opposite party called out foul, whatever numbers are bowled down must be scored.

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3. If a bowl runs clearly through the frame and knocks down any number of pins, and is impeded in its return back again by one of the opposite party, one additional pin must then be allowed the person who bowled.

4. If the bowl passes through the frame, and in its return strikes a standing pin, and immediately after a rolling or live pin (as it is called) runs against the falling pin, that shall be deemed fair, because the live pin hits the other pin last.

5. If a live pin rolls against a standing pin, and the bowl comes on its return against the falling pin, before it is down, that is deemed an unfair pin, because the bowl struck it last.

6. If the bowl runs through the frame, and knocks at the head-board, although it may have bowled down many pins, none are allowed fair.

7. If the bowl runs through or on the outside of the frame, and knocks, and then runs round the other side of the frame, without crossing any part thereof, or touching any of the live pins, the bowler must stand to take his tip with one foot upon the spot where the bowl stopped. And in tipping from such place, he must not strike the ground with the bowl before it hits the pins; if it does, he loses all the pins he may strike down.

8. If in tipping, the bowl is caught or stopped by one of the opposite party, who in so doing stops or impedes a live pin, he loses one; because he prevented the tipper from receiving the benefit which might have arisen from a live or rolling pin.

9. If an opposite partner takes up the bowl in order to prevent it from running amongst the pins, and letting it slip out of his hand, it hits any of the pins, he loses one for so doing.

10. If a person in tipping gives a sweep round with his hand, and brings down any pin, by means of his hand or coat sleeve, that is deemed unfair; and he must lose one pin. The bowl is always to be clearly and fairly delivered from the hand, both in bowling and tipping.

11. Care should be taken in tipping not to jump into the frame immediately after, as in this case the player is not allowed any of the pins he tips.

12. If the player bowls and tips for a limited number, at the close of the game, and throws down more than are wanted, he must go for nine.

N. B. In the grounds where these rules are observed, a disinterested person is generally ap pointed to score the game, and in disputes, (if the case varies from any of those herein stated) his decision should be final.

INSTRUCTIONS.

BOWLING.

THE art of bowling well must be acquired in a great measure through practice, yet a little instruction will be found useful, and a proper attention will soon enable a learner to become a good player.

Let the player hold the bowl in his right hand, with the bias-side from him, with his left foot advanced before the right, which must be at the mark, his body bending towards the frame, but in an easy position: then, with an equal motion, throw the bowl along the board with sufficient strength to reach the frame; the left hand side of the first pin he should endeavour to hit with the bowl, in accomplishing which he will be tolerably certain of bringing four or five every time the first pin is hit in that manner.

He must take care not to aim at the first pin in a straight direction, but cause the bowl to form a curved line; by which it will lose something of its force, and strike the pins with greater certainty of success.

TIPPING.

When the learner is going to tip, he should hold the smaller circumference or opposite side of the bias in the palm of his hand, grasping it very strong with his fingers; as few can be tipped when the bowl is loosely held; he must place his left foot, quite clear of the frame, between the first and ninth pin; and his right foot behind him, in an easy position, and in such direction that he may with ease hit his pins in the manner following.