The main object in the game of golf is to get the ball into the hole in the fewest possible number of strokes. I do not, therefore, pur pose entering into any account of the history of the game, but will Simply, in a practical way, confine myself to an endeavor to assist the player who has passed the rudimentary stage by describing in detail, as concisely as possible, not only the several ways of mak ing the various strokes, but also the more common causes of failure.