A Song About Harrogate Golf

Why it's spelt G.O.L.F. is very hard to say,
And what the "L" is put in for, I don't know to this day,
Authorities have laid it down – to them my hat I doff,
And they The Royal and Ancient Game pronounce as tho' it's Goff .

Now, golf at dear old Harrogate is quite the proper thing,
Its devotees, around the place, its praises loudly sing,
So Visitors and Sportsmen rally round and pay your subs,
The Harrogate, the Oakdale and the Pannal are the Clubs.

Chorus.
Go in for Golf, go in for Golf,
It's a very healthy game upon my soul,
It's a philosophic exercise, to take it up you ought,
Tho' it p'raps may make you tired if not the energetic sort,
You will be rewarded later on, there's comfort in the thought
You are bound to reach the 19th hole.

The Courses all are picturesque you'll find each guide book tell,
The language of the player is often picturesque as well,
The services of Caddies can be had whene'er you like,
But where they play on Sundays all the Caddies go on strike.

Why this is so I've many times enquired of different folk,
And to the reason only very lately I've awoke,
It's the parents of the Caddies, so I'm told, who rightly say
That the language heard is quite enough to break the Sabbath Day.

Chorus.
Go in for Golf, go in for Golf.
It's a very healthy game upon my soul,
Tho' it's true it's disappointing, and it's not a thing of mirth
When you try to do your best and swing your, club for all you're worth
And you find the ball still there, and all you've moved's a pound of earth,
Still you've always got the 19th hole.

Some people cannot think where the enjoyment is at all
In going to such pains to swipe an unoffending ball,
And even if you hit it, so these silly folk complain,
You have to walk a mile or so, and swipe the brute again.

For those who haven't played it I feel sorry all the same,
They'll never know the pep and vim derived from such a game,
It gives a zest to living, and it keeps you m the pink,
The golf is good at Harrogate, so don't go in for drink.

Chorus.
Go in for golf, go in for golf,
It's a very healthy game, upon my soul,
So toddle forth you Sportsmen, leave your little wooden huts,
No matter what's your handicap, although you miss your putts,
Your pals are all unanimous you'll never play for nuts,
Still you've always got the 19th hole.