Life — October 14, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Golf the Glorious" - Life Magazine Satire This page satirizes golf's popularity among wealthy Americans. The essay argues golf appeals to middle-aged men seeking inexpensive entertainment, contrasting it with fishing. It humorously claims golf inspired a "school of infancy, second only to the language of the sea" and references religious figures (Saint Peter, Saint Anthony, Saint Andrew, Saint Patrick) allegedly playing golf or blessed by it—obvious fabrications mocking the sport's cultural elevation. The cartoon below depicts Methuselah (the biblical figure who lived 969 years) as a professional golfer, unable to change his habits despite centuries of existence. The joke: even extreme longevity won't break golf addiction, satirizing how obsessively devoted golfers are to the sport. The satire targets golf's grip on American society and players' inability to quit.