This is a humorous and satirical short story about golf, friendship, and love. The story revolves around two friends, John Gooch and Frederick Pilcher, who engage in a heated game of golf while trying to navigate their complicated relationships with Agnes Flack. The story begins with the two friends playing a round of golf, where they are both struggling to keep up with each other's scores. As the game progresses, it becomes clear that Frederick is intentionally trying to lose, which frustrates John and leads to a series of comedic misunderstandings. Meanwhile, Agnes Flack, who is watching the game from the sidelines, seems to be enjoying the spectacle and even appears to be flirting with John. However, when John tries to propose to her after the game, she rejects him in favor of Sidney McMurdo, a burly man who has been lurking in the background. The story takes a dark turn when Frederick Pilcher is disqualified from the game for cheating, which leads to a confrontation between John and Agnes. However, just as it seems like things are about to get out of hand, Agnes reveals that she is actually going to marry Sidney McMurdo, leaving John feeling relieved but also a bit embarrassed. The story ends with John Gooch starting a new writing project called "Saved From the Scaffold," which suggests that he may be trying to process his emotions and move on from the events of the day. Overall, the story is a humorous and satirical take on the complexities of relationships and the absurdities of golf.
By P. G. Wodehouse · First published 1920 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Short Stories