How to Play the First Hole

So a bit of introduction here.  I've just seen A Mid Summer's Night Dream and wanted to play around with iambic pentameter.  So imagine if you will that Old Billy would write golf course instruction manuals when the play and sonnet market was soft.   The game was played back in his time.  I'm surprised that golf never made it into his works.  Perhaps he had a wicked slice and just didn't want to think about it?  (However, trying to put 10 syllables in each line is beyond my meager abilities, so it's a bit freer than the bard would do.)


How to Play The Hole Fyrst

At First you must careful select a Tee.
With White and Red and Blue and black to Choose,
This often be a chance to win or lose.
Assume it's white we'll play today,
tee the ball and swing on free.

But, hark, young golfer, be aware,
there be much danger lurking there.

Firstly a bunker deep, blocks the right -- sandy, mean, and full of fright.
Best to favor left a bit.  Give the ball a powerful hit!
But not too far or you soon come around,
a pond doth lurk most leftward bound.
The right is no succor though, tall the trees in that area grow.

So center stripe must you well find.  But alas there lieth another mind.
A reedy pond the center doth guard, you must be shortish or score be charred.

Water left and right trees and trap, you must be centered or in the crap!

When pass'd all this bother, a smooth fairway calls.
From there a strike to the green.  Dangers lurk here, this green is mean!

A new trap on left you will find, plus another pond over the green lies blind.

A mere three traps adorn the right.  One must hit the green or rue your plight!

The putting here the problems many, as this green is a bitter penny.
From Back to Front and left to right, swales the ball ungently toss.

After a final putt is holed, sheath the putter and off you go.
The second hole calls you next, it's merely twice the run and twice the vex!