For many months a team of archaeologists had been toiling deep in the Amazon jungle, clearing creepers and rampant choking undergrowth, from faint traces of a Lost City, slowly but surely uncovering one of the most exciting discoveries in recent years.
Their excitement mounted, as the place’s extraordinary purpose became evident. Broad winding avenues of giant flagstones had deep, narrow perfectly circular holes every few hundred yards. It had to be a golf course!
As they unearthed more of the Lost City, any doubt about the purpose was dispelled by the discovery of sculptures and paintings of human figures using primitive prototypes of irons or putters.
The next step for the archaeologists was to interrogate local Indian tribesmen about traditions associated with the prehistoric golf club of the Lost City.
It was soon learned that the tribes did have legends of the “Old Ones” who followed a daily ritual with clubs and balls, until routed by tragedy.
While watching a particularly wrinkled, aged elder, chattering to the interpreter, a Professor murmured wistfully, “If only we knew why they gave up golf, making it vanish for centuries before rediscovery”.
The interpreter nodded eagerly, and relayed the query.
The elder, surprised, made a sweeping gesture at the jungle, and replied.
“Simple”, was the translation, “they could not afford the green fees.”
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