Eighteen holes of match or medal play will teach you more about your foe than will 18 years of dealing with him across a desk.

Rice is arguing that competitive sport—specifically a full round of golf played under match or medal pressure—reveals character more quickly and honestly than long, formal business acquaintance. On the course, a person’s temperament shows in small crises: how they handle bad luck, rules, honesty in scoring, courtesy, and resilience after mistakes. The “foe” framing suggests rivalry rather than friendship; Rice implies that structured competition strips away office politeness and exposes habits of fairness, self-control, and strategic thinking. The line also reflects an early-20th-century ideal of sport as a moral proving ground, where conduct under pressure is a truer measure than professional demeanor.