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Sorry if I repeat anything that's already been said as I haven't been paying close attention recently.

Anyway, "it" is certainly 1920s. Consider The Desert Song, a musical from 1926. One of the songs from it is called "It" and some of the lyrics are:

So if the boys don't seem to fall for you
There's just no hope at all for you
Give up and quit
You'll never hit
If you have not got "It"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v6WQ1MBtRo

Orson

Thanks. I dont mind modern slang e.g. one of the answers in the Times today, but out-of-date stuff that I have never of is unacceptable, I think.

Malone

Thanks. I haven't seen Ivan Napple for many months, but I must visit the market next week. I will give him a Christmas card as you suggest. Ivor Berger returned to Germany when we had the first lockdown. As far as I know, he has not come back, but I am sure he will when it is safe.

I saw an advert in my local paper today from a reputable private school. They are looking for a sport's [sic] teacher and that is how it is written throughout.

I really don't think the apostrophe is correct. Of course, they're thinking of a teacher of sports, hence sport's teacher. But a teacher of English would never be an English's teacher.

I had a similar argument with a teacher once who insisted on games' field = field of games. But nobody talks about a football's pitch.

Teacher of sports would be sports' (not sport's) teacher, but an apostrophe is nonsense there anyway.

Naturally I am a big fan of the apostrophe and keep a felt tip pen in my golf bag to add, and renew (after heavy rain), the apostrophe on the Captain's Bunker sign.

I implored management to put TROLLEYS next time they renew the several 'No trollies or buggies' signs. They've just put up new ones exactly the same.

Paul

Whoever wrote that must be off his trollie. I think you should use your trolley next time you see that sign, as it is clearly not one of the banned items. I dont know what a Captain's bunker is, but I am glad you mark the apostrophe in it.

Orson

I might apply for the job. I can teach tenni's and 'squa'sh amongst other 'sport's'

Grunger
Captain's bunker is a sand trap selected by the club captain. Each time your golf ball is in it you are expected to donate 50p to the captain's chosen charity. The apostrophe tells us that it's just the captain and not the ladies' and seniors' captains too.

Trollies is actually a word given in Chambers as US slang for underpants. Beware! The 'no trollies' sign may get what it wishes for.

I'm rather dubious about these slang words. Scrabble now allows ZA as US slang short for PIZZA. I read that Stephen Fry visited a New York restaurant and asked for a za. He was met with a blank look.

Paul

I think that American visitors to your course will be surprised that they are not allowed to play wearing underpants. Who checks, presumably not the ladies' captain?

I was interested that you have ladies' and seniors' captains. I asked a golfing friend and at her club they have: Captain, Lady Captain, Seniors Captain and Junior Captain. No sign of an apostrophe and different treatment of Seniors and Junior.

Grunger

I think your friend's golf club policy would be fine if they cut the last s from Seniors. There are then no apostrophe complications: Captain, Lady Captain, Senior Captain, Junior Captain.

I suppose for even greater consistency they should use Gentleman Captain, but historical sexism assumes the club captain is a man, so Captain it remains.

Although I think correct use of apostrophes is important, there are some grey areas. I don't think I mind its omission in a phrase like Parents Evening.

I presume `Parents Evening` is mums & dads doing the ironing