GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20249, 8 May 1929, Page 16

GOLF TOPICS.

PLAY AT MIDDLEMORE.

A .VISIT TO HELENSVILLE.

LIKELY NORTH SHORE - COURSE..

Tho weatha.", which was gloriously fine for Saturday's matches, afforded players a good afteriunw's golf, The Middlemoro course was in 4 great order. Even the temporary greens, about which, so much has been said, .have passed the worst stage and have Lfc'en made bigger, which is a vast improvement. Interest in tho captain's tourney t'ri Saturday was inclined to fall a lifjfr'e fiat owing to so few matches being played. J. B. Lusk was obliged to forfeit >'iis match to L'. L. Bartleet owing to an ra tack of influenza. R. G. Raitiger was scratched and tho much-looked-for match .between If. li. Lusk and A. W. Gillies was played on tho quiet earlier in the \v,cek. It is not hard to surma e what must have happened to Gillies w.'ien it is revealed that Lusk's score to the 15th hole, where the match ended, w;t.» two over fours. Apparently Gillies was not content to play his ordinary game and mako use of his strokes, but must ryive tried shot for shot with Lusk.

A. E. M. Rhind's prospects crane to a sudden end on Saturday. His opponent, A. B. Lawrence, who was a member of this club many years ago, has only recently reappeared as an active p.'ay or and was out over tho first nine holev: .in 40. This, with two strokes conceded, was not altogether an easy proposition. Although Rhind is quite capable of cop?.yig with these figures he was not playing with his usual dash on Saturday, putting his chief trouble. A Lucky Recovery. Ross Martin was very lucky to be able to record a 2 and 1 victory over J. A..~ Gow, as over tho first eight holes he was. very much off his game and was 4 down.However, Gow had a) temporary lapse fertile uext few holes, enabling Martin to> get all square and then go on to win. L. W. Delph was a little unlucky on Saturday when someone walked off with his clubs by mistake. Delph had therefore to S'ay Plumley with a set of strange clubs., owever, from all accounts, he played exceedingly well and was only just beaten.Keen interest was displayed in tho medal competition provided for thoso eliminated in the tourney. Some fine scores were recorded and when M. Reed came in with 69 net everyone thought ho was the winner. However, near the end W. Pavitt bettered this by two-—67 net. It is good to see the honours list goiri£ round among the players. Reed's efforti no doubt will result in his handicap coming down, an ambition long cherished by? this player. A. M. Howden and P. B„ Morris were not far behind with 72 net., Success of L. H. Norton.

After the previous week's opening ceremonies the card of fixtures was resumed quietly at the One Tree Hill links oa Saturday. The bogey competition fell to L. H. Norton, long known in hockey circles as player, administrator, selector a'4d referee. He has definitely devoted himself to golf now, and would probably be found figuring more prominently- in competitions if the calls of business did not make him an absentee from Auckland many times in tha year. The winning score, all square, was, in the circumstances, moderate. Conditions were excellent, and though the greens are not yet beyond reproach they are very definitely better than they'have been. . Aconcentrated campaign is being carried on against the worms whose activities invariably make putting a difficult business on courses with volcanic soil. The moderato cards can perhaps be attributed to players in general not yet having struck form after a period of comparatively little golf. Some responsibility may be laid on the new and more formidable bunkers which guard many of the greens. Their possibilities have to be realised even where, as at the short 11th—the "Infant"—they appeal as a definite improvement on what! they have replaced. However, the habitues of the hill can bo expected to settle down speedily, a> development necessary since the Kingswell Shield competition is only a week or two away.

A Brilliant Finish, The bogey handicap played at Titirangi oa Saturday attracted a great number of entries. The course was in excellent order, and as a result several competitors finished up on bogey. The field was headed by J. C. Wilson, who finished brilliantly with 5 up. Itmust be admitted that the handicap lately allotted to the winner is far in advance of what it should be, but this matter no doubt will receive prompt attention. C. : G. Fisher, A. B. Joplin and H. Harvey, all finished 1 up and are to be congratulated upon their performances. The length of the holes is now stretching out under autumn conditions and from the back tees it is the long hitters only who are within striking distance with their seconds.

An enjoyable day was spent by a team from the Maungakiekie Club, which journeyed to Helensville. Some of the matches played were close and interesting and somu good scores'" were returned. Most, of the holes are short, but have merit, and extreme care had been taken to place the course in the best possible order. Iha members of the team feel indebted to the Helensville Golf Club for its hospitality, and a team which is visiting Titirangi in June is assured of a warm welcome. A 6000-Yards Course. „ For some time past there has been a movement afoot to secure land to i form a modern golf course to cater for the North Shore districts of Devonport, Takapuna, Jsorthcoto and Birkenhead. The present courses of Pupukc and Waitemata do not meet the need of a population of 20,000 and a scheme is now out lined to form a 6000 yards course on land between Takapuna "and Northcote. Careful consideration has been given to every detail and very favourable reports have" been obtained from two of the local professionals who have had experience in laying out courses overseas. The land, which is undulating and has very many interesting features, comprises 116 acres within easy access to either Takapuna or Northcote, and a regular transpoit service has been promised. It is proposed to form a company with a capital of £4OOO in £2O shares and to offer these* shares to intending members, who will bo eligible for membership without cntranco fee. Various other privileges are available, and above all things, a definite unit of a substantial clubhouse is provided foi. It is proposed to call the club the 'jSiortncvn Golf Club," and a.i option has been obtained over the land in the hopes of interesting all tne districts immediately.

STYMIES AT GOLF.

play in bogey matches.

A correspondent inquires whctliei stymies are playable in bogey matches. Stymies are not played in bogey competitions This is provided lor m tho rules of golf by tho general statement that tho rules for stroke, or medal, competitions shall apply also to bogey competitions. The position, therefore, is governed by the following clause from the rules for stroke competitions"The competitor whose ball is the further from tho hole roav have the ball which is nearer to the holo lifted or played at the option of the owner. If the latter refuse to comply with the rule when requested to do so" he shall bo disqualified." The cvilv difference is, as furtner provided bv the special rules for bogey coinpetitions, that the player refusmgio or play bis ball shall be disqualified for that hole alone, not for the competition, as ho would be in stroke pl&y-