GOLF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 125, 8 March 1935, Page 2

GOLF.

THE ASHBURTON CLUB. REVIEW OF PAST SEASON. The annual' meeting of the Ashburton Golf Club was held last evening, the president (Dr. G, I. Miller) presiding over a. fairly good attendance. The annual report read as follows. • "Finance—The ry©ar opened with a credit balance- of £l7B 16s sd, and closed with a credit balance of £lO4 2d. Improvements to the club house have been made to the extent of £2OO, and a considerable amount of extra work has been done on the links. Members' subscriptions show an increase of £93 17s 9d, and the Mid-Canterbury tournament one of £7, over the previous season's figures. "Season's Play—The usual inter-club matches with Methven, llakaia, Ellesmere, Timaru, Harewoou, Ilussley and Richmond Hill were played. This club Avas represented in the Bristol Cup competition by a team consisting of W. Hedges, E. A. Cockroft, C. J. Bonnington, I. M. Hamilton, R. J. and J. W. Kdg, but they wer n . not successful. In the NortonFrancis Cup competition, J. T. .Smith, E. A. Cockroft, V. W. Russell, and L. E. Carter represented the club, and they were also unsuccessful The MidCanterbury tournament was a success. The number of entries exceeded the previous year's total, and ti;e weather conditions were perfect. The Mid-Can-terbury senior ehampionsinp was won by J. Ward; and the junior championship by I>. E. Olimie. Club championships were won by the following:— Women's senior championship, Mrs H. Thompson; .junior, Mrs H. A. Vezey; men's senior championship, V. W. Russell; intermediate, J. W. Keig; junior, P. Harper. The senior ringer was won by J. T. Smith, and the junior by S. H. Truman. "Coach.—The services of a coach (Mr Campbell) were obtained for a fortnight, and his time was well booked up, but on his return for a further week some time later practically no bookings were made. "Greenkeeper. The grecnkeeper (Mr D. Morten) and his son, Mr G. Morten, have been fully occupied, and the condition of the links all through the year have been very satisfactory. "thanks is due to those members who donated trophies for the usual club competitions, and to the women who attended to the afternoon teas during the season." The balance-sheet showed a credit of £lO4 13s 2d, compared with one of £l7B 16s 5d last year. The principal items of receipts were:—Subscriptions £502 16s 6d, afternoon tea proceeds £l4O 4s 3d, tournament fees £52 10s, green fees and,locker rents £3l 9s fid. Chief among the expenses were the following :—Wages £306 Is 6d improvements and maintenance £303 0s 7d, catering £79 4s 4d, interest £SO. Assets Avere shown to exceed liabilities by £llsO 7s sd.

The following officers were elected: — Patron, Mr D. Wood; president, Dr. G. I. Miller; vice-presidents. Messrs W. P. Anderson and W. H. Amos; captain, Mr E. A. Cockroft; secretary and treasurer, Mr L. E. Carter; committee, Messrs W. Hedges, H. G. Ferrieiy L. O. Nash, S. H. Truman, I. M. Hamilton and Dr. W. R. Ryburn; auditor, Mr S. H. Truman. One new member was elected, one member was transferred from the active to the honorary list, and two resignations were accepted,. The opening day was fixed for Saturday, March 23. NEW ERA IN BRITISH CAME; When Henry Cotton won the cham-. pionship at Sandwich last summer, I believe that British golf entered on a new era. His success marked the end of America's domination. It was only the second time in fourteen years that the title had been gained by a player at home, but Cotton's display was epoch-making, and, although none of the other competitors attained his wonderful standard, it was notable that other British players threw off thensense of inferiority, and not only stood up to the American challengers, but beat them (says an English writer). Gene Sarazen came to defend ins title, and as he saw the prize slipping away from him he remarked, "It was a was to of time and money to come over. We have no chance against this sort of golf." Since then Sarazen has stated that, in his opinion, the tide has turned in favour of British goiters and that, during the next few years, they will be at the top of the game. It is not expected that there will be the usual 1 strong attack by the Americans in this year's championship. They are more likely to reserve their big effort for 1937, when they will come to this country to play for the Ryder Cup. That, as Sarazen suggests, is when they are likely to make a massed 3,1" tuck Little has been seen of Cotton since his triumph. He has only returned from Belgium to play once. The strain of winning the championship taxed, his strength; and, perhaps wisely, he has taken every opportunity to rest. In the meantime, another golfer of fine skill has come to the front in J. J. Busson. He won the professional match-play championship at the age of 23, and he is the youngest player ever to achieve this distinction. Busson has modelled his style on that of Bobby Jones He has the. same slow swing, and last season he played with impressive confidence. I think he is sure to go a long way in the game. All round the standard of British professional golf was higher last season. For over thirty rounds nine players had an average of under 74, the list being Henry Cotton, Padgham, Brews who was on a visit from South Africa', the three brothers Whitcombe, Dayies, Easterbrook and Alliss.