GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 251, 19 October 1912, Page 16

GOLF.

GOLF QUERIES: PL.JS HANDICAPS IN BOGEY PIiAY. Tort Elizabeth Golf Club.—Q.: The P.E.U.C hold a monthly handicap competition, and every alternate month the play is against Bogey. The competitors are allowed three-fourths of their ordinary handicaps, fractions of half and over counting as a stroke. Thus a player with a handicap of 0, although entitled to 4A, would receive five strokes. The point arises as to how a plus-2 player is to be treated in a competition of this kind. Is he entitled to an allowance from Bogey, and, if so, threefourths of two being one and a-half, who receive the benefit of the half—i.e., does the plus-2 player owe one or two strokes?

The case in point has been duly submitted to our plus-2 player, who is interested in your decision, and his comment is as follows: — "To bring the relative positions of the minus players to that of the plus-2 player, it would be necessary to make the plus player scratch and add two strokes to the minus players. A player with a handicap of C would then receive throe-quarters of 8 in such a competition and would receive six strokes from Bogey. If the phis-2 player must give two strokes, then the minus-C player would be receiving seven strokes from him: in other words, the advani tage of an extra stroke. Ln giving yonr decision, T would like you to consider this point." A. —The plus player owes threefourths of his handicap in Bogey play, just as the minus player receive? threefourths of his. It is well known that the system of handicapping on threefourths of the stroke plays odds, and tho counting of half-strokes as one results in a certain amount of unfairness, but for all fehat the aystein is as good a ont? as can lie devised. The argument of your plus player is founded on a fallacy. The Bogey score represents the score of a scratch player, and if you regard Bogey as a scratch competitor, which he is, the fallacy is apparent. In match play a plus-2 player gives a scratch player three-fourths of 2-1$ strokes—2, and he gives a minus-2 player three-fourths of 4—3. In a Bogey competition he gives him exactly tiie same. PLAYING THREE BALLS IN STROKE COMPETITION. Axe Cliff Golf Club.—Q.: A wishes to compete for the monthly medal, and arranges for B to play with him and mark his card. B does not intend to compete. C, who does, arrives just before they start, and, finding no one to go round with, asks to join A and B. They play a 3-ball match, holing out on every green, B marking the cards of A and C. A returns the lowest net score for the day. Can the committee accept his card? A.: No. Competitors must play in couples. See Rule 1 (2), special rules for stroke-play competitions. STRIKING SAND IN HAZARD. CASSIO.—Q.—My partner's ball (in a stroke competition) was lying in a sand bunker. In the backward stroke he struck the sand behind the ball. I adjudged tho penalty at two strokes. I should be glad if you would inform mc if that was correct. I have no doubt myself, but the captain, secretary and professional of tho club to which I belong told mc that I was quite wrong, and that there was no penalty. A.—The penalty for touching the sand behind the ball in the backward awing is loss of hole in match play, and two strokes in medal play. If it were legal to touch the sand behind the ball in drawing back the club, a player might easily remove enough sand to leave the ball practically teed.

THE SINGLE PLAYER. FRINTON.—Q.—A single player playing a full round (with a caddie) reaches the 17th tee and drives off. Two players (without caddies) then walk over from the 10th green, call fore, and claim to drive through. Are they within their rights? The decision seems to turn upon the meaning of "match" according to the rules. I shall feel obliged by your early reply, as the point has been somewhat strenuously discussed. A.—See Rule 1. (2) "A single player has no standing, and shall always give way to a match of any kind."