GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1915, Page 7

GOLF.

(By "NiBLICK.") A L'-C KLA XI) C LL'B. ilareb 27.— Opening Day Mixed Foursomes. April 3-ti.—KaMer Tournament. MAUN'-GAKIEKIE CLUB. April 10.—Upeains Day Mixed Foursomes. NEW PLYMOUTH. April 3-6. - Raster Tournament. Y\ ith the wet weather on us golfers are beginning to feel keen once again. The long dry spell made the ground so hard that only a very few were enthusiastic enough to keep up their golt during the summ-sr months. The Auckland Club will hold their official opening on Saturday next, when mixed foursomes will be "held. Poet entries will be received, players choosing their own partners and opponents. The conditions of play will be boprey handicap threecighthe of combined handicap, fractions of half and over to count as one stroke. Intending competitors in tho Easter tourney should not" that entries close on Saturday next, iMaxch 27, at ."> p.m. The programme includes the Auckland provincial championship and several medal and bogey handicaps. I understand that .Sloan JJorpeth, the present champion, intends to defend his title.

The Middlemore links will require some time to tiioroug-hly recover from the effects of the recent drought, come of the greens especially being, very bare. The recent heavy rains, however, have already had a wonderful effect, and with i-areful attention a great improvement should be noticeable by the time the tournament is held.

The Maungakiekie course is in very good order indeed, aud the club should have a most sueecesful season. T*ne committee have decided to hold their official opening on April 10th, mixed foursomes to be the order of the da)'. The Auckland dub held its annual general meeting at the Chamber of Com merce on Saturday evening last. Although only a very small percentage o' members attended ! about 25), a very keen interest was taKen In the varicwib matters brought before them. The committee, finding that several rules re quired revising, decided to go right tnrough the whole Int. and bring them all into proper order. This, of course, took up a lot of time, but it was a step in the right direction, and the thanko of the members are due to those who undertook tuch a. big contract. A rule that will be greatiy appreciated by players who find themselves transferred to this city after.JiaWng already paid an entrance fee to the club to which they belonged is rule 45 —a new one. The rule reads os follows: ■■Member-- of another* golf eluh in the Dominion, but outside a radius of twenty-five miles from Auckland, and having a similar rule to this, who have paid their suliscription V> that club for the current year, shall not be liable for more than the difference in entran-e feo if any in excels of what is in force in the club to which they belong." Intending competitors at the Xew Plymouth Kaster tnurnament should note that entries dose on March 31st. The New I'lvmoirtli course is reported to be in first -class order, and anyone deriding to make the trip will be sure of a good time. The~ Auckland Club have secured tbe services of McEwan as a coach. This professional is a player of high order, and those who place themselves in his hands should greatly benefit by his teaching. Our junior players do not have half-enough coaching; they are content to go on. year after year, th« same old way, never by any chance reducing their handicap.

X. D. <freen. the Maungakiekie champion, expects to leave for the front in a few days, (ireen we*? a member of the committee of this club. and, 1 understand, that his place has been filled by F. Still i n<:.

The Auckland Club is very fortunate in having added Mr. Macintosh, the new general manager for the Sun Fire Insurance Company, to ite list of members. Mr. .Macintosh is a left-hander, with a handicap of four. Although not vet in form, this new member should soon settle down. The left-handers will now I expect be wanting to challenge the right-handers of the club. A medal handicap was played at Middlemore nn Saturday last, the winning <-ard being handed in by H. Horton. no— ll_7!) net. E. Hickson finished second with 88—7—81.

Those polfers. who find it inconvenient to get out to the links during the week, will be pleased to find that FHood, late professional at Middle-more, ha? opened up rooms in Smeeton'e Building. Queen Street. Hood intends to make a speciality of coaching, and for this purpose has fitted up a practice net in one of his rooms. Suitable arrangements for leseons can be made by appointment, and under hie expert tuition pupils should coon feel the benefit of his careful coaching. Hood has a larse selection of clubs, and has also the agency for the well known "Silver King"' ball.