GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 21

GOLF.

JOTTINGS FROM THE LINKS Good golfing fare is provided by the Hamilton Golf Club, in the prog.amme which has just reached us, for the Annual Winter Show Tournament. This is always a popular fixture with Auckland golfers, and it is a great treat to play on a course where, however much rain falls, the playing conditions are always good and there is an entire absence of mud. One wonders sometunes, whether the Hamilton golfers appreciate to the full, the energy and entnusiasni of one of their members, Mr. U. Gillies, which resulted in the town acquiring what is undoubtedly one of the finest links in New Zealand; anyway visitors find a great delight in playing over this : excellent course. il'ho chief event of the meeting is the match for the Winter Show Onallenge j Cup, and this fixture has created great I interest in the past, and no doubt this I year will create as keen competition as ' ever. In conjunction with the play for 1 the cup, which extends over three days, j medal and bogey handicap matches will ibe played. Intending local golfers are reminded that entries close for all events on Monday next. K. Brookfield scored his first win last Saturday in the Keleetic match played over the Kohi. links. A very go.d exhibition of first season golf was given by C. Alcott, the runner-up, who returned a card of 93. Alcott seems to have the faculty for playing games really well, and if he goes as far in golf, which he promises to do, he will add to his already established reputation as one of the best cricketers iv the Dominion. J. W. Gow and J. M. Ellifl'e tied for the second round of the Kingswell Shield 1 match last Saturday. Sixty players took part in the four ball best bail bogey handicap at tMiddlemore last Saturday. W. B. Colbeck and AY. S. Ralph tied with G. D. Thaeker and E. B. Brown for first place with scores of three down. The prevalence of rabbit burrows on a North Island golf links adds to the natural difficulties of reaching the green i in a respectable number of strokes. "What club shall I take at this hole?" a beginner recently asked his caddie, "I think you'd better take a ferret," was the rather sarcastic response. Jack Shaw, the golf professional who left New Zealand some months ago for the United States, has signed up as professional to a Calfornian club. Golf has been formally adopted as the school sport of California. Its superiority to baseball, football, basketball, and "running competitions for boys and girls—cricket is not played in California —is held to be demonstrated for on the Pacific Coaßt it is an all-the-year-round game. Headmasters of Californian ' (schools announce their intention of [ giving golf a year's trial. Already I several hundred boys and girls are play- [ ing regularly on courses in and around , San Francisco. I Brooks, the open champion of New Zealand, who resigned suddenly from I the Lower Hutt Club, left for America iby the Tahiti, where he will no doubt Ido well. I Ham is said to be securing a good connection over there, and has apI proacbed a New Zealand professional to 1 come over to him. I Ritchie, assistant at Miramar, has ! accepted an engagement with the New, Plymouth Club, his services to be 1 primarily retained by it, but arrangeI ments will be made by which he can coach surrounding clubs. This is Rit- | clue's first professional appointment, and lin it he will carry the good wishes of many Wellington golfers. I The most cheerful and hopeful fact to be derived from the Easter tournaments, says "Niblick" in the "Dominion," is the discovery to the public eye of the promise and capabilities of two young players, both under 20 years .of age. Dale, of Eltham, is described as being a boy with' a fine natural swing. Though Ihe has never had a lesson he is said to Ibe very receptive of ideas, imparted to him through the way other players play, I and his performance in running Imlay Saunders to a putt on the last green in the final of the Taranaki cbamp'onships lis exceedingly mertorious. Saunders had to sink a putt of considerable length, and take all his opportunities before he 1 could win the match on the home green. ! Gunson, junior, of Auckland, shows also great promise. The beating of Lusk is always a difficult proposition on his own or any other course in match play. and this was an outstanding feature of the ! tournament. It is to be hoped that both these young players will figure in the next New Zealand championships. The death occurred recently of Ben Sayers. veteran golfer, and famous [Scottish international player, who seve- \ ral times came very close to winning the j British open championship. He was a j great teacher of the game. j