GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 21

GOLF.

JOTTINGS FROM THE LINKS] The various local clubs continued their competitions on Saturday last, although very unfavourable conditions were again met with, wind and rain squalls militating against low scoring. The third round of the Bloomfield Bowl competition claimed the attention of members of the Auckland club, the ultimate winner being Dr. W. N. A'bbofct, whoee previous rounds weathered the teefc. The day certainly did not lend itself to good scoring, and it was early recognised the probabilities were that the doctor's average of 77* would scarcely be overtaken, and so it .proved, though Dr. F. Macky made a determined effort to have hie name inscribed as the winner. Actually the best card of the day was returned by T. N. Holmden, whoee ecore of 9G —18—78 was distinctly creditable under the circum■'ances. Another round of the "C" ,_i'!ide tournament was also played, but this event is not sufficiently advanced to call for comment. The club will officially close its season on the 18th, when mixed foursomes will be the order of the day. The idea of bringing forward this event to allow those members wishing to take part in the Maungakiekie Club's tournament at Titirangi. is a good one, and will be heartily appreciated by the latter club, and should meet with general approval. Glendowie brought its season to a close with mixed Mies M. ■Hill and R. G. Collins proving victorious with a card of 1 down. Collins ■has quite a good record at Glendowie, and has been close to annexing championship honours. Mies l>. Walsh partnered by F. Trice, the club captain, were next in order, being 4 down on the Colonel. Notv that the season is o'er. one may be irutepoken in criticism of the course, and the 'hope is expressed that members will not find it necessary to play the game under such unf-voux-able conditions next year. The lies throughout Wie season have for the most part been atrocious, and golf under such conditions loses a deal of its charm. Strenuous effort is being made by the committee to ensure the opening of the new course fof next year, end it is trusted *he effort will meet with success. The committee was disappointed in ite initial venture as regards grassing, etc., but now a fair take is noticeable, and by the time autumn rolls round and gives its assistance, the satisfactory opening of the new course should be assured. Maungakiekie club closed its One Tree Hill links on Saturday last, the winners of the customary mixed fbureomee being Mrs. W. J. Rodger and W. J. A. Thomson, the latter being the captain of the club The recorde point to this pair being winners on the opening day of these links, and the combination appears a successful and happy one. Their card read 2 down on bogey, and on the day represents sound play. Mrs. Blackburn and A. H. Blackburn were next finishing, 3 down. Unless showing recent and material improvement, t/he lice on this course arc far from good, and no doubt were the cause of considerable difficulty to those who play their golf on the club's new course at Titirangi, where the fairways leave little to be desired. A glance at Papakura Club's prizegiving gives the impression that R. Prandley is at least a very consistent performer, he having won the Ryan Cup, Jones Cup and miniature, Captain's prize,, and the club championship. That Prangley joined the ranks "of golfers in his youth is evidenced by his methods, and if amongst class golfers his game would develop considerably. His record this season is a good one, and congratulations are extended on his performances. Touching upon the standard of the game in Auckland one feels there is hardly the quantity of rising talent; that could be desired. The cause, generally speaking, lies no doubt in the dearth of good courses and the failure of the promising players to fully exploit the help proferred by the professional. To qualify the latter statement, one had only to take careful scrutiny of local players in action at the recent championships to perceive weaknesses that would speedily disappear under skilful help and guidance. As regards: the former contention, it will be admitted that the only courses offering advancement to players are Middlemore and Titirangi, and then in entirely different phases of the game. Middlemore offers grand opportunity for development of sound methods of approaching and putting, and in a less degree for iron play. On the other hand if hardly demands long and accurate driving, although the fairways are for the most I part narrow and clearly defined. In the short game on this course, however, i there is delight inasmuch as the turf i to £h» green is uniformly good, and a (well struck approach invariably has its i reward. The greens, too, are good, and one feels instinctively that a putt well hit will find the hole. Thus there is opportunity to develop natural ability, and at Middlemore there is a good sprinkling of medium to long handicap players who are relatively etronger in I the short game than in the other department. Reverting to Titirangi one is immediately faced with a succession of long carries from the tee, and although in yards the course is shorter than Middlemore, wooden clubs are more often required as the actual hitting distance ie, I should think, greater. Consequently this clnb has comparative novice* who are really capable from the tee. The course being new, however,

the approaches to the green are in most cases unreliable, which condition is entirely against accuracy and tends to develop the "look-up" habit, generally before the ball is hit. This' is simply because the player has little or no confidence with regard to what will happen when the ball lands. Therefore the odds are distinctly against the development of an accurate pitch and run shot. Then again the greens, although generally true, are for the moat of the 6eason two heavily grassed to allow Of the development of a good touch for putting. This condition is probably accounted for by the fact that in winter the greens become soft and muddy, and to have a sole of grass in keeping witli the consistency generally met with would soon be, with a little rolling, to have no grass at all. It is questionable whether the greens will ever be in any degree firm in winter unless they are adequately sanded. But for some reason this is not done, and consequently during rolling, mud merely oozes through the grass. However. I am wandering from my path, questions of policy bring outside the province of this article. But the point to be stressed is, are greens of this nature likely to develop or improve ability to putt accurately? And in conclusion I may state that although there are exceptions we have oil ench course marked development in players in respective quarters of the came ami reflecting the links upon which they play. As for those loss fortunately situated who play their golf on the numerous poor courses that surround Auckland, what with lack of adequate coaching coupled with playing the pimp under conditions altogether foreign to the trend and requirement of modern erolf, there is hut little bone for their development, and it is, after all, small wonder that the standard of the game is hardly as high as is desirable.