ROUND THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 277, 23 November 1927, Page 16

ROUND THE LINKS.

A TE KUITI VENTURE.

BUNKERING AT MIDDLEMORE

LAUDABLE MATCH SUGGESTION.

(By RUBBERCORE.)

The second round of the Totara Cup, a five-round eclectic event, for which regulars at One Tree Hill are eligible, was played on Saturday, with the result that a 64 leads the field. J. W. Clarke opened auspiciously, liis 79 —11—08 being a good effort, J. W. Rough following with a net 70. Clarke has a rather nice style, but its effect is curtailed by tendency to crouch, which is an undesirable habit to cultivate. T. H. Ganley and Rough effected reductions to 65 and 60, while Clarke clipped two strokes from his 68, and all are in the firing-line. In regard to the courses, it is a noticeable feature that improvement has been effected in the greens, while inroads are steadily being made into the rough.

What must rank as a novel institution is the opening for summer play of the new Burnsidc course, at Te Kuiti. The course is contained on the racecourse, and, although only temporarily laid out, is expected to finally present an interesting test. It is all evidence of the forward march of the game; and in perceiving the numbers on local courses as against off seasons of the past it appears certain that the game has come into its own so far as summer play is concerned.

Waiuku C'lub has lost a stalwart in H.- B. Armitage, whose transfer to Dargavilla has just taken place. A representative gathering of sportsmen assembled to say goodbye, and wish him success in his new sphere. He is an old .member of Maungakiekie, joining up with the club soon after its inception, his interest in the game being ever maintained. It is sa|e to assume that the coming season will see him representing Dargaville, and opportunity is taken to express the hope that prosperity will mark his new activities, Middlemore Improvements.

Officially members of Middlemore have finished their season and in the mixed foursomes to mark the closing Miss :Jj. Rathbone and W, .S. Ralph annexed the trophies. It is observed that Mr. arid Mrs. R. S. Rainger filled the role of runners-up, their record in this type of event, particularly, savouring of consistency. The innovation for competitions to be held on Thursdays during the summer months appears to be a good one and the condition that competitors may start -up to six o'clock will appeal. With the much-discussed d&ylight savf ing, members will be prepared to play their golf in the cool of the evening, and competitions being provided will enliven matters. The course is in good order, the long grass having been cut back to the more remote parts. The greens, though for the most part playing truly, are infested with clover which invariably manifests itself at Middlemore at this peripd. The new fifth green, however, still maintains an excellent' surface, being easily the best on the course.

Additional bunkering has been undertaken during the year, the most picturesque appearing at the ninth and tenth greens. , The ninth, particularly, is simple and very effective, vastly improving the hole. A man with a scythe for a day in the outskirts of the tall ti tree on the right approach, however, could do much towards saving a lot of heartburning on the part of members. The efforts to improve the bunkers at the thirteenth green I should characterise as somewhat incongruous, appearing rather as elongated flaps, or ear 3, on the face of some imp. Moreover, in their present condition, or in the case of one at least, the inclination is for the ball to hug the back bank, making the lot of the righthanded player very awkwrad. Improvement and severity have been effected at the seventeenth and eighteenth, yet there appears certain mutilation in respect of the former that destroys, or detracts, from the charm of the old fairway. The bunkering to the green conveys the impression that to solve the problem of its effectiveness the aid of the hand of more than one has been sought. Style of Moss.

Moss is still playing in faultless style, putting up figures that take a great deal of coping with. Over the week-end he recorded four consecutive rounds of 70 or bfctter, his actual scores being 68, 70, 69, 69, the latter, which might easily have been much better, being marred by two or three pushed out iron shots over the concluding holes. His putting appears more sound than previously, his action being more even and devoid of the slight clip on to the ball which was a previous characterisitc, or at least was the case with his short putts. He is hitting a beautifully controlled Wooden shot, getting surprising length into the wind, although the latter aspect is not to be wondered at when the compactness of his style is considered. The consistency of his scoring lies mainly in the quality of his second shots, which find the greens with * monotonous regularity, and as set out above would furnish a heart's desire for an Open Championship. At about this period last year he was several times round in 66, and if an average were obtainable of his rounds at Middlemore it would furnish an interesting study.

A suggestion is afoot that Moss and H. B. Lusk should oppose Sloan Morpeth and Clements on behalf of the efforts for the unemployed. If properly organised the match should result in a fair sunt being received. From the point of view of the enthusiast the game would- .prove educative, and possibly effort will be made to have it staged.