ROUND THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 14

ROUND THE LINKS.

THE EASTER TOURNEY.

DOUGLAS GOES TO TITIRANGI.

SOME EARLY SEASON FOKM,

(By RUBBERCORE.)

A good breeze and fast courses made conditions interesting for week-end play and in the circumstances good scoring was presented locally. At Middlemore P. C. Western, in spite of a materiallyreduced handicap, handed in an excellent card of five up on bogey, after play of quite a high order. Western showed considerable improvement toward the end of last year, and in keeping up play during the off season experienced a very successful time in the summer fixtures. An improved second shot has greatly aided his new status, while his putting is now uniformily good. Practice, it would appear, has also been to the advantage of A. E. M. Rhind, whose card of thvee up was ordinarily good enough to win, the form of the club's secretary being encouraging. W. B. Colbeck and S. J. Hanna were, with H. Tidmarsh, the remaining trio to finish better than bogey, the former pair being two up, and Tidmarsh cn© in advance of the Colonel. In the B grade F. Wilson led the elusive gentleman by a solitary hole, which was sufficient to bring him in the winner from W. Wilson, who, from the same handicap, finished square. The Easter Tourney.

The programme for the club's Easter tournament having been issued it is safe to assume a big entry will have been received by Monday, April 2, the closing day. With the fillip given to the game through summer play and with the added members tow playing the game in the various clubs, it will soon become a question of adequate treatment for the rank and file who contribute so largely to the real success of any tournament. As it is, it becomes necessary for first provision tc be made for provincial championship contenders, but provision for what must eventually become an overflow will have to be faced. However, it is distinctly improbable that there will not be a fair field for all and the position will need to be indeed difficult to tax the resourcefulness of the club's secretary, who in so unassuming a manner provides for the comfort of all competitors. At uie moment of writing few particulars are available of the probable entries for the major event, although the local hardy annuals can without exception be counted on. Indications are that Norrie Bell will be bowling, although this cannot be accepted as fact, while latest advice is that W. R. Dobson will be an entrant. Sloan Morpeth, A. Goulding and R. M. orge will be the niainstay of the Maungakiekie attack, although there is just the possibility th .t J. N. Hunter will have returned tempora. Ily from Sydney and will range up with his club mates.

Titirangi Course.

The week-end fixture at Titirangi was a medal event and Wally West, who, though identical in Christian name with a recent visitor, is not quite able, left tLe opposition standing with a nett 60. Along with a coterie of others est hag , enjoyed a handicap known to have been liberal, but his effort of Saturday has sufficed to bring it to a correct basis, The shortened course is to the long-markers a thing of joy for ever, but this is exactly where the shoe pinches, as by the time October presents itself the new course will be ready and an entirely different position will require to be faced. It may here be admitted that the new course will prove severe—too severe for many—although the judicious use of shortened tees will temper matters. At the moment holes sue 1 as the new eleventh and sixteenth appear very severe and in respect to the former it is questionable whether modification will not have to be resorted to. Still in its present condition it is difficult to expect a definite view and the matter had better be left at that.

In regard to the whole scheme the interpretation of Dr. Mackenzie's ideas has been very faithfully portraved, it being no secret that visitors have beer astonished at the magnitude of the work, yet invariable delighted with its quality! As one of the latest greens completed the new fourteenth is a delightful piece of craftsmanship. The appointment of a club professional as successor to C. C. Clements has now been made. E. S. Douglas, several times open champion of New Zealand, has gained the post and he leaves England toward the end of next month. He should be installed in his new position by the beginning of June and provided he has retained his form his appointment should be greatly to the advantage of the club and New Zealand golf generally. Across the Water.

In the course of a very interesting letter J. N. Hunter conveys his impressions of the Sydney courses and of the standard of play on the other side. He witnessed the two-days' match between Corry and Howard and Sinclair and Soutar, in the last round of which Sinclair put up a faultless exhibition, his card being an approximate 68. As if to give an inspired air to the proceedings the Australian airman, Bert Hinkler, flew over the course, the whole combining to make a considerable impression on the erstwhile Aucklander. " Hunter is greatly taken with Sinclair, whom he considers the nicest player he has seen there, although ho thinks him inclined to be distinctly temperamental. The courses, he says, are in capital order, that is Kensington and Rose Bay, where the professionals played, and he feels he could quickly merit a scratch mark under so perfect conditions. In regard to the brilliance of Sinclair's final round, Hunter was probably not aware that he is extremely conversant with the course, having been a green keeper there for years when as an amateur he played on the municipal and Moor Park courses. Hunter goes on to say he has met a golf maniac; one who treasures the fancy clubs the great have performed successfully with. He mentions this self-same individual as having 32G clubs, not quite one for each day of the year, though from subsequent remarks of the youthful Jimmy, lessened as a result of his visit...

As I write word reaches me of yet another Maungakiekie innocent abroad, Geoffrey Gun son forwarding score cards and his impressions of the leading Australian golf courses. He spent a fortnight in Sydney and Melbourne and is very taken with the lioval Melbourne course, which he considers the best he has played over. During his brief visit his handicap was a sore point with his opponents and it would seem that the trials of the hapless individual 'responsible for his rating have extended overseas.