ROUND THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 16

ROUND THE LINKS.

WEEK-END ACTIVITIES.

COURSES AND PLAYERS % NOTES OX THE GAME. • } r (By RUBBERCORE.)

High winds and fast courses are usually anything but inducive to good scoring, so that it is not surprising that nothing of a brilliant nature was reported over the week-end. In effecting the opening at Titiraugi members of Maungakiekic wero favoured with a course in nice order, tlie fairways being especially good. Perhaps better figures than 2 down may reasonably have been expected, but the apparent weakness can be condoned, owing to the general trickiness of tlie conditions. Best of the day were Mrs. R. M. Roberts and G. Ureu, while no less than four pairs disputed second place honours. In the circumstances reigning, the winning pair performed meritoriously, and although their comparatively late finish dashed hopes that had lain with the tieing parties, the success was heartily received. The usual following social function was well-attended, and brought a happy day to its conclusion. Mention might be inside of the vagaries of the electric lighting, but in view of the youth assembled there is the veiled suggestion that even in this there lay certain compensation. FRIENDLY RIVALS. The official opening of the Papakura Club was also effected, on Saturday, and from the remarks of visitors was an unqualified success. All the local clubs were well represented, fully one hundred players assembling. While on this aspect it is pleasing to learn that members of Everslie were present in force. It is tlie right spirit, and combined with the liberal attendance of Papakura members at Everslie's opening a week or so back augurs that the line of demarcation between the clubs is indeed faint. No doubt the not distant future will cause the clubs to consider fusion, a step that would do much to strengthen the position of Papakura as a golfing community and centre. Mr. E. D. McLennan, M.P., declared the links open for play, but judiciously left the honour of driving the first ball to Miss A. McLennan, who rose to the occasion and hit a screamer. Miss McLennan followed up her achievement by annexing the prize for the afternoon event, being partnered by L. J. Croxson, of the Otahuhu Club. The success was materially helped by Miss McLennan's accuracy on the greens, with Croxson much at home whenever anything in relation to distance became necessary. GLENDOWIE AND PUPUKE.

It was an excellent win of G. L. Goodwin in the bogey at Glendowie, his score of 3 up representing really fine golf. Goodwin has found time for odd rounds during the summer, and with a beneficial result. Reports also would indicate that the junior player, H. Rawlineon, played well for his score of 1 up, the general impression being that his prospects are above average. No doubt the better scoring is reflected in the easement of the course, and a few weeks of play should be sufficient to indicate whether the dropping of the old twelfth and thirteenth holes was justified or otherwise.

Over at Pupuke, Miles Thompson effected a clear-cut win in the^medal fixture, his evenly scored round of 82, less his handicap of 14, allowing him a margin of five strokes over H. T. Gould, the second man. F. H. Mingay demonstrated that he is still able to get round comfortably, and his gross 88 would do credit to a host of younger players who are still striving with the intricacies of the game. In the junior grade the scoring was comparatively good, with S. R. Norris, 92 —20—72, as the winner.

Of the remaining cards, that of J. E. Close showed the best gross effort, though several others scored creditably. Long liave we heard the expression, "What's in a name!"—possibly not much, . but G. R. Bacchus, it will be admitted, suffers under handicap in regard to golf, though I have it on authority that he was not christened Golden Kule. Still, he will gain recompense in the knowledge that there is one nole oh almost every golf course where liia name is legion —his domain, as it were. In being unable to resist this little dig, I feel much like the nigger caddy boy of Durban, who, after assiduously struggling with the late lx>rd Northcliffe's bag, finally achieved his ambition —that of seeing tiie distinguished visitor* hit a clinker —when in rolling liia eyes he awesomely whispered, "Atta boy, Lord." SOME PERSONAL VIEWS. Members of Middlemore were provided with a good test of the game in ♦.he president's foursome, and, as was to be expected under present conditions, the combination of, handicap men proved the strongest. W. S. C. Harris and P. M. Hanna were'-the successful pair, their win being popular. The former gave glimpses of good golf last year, and in his partner had one who plays an unobtrusive and quite good game. L. B. Campbell and,,C. L. Palmer, with a net of 75, were second, beingf in turn two strokes better than'H. 8.. and J. B. Lusk, who for years have figured consistently in the event. It is pleasing to see the Auckland Club retaining the foursome iii its fixture list, as for some mysterious reason there is an inclination to discourage it. Actually it furnishes a fine test of the game, placing a premium on generalship and on individual effort. To perceive it in danger of being supplanted by the Canadian foursome and ullied nfbdifications is appalling. The other types invite a slash, unci not infrequently excuse failure, which to my mind strike at the very foundation of the game—its conservatism. I respect, of course, the view that many hold of golf, after, all, being only a game, the .object being to make it , essentially enjoyable, and in which instance it will be held my arrival from the Catskill Mountains has been unduly delaved. i, *

OUT AND ABOUT. I now go on to admit that my golfing lore is limited, an the mode governing the play in the "Crane" system bogey tnateh held at Waiulcu baffles me,. * rankly, J have never heard o* it, though *t a gutmt), judging by A. W. M.

i Ohlsou's handicap, it would appear that tlie player commences as many up on the colonel as he is ordinarily entitled to by way of strokes, and then plays from scratch. Should this be wide of the mark, then the Joke is on me, though not wholly, as I can include the majority of my readers in the category. At all events, as a preliminary I take my hat off to the pair who started 13 up and achieved tiie distinction of finishing 4 down to bogey. A quiet survey of a score card shows they must have caught the colonel napping at least once.

Having seen some of their players at Middleniore, one is interested in Whan - garei results. L. Bird and D. B. Blair tied in the week-end medal with Thomson and Lamb in close pursuit. Thompson, I think, figured as the winner of the tournament promoted by the club just prior to the last New Zealand championships, and gave promise of developing his game. The Mount Denby links are amongst the most picturesque in the province, and only an interchange of visits with city players is needed to bring the game right to the forefront in the north.