ON THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 17

ON THE LINKS.

WINDEYER CUP MATCH.

THIS YEAR'S LAPSE.

WEEK-END CLUB GAMES,

(By RUBBERCORE.)

Now that it is definite that no possibility exists of New South Wales relenting of its attitude of inability to send a team in defence of the Kirk-Windeyer Cup, as representing golfing supremacy between New Zealand and the sevesal Australian States, some opinions on flic matter may be offered.

The suggestion ' has been made locally that until matters are on a better footing, the cup matches had better be dropped. From the point of view of control, there may exist some reason for such an opinion, but cancellation is not seriously to be considered. We in Auckland may be excuscd for some slight expression of pique, but the issue is a much wider tiling. Any parochial attitude born of disappointment is to be deplored. It is true that from the time of the initiation of the cup matches there has always been cast a shadow as regards entry from the various States. Even in June last Victoria failed to be represented at Sydney, though at the last moment Queensland, led by the evergreen Bob Gumming, challenged New South Wales for the right to play New Zealand. The splendid fight made by Cumming in taking Ferrier to the last green is now history. , . The reason for the Victorian attitude need not be dwelt on, but there would seem little doubt that were the cup matches under the control of the Australian Golf Council much of the difficulty would disappear. Meanwhile, we cherish t] ie . ideals of the donors, particularly as regards the memory of the late Mr. R. dement Kirk, whose lifelong ambition was achieved with the instituting of the matches.

Ideals of the Donors. There is a great deal that is sacred to us in this Kirk-Windeyer Cup. To hav.e been present at the dinner given by the New South Wales Golf Council to last vear's contestants, was to be gieatly moved bv Mr. W. A. Windeyer s remarks on the ideals which actuated the joint donors in presenting the trophy. Mr. Windeyer said that the cup stood to symbolise "the great espirit (le corps existing between, and the sacrifices jointly made by New Zealand and Australian troops at Gallipoli, and' that the late Mr. Kirk and himself had in mind the cementing ot that great comradeship on the fields ot battle into that great same regard m the field of - good fellowship ■ and sport. ±le added that the cup stood essentially as an inter-State and Dominion trophy, and that it was his particular desire that those conditions should remain unaltered.

The Point At Issue. It may be considered that the point has been wandered from?'' in that the issue at the moment is the non-appear-ance of a New South Wales team. It will, however, be appreciated that there is also no Victorian side, though such, oi course, could not be assembled 111.the absence of a defending New South Wales team. The point is whether a Victorian «ide would have come even had .New South Wales been able to send a team. As one who has seen behind the scenes, and been most generously treated by Australian golfers, I would counsel a spirit ot tolerance in regard to the present attitude of the New South Wales Golf Council. It has been said locally that though Ferner, Bettington and one other are not available, there were at least ten others likely to beat either of the former in match play. The assertion, perhaps, errs a little" on the sidie of liberality. There could be found many who would stand on Rose Bay and wager to the contrary. The latest news, published locally, as conveyed from Sydney by letter, w that a considerable section of Sydney golfers feel "hurt and humbled at the councils attitude, and that one prominent player has said that if the council cannot get together a representative team it should surrender' the cup. . Obviously the onus lies with the council to i send a .representative team—we • should feel dissatisfied, if not mildly aggrieved, were a team of relatively low calibre to come—but having conscientiously made that eiloit the council has discharged much of its responsibility. It is true that the New Zealand council was once similarly situated.

Matters For Consideration. Having been closely in touch with the position, I know that several other prominent New South Wales playeis, apart from Bettington and. terrier, were approached to make the trip, but that business and financial reaspns have definitely prevented their coming. lne matter of hotel and travelling expenses bo flippantly touched on and dismissed, supplies a larger part in the non-appear-ance of our visitors than is perhaps imagined. A New Zealand team has i travelling and hotel expenses. paid, lry and assemble a representative New Zealand team at the moment, to make the trip to Svdney, under the conditions under which the Australians are asked to come here, and it might be found dixncult to ™et a really good side, leave alone the best. The talk of handing the cup over, etc, savours of hysteria, and is iinfair to the council, being rather on .the bodyline principle. The reference to sportsmanship and the talk of the chances of losing the cup, also are scarcely worth commenting, being at variance .with the best interests of the game. To know the ideals and personnel of the New South Wales Golf Council is merely to treat the implications as unworthy.

Summer Conditions At Titirangi. . As regards club matters, it was reported of Titirangi that summer conditions prevailed. The scoring suggests that the description was apt. On seeing the result of the medal- match, those low markers who decided in favour o£ cricket no doubt felt their decision a happy one. In any case they were destined to have ueen treated to a record score either way. llie splendid 82-18-64 by R- E. Alpe is a nice little point for the liandicappers. Were Alpe's handicap reduced to the maximum allowed under the scratch score system—and this extreme penalty is not often invoked —the score would still uef five or six strokes lower than the standard scratch score, and no one c<m tax Titirangi's scratch score as being especially lenient. Still, there has been enough croaking 011 this point—people will learn to regard summer golf as requiring a different basis of handicapping from winter, or autumn golf, if the distinction be preferred. ..... , A. Le Sieur, as an old junior champion of the club, will get satisfaction from his net 68, which, on a course so severe from the medal viewpoint, was deserving of success. He .was, however, but one of several long-markers to spreadeagle the scratch assessment. Of the single figure handicap players, most credit lies with W. G. Lawson for his 78 —7 71. Lawson's golf was steady, and he gives promise of developing his game. K. Hamilton is also to be singled out tor mention, the veteran —for he is truly such—having done well to record a gross round of 80.

Low Scores General. Scores were also on the low side, at Akarana, where I>. Leys had all the best of matters in the first round of the -LyJer Memorial Cup. Even allowing that Akarana is practically unbunkered, his 86 — 22 —64 was quite exceptional. C. Gamniick's net score of 69 also had its claims to merit. Cammick plays quite steadily from his handicap. A feature at Akarana was perhaps that not one of the lower handicap men handled ill a good gross card. Still, there was the mana of Hammond at Eden Park to be allowed for. Country clubs that opened were Manukau and Pukekolie. At the latter one observes the name of a Waiuku visitor in Armitage amongst the successful. The name is inseparably linked with the game in Waiuku. ' " _T~

Maimgakiekie's lot was a four-ball, when, in tone with happenings elsewhere, the winning card was a good one. E. Henton's individual round was one in the early 'eighties, which, in view of a rather shaky start, was good indeed. , His partner, A. L. Morpeth, assumed initial responsibility, however, and with their liberal allowance in strokes the pair never left the 'issue in doubt. With the near approach of Easter it is to be hoped that a few good downpours will now be experienced, so that playing conditions will become more reliable. There is much 'to interest players in the programmes which have been issued, and in Auckland we have a handicap tournament at. Maungakiekie, besides the main provincial championship at Middlemore. No trouble has been spared to ensure Middlemore being at its best, and with A. E. M. Rliind in charge the usual excellent fare for the big championship can be confidently looked to.

GLENDOWIE CLUB. A four-ball best-ball bogey handicap will bo played by members of the Gleiulowie Golf Club next Saturday, players to choosc partners- and opponents.

AKARANA CLUB. A bogey match will be played by members of the Akarana Golf Club on Saturday. Players may choose partners.

AKARANA LADIES' CLUB., Draw f.or\L.G.U. and button match to be played on Saturday, by members of the Akarana Toadies' Golf Club :—Miss Smith r. Miss A. Deacon,. Miss Hickman v. Miss M. Wright, Miss Cooper v. Miss M. Crabtree, Miss Neville v.-Miss Dowden, Miss Niccolas v. Miss Lea Shea, Miss Punch, v. Miss Johnston. Miss- R. Menzies v. Miss Brown, Miss Prideaux v. Miss Bass, Miss Hughes V. Miss Parvin. Miss E. Aitken v. Miss'B. Roberts, Miss R. Blyth v. Miss B. TCndean, Miss E. Cleary v. Miss A. Seay, Miss F. Shenkin v. Miss H. Jenks. Miss Wilson v. Miss Shepliard, Miss Clarke v. Miss Russell, Miss Elder v.. Miss Bagnall, Miss IS. Wright v. Miss K. Farrow.

MAUNGAKIEKIE CLUB. Draw for medal competition to be played by members of the Maungakiekie Golf Club next Saturday :—G. A. Hardley v. J. Jerrat, W. H. D'Audney v. E. W. Verry, S. Caro v. G. J. Bennett, S. R. Norrls v. K. S. Newcomb, C. G. St. George v. R. M. Tolhurst, I. J. Goldstine v. J. K. Johnston, A. H. Blackburn v. R. H. Melville, V. C. Keys v. J. C. Hardley, G. L. Taylor v. F. Wiseman. D. D. Holland v. D. R. Garard, J. M. Ellilfe v. A. K. Hawley, F. N. Laurie v. J. S. Rankin, H. Morpeth v. G. R. Meredith, R. C. Ale.v v. C. G. Nicol, G. Stitchbury v. .T. H. Earle, N. J. Kidd v. W. J. Smeeton, R. M. Crockett v. B. B. Hooper, W. K. Michael v. B. G. Bond, H. A. McGregor v. .T. Earle, A. L. Morpeth v. L. E. Vivian, E. Henton v. A. W'oolley, A. E. Greensmith v. J. T. Tanner, R. B. Bennett v. J. McDougall.

TITIRANGI CLUB. Draw for Taylor Bowl competition to be played by members of the Titirangl Golf Club, commencing next Saturday:— First Round.—E. E. Beehan v. J. Young, W. E. Holdgate v. A. E. Whltten, M. Winter v. Z. C. Tatton, C. Robinson v. S. T. Gaskin, T. W„ Vickery v. L. G. Ansell, T.- A. Goulding v. F. W. Lucas, O. T. Keegan v. .T. L. Carnachan, E. A. Tuke v. F. S. Ballin, P. Fraser v. F. A. Browne, W. S. C. Paton v. T. Goudie, R. S. Deighton v. G. M. White, A. J. Good v. T. R. Impey, N. A. Naismith v. .T. Murray, D. A. Dacre v. E. G. Tallis, ,T. H. Goyder v. J. A. Crum, J. M. Somerville v. P. Harrison, G. R. Hart v. R. F. Rogers, J. Yock v. A. E. Saunders, G. Coltman v. E. W. Yates, .G. C. Jones v. R. F. Ward, A. H. Magson v. A. Crompton. Second Round.—A. B. Chappell r. B. ,T. Richardson, G. H. Bircli v. C. K. Grierson, H. M. Rogerson v. H. R. Harper, J. M. Coltman v. W. West, W. J. A. Thomson v. R. J. Hamilton, W. R. Vercoe v. L. H. Rogers, It. A. McLean v. A. V. Peace. A. B. Joplin v. A. Le Sieur, B. G. Stephens v. B. W. Beaumont, A. M. Goulding v. J. Gilmour, A. C. Jacob r. H. S. Malcolm, C. G. Fisher v. H. V. Ganley, R. E. Alpe v. M. T. Bailey, L. Knight v. F. G. Alpe, H. L. Robson v. J. C. Graham, L. .T. Williamson v. A. H. O'Leary, R. J. Graham v. It. R. McCrystal. H. W. Cooke v. F. C. Ewen, R. L. "Wilson v. E. Ohlson, A. A. Tysoe v. H. D. Brinsden, E. T. Harold v. L, Clifford, R. 0. Gardner v. A, R. Hodgson.

OTAHUHU CLUB. The medal match played at the Otahuhu Golf Club was won by R. Panckhurst, with a score of SS —-IS—7O. . The next best cards were those of A. Crow, 02—15—74, and A. Todd, 86—11— 75. PUPUKE CLUB. The official opening of the Pupuke Golf Club will taJce place on 'Saturday afternoon. ■Mixed Canadian foursomes are to foe played, ,'players choosing partners. PAPAKURA CLUB. The official opening of the Papaktira Golf Club will take place on Saturday. Mixed foursomes will'be played during the afternoon. PAPAKURA LADIES' CLUB. At the annual meeting of the Papakura Ladies' Golf Club the election of officers resulted: —-President, Mrs. E. D. McLennan : vice-presidents, Mesdames Beecliey and Walters ; captain, Mrs. Watts : vice-captain, Miss M. Walters; secretary, Miss WJlkins ; treasurer, Mrs. Pavitt; committee, Mesdames Urqnhart, ■ McLennan, Elliott, Naylorand Walters, Misses Harris and Walker.