ON THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 11

ON THE LINKS.

THE CLUB EVENTS. CHAMPIONSHIP PROSPECTS. ONE HOLE IN TWENTY. (By RUBBERCORE.) Though scoring at the week-end still bore the taint of summer conditions, the high wind and —in most cases—fast condition of the greens, caused the majority of cards to be of more sober proportions than hitherto. The exception to the rule was perhaps to be found at Middlemore, where the greens were by comparison slow, and in delightful order for putting. The course will be in splendid condition for the Auckland Provincial Championship, commencing on Saturday. Last weekend Middlemore's fare was a four-ball, wherein M. M. Louisson and A. M. Smith had a well-merited win with 7 up. The performance is the better gauged when it is recognised that the next best cards were those of 4 up. Ho less than four pairs had this distinction, amongst them being low markers in W. S. Ralph and T. E. Clark and R. G. Rainger and W. A. Donald. Each of the four has had a fair amount of summer play—three of theni much of it — and all promise to be in good form for Easter. Championship Prospects. The provincial Test should provide much golf that is good, as the field is fairly representative. Scratch or better is represented in Brian Silk, of Wanganui, H. D. Brineden, of Titirangi, and B. J. Smith, of Akarana. The two former did excellently when in Australia, and though Silk failed in the subsequent New Zealand championship his golf throughout has been up to standard. J. M. Hussey, Wanganui, and Savage, of Wellington—the latter qualified at Titirangi last year—are among visitors of note. " Jim. " Hussey is an old representative cricketer, and no doubt will renew' many past experiences with Harold Lusk, " Ali " Howden, and others of the old school. With B. H. Menzies, W. S. Ralph, and MacEwan on a handicap of one, and quite a bevy of other players on marks ranging up to four, it should require good golf to be the successful finalist. Brinsden, Silk, and Menzies look the best trio. Titirangi has a good second string in McCryetal— he is playing real well—while Tallis, E. E. Beehan, and Young are also capable of giving any of the best a game. Middlemore also has diehards in " Plum " Harold Lusk and W. N. Abbott able to produce the tiger touch in a pinch. The prospects are that we shall see some most exhilarating golf, quite good enough to drown any disappointment at the nonfulfilment of the Kirk Cup matches. Akarana Crowded. At Akarana something like a record for the club was established in that the secretary, Ralph Porter, had over 100 players to find room for during the course of the afternoon. One may add that last year proved a very successful one for the club, and_ that this year the financial outlook is again most encouraging. Also, it may be said that much of this progress is due to the efforts and energy of the president, Mr. C. M. Cox. With so large an entry, it was to bo expected that to win would call for a good card. Any doubts in this respect were settled when E. Reweti handed in his 4 up on bogey. Though not yet a " Kapi," Rewiti at least displays commendable aptitude. P. Malone and C. M. Cox also played consistently for their score of 1 up. A Tie at Glendowie. It is not disrespectful to say that at Glendowie the four-ball proved something of a triumph for the old stagers. Here we Had p. Trice and T. Russell, C. Horton and club champion E. Hutchison, and L. J. Keys and F. Faram tieing with scores of 3 up. Taken on the last nine holes—l have never quite fully appreciated why—the honours went to the first named pair. 1 rice and Russell are old Maungakiekie members, and the former is still an adherent in that he retains a link with J.itirangi. Glendowie is fast getting into shape for winter play, its fairways in particular being uniformly good. Across the Water. .jSPvrtyi! o!r re cel ebrated at Pupuke and and North Shore, and in each there was a large assemblage of members and friends. At the former, the club captain peri° rm< L 71 5 n ? rous duty of driving the ball, and m the ensuing mixed foursome Miss L. Williamson and F. Williamson were the successful combination. The scoring in North Shore's event was one stroke worse, Mrs. Reid and A. Whvte having recorded for the twelve holes played. North Shore has adopted a bold policy of _ course construction, the new green's being almost free of weeds and splendidly swarded. Difficulties at Maungakiekie. That conditions were difficult at Maungakiekie is borne out by the fact that only one card, that of 79—i—75, by A. K. Hawley, was returned in the A grade match. The happening is somewhat unique. Strictly speaking, it was not, however, a case of a trophy easily won. B grade results, fortunately, were on a more respectable plane than for some lime and for once the scratch score held its own. The difficulty as regards a medal score lay in the fact that the majority of the greens were altogether too keen, while the half-gale accentuated the trouble. Taken right through, approaching and putting was much of a bagatelle. In the circumstances, R. G. Stichbury did pretty well to hand in a card of 88—15— 73, to' win the B grade match. Stichbury plays a splendid long game and needs only to steady up his short game reasonably to merit a much lower handicap. A newcomer to the club in A. Woolley, and S. R. Norris occupied second place to Stichbury, while I. J. Goldstine was again close up with a net score of 77. An amusing interlude at Maungakiekie was provided in a player taking 20 for the sixth hole after having holed an excellent 3 at the fifth. The caddie counted the shots taken in the bunker, and no doubt exists as to the authenticity of the score, as the lad's voice became more audible as the score grew. At the fifteenth stroke the opponent's nerve gave way and he pleaded to be allowed to make his approach putt, as it was doubtful which ball lay nearer the hole. The persistent one then plodded on, to finally register the score of a acore. I once saw a player pick up his ball after having played 14. His remark, "that he didn't suppose he would qualify, anyhow," was a safe assumption, as his morning card was 90. Apart from these experiences, I consider the gentleman who finally holed a putt the length of the old Outpost green at One Tree Hill for a 19 had his claims to recognition. And in a qualifying round too! Taylor Bowl Competition. First round results in the Taylor Bowl at Titirangi were generally indicative of good struggles. One of the keenest matches was that between E. E. Beehan and J. Young, in which the latter fairly earned his spurs. Probably Young's handicap will be found to be a little harsh as winter advances, though his play is generally so accurate that he must always prove difficult to beat. J. H. Goyder, a winner in a previous year, found J. A. Crum altogether too good. Crum shows promise. T. Goudie also, as a sound match player and one with a good record last year, met with a reverse, W. F. Paton having unearthed some patches of good golf. F. W. Lucas and T. A. Goulding were hard at it throughout, but Lucas made no errors at the eighteenth for his 2 up win. The youthful D. A. Dacre gave E. Gr. Tallis a very good game and deserves credit for having taken so seasoned a player to the seventeenth. The club has commenced on its big match play tourney quite early in the season, which, in view of the number of rounds to be played, is a wise precaution. There is the aspect also that matches in this important eveut shall be played at a time other than the depths of winter, whicH for some unknown

reason has been a common folly. of the past. We are, however, gradually educating ourselves to the fact that golf can be best enjoyed minus the discomforts of cold and slush. MAUNGAKIEKIE CLUB. Draw for the Maungakiekie Golf Club's Easter Cup tournament and concurrent 30 holes medal match, commencing on Saturday next, the first pair to drive off at 9 a.m., others following in order of the draw at four-minute intervals: —A. Eobertson v. G. B. Thomas, I. McOwan v. P. Trice, C. S. Woods v. G. Biss, O. Wolfgram v. H. A. Randrup, J. E. Stedman v. W. J. Smeeton, B. G. Stichbury v. F. G. Lintott, J. S. Bankin v. J. H. Goydcr, B. J. Hamilton v. R. D. Johnston, P. Wiseman v. L. Abernethy, A. Finn v. G. J. Bennett, H. V. Ganley v. J. C. Hardley, Dr. Patterson v. J. M. Elliffe, J. L. Sheen v. T. Mitchell, P. Griffiths v. T. H. Nixon, F. C. Gould v. H. McCoy, T. Martin v. S. Caro, N. J. Kidd v. li. H. Rawlinson, J. Jerrat v. A. Woolley, H. G. Thomson v. H. Bcauvais, J. B. Gilmore v. G. L. Taylor, R. C. Aley v. J. E. Cairns, J. Sherlock v. G. E. Currie, J. McDougall v. L. F. Faram, L. Alderton v. W. H. D'Audney, R. M. Tolhurst v. J. Maughan-Barnett, R. S. Newcomb v. N. C. Laud, A. H. Blackburn v. H. A. McGregor, J. T. Tanner v. R. H. Melville, I. J. Goldstine v. J. T. P. Mitchell, A. E. McGregor v. another, D. D. Holland v. C. G. NicoL MAUNGAKIEKIE LADIES' CLUB. Result of the L.G.U. medal handicap trtayed by members of the Maungakiekie Ladies' Golf Club yesterday:— Seniors.—Mrs. G. Baillie, 90—17—73; Miss C. Stubbs, 89—14—75; Miss G. Parr, 90 —13 —77 ; Mrs. E. Brown, 94 —15 —79 ; Mrs. J. Paterson, 93 —13—80; Mrs. H. V. Johnstone, 90 —9—SI; Miss D. Lamb, 07 —16—81; Miss B. Abbott, 97—16—81. Juniors.—Miss" E. Blackburn, 94—21 —73 ; Miss J. Johnston, 94—21 —73 ; Miss C. Wright, 99—26—73 ; Mrs. Sutherland, 107—33—74; Mrs. A. Cumming, 103—28 —75; Mrs. A. Bartley, 111 —35—7C ; Mrs. N. Burton, 99 —22—77; Mrs. C. W. Schnauer, 104—25—79. NORTH SHORE'S PROGRAMME. An attractive Easter programme has been drawn up by the North Shore Golf Club, Saturday and Monday being open days. The fixtures are : —Saturday morning, bogey handicap; Saturday afternoon, group handicap and 18 holes medal; Monday morning, second round of group handicap and 18 holes medal; Monday afternoon, finals of group handicap and four-ball bogey. Partners will be drawn at the clubhouse. AKARANA CLUB. A flag match will be played by members of the Akarana Golf Club on Saturday. Matches will be arranged for those present on Monday. WAITEMATA CLUB'S SEASON.

The report and balance-sheet presented to the annual meeting of the Waitemata Golf Club last evening showed a falling off in membership during the year owing to another club having l.cen started in the district. The accounts showed the finances of the club to be satisfactory. Twenty new members were elected at the meeting, making a total membership of 6S men aud 57 women. The following oilicers were elected:— Patron. Hon. K. W. Alison; president, Mr. G. Jackson ; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. W. Meikle, .T. Hislop, E. H. Little, A. E. Alison, E. Curtayne, W. Walsh, O'Brien; club captain, Mr. H. Webb ; secretary, Mr. G. H. Lord; assistant secretary, Mr. P. Mason ; treasurer, Mr. C. Prime'; committee, Messrs. J. Hogan, R. Crow, R. Broughton, V. Mundy, E. R. It-idge. The season will be officially opened with mixed foursome.* on Saturday week, but the links will bo open for play during Easter. Mr. R. G. Porter has been appointed professional conch. The course is well advanced, and a successful season appears assured.

WAITEMATA LADIES' CLUB. The Waitemata Ladies' Golf Club opened its season with a Canadian foursomes match for a trophy presented by Mrs. Goldwater. It was won by Mrs. MeDougall and Mrs. Lord. Later in the afternoon an approach competition was held and was won by Mrs. Beaumont. A medal round will be played next Thursday, players to choose partners. PAPAKURA CLUB. A medal round will be played on Saturday by members of the Papakura Golf, Club. Partners will be arranged at the clubhouse. PAPAKURA LADIES' CLUB. Draw for flap match to be played by members of Papakura Ladies' Golf Club next Saturday:— Mrs. W. Francis v. Miss Iliggins, Mrs. Bradstrcet v. Mrs. Walters, Miss Dreadon v. Mrs. T. McLennan, Mrs. S. Wilson v. Miss M. McConnell, Mrs. Yates v. Miss .T. McConnell, Miss Paltridge v. Miss Tuckev, Miss M. Miller v. Miss Bennett, Miss Ohlsen v. Mrs. Naylor, Miss Stanhope v. Mrs. Poull, Miss O'Callaghan v Mrs Pavitt, Mrs. Watts v. Miss Coxhead, Mrs. TTrquhnrt v. Miss Wilkins, Miss M Walters v. Miss Gardiner, Miss Rhind v Miss .Tarvie, Miss M. Clarke v. Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Kidd v. Mrs. Peglcr, Miss Walker v. Miss K. Brooks. Mrs. D. McLennan v. Miss Finlayson, Mrs. Noakes V. Miss Cross, Mrs. Foote v. another. WAIUKU LADIES' CLUB. The medal round played on the Wahiku links was won bv Miss Hull, with a score „f 08—24 —74. Miss Muir was runner-up with the Rood card of 89—14—75. An eclectic competition has been arranged to be played during Easter week-end, 18 holes on Saturday and 18 holes on Monday. WAIKARE CLUB. The Waiknre Golf Club opened Its sen son under ideal conditions. The Huntly, Ngarunwahia and Glen Massey Clubs were represented, and over 80 players started In the mixed foursomes, which resulted in a win for Miss B. Cole and H. Stewart (Waikaro). ROTORUA'S SPORTING GESTURE. Recently the Cambridge Golf Club lost its clubhouse through flre, this, coming at the approach of a new season, heing a severe blow. Now, however, a fine sporting gesture has been made by the Rotorua Club in the form of a substantial financial donation townrd the erection of a new clubhouse. The Cambridge Club members greatly appreciate the donation.