ON THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 14

ON THE LINKS.

A CHILL WEEK-END,

THE CLUB COMPETITIONS

FEATURES OF THE FORM SHOWN.

(By KUBBERCORE.)

Golf with the tang of winter. Such

were the conditions on Saturday when the

■majority of our young giants of the links, instead of appearing in shirt-sleeves, allied -with jumpers and hose of doubtful hue, were in soberer, if not more businesslike attire. One must not appear, of course, a cynic, as it would 'be unfortunate I indeed were such weather to continue, and to relegate the royal blues, reds and canary garments to the lockers. It was I a day when a bit of plumpness was comforting, and one calculated to send those thin people creeping o'er the links muttering "can epring be far behind?" Versatile Lucas. Having regard to it all, many o! the scores were b 'ood. In two cases, at least, these of F. W. Lucas at Titirangi, and H. Morpeth at One Tree Hill, exceptional cards were returned. Lucas can be accounted unfortunate, as the day he fled down the home fairways was reminiscent of one of his runs with a Springbok pack in full cry—and then only to find his 6 up unrewarded, there having been no concurrent bogey. Even though Lucas did return a card, one can quite imagine the handicapper exercising a reasonable discretion. It would 'be too much to expect that such promise should receive a check. Though Lucas' swing is still prone to be too Hail like, he has discarded his rawness in a most remarkable manner, and is definitely a player of promise. He is Somewhat of a Harry Hattersley in his versatility in sport. It was nothing for Hattersley to come off second best in a Hugger tussle on a Saturday afternoon, and then take part in a championship match on—well, the next day. Added to thatj he is one of Manly's champion surfers, and the rescuing of fair damsels in distress is not the least of his accomplishments. Still, I have yet to find the golfer who would not excel in this respect, always provided, of course, that he could swim. Klngswell Shield. We have, I fear, in this slight, if not pardonable degression, lost sight of Morpeth . and his doings. Strangely enough his medal tally was the same as that of Lucas, but it was a vagary of the fates that his bogey score should have read only all square. His card was a splendidly balanced one; too even for the type of event, and, though 'sufficiently good to have won the concurrent bogey, deserved higher honours. So far as the Kingswell Shield contest was concerned, G. L. Taylor and G. J. Bennett followed Morpeth, the former having been rather unfortunate not to have made a tie of it, as a worthy attempt to hole a putt for a 4 and a win at the eighteenth hole ended in a missed return putt. A newcomer in H. A. McGregor also had a creditable card, while low markers in R. 0. Gardner, J. H. Earle and J. S. Rankin were also in the offing. The latter pair played steadily for gross scores in the late seventies. Of the others, most credit rests with R. M. Tolhurst and R. P. Bennett, who, as t long handicap players, combated the elements very well. Taylor Bowl Matches. To return to Titirangi, the general trend of matches for the Taylor Bowl would go to prove that the fates hung on very thin threads. We .had H. M. Roger6ons get. out at the twentieth against H. A. Harper, and W. J. A. Thompsons like feat at the expense of R. J. Hamilton. The latter is nothing if not tenacious, and is remarkably consistent. R. McCrystal also was one to be taken 'beyond the prescribed limits, but was on the spot at the nineteenth; which remark has no ulterior motive. J. A. Crum, who had rather a signal win last week, could not survive against E. G. Tallis, while it is noticed also that Ganley, a' finalist in the Maungakiekie tournament, went down to Fisher. L: G. Ansell's win from S. T. Gaskin had its claim to merit, and it is a matter for satisfaction that lie is now recovered and again able to take part. As a general observation on the two rounds played for the bowl, it is satisfactory that so solid a representation should remain in. There are many players of the various grades who can be oonsid- : ered as really dangerous from their respective handicaps, and one would be bold indeed to offer any opinion as to the chances of success of any particular player. Waltemata's Opening. As the last of the strictly local clubs • to get under way, Waitemata opened on Saturday, and though the weather was anything but propitious for a gathering 1 of the kind, members made light of the inconveniences. Miss Gooding and Mason were the successful couple and the former's name can be traced as belonging to a couple who fill in their spare moments at Pupuke. Report is that Waitemata's membership list is practically as full as is desired, and that a most successful season is being looked to. Howey Walker Cup. As the result of a very useful round, A. Browne-Douglas gained the initial advantage in the Howey Walker Cup match at Glendowie. Fred Trice, C. S. Woods and I. G. O'Neill are the others most favourably placed. Woods is playing well,it being only lack of length from the tee that prevents him from reaching a really low handicap. He played very steady golf .throughout Easter to win the main event in the Maungakiekie tournament, and seeing that he times most of his shots nicely, it is difficult to. understand why he does not consistently get length from the tee. ■ To be ranked with the outstanding performances of the week-end was C. H. Knight's 3up at Middlemore. Compared with the scoring during the" Easter tournament at Middlemore and the unpleasant and difficult conditions on Saturday, the round was one "of distinct merit. No doubt an allowance of eleven strokes is for Knight a thing of the past. A. I. Johns, with 1 down, and the Lusk family, with 2 down, also returned cards well worthy of the day. The low markers did not show to advantage, Alan Donald having more or less played a lone hand in this respect. Qualifying scores for the Coltman Cup at Akarana were on the whole satisfactory, and Dr. Hay, in particular, had reason to be satisfied at his'feat of having handed in a net 69. There was little to enthuse over as regards the gross scores, though B. J. Smith's 75, was an oasis, where, otherwise mediocrity prevailed. Even allowing that the Akarana greens can be attacked from almost any angle, Smith's score was distinctly good. Pupuke and North Shore. Though it was piping at Pupuke, R. D. McLeod played a round out of the bag ■ for his 7D-—16 —63. The round affords him ; a good position in the Mingay Cup, though A. P. Burnett, who formerly golfed at Otahuhu, is close enough on the trail with 81 —16 —65. One often wonders what would be the fate of a really low marker if asked to compete _ with the remarkably low net' scores which characterise results from across the harbour. One supposes that the catch is that at present there are no really low markers in these clubs. Though at North Shore Conditions were as boisterous, scoring was ■ by comparison . necessarily rendered easier than elsewhere, owing to the shortness of the course. . E. Farr was the particular star of the day, though it is significant that quite a number of players had gross scores in the seventies. Now that the club is firmly established it would be well were energies directed toward ascertaining whether some means could not be found to lengthen a number of the holes —even if only temporarily—and thus invest play with' added difficulties and a greater variety, and interest.