PENNANT GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 10

PENNANT GOLF.

AUCKLAND CLUB'S POSITION

STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN. A statement concerning the attitude of the executive of the Auckland Golf Club towards the new arrangement for the playing of the pennant competition reported in the "Star" during the week, has been made by its club captain, Mr. E. B. Brown. • "Whilst your report of events leading up to the inauguration of these matches and the unfortunate position which has now risen is, in the main, correct, I feel that, in fairness to the Auckland Club, prominence should be given to that club's course of action in the matter," said Mr. Brown. "First of all it is necessary to point out that at the time these matches were inaugurated .the controlling body, comprising delegates from all clubs, endeavoured to institute Sunday play with singles and foursomes. The draft rules submitted to clubs for perusal before adoption contained clauses to this effect, and the Auckland Club at that time made it perfectly clear that it would not agree to become, a competitor unless the matches wei'e played on Saturday and comprised singles only. Whether the other clubs felt that they should, bow to the wishes jfi the Auckland Club in this matter, or whether they, too, had some doubt as to the wisdom of playing competitive golf on Sundays, I do not know, but the fact remains that Sunday play was abandoned and play on Saturday afternoons became effective. I refer -to the Auckland Club's previous action in the matter, as I am of the opinion that anyone reading your published report without knowledge of the facts might be led to believe that the club's reluctance to play in these matches during the coming season came as a 'bombshell' to the controlling body. As stated in your report, the delegates responsible for the change were the same delegates as were in office at the time the Auckland Club's previous objection to Sunday play was received. Their decision to make the conditions of play for the coming season the same as those to which the Auckland Club had objected the year pre%-iously must have been made with the full knowledge that complications might possibly arise. "I notice in your report that it is said that each team plays two matches on its own course. This is correct in so far as it goes, but I must point out that the Auckland club entered Jtwo teams last year, and that to enter the same number of teams again would mean that four of these matches would be played at Middlemore during the season. In addition to these matches the Auckland club plays several inter-club matches against clubs with whom it has been associated for a great number of years. "The offer of the other clubo to make their courses available for the paying of these matches must be commended as an effort on their part to meet the situation. Unfortunately, this offer does not overcome the difficulty. In the first place it would be hardly fair to ask the representatives of the Auckland club to meet its opponents on a strange course for all matches. Secondly, to play the matches on other courses would not remove that confusion and delay which the Auckland club anticipates will eventuate if foursomes are played at one and the same time as four-balls—a position which will be inevitable on seme of the courses unless speci.al provision is made to meet the situation; and thirdly, it does not overcome the objection against the playing of competitive golf 011 Sunday."