ON THE LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 68, 21 March 1935, Page 22

ON THE LINKS.

COURSE RENOVATIONS

FORM OF THE "EARLY BIRDS." PENNANT STRENGTH SURVEYED. The recent copious rains and liumitl conditions have done much to revive local courses and in most cases the fairways are getting back to normal. Middlemore, as practically the least affected during the summer, is the earliest recovered and already good golf is to be had there. Titirangi, too, offers splendid conditions for play, last week's downpour having tempered the fairways and given a distinct iillip to the growth of the greens. Of the other courses, probably North Shore, Otahuhu and Akanana are the most improved, due mainly to the fact that each has a good root crop to its fairways. The rain was especially beneficial to North Shore, where the half-dozen new greens opened toward the end of last season had come in for a severe gruelling. S'till, should they recover as well as did those opened for play two seasons ago, the club _ may consider the position highly satisfactory.' Outer Suburban Links. Visits out and about show that Manukau is bringing in six new greens for play later in the season. The course, though perhaps a little heavy for play during the wet period, has decided natural features. The club is pursuing an ac.tive policy, the wisdom of which is reflected in the rising membership. Papakura, too, has put in a new green or .two, and though it will be necessary to make use of a couple of temporary greens the club can practically open play on its new eighteen holes lay out. A quite famous landmark in the line of blue gums is no more, though the felling of the trees had nothing to do with the new lay out of the course. The work, however, far from despoiling the links, will prove a boon as regards providing good eleventh and eighteenth holes. The area of approximately one and a half acres taken up by the huge trees is being turned to most useful advantage. Still, those who may revisit the place will miss the landmark of the handiwork of one of the original MacLennans. Further in, Otahuhu is reaching finality in its new works, in that the ■sixth and eighteenth greens, both of which are near the clubhouse, are practically completed. Mounding at the new first hole is not of an ambitious nature, being mainly for the purpose of throwing the green into relief. On the whole, however, Otahuhu is in apple pie order. Saturday's Matches. With regard to Saturday's competitions scoring with one exception was mediocre, having in general reflected uncertain conditions for play. Ordinarily it would have required something better than 3 up to have won at Akarana, though allowance is to be made'for the fact that many of the players have not resumed active play. Much the same circumstances applied at One Tree Hill, where W. Calderwood again evidenced his liking for go if when there is some run in the ground. Club champion D. G. Macfarlane and I. MeOwan were best of the remaining seniors, and their scores were satisfactory under the circumstances. The winning total in the junior grade was well above the scratch score, so that there was but little glory attached.

By contrast L. J. Clifford's winning effort at Titirangi was excellent, as his card of 76 —9—67 denotes. Clifford is a junior of some promise, and lias played much of his golf with J. H. Young. There would seem little doubt that his game has benefited from the standard set by Young. Another such score by Clifford will cause his chances for inclusion in the pennant side to be seriously considered. W. 15. Holdgate and W. J. A. Thomson were also within the compass of the scratch score, but were well behind the winner. R. W. Christensen started off well in the juniors, his win being quite decisive.

Pennant Prospects. With the playing of the first series of pennant matches but some three weeks hence, players are quickly seeking form to either retain or obtain a place in their grade team. Time 'was when reputation alone almost ensured the indivual his place in the club side. Competition has, however, become more keen and club selectors are bound to note form of aspirants for grade honours. The pennants would seem to have definitely invested club play with greater interest, as even a reduction of one stroke in handicap may . place the player's foot on the ladder. Titirangi, holders of pennant honours in both A and B grades, bid fair to again field the strongest teams. In the seniors, there is the possibility of A. B. BarnsGraham not being regularly on hand. H. I). Brinsden should, however, be available more often this year, so that the top strength should remain .unimpaired. li. E. Beehan, who is now in Canada, was most reliable, and his place will be difficult to fill. Against this, however, is to be weighed the fact that p. number of later recruits to the club have improved their games. J. H. Young, too, is likely to be more effective this season, following what for a player of his calibre has been a lean period. The B team is perhaps not so strongly entrenched,' especially as it will be required to play the majority of its matches away from home. The A team is of course similarly placed, though in the case of the senior players experience should help them to more successfully anticipate altered conditions for play. Keep the Schedule, A feature of the draw for this season's pennants is that the bigger clubs will play the majority of their matches away, thus reducing the chances of congestion to a minimum. The other clubs concerned can comfortably arrange for visiting teams. With regard to the pennants, those taking part would do well to realise that in being allotted special starting times they are receiving preferential treatment. Responsibility rests with them to arrive at the first tee at the hour appointed, and thereafter to observe the rule of the road to the letter. It is well to remember ] that the great body of members pays for equal rights and that those rights must be fully respected.

Review of Strength. As to the matches, it 13 highly satisfactory that even so early in the life of the games, many of the teams are reasonably evenly matched. At the moment Titirangi has the whip hand, but last season it defeated Manngakiekie at One Tree Hill only by the odd game. Then again two seasons ago Manngakiekie :played a reasonably strong Auckland side to a draw at Middlemore. Later, on neutral soil, Auckland spread-eagled Titirangi in the final. Pupukc, in the B grade, is perhaps the one team which appears put of touch as regards its chance of success. Still, we find good sportsmen such as C. B. Thomas and Tom McCorkindale helping to shoulder the burden until additional players of calibre join up with the club. Who knows but that the position may be materially altered any day. Otahuhu is a • club in this grade which may make amends for narrow losses of the past. Two seasons ago it lost to a strong Auckland team by one match, and. last year -"'as almost similarly placed against Titirargi. The team is .peculiarly constituted in that it contains at least fo*r members who are really A grade players. One of these, Eustace, is Auckland champion of champions. Some of its younger fry have improved their golf, though it is doubtful., whether in the aggregate the team is. stronger than formerly. This year it is perhaps not so Sn&ously placed in the draw as regards home matches, and it >viu : oe Interesting to see; how the side acquits itself.

NORTH SHORE CLUB,

Members of the North Shore Club "wilL Play a Stapleford bogey on Saturday next, flayers to choose own partners.

j AKARANA CLUB.

Members of tlie Akarana Golf Club win play a bogey match ou Saturday. Starting times will be booked at the clubhouse. Draw :—J. Swanson v. Dr. A. Mac Donald. Spenccly-Walker v. C. H. Allpress, J. Budge v. Dr. E. Mac Donald, E. Caslimore v. Dr. MeKenzie, G. L. Bayley v. C. Shenkin, F. Thompson v. J. MacKinven, S. Tucker v. A. C. liowe, C. Taylor v. A. W. Bennett, E. R. Bayley v. li. S. Burt, L. Cummins v. C. Edwards, A. Caughey v. C. Livingstone-, C. Davis v. W. Nicliolls, K. Fuller v. J. Fernandez, V. Salek v. J. C. McLean, M. Kalmnn v. J. F. Wells, J. Letters v. E. Snell, K. Snowden v. W. Wocflliouse, C. Canimick v. W. S. McLean, A. Wyness v. R. Tappenden, L. W. Makin v. G. Biss, G. Ashley v. E. V. Lane; F. Astley v. W. Rudinan, Smoothley v: R. L. Rose, H. R. v. 11. Cnllen, L. G. Blackle v. C. M. Cox, C. A. Best v. S. G. Swallow, G. Cairns v. W. Osborne, H. Edwards v. F. A. Carry, 11. M. Houston v. I'. Griffiths, W. E. Butler v. E. M. Taylor, E. E. Jones v. E. R. I'orter, W. Greenbank v. W. Lowe, T. Mitchell v. Dr. Webster, Dr. I'aterson v. B. liudman, L. Smotohley v. R. L. liose, H. R. Tyler v. T. Galloway, A. Galloway v. F. Ilazelden, M. Kelly v. A. Kirkcaldie, D. Leys v. 11. Ward, F. Preston v. F. Pickering, F. Ansell v. 11. Irving, G. Stewart v. J. Torrance, L. O. Wratliall v. G. Morrison, O. Jones v. K. Hume, A. Bishop v. J. C. Best, S. Berndtson v. J. R. Campbell, J. D lip in v. C. Heather, 11. St. C. Brown v. 11. Ililiard, F. De Malmanclie v. F. Rendell, G. Harrison v. W. H. Sim, T. Miller v. V. J. Smith, K. Wilson v. J. C. Mitchell, 11. Sinclair v. G. JShortt.

AKARANA LADIES' CLUB.

The senior flag match played by members of the Akarana Ladies' Golf Club was won by Miss K. Hickman, who placed the Hag on the ISth green. In the juniors Mrs. D. MeKenzie, reducing nine strokes, carried the flag to the 20th green. Draw for bogey match to be played on Tuesday next:—Mrs. F. Preston v. 'Mrs. A. Bisliop, Mrs. M. Tilston v. Miss I'. I'eet, Mrs. G. Ashley v. Miss L. O'Callaglian, Mrs. W. J. McAllen v. Mrs. C. Canimick, ilrs. E. E. Foote v. Mrs. E. R. Bayley, Mrs. C. M. Cox v. Mrs. C. Taylor, Mrs. C. 11. Ilalfbrd v. Miss T. Jones, Mrs. F. H. Mueller v. Miss M. Lundon, Mrs. F. Parker v. Miss Mitchell, Mrs. D. St. George v. Mrs. D. MeKenzie, Mrs. L. Kingsland v. Mrs. 11. B. Ward, Mrs. 11. Lovell v. Mrs.' Lord, Mrs. B. Bree v. Mrs. M. Morrison, Mrs. Coltman v. Miss M. Hayes, Mrs. Scliischka v. Miss Maden, Mrs. A. E. Young v. Miss I. Walters, Mrs. I*. R. Burton v. Miss G. Hodge, Miss M. Walters v. Miss M. Neville, Mrs. Brook Smith v. Mrs. Davies, Mrs. J. Wells v. Mrs. W. J. Baxter, _Mrs. O. Cook v. Miss M. Dalton, Mrs. King v. Miss M. Kerr Taylor, Mrs. 11. Martin v. Mrs. J. E. Ray, Mrs. 11. Simmonds v. Miss I'. Russell, Mrs. J. Ililliard v. Mrs. Colledge.

Draw for week-end players:—Miss K. Hally v. Miss K. Hickman, Miss M. -Wright v. Miss A. Deacon, Miss M. Webber v. Miss J. Parvin, Miss O. Darrach v. Mrs. A. Spencer, Miss E. l'rideaux v. Miss P. Punch, Miss V. Lee-Shea v. Miss X. Hughes. Miss M. Hodge v. Miss I. Brown, Miss' N. Dowdeu v. Miss M. Bass, Miss P. Cooper v. Miss M. Steinmetz, Miss E. Cowan v. Miss E. Wright, Miss E. Cleary v. Miss A. Seay, Miss B. Roberts v. Miss Cowley. Miss D. Shepherd v. another.

MAUNGAKIEKIE LADIES' CLUB,

Best scores returned in the medal handicap -matches played by members of the Maungakiekie Ladies' Golf Club :— Seniors. —Mrs. li. Hipkins, 93—17—70 ; Mrs. J. Jerrat, 89—12—77 ; Mrs. E. Gilmore, 91—14—77; Miss M. Miller, 91—13 —78 ; Miss A. Groves. 92—13—79. Juniors.—Miss E. Blackburn, 04—19 — 75; Mrs. G. Bennett, 109—34—75; Miss K. Edgelow, 100—23—77 ; Miss N. Pettit, 101—23—75. The tie in the junior division was won by Miss Blackburn on a count back over the last twelve holes.