THE RISE OF GOLF.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14761, 3 September 1913, Page 5

THE RISE OF GOLF.

t> PROGRESS IN CHRISTCHURCH | ITS EARLY STRUGGLES. A CLTCB THAT BECAME EXTINCT. (BT OCR SPECIAL REPORTER.) In these days when the game of golf is rapidly becoming ono of tho most popular pastimes, when clubs are springing up in every township, and the ranks of tho older dubs arc being strengthened by an array of recruits every year, it is interesting to delve into the past and trace tho early struggles that the Royal and Ancient game «a d *° stir * moimt to securo a footing in Canterbury. Incidentally it might bo mentioned that though goii has boon played for many centuries in Scotland, it did not invade England till 1564, and it was eight years subsequent to that date that tho first attempt to form a club was made in Christchureh. The prime mover in forming the club in Christchurch \vas Mr A. .Jameson, a local solicitor. Ho had a number of clubs imported from England, and ho and his friends used to play tho game in Hagley Park, behind tho College—and right good sport used to be enjoyed. A paragraph from a Christchureh paper of October 31st, 1872, says:—"Tho game- of golf is growing in popularity, and when tho materials/which are expected by the next 'Frisco mail, arrivo, a good club no doubt will bo formed. There is generally a good muster of players in Hagloy Park on Saturday afternoons." A CLUB FORMED. Eventually in April, 1873, the club became an accomplished fact, as witness this extract: —"A golf club for promoting the excellent sport of golf at Christchurch lias at length become an accomplished fact. At a privately convened meeting hold in Messrs 2>uncan and Jameson's ofneo under the presidency of Mr T. IVuncan on Saturday morning last (April 19th), it was unanimously resolved* that a combination, of too kind should bo formed, and thai tho titlo adopted should be the Cliristolrarch Golf Club. The entrance feo was fixed at one guinea, and the annual subscription , at a like amount. Tho rules of tho Dunedin Golf Club were adopted, and Messrs Todd, Jameson and Carrick were appointed a sub-committoo for the purpose of drawing tip rules for playing j suitable to the ground which is in Hagley Park, near the College. M.r Jameson consented to act as lion, secretary, and it was resolved that the first general meeting of tho club be held on Friday, the 2/sth inst., when tho necessary officers will bo elected. In the afternoon a game was played on the club ground which Messrs Todd and Jameson had previously marked out. Tho turf ( was in capital order, and aorne very' good sport accrued. It nifty bo said that Mr Jameson anticipating the formation of a club, cent an order Home for clubs and balls some months ago, and has lately received a supply of excellent mako, which will be handed over to the club. They have thus ample materials to mcko a good commencement with, and such, being the caso, tho 6port should, ere long, find numerous supporters in the city. . . . It-may-be said that the Dunedin Club, which was only formed two or.threo years ago, has now nbout 70 members. The closo contiguity of the Christchureh Club ground to tho College tho game a favourablo ono x with the students, and each practice of the members of the club has been attended by a. considerable number who watched tho play with much interest. -Air Jameson-will- be glad, to give any assistance 'in his power to schools desirous of obtaining materials from Home." At a meeting of the club held a few days later, Mr Geo. Todd, a player of 40 years' experience, was elected captain, Mr A. Jameson was appointed hon. secretary nnd treasurer, and Messrs Dymock, A.M. Ollivier, and Carriek, with tho captain and secretary, elected a management committee. A club room at tho residence of Mr T. Gapes. Hereford street west, was obtained, and games were played at Hagley Park ©very Saturday. On May 19th tho following was published in a toral paper: —"A goodly number of the members of tho Golf Club mustered at the links in Hagley Park on Saturday afternoon last, and several interesting games were played. The i room taken in Hereford street west has ! i been euitably fitted up, and is found to be a great convenience. Several now members have recently been, enrolled on tho hooks of tho club." The game became popular. On July 14th, 1873,"The following appeared in print: —"The game of golf is decidedly increasing in popularity in Christchureh. The members of the club practice very regularly, and not a Saturday posses without a number of games being played. Being short of playing materials, new members cannot be enrolled so fast as otherwis6 would be the case, but as 20 sets of materials have been ordered from England, this obstacle will shortly be - overcome, and tho club will then increase in strength rapidly. Tho Collego boys have taken up the game, and may bo frequently seen playing, though with very imperfect appliances." On June 18th, 1874, the first annual meeting of the club was held. Mr A. Jameson was elected captain: Mr A. Carriek, ."secretary and treasurer; and Messrs W. Dymock, W. S. Robison, and D. Craig,,committee. Owing to the unsuitability of Hagley Park for the game, p'ny was transferred to a paddock at Avonside belonging to Mr Brittan. and hero some- hotly-con-tested matches were fought. Hero is the report oP a handicap match played early in October, 1874: —"A handicap match was played on Saturday last, in Mr Brittan'e paddock, the players being Messrs Robison. Craig, Carriek, Beaumont, Stead, • Jameson, Dymock, and Holt. The gamo was three times round a oours© of four holes. Mesers Robison, Beaumont, and Holt were each allowed four, and Mr Stead sir strokes, tho rest being at scratch. The seore3 stood at the termination of the game as follow:—Robison. 26, 25, 27 —78. Jameson, 26, 25. 28 —79. Dymock, 29, 25. 25—79. Carriek, 29, 30, 22—81. Craig, 27, 28. 29—84. Holt, 3&, 26. 35—94. Beaumont, 29, 24, 42— 95. Stead, 58. 33, 33—104. Those totals are independent of handicap allowances. Thus" it will be seen, that Mr Robison won the match by ono stroke, with his allowance of four to spare. Several members were unavoidably absent. It is intended to continue "these matches every Saturday during tho season." THE CHRISTCHURCH CLUB. About this time the Christchureh Golf Club came to an end. The cause of this has been obliterated by the passage of time, but unsuitable links and waning keenness are stated to have been partially responsible for the "death." The years sped on, though possibly a few enthusiaste still smote with tho brassie and the deck; it was not till the 'nineties that the Cliristchurch Golf Club was resuscitated.v Eight men wero responsible for the effort. They were: Messrs A. Carriek, P. Cunningham, G. Lambie, I. W. Marshall. J. T. Peacock, W.-.S. Robison, R. l>. Thomas, and L. B. "Wood. Of these Mr Wood is now the only one alive. Aβ b, jarorifiional cosunittoo they held

preliminary meetings in the pavilion of the Chribtchurch Bowling Club.in March, 1891. Subsequently they met in tho visitors' room of tho Canterbury Club and duly elected the first office-bearers of tho club, now known as the Christchurch Golf Ciub. Tho club was formed at a mooting held on May 29th, 1891, tho following being declared tho first members thereof: Messrs B. H. Burns, J. Beaumont, T. D. Condell, P. Cunningham, A. Carriek, l>. Craig, W. B. Common, J. B. Fisher, J. J. Kinsey, Geo. Lambie, N. N. Nalder, A. Otterson, J. Palmer, Richard Richardson, P. G. Westenra, L. B. Wood, A. T. White, jnr., and W. S. Robison, and Captain Marshall. Officers wero elected as follow: —Mr P. Cunningham, captain; Mr A. Carriek, hon. sec.; Mr W. S. Robison, hon. treasurer; Messrs A. Cttcrson, G. Lambie, and B. H. Burns, committee. Tho first links of tho club wero situate at Hagley Park. ■ In 1899 Units were opened at RuGsley, near Yaldhurst, and then finally the club shifted operations to its present links at Shirley. For many years the Christchureh Club was the only golf club in existence in Canterbury, but of reoont years golf has jumped into popular favour, and now there are in and around the City the Christehurch, Hagley, Richmond Hill, and New Brighton Clubs, and further out the Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Leeston, Ashburton, and a number of other clubs. There is also talk of'new links being laid out on tho Cashmere Hills.