GOLF.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17995, 12 February 1924, Page 2

GOLF.

CHRISTCHURCH CLUB. The annual report of tho Christchurch Golf Club states that there are now on tho roll 11 life, 178 active, 40 country, 75 honorarv, 12 youths, and 30 absentee mens gts. Tho committee had been given power t limit the membership, with a riew to roitiy gating congestion on Saturdays and days in the ■winter months, and provision had been made for mid-week members at a reduced subscription. A number of members had been elected to the mid-week list-, and the innovation had: proved a great success. . The bank overdraft, had been reduced from £317 Rs 3d to £220 Is Id during the year, while the sum of £IG7 13s 5d standing tc tho debit of the revenue account had been reduced to £Bl 7s 3d. Revenue bad exceeded expenditure by £B3 5s 2d. The club had purchased 515 shares in the Shirley Links Company, increasing the holding to 1117 shares.

All competitions were keenly contested. The Easter Tournament did not attract such a large outside entry as in some years, but the falling off was probably accounted for bj* the tournaments he'.d by other clubs at that time of the year. The .Canterbury championship was won by E. M. Macfar-* lano, with A, L. Marshall, Timaru, as runner-up. Tho club championship was again won by E". M. Macfarlano, who has played most consistent golf throughout the Reason. In the final he defeated M. Macbeth. A handicap knock-out competition for "captain's prize," was held as an ex 7 perimont this year, and proved a popular event. After keen competition, it was won by E. M. Macfarlane. ' A Christmas tournament was again organised, with the sanction of the committee, by the regular summer players, and proved a great success. This looked like becoming an annual fixture. A team from "Wellington visited Christchurch in June, and in spite of* a rough pasasge, they succeed-." 1 , in tying with the home team, and thus successfully defending the Tuson Cup. In November the club sent a team to Wellington but suffered defeat. In October, Timaru sent up a, team to challenge far the Orbell Cup. Unfortunately, the , visitors were not able to send away their bpst team, and were decisively beaten. After .•'overal attempts it was eventually found possible 'to get _ a team to visit Dunedin during the Christ* mas-New Year holidays, to compete for tho Hanmer and Campbell-Hosking Shields. Tho club was decisively beaten in' each event, although the matches in most cases produced close finishes. With the exception of Ko. 1 green, which has sinco been drained, the course■ was playable practically throughout the winter, although nearly every other course in New Zealand was closed at some time or other. Tho continued drought and nor'westers during the latter part of the year had scorched the course rather badly, but if the autumn rains come early, tliere was hi reason why it should not recover and be in first-clap order for the Easter Tournament. A rather extensive grass fire occurred during the holidays, and it was feared that some of the young trees might have to be replaced. In conjunction with the club's professional, Arthur Ham reported on a scheme of bunkering, which, in its main features, had been adopted by the committee. A start was made last year, and should the new committee decide to go on with it, the greenkeeper estimates it could be completed this winter with tho present stafl and two extra men for a month during the busiest time.

During, the year, it was decided to engage, a greenkeeper to take charge of the. work on the course, and after considering a *aTge number of applications, and personally. interviewing several applicants, Cormr.ck, who had considerable experience of Scottish courses, was engaged. ~ln spite of the adverse weather conditions, the committee was well satisfied with the start made by Cormack. One of his first recommendations'" was for the laying down of a turf nursery. This had been adopted and the preparation Was well forward for . sowing down this autumn. Suggestions had been from time to time made to the committee advocating* the playing of the principal events W. the-Pro-gramme in the spring and ■ autumn, with a view to avoiding the congestion inseparable from the short winter days. It was thought that thus the course would be able to accommodate a larger membership. The committee would be glad to receive an expression .of opinion from the members on that point.

KAIAPOI CLUB. The annual meeting of the Kaiapoi Golf Club was held last evening, Mr A. E. Brown presiding over n. large attendance of members.

The report stated that the past year had been one cf the most successful since the inception of the club, members generally taking a very keen interest in the game. The year closed with a membership of 101. During the year matches were played against the Hagley, Richmond Hill, Avondale and Kangiora Clubs, and it was hoped to arrange similar matches for the coming season. Interest in the club competitions had been Weil maintained. The men's championship was won by L. E. Robinson, with H. Wilson a3 runner-up, and the ladies' by Miss M. Stark, the runner-up being Miss A. A. Lynskey. A men's junior championship was also played off during tho past season, which resulted in a win for N. Fowler, with H. Miller as runner-up. The mixed foursomes were again won by Miss M. Purdie and J. G. Yellowlec-s, last year's champions, the runners-up being Binajdi and Miss Einaldi. During the past season further extensions were made to the club property by the purchase of 34 acres formerly leased by the club, and a considerable sum had been expended in improving the links by clearing broom and felling trees. It was suggested that a permanent greenkeepgr be appointed, and that the proposed remodelling of the course bo taken in hand immediately. The report concluded by expressing appreciation and thanks to the ladies, a very great part of the success of the season having been due to their untiring efforts on behalf ot the club.

The report aDd balance-sheet, the latter showing a debit balance of £173 19s sd, and a balance of assets over liabilities of £212 lis 7d, were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr G. E. March; vice? presidents, Messrs F. L. Parnham and H. Wilson; club captain., Mr L. D. Evans; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. J. Corcoran; committee, Messrs L. Parnham, C. R. Leithead, and R. Sewell; ladiea' committee, Misses M. Stark, M. Purdie, and G. Mcintosh.