GOLF.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 18

GOLF.

| NOTES OF THE DAY. ! [By E. 51. Macfablane.] TTkw well the Royal and Ancient ■Golf Club of St. Andrews deserves its eminence m the game of golf may be j gathered from the following paragraph quoted from the Golfers' Handbook:— ; 'The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of . St. Andrews is the governing club in : golf. The club was founded in 1754 and until 1534 was known as the St. Ani draws Golf Club. In 1834 his Majesty I King William the Fourth was graciously i -pleased to approve-that the club should ; I>ear the title of 'The Royal and ] Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.' In ■39-10 the pro.-ent club house was erected, ar.d largely extended in the early years ..*>! this teniury. There are no definite j -■' •■--•is oi when g'jlf was first played at j .>!. Andre - "- - . <~TC>k" was a popular game I :h --'-jUst:'! St. Andrews UniverI *ity .'-yi| foti'i'led in 1413, and it is beI li-t i"i t!.:-*, ;■?:. Andrews wad the very ; -rvA'-.'- »i "i ■ gante in Scotland. In 1553 j tlio Archl,':-!:■>!> of St. Andrews ratified 'f aii-1 .-ipprovd. v.i'Ai the consent of his •j . »";];;iifi;r, tiic of the community to j ' the *i;n!i.-, ;.!:>; particularly for 'playing g"lf. ivi/'.ttu'X. and all other ; ' ni'i'.'j:-.'.- <■:" p;i-*:ru-.-.' The rights of the .j tvwn to the li.il ■> v. '•..'■ confirmed by the F - .\ri: l .:>\<ii'j\i <-•: St. Andrews in 1614 and ; : by Kii.g .I-jl-.-.-s the Sixth in 1620. The f , p*'*. mint :'-•■'-■ oi St. Andrews in the ' . gcliii.g world is du,j to its historical !■ ! and the influential and i viil-'ly r-preitiiEtttive character of the ; I jiciuocrshiu of the Royal and Ancient. ; The K<->i - al and Ancient Golf Club ■• jranc-d the code of laws for the ? game, ' . a-.]d in to questions and distjutr.i ou the rules they give decisions \ • Tvhich are accepted by golf clubs j ', throt-ghuut the world." '' i Id a fr-ak match recently played at ! ' JKan-as City the winners were to be ; » ! iho:-e who could break the most rules. ' ' 'Sc-jnething in the nature of a Tecord in '] ; this was achieved by one player, \ I who broke 29 rules of the game of golf \ \ at the fir&t liolc, which was sufficient to i | a»sure succetfs for his side, as the oppo- ■} j jikion—evidently well satisfied —imnie- ■ diatclv surrendered (says the British j i United Pre=s). This is how rules were * ! fbrnken: —Teed off in front of the rnark- '' ! -ert; teed off out of tnrnj asked bys - .standers the distance to the green; ■* 1 "grounded club when playing from ai : % tinker; thrc-.v a rock oat of the bunker,; > f jthcu threw a stick out of the same ■■ | Sumter; dug out a rock interfering | his stance, and stamped on ground : i %ehind the ball. The player pulled .up ' j srdSH beside the ball; pushed sand away I Efsroui ball vrith Lis foot; placed Ms bag - ! *» a bunker; asked a caddy the condi- * I ftion of the green; picked up and i ' cleaned ball; walked on line of the i ■ sratt; Jised patter to mark line of the -«pntt: used putter to brush sand from hne oi putt; stamped down a rise in khe ground before the hole; and ? . the cup. This Temarkable iplanjr then gave wrong information reWrding the number of strokes, refused ; : So lift his ball at the request of an jppponenl: lifted his own ball while op- j ponent's was in motion; stopped opponF . feat's ball; and marked np incorrect 5 * He' certainly exhibited a knowledge I taf the rules, " althongh it is not now r . Illegal to u*e the putter to brush sand !' ■ fcr "any other loose impediment away { : frroni the lino of tho putt. : ' A paragraph from the decisions by lb* lioval and Ancient Rules of Golf Committee rcad3: In a match tonrnaBiont A plavcd from within twenty wards of a hole, and struck the flag-stick w&ieh. was in the hole. B claimed the '. holt: Was lie entitled to do so! ! ' Answer: C'crtaijily not. (See Rule 82 (1)). ' ■ If the opponent wished to do so he I ' igkuld Jiaro removed the flag-stick be- **'. E>re the player played his stroke.Discussing some common faults in the ' ' jswing, tho well known English coach, ' ' pisrey Alii?a, in a recently published krtsclo'savs: Ono advantage of the steel ! tehaft ia that it has helped to banish a good deal of the stiffness from which Ssany players suffered. The player pays to himself, "I can swing this," &nd the immediate tendency is for him *© loosen his grip and relax generally. jA fierce grip is a terrible handicap. As ! teoon as the fingers are tightened, the t jainscles of the arms become taut, and I {the whole body is stiffened. In a found ' ;the ether day with a club golfer the LI latter complained that he eould not t ■ tswing. "I feel so heavy," he said. j \ '■" and I can't get any length." It was I ; jsvident that ho was all tied up, as we i ■ #ay, and ->1 suggested that he should ' ;i»iax his grip. The effect was wonderi- i iol. He at once began to swing with * '-far more freedom. The shoulders turned properly in the pivot, and he ! looked a different golfer. It is re- [ anarkablo' how the grip influences the - idioti*. Tha degree of firmness with i -which tho club should be held is not ! (easy to describe,.but the player shonld ' laot have the idea that he is going .to hit with his hands, otherwise he is very ; likely to. be too tenac. This is a danger ; which should always be guarded against, ; t esi'ecially when the player is striving [ ■ for a little extra length, or has to ; snake a recovery shot from the rough ! ■ .or a bad place in a bunker. To tighten [ ■ -ths* grip, under these conditions does not ■help. It must, of coarse, be firm, but I -remembering that if a little more power ! '. £s to be exerted it should be no firmer than to give the necessary control., Always watch the right hand, both i (in going up. and coming down. The | idniiger is in allowing it too much I : power. The swing should be started ' ■ pushing tire clnb back with the left jhand, and similarly at the top it is the ■ left hand which should begin the down--1 ward movement hy means of a pull, i Now, if tho Tight hand comes in ; too much at the beginning, the tenj ; dency will bo to hoist the club to the ' I top, wheieas it should, of course, be [ J «wung in a wide sweep. Again, if the ' j light hand takes charge at the start f | : of ih& return journey, it is probable I I ithat tho club will bo jerked on to the I I iball and the awing will lose its rhythm. I 'Get the two hands working as ono. jTou Tviil never swing smoothly and pro{perly unless yon do this. Marathon golfers may be interested tin tne record of an English player, R. JH. Bawson, of the West Bowling Club, i«ho has played, during the Hast 15 years, 4575 matches, which is tan average of nearly six matches a week, and allowing for four miles a *ocnd, also represents a distance walked of aboui; 20,000 miles. Some members of the English cricket teain now in Australia, who are visitjag the Dominion in March, are also keen! golfers. W. B. Hammond, who is a m&nber o£ three clubs in England, Is aljsQOst it scratch, man, while F. R. Browii, who is an amateur member of the -visiting team, is also a iwefnl player, Larwood, Voce, Ames, Paynter, Mitchell, and Hobbs <hcp 16) 'hava played golf on occasions in Aus.iralia, and. if tima permits will frofoiably visit some courses bere. Jfltending entrants for the British jEmpiro overaeas tournament organised by the Lucifer Golfing Society of LonSen, •» notified of an importoat ctaßge.

ceeded those which the society could entertain, it has been decided to hold a qualifying competition on July 5 on three courses near London —Addington, Stoke Poges, and Moor. Park. The 34 lowest net scores on each course (102 in all) will qualify to play in the final, 36 holes bogey, on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 11 and 12. Those who play in the final will be the guests of the Et. Hon. Lord Eiddell at Walton Heath for luncheon, and they will also be the Quests of the society at their Empire diniker, Savoy Hotel, July 12. Entries close on May 15 with the hon. scribe, Captain T. H. Carlton Levick, 81 Gracechurch afreet, Londan, E.C. 3. S. A. Keanc, who was a member of the New South Wales team in the KirkWindeyer matches at Shirley, has recently been successful in Queensland, where he is now living. Keanc finished in seventh position in the Queensland open championship with an excellent aggregate of 295. In the State amateur championship he was not so successful, being eliminated in the first round. He annexed the Royal Queensland Club championship, however, by very convincing play, and with two record-breaking rounds of 60 and 70, secured the Royal Queensland Cup. He also won the State mixed foursomes championship with Miss J. Gardiner. Reports state that -Tveane i? considered a big asset to Queensland golf, •providing as he does a high standard for young amateurs to attain, as well as an ease and perfection of style foT their imitation. , RAWHITI CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The third annual meeting of tlie ltawhiti Golf Club yJ-as held' last evening-. The president (Mr G. W. Bishop 1 * waf in the chair and there was an attendance of 40 members. The annual report and, balance-sheet (already published) were adopted. The chairman congratulated the club on beiiiK in the unique position of having no liabilities. . ... It is to be a recommendation to tue incoming committee that the present rule as to placing by men members shall remain in icrce until"-June 30 nest, and be then subject to revision by the committee. On the motion of Mr Throp. the advisory Jioard is to be requested to date season tickets as from March 1 instead of April 1. The advisory board has decided to take out a policy for £IOO against burglary, and members desiring to do so will be able to coyer the contents of their lockers for a pre mints of Is a year. ,The opening date was filed for Saturday. Jfxroh 25. ' Mr Throji reported that Mr P. C, Corraa ek. la'tr- of the Shirley links, had been appointed custodian of the municipal links and would take up the duties on March 2nd. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Mr J. H. Shnw; pres ; dent, Mr G. Alf. Bishop; vice-presidents, Messrs A. ET. G. Lyttle and J. W. Lovell; club captain. Mr Harold Throp; secretary, Mr J. E. Gudgeon; treasurer, Mr 3. W. Lovell; committee, Mesdames B. A. Miles and J. E. Gudgeon, Jrossrs F. A. Skinner. C. A. Cooper, H. 0. Lyttle, G. Brown, and W. Queree. HAREWOOD CLUB. A flag match will be played at Harewood daring the week-end; players to arrange their own opponents and starting times. Lies to relieving officers are costing Hull ratepayers £26,000 a year, according to Mr J. Hardaker, a member of j the Public Assistance Committee. He ! stated recently that the committee .is! spending £5300 a week, not including medical relief, and that in his opinion at least . £SOO a week is going to people who deliberately make misstatements to obtain money to which they are not entitlei-