GOLF

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 14

GOLF

* NOTES OF THE DAY [Br "I.O.TTKR."J The Christchurch Golf Club's Christmas tournament will be held at Shirley on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, December 26, 27, and 29. The various events scheduled include an 18 holes handicap competition and bogey on Wednesday morning, and a four-ball bogey event in the afternoon. The main event is the Christchurch amateur championship, which will be decided by two rounds of medal play with concurrent handicap events on Thursday (December 27). The tourney will conclude on Saturday, the third day, with an 18 holes bogey handicap, and a Canadian foursome in the afternoon. Women golfers are iligible for the handicap events; those entering will play under their Ladies' Golf Union handicaps, plus five strokes. Members of the British golf team now in Melbourne will take part in the first and second clay's events. Entries will close with the secretary, J. E. Donald, on December 18.

An interesting news item for women golfers, which appeared in last week's cable news, was the decision of the British Women's Golf Union to send a team to Australia and New Zealand next year. The British team's visit should give Dominion golf a decided fillip and will doubtless prove one of the important events of the 1935 season.

Mrs M. Allison, a member of the Titirangi Ladies' Goli Club, established a new course record at Titirangi when competing in a recent Ladies' Golf Union medal competition. Mrs Allison's card read:-—Out—3, 5, 4. 5. 5, 4, 2, 4, 4: 36: In—s, 3, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4. 5, 4: 38. Total—74.

Membership of the Hole-in-One Club increased last week, when J. Mclndoe holed his tec-shot at the seventeenth at St. Clair, and A. Gill secured the short fourth hole at. Baimacewan in one stroke. J. D. Sievwrighl (Wellington) on Saturday holed the firsthole on the Mornington links, a distance of 90 yards, in one.

An indication of the interest aroused in Sydney golf circles by the American professionals, Sarazen and Kirkwood, was that no fewer than 3000 people attended a Friday evening session at Anthony Horderns, recently.

Thirty-four English professionals recently took part in a stroke competition over 36 holes at Wentworth to test the virtues of the built bamboo shaft. Each player was equipped with a complete set of bamboo clubs which arc built in twelve sections, not unlike fishing rods in several respects. According to London "Golf Illustrated" the general impression was that the shafts were very good in iron clubs and that a definitely longer shot was obtained. However, after several seasons of steel shafts, the "whip" in the wooden clubs made ball control rather difficult. From the remarks marie by the majority of the competitors, it seems essential to swing the club and not hit out at fhe ball. Many or the professionals saw the return 1o torsion which was evident before the advent of steel.

Detail scores of the ,f:.'!0() Palakona tourney were: A. 11. Padgham (Sundridge Park) . . 70 : 71 14! A. H. Laccy fßerkshiret 70473-143 Allan Dai ley iWansteadi 73-173 140 C. S. Dennv 'Thorpe Hall i . . 71-;-75 - 146 C. A. Whitcombe 'Crews Hill) . . 73 j75 143 Syd. Easterbrook (Knowle. Bristol)' . . 70 173 143 A. Compston (Coombe Hill) . . 70 478 -143 R. A. Whitcombe 'Parkstone) . . 73-1-76 * 14:1 W. T. Twine i Langlev Park; .. 704-73. 14!) P. P. Wynne 'Ha re wood Downs) ' .. 73-1-77 .:■-. 150 E. R. Whitcombe 'Mcvrick Park; . . 744-70-150 A. G. Matthews (Rochampton) .. 73-1-77. . 150 W. 11. Davics (Wallasey) 70 4-74-150 H.B.Rhodes (Wentworth) 734-77-151) H. C. Kinch <Woodcote Park) .. 77-!-7-1 151 A. Perrv (Lealherhead) 74 -77- 151 R. E. Ballantine (Moortown) .. 75 1-77 15J W. G. Okc (Indwell > .. 734 70-153 E. Ray (Oxhey) . . 73 -J 75... 153 A. G. Havers (Sandy Lodge) .. 73-476-154 Abe Mitchell (Private) .. 73-J-81 —154 M.Seymour (Crow Wood) 7i)-|-78-157 G. Pannell (Royal G.C.. Brussels) .. 78-1-7!)- = 157 H. Kidd (Wiltshire) .. 814-70-157 Keith Dalbv (Finchlev) 81-1-77-158 H. Roberts (Stoke Poges) 76-1-82- 158 George Duncan (Unattached) .. 78-1-82 100 A. I-I. Monk (Felixstowe) 791-82-~ 101 John Rowc (Royal Ashdown Forest) . . 81 180 - Hii W. Nolan (Portmarnoek) 83-173 101 E.Hooker (Yelverton) .. 84 |7B -102 Fred Leach (Royal Wimbledon) .. 83 i 82- 105 Rowland Jones (Wimbledon Park) . . 87 | 7!) 100 Philip Wvnne 'Chingford) .. 85-1 81- 100

[f New Zealand men would be up-lo-tlie-mimile in llieir golf attire, it seems, they must discard plus Jours for belted flannel slacks, sports coats lor grey shirts, and caps for brightlycoloured berets. When in Le Touquet for the golfing season a New Zealand woman was amused to lind practically all the golfers studiously following the sartorial lead given thorn by the Prince of Wales, scarlet and orange and royal blue shirts. "Exotic is the only word to describe their attire, she declared. "For once the women were put completely in the shade!

i After their defeat in the international contest for the Curtis Cup, members of the British women s team I took part in the American women s ! championship decided over the course lof the Whitemarsh Country _ Club I (6248 yards, par 77), Pennsylvania last month. Mrs Glenna Collett Vaic. five times winner of the championship. Mrs L. P. Cheney and Miss Lucille ! Robinson tied with 82"s at the top ol the qualifying list. British players to i quail* were Miss Molly Gourlay 8 . Miss Wanda Morgan 86. Miss U. Fishwick 88, and Miss Doris Chamber 90 Miss Gourlay and Miss Fishwick survived the first round « bu L.V e s down in the second round to Mih M. T Lake and Miss Dorothy Iraung. The British challenge ended in the third found when Miss Morgan was mt out. In the final Miss van Wic, after a close tussle with Miss Traung. retained her title at the thirty-fifth hole Miss van Wie's success marked her third successive win in the championship, a feat previously accomplished during the 38 oi 1 e championship series by Miss B Ho>, Mrs Alex Stirling Fraser, and Mis Glenna Collett Varc.

That members of Christchurch golf clubs are not the only golfers to sufler from the activities of ball imrteis would seem evident from a recen incident recounted in an Ausilw-paper:-"Those derelicts who alwajs hang round golf links, especially the public variety, include, nowadays, as many grown men as small bojs m their ranks. Their objective i» . c same, the stealing ol -lost' golf balls and the resale of them to golfers, wiio are really participes crimims. One ot these gentry, presented at court m Sydney last week, and given a paltry ] f days in gaol, had the nerve to plead that he was a "professional golf-ball finder." He carried a pair of field glasses, and after watching the finish of a smack into the rough at Moore Park—his headquarters—strolled over and helped the player to look for it.

When caught he had a lot of 'lost' bails in his pockets. He admitted that his duties as a 'finder' kept him on the links from 4 a.m. till 6 p.m., and seiri there were 30 other professional finders on Moore Park alone." In order to check the activities of the ball finders and also to prevent the resale of "lost" golf balls, members would be well advised to initial balls or to use a full name marker.

Left-hander L. Nettlefold. a former champion for three consecutive years, showed a return to form in the Tasmania:! amateur golf championship when he put out the holder, G.*' A. Brown, by 4 and 3 in the final, recently.

At Baimacewan on Saturday afternoon, the second qualifying round of the Otago Golf Club's championship was played. A strong wind bothered players and affected scores considerably. Dr. K. Ross (73) again led the field, his aggregate of 143—five and eight strokes better than first place for the two 'previous years—being a record score in the qualifying rounds of this event. The following 16 qualified:—K. Ross 143, J. A. Scouler 148, T. B. Ferguson 149, B. V. Wright 151, J. W. Mcintosh 155, J. R. Laidlaw 155, J. G. Dick 15C, S. £. Field 156, G. Gibson 159, A. G. Sime 159, J. H. McDougall 159, H. J. Dodgshun 161, W. G. Wight 162, H. J. Grayson 162, C. T. Irvine 163, R. F. Barr 167.

With a margin of six strokes Bobby Cruickshank, a veteran of major competition for more than a decade, secured the Washington open championship, decided over 54 holes (par 70), on October 7. "Wild Bill" Mehlhorn was runner up four strokes ahead of a quartet of professionals, who tied for third, with three round scores of 218. Leading detail scores were:—

R. Cruickshank .. 70 70 68 208 W. Mehlhorn . . 69 74 71 214 W. Goggin . . 67 79 72 218 W. MacFarlane 74 72 72 218 C. Clark .. 74 72 72 218 A. Straub . . 75 71 72 218

The ability to produce pur golf on strange courses—the ball mark of the truly great—enabled the American golf team to score a decisive win against Australia's professional representatives at the Lakes course. The contest showed clearly enough the Americans' superiority. Though prophecies in golf are usually dangerous, the success of the Americans in the Melbourne Centenary Exposition Tournament, which commenced yesterday at Ihc Metropolitan Golf Club, would seem almost a foregone conclusion.

A perfect, drive was recorded by Mr Bernard Darwin when in the time honoured way he played himself into office as the captain of the Royal and Ancient Club of St. Andrews, last month. Discussing the new Royal and Ancient captain, an editorial article in the October issue of London "Golf Illustrated" states Hint Mr Darwin's election at headquarters befits his past endeavours on be-half of golf, and "it is impossible to imagine a more universally popular captain or one who would carry in a greater measure the confidence of the rank and tile."

The iicu-s item concerning (he negro caddies believed to be atlached to the American golf professionals was proved incorrect when worried Mafson line officials, members of the- Lakes Golf Club, and others who boarded the Mariposa in Sydney, to solve Ihe problem of Hie negro caddies' admittance, found the solution astonishingly easy. There were no caddies of any 'colour. It appears that Ezcr, an American professional, who is travelling to Melbourne on a pleasure and business trip, was responsible for originating the story about the caddies. Ezcr. a deeply sun-tanned individual, walked ashore at Auckland dressed in white trousers, black and -white shoes, black sweater, and white cap. a bag of clubs .'lung over his shoulder. On "the wharf he met a New Zealand pressman, and to an enquiry about his business replied "I'm caddying for one of the boys." That started the story, and it was enlarged until each of the six touring golfers had his caddy. How the absence of the caddies at Titirangi escaped notice or was tic-counted for is not explained.

The final of the championship of the Auckland Golf Club was recently decided at Middlcmore. over 36 ho!e<= •md resulted in a win for B. G. Thompson, who defeated W. N. Abbott 2 up on the last green. The course was in splendid ureter, but a stiff south-west wind made the test an exacting one. Ihompson's approximate scores were 77 and 73.

'Che contest for the Tuson Cup. an mter-club fixture at Shirley on Monday, between the Wellington and Christchurch Golf Clubs, should prove an interesting event. A. D. S. Duncan, lately returned from a visit to England, will lead the visiting players. Play will commence in the morning about 10 o'clock. The amended itinerary of the British golf team includes a provincial match at Shirley on Friday. January 4. J.. .). taylok err .match The following team will represent llio Commercial Travellers' Association in the match for the L. J. Taylor cup. to be played at TempMon 0J1 " November )ji, at .9,30 a.m.:— L. S. Avers, F. Banks, E. T. Beaven, L. J. Lewis, L. J. Taylor. H. Throp. A. B. Tucker, H S. Williams. F. C. Wooler. A. E. Benzie. A. McD. Smith, and R. V. Kennedy. TOUR OF BRITISH TEAM For several reasons the itinerary previously suggested has had to be altered, and as Mr Henry Gullen has cabled to the effect that the first one submitted seems too strenuous, two matches have had to be deleted. The itinerary now decided upon by the council is as follows, but, of course, it must be understood that this may still be subject to revision if, upon arrival here, the visitors consider that it still involves too much travelling:— December 10 —Arrive Wellington and leave for Rotorua. December 11—Arrive Rotorua day). December 12—At Rotorua. December 13—Play at Rotorua. , December 14—Travel to Auckland. December 15 (Saturday)— Play at Auckland. December 16 (Sunday)—At Auckland. December 17—Leave for New Plymouth by motor, via Waitomo. December 18—Arrive New Plymouth. December 19 (Wednesdayi— Play at New Plymouth. December 20—Travel to Palmerston North. December 21—At Palmerston North. December 22 (Saturday)— Play at Palmerston North. December 23 (Sunday)— Travel to Wellington. December 24—-In Wellington, and leave for Christchurch. December 25, 26, and 27—In Christchurch: Christmas tournament, December 2(j and 27. December 28—Travelling 1o Dunedin. December 29 (Saturday)— Plav at Dunedin (Balmacewan). December 30 (Sunday)—ln Dunedin December 31—Leave for Mount Cook. January 1 ,-,nd 2-At Mount Cook. January 3—Travel to Christchurch January 4—Play at Shirley (Christchurch (Friday), and leave for Wellington. January 5 (Saturday)— Play at Wellington, New Zealand team (singles, 36 holes). January 6—ln Wellington. January 7—Play at Wellington (foursomes. 18 holes), morning only, and leave in the evening for Auckland. January B—Sail from Auckland.

IU'SSLEY CLI/B The committee of the Russley Club decided last night that no entrance fees would be charged to any new members joining the club 'before April 30, 1935. KISSLEY LADIES' CIAR The stroke match played at Russley yesterday was won by Mrs W. Nicholls. A stableford bogey match will be played on Thursday. November 22. players to arrange partners. i ASHBI KTON CIA B The following is the draw for a fourball bogey match to be played by members of the Ashburton Golf Club during the week-end, players to arrange their own starting times:—Mr and Mrs R. B. Lambert with C. J. Bonnington and Miss Vetty; G. B. Williams and Miss Cowan with H. N. Lewis and Miss J. Dunlop; Mr and Mrs J. M. Mcßae with Mr and Mrs H. A. Vezey; V. W. Russell and Miss E. Brown with I. M. Hamilton and Miss Millichamp; G. d'Auvergno and Miss A. Madden with F. P. Fogarly and Miss A. Amos; Mr and Mrs J. Bathgate with Dr. and Mrs W. R. Rybum; Dr. and Mrs J. Connor with Mr and Mrs H. G. Ferrier; B. McSherry and Mrs Thompson with W Hedges and Mrs R. Kennedy; Mr and o£.£,si. nc v lair with Dr - a »d Mrs H. S, -5 lU ™ ft; i- T ' Smith and Miss bitten with W. P. Anderson and Mrs F. Seldom W. H. Amos and Miss Z Bonmngton with Mr and Mrs L E Carter: L. B. Mace and Miss M. Findlay with A. Lane and Miss McQuilkinN. F. Pattle and Miss W. Andrew with Mr and Mrs J. B. Nicoll.