GOLF

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21363, 4 January 1935, Page 11

GOLF

—♦ — NOTES OP THE DAY [By "LOFTES."! It is expected that followers of the game here will be keen to see the British amateur golfers in action today at Shirley, when the match against a Christchurch team comprising C. J. Ward, A. R. Blank, C. A. Seymour, and E. J. Pumphrey, should prove one of the features of the season. The performances of the British amateurs in New Zealand would suggest that their strenuous Australian tour has not affected their form adversely. Play will commence about 10 o'clock this morning.

Hickory adherents will be pleased to hear that Marcos Churio played with a complete set of hickory-shafted clubs when he recently won the Argentine open championship with a record aggregate score of 285. Churio, who received the clubs only a few weeks before the event from an EngIsh firm, was the only all-hickory competitor in the field. Discussing this aspect an editorial article in London "Golf Illustrated" stated: "It has been argued that this victory shows up hickory in a new light. But does it? Nobody has ever doubted the virtues of good hickory. "What we all screamed against was the exploitation of bad hickory. It was on that crest, and on the score of greater utility under certain climatic conditions, that steel rode in. Since then the majority interested in hickory have continued to moan instead of putting their house in order and girding their loins for battle. There is still a fine demand for good hickory. It is up to those interested in hickory to enlighten the golfer where he can get it."

Conditions at Heretaunga recently were hardly ideal for the final of the Wellington Golf Club's championship between A. D. S. Duncan and G. P. Roberts, the temperature in the shade being 80 and fairways very fast. Roberts was round in 70 in the morning and was one up. Duncan commenced in an irresistible way, going out in 34 to Robert's 38—Duncan 4 up. Roberts then showed fine form and did the return journey in 32. His figures were 33542334 5. The two at the fourteenth was secured by a long putt from the edge of the green. He won the next two holes, and halved the seventeenth. He found a bunker at the eighteenth and took three to reach the green. Duncan was on in two and his third stymied Roberts, whose attempt to negotiate - knocked Duncan's ball in for a three. Duncan's first round was a 71. In the afternoon Duncan was out In 37 to Roberts's 42, and was then two up. From the twenty-eighth to the thirtysecond the holes were halved. Duncan won the thirty-third, and a half in four at the thirty-fourth secured him the championship for the twentythird time.

The importance of a good grip was emphasised by Sarazen on several occasions during his recent visit. Strangely enough Sarazen's own grip —an interlocking one—is not usually considered a good grip. Neither did he recommend it. Commenting on B. V. Wright's performance at Balmacewan. Sarazen found several faults with his style, mentioning principally that he lost a great deal of power fhorugh failing to use a proper grip. Sarazen, however, said that Wright played very good golf, but would have to play a very different game in the United States. When it is recalled that Wright wenf round in 70 and beat the Lest ball of Sarazen and Shaw, Sarazen's statement that a good grip is 95 per cent, of golf seems rather a liberal apportionment. Where champions are concerned it would seem evident that satisfactory results are more important than orthodox methods or style. Sarazen declares that the right hand should be placed well on top of the shaft. A notable exception to this idea was the former British amateur champion, John Ball, whose right hand placed well under the shaft did not prevent him winning eight British amateur golf championships.

When it is considered that putting is practically half of the game of golf, the importance of good putting and true greens is obvious. Discussing this topic and modern p.olf course problems generally, an American newspaper states that if it is thought that putting plays too big a part, there is a possible solution, although it involves expensive remodelling operations, and there is no assurance that it would add materially to the interest of the game. That solution lies in smaller greens. The idea

is that once on the green the player will be able to hole out in a single putt. In these days golf architects favour a smaller target for approaches of all ranges, with a tightly restricted actual putting surface, thus placing more accuracy on approaching and reducing the importance of putting as related to the rest of the play. It is contended that this plan allows a fair premium on good putting.

A glance at the Golfers' Handbook shows that a recent statement made by an Australian newspaper that golf is "less perilous than ping-pong, and twice as healthy" is somewhat misleading. The records compiled from various countries show an annual casualty list, and many fatal accidents. In recent years lightning has also been a contributing factor.

"Curious."—The date, of the 1935 New Zealand tournament will be decided at the March meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Golf Association. The tourney was last held at Shirley in 1931. A. J. Shaw (open) and R. Wagg (amateur) were the respective winners.

A recent decision of the New South Wales women golfers is to legalise summer golf, which means that the game will now be played officially the year round.

Recent Epglish newspapers state that no agreement between Great Britain and America had been reached for the date of this year's Ryder Cup match in America. The Americans suggested that the match be held early in the summer, because many counter attractions, including baseball and football, would probably overshadow the event if held in the autumn as suggested by Great Britain. Another objection to a match in the summer was that British players would have to be selected before the season's major events had been decided.

BRITISH AMATEURS TEAM'S ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH PLAY AT SHIRLEY TO-DAY After a strenuous tour of Australia, the team of amateur British golfers - which has been in New' Zealand since December 10. has been taking life a little less strenuously here. The team has played a number of matches in the North Island, but has managed to see something of the country. They have seen Rotorua and Mount Cook among the scenic attractions of the Dominion The members of the team are the Hon. Michael Scott, Messrs J. McLean, T. A. Bourn, and L. G. Garnett. They are accompanied by Mr H. Gullen, secretary of the Royal and Ancient Club, St. Andrews, who has accompanied every international team of golfers to leave Great Britain. ~" The team arrived in Christchurch last evening from Mount Cook, and spent the night at the Christchurch Club. Since Christmas they have spent a week at the Hermitage. The weather at Mount Cook was unfortunately bad, but this did not prevent the golfers carrying out a fairly strenuous programme. Mr Scott climbed Sevastopol and Wakefield, ■two of the higher peaks of the Southern Alps, and was very impressed with what he saw. Mr Garnett went part of the way to the Stocking Glacier, and Mr McLean and Mr Garnett went up the Tasman Glacier to the Hochstetter icefall. Mr Bourn, who is apparently not a mountaineer, shot a chamois. Mr Scott was accompanied on his climbs by Guide M. Bowie and Miss N. Haggitt, and Messrs McLean and Gullen by Miss Margaret Hayes. Rather Stiff Each member of the party is now rather stiff after the arduous programme at Mount Cook, but as the idea of this part of the tour is more to encourage the game, and to stimulate interest in it than to win matches, no concern is felt op this account. The British team is a very happy party, and all say that they are enjoying their New Zealand tour immensely. It is their first visit to New Zealand. . The four golfers are all in the very first rank. Mr Scott won the British amateur championship at Hoylake in 1933 and Mr Bourn, who is amateur champion of Scotland, was runner-up. Mr Scott is 56, but looks 45, and has been a leading golfer for 30 years. He lived in Australia for some years, and was ouen champion of 1904 and 1907, and his win in the .British open was 1 a sensation. Mr Garnett is a tremendi ous hitter. Both he and Mr McLean are voung players, but Mr McLean already has many'championships to his credit, and is regarded as among the greatest amateurs in the world. Father of Golf Mr Gullen might very well be described as the father of golf. For 25 years he has been secretary of the club which rules the game throughout the world. Clubs in all nations send to the Royal and Ancient for decisions, and from its decision there is no appeal. Its position is never challenged. Frequently the club is sent questions in languages such as Japanese, but the decision is given, without expense to the club making the enquiry, though often the answer must obviously be expensive. The language problem is frequently a trial, because Mr Gullen cannot be expected to know the language of every golfing nation. . The Royal and Ancient Club is probably the most famous sporting institution in the world, and is among the most conservative. No woman member is allowed to cross the portals of the clubhouse. In the notices of starling times, no recognition is made of rank, and peers, bishops, and plain

Post Office Directory men are without distinction referred to by their surnames. A Famous Course Membership is limned to 1000, but there are thousands more associates all over the world. The old St. Andrew's course, the most famous in the world, and traditionally the very heart of the game, is open at all times free to the inhabitants of the town of St. Andrews. Visitors may play on. the old course for the modest sum of 2s 6d a round, and this money goes to the corporation of the town of St. Andrews. Wherever they have gone in New Zealand, the British golfers have met interested crowds of spectators, and as their tour is undoubtedly doing good, thsy are satisfied that the object they meant to achieve h?s been achieved. They will play at Shirley to-day before leaving for the Ncrth Island. The Christchurch team is C. J. Ward, A. R. Blank, C. A. Seymour, and E. J. Pumphrey Foursomes will be played in the morning, starting at 10 o'clock, ond singles will occupy the afternoon. This will be their only game in Christchurch. and therefore the only opportunity local g.lfcrs will have of seeing four of the world'j leading players in action.

FINAL OF MIRAMAU CLUB'.TOURNAMENT .:.z-i ussormi'jj ielsgh..:.: WELLINGTON, January :•:. The final rounds of th<? Golf Club's New Year rh-.:r : pi""-h:p tournament \v;ra played to-d?;,-. results:— Semi-fine!-:—"V. J. D?v r dc? don) beat F V, T . Pago 'Manor Ps:-k>, 3 ud and 1: H. Err, (Titan!) brat J. L. Black 'Hntt>. 1 up end 1. Final—David™ b:at Econ., 7 u : j ;md