GOLF NOTES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 20

GOLF NOTES

+ VENUE OF DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS i THE ST. ANDREW'S LINKS AT HAMILTON LBy THE RABBIT.] Few courses in the Dominion are more suited for championship play than is the St. Andrew's links, the venue of this year's New Zealand golf championship meeting and a course which, with its length of 6420 yards and its masterfully laid holes, will be a test for the foremost players of this country and of Australia (which will be represented). The meeting this year will be the third on which titles have been decided at Hamilton, the: first of these being in 1920 when J. H Kirkwood (now of the United States of America) won the open with a score The links are situated on the western bank of the Waikato river, three miles from Hamilton, and since the holding of the last New Zealand meeting in 1927, they have been considerably remodelled,*- The lay-out, however, is the same. When the property was first acquired its 97 acres were a wasteland of gorse, blackberry, and tern, and were overrun with rabbits: but the pumice substrata of the land lent itself to successful cultivation and good drainage in the wettest winter. The following description of the holes is taken from the "New Zealand Golf Illustrated":—. . , No. 1 (184 yards)— The green is large and well bunkered, and there is a wide entrance, although a sliced ball will find a home in the Waikato river immediately to the right of the green. The one-shot hole at the start of the round prevents delay to players. No. 2 (420 yards)— Played parallel with the river, this is a good two-shot hole for the player following the right of the fairway; but is inclement for a slice or hook. m No. 3 (323 yards)— The weakness of the length is counterbalanced by the difficulty in approaching a well-bun-kered and onlv medium-sized green. No. 4 (442 yards)— Few players reach the green regularly with their seconds, The line for the drive is to the left of the fairway, and the green is large and bunkereu. No. 5 (300 yards)— This is one of the easier holes. Play is into .the prevailing wind and the fairway is narrow. No. 6 (305 yards)— Another easy hole. The approach to the green on a plateau and with the wind usually following calls for accuracy. No, 7 (545 yards)— This is the longest hole on the course and the green is bunkered t > trap any but the straight ball. Most players follow the left of the fairway for their drive, and the right of the fairway for their second. No. 8 (409 yards)— The present layout demands a good tee shot to carry a valley, and the second shot requires shrewd judgment of length. There is a hollow on the right of a green bunkered on the left. No. 9 (360 yards)— The green is on the edge of a slope down to the river. The drive must be, straight to allow ; an accurate second. The total length of the first nine is 32a&. yards, andf the standard scratch »<»,r» 38 (par 37). Vfo 10 (195 yards)—lt is a one-shul hoie. but the wind is t. to be reckoned with, for strong hitters have to use, on different occasions, anything from a No. 4 iron to a spoon or even a brassie. No. 11 (339 yards)— The hole is easy but the tee needs length. The green is small and heavily bunkered. / No. 12 (363 yards)— For any but a long driver, the second shot is played blind, a hump obscuring vision to the green. No. 13 (390 yards)— Perhaps the most difficult bogey on the course, this hole Eenalises the cautious player by giving im a hard second, and with the right edge of the fairway next to the out-of-bounds fence, the bolder player takes No. 14 (138 yards)—A high dropping shot is essential, and many cards have met their Waterloo here. A large bunker on the face of the plateau where the.green is placed provides a mental hazard, and the green is surrounded with bunkers.. The out-of-bounds fence is close. No. 15 (404 yards)—A good two-shot hole, the green'is trapped on the left, and the out-of-bounds fence is on the right. To avoid the rough, the drive must be close to the right of the fairway. No. 16 (470 yards)— This is one of the holes which has been extensively remodelled, and few players will reach the green in two. No. 17 (414 yards)—An improved hole, it offers a level approach, but care is needed to avoid bad lies to the left of the fairway. No. 18 (419 yards)— The tee stands above a very wide fairway, with carry bunkers 200 yards out on the left and right. The left of the fairway needs to be followed to give an easy shot to the green. The scratch score for the second nine •is 36 (par 35) for a length of 3132 yards. Programme All arrangements for the championship meeting are well in hand, according to a report at the New Zealand Golf Council's meeting recently. A score-board is being made, and provision is being arranged with the railways to grant excursion fares to those travelling by ordinary trains. This year the North v. South Islands match has been abandoned—and it can only be said that it is a wise move, because of time. An innovation of note in the programme is a flight match, open to those 16 amateurs returning the best aggregate scores in the four rounds of the open, 'exclusive of those who qualify for the amateur championship). The winner will receive a trophy presented by the New Zealand Golf, Association, and the runner-up a trophy from the Hamilton Golf Club. The events, and the names of the present holders of-the titles, are:— Open Charnpionship: Holder, A. J. Shaw (professional). Amateur Championship: Holder, J. P. Hornabrook (Manawatu Golf Club). New Zealand Plate: Holder. J. I* Black (Hutt Golf Club). Flight Match. Amateur Foursomes Championship. Holders, J.' P. Mortland end G. B. Ward. ■ , " - ■ ___ I j I '

Professional Championship: Holder, C. C. Clements. Professional Foursomes: Holders, A. J. Shaw and N. BelL Jellicoe Cup: Holder, A. J. Shaw. (Presented for the "best single round in the open.) •Bledisloe Cup (for best four amateur rounds in open): Holder, B. M. Silk (Hutt). Gibson Cup (open to professionals, and presented for best aggregate in first and second rounds of open): Holder, T. S. Galloway. Myers Cup (open to professionals, and presented for best aggregate net scores in third and fourth rounds of the open): Holder, John Lambie. Inter-club Challenge Vase: Holuers, Hutt Golf Club (B. M. Silk, J. L. Black, Rana Wagg, and F. Kember). Besides these, the programme includes stroke and bogey matches for both amateurs and professionals, and a long driving competition. The championships start on September 30 (Thursday) and finish on October 8 (Friday). Advice received last evening indicated that there is a possibility that no Australians will compete in the New Zealand championships. The original intention of an Australian party of golfers to take paft was apparently on the understanding that the meeting was to be held at Shirley.

KAIAPOI WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

The Kaiapol Ladies' Golf Club held its annual open tournament yesterday in perfect weather. The links were in excellent condition, and record entries were received, the Rangiora, Ellesmere, Hawarden, Templeton, Lyttelton, Hagley, Shirley, Amuri, Amberiey, Harewood, Avondale, Russley, and Kaiapoi clubs being represented. In the morning senior and junior stroke handicaps were played, and the afternoon programme included a fourball bogey match and a putting competition. The senior stroke handicap was won by Mrs W. J. Owens (Avondale). and the junior stroke handicap by Mrs W. J. Martyn (Amberiey). The beet scores were:— Senior Stroke Handicap—Mrs W. J. Owens. 84, 14—70; Mrs G. Reid, 86, 15—71; Mrs W. Toomey\ 85, 31—74; Miss Z. Hudson, 85, 10—75; Mrs G. P. Anderson, 92, 16—76; Miss E. Davis, 88, 12—76; Miss L. Gates, 92, 15—77; Mrs W. E. Simes. 93, 16— 77; Miss N. Blunden, 88, 10—78: Mrs A. O. Wellwood, 95. 16—79: Mrs J. C. Cullman, 93, 14—79: Mrs E. J. Pumphrey, 93, 13—80; Miss M. Saunders, 95. 15—80. Junior Stroke Handicap—Mrs W. J. Martvn, 96, 25—71; Mrs A. J. Bennetts, 99, 27—72; Mrs M. Stedman, 94, 20—74; Mrs H. Robson. 103, 29—74; Mrs J. A. HiKRS, 104. 30—74: Miss H. Fisher, 105, 31—74; Mrs J. G. P. Hicks. 112, 36—76; Mrs L. P. Hopkins, 110. 34—76; Mrs H. G. Banfleld, 108, 31—77; Miss V. Rodgers, 101, 24—77; Mrs G. Hammer, 100. 22—78. Four-ball Bogey Match—Mrs E. Davis and Miss N. Morrish (Rangiora) 4 up. Miss N. Bethell and Miss P. Thompson (Amuri) 4 up. Mrs S. Priestnall and Mrs G. P. Anderson 2 up, Mrs E. J. Pumphrey and Mrs A. J. Bennetts 1 up, Mrs W. Paton and Mrs T. Hammer 1 up. Mrs W. E. Simes and Mrs W- Toomey 1 down, Mlss'G. Martyn and Miss B. Wright 1 down. Miss N. Buchanan and Miss J. Firth 1 down. Miss V. Rodgers and Mrs Ren ton Bell 1 down. A putting competition over 18 holes was won by Mrs L. W. Menzies (Rangiora) with a score of 26. The trophy for the best gross score was won by Mrs W. J. Owens with a score of 84. RICHMOND HILL CLUB Results of matches played recently at Richmond Hill are as foUows:— . Bogey Match—A grade: Mrs V. E. Hamilton 3 dowji, Mrs F. J. Glackin 6 down, Mrs H. L. Evans 6 down. B grade: Mrs W. A. McQueen all square. Mrs McQueen reduced her handicap by four strokes. Ladles' Golf Union Medal—A grade: Mrs F. J. Glackin, 90. 16—74; Mrs R. C. King, 89, 13—76; Mrs H. L. Evans, 95, 19— 76; Mrs V. E. Hamilton, 92, 14—78. B Rrade: Mrs N. H. Barlow. 114, 31—83: Mrs J Wilson. 114, 30—84; Mrs%H. J. Williams, 110, 26—64. CHRISTCHURCH LADIES» CLUB , The following is the draw for the- first round of the dub championship to be played on Monday, September 13:— „ 9.3o—Mrs Armstrong and Mrs Butcher. 9.34—Mrs Klngscote and Mrs Stringer. 9.3 B—Mrs Barker and Miss N. Frater. 9.42—Miss Nutt and Mrs Hartley-Smith. 9.46—Miss E. Fleetwood and Miss K. Rutherford. • The following have byes: Miss B. Rutherford, Miss Ward. Mrs Godby, Miss White-Parsons, Miss Beadel. Miss Buchanan, Mrs Toomey. Mrs Pumphrey. Mrs Bethell, Miss Loughnan. Mrs McKUlop. Play in the second round to commence at The following is the draw for the first round of the Junior challenge cup to be played on Monday, September 13:— 9.s2—Miss L. Thomson v. Mrs S. Godfrey. I 9.s6—Mrs Fleetwood v. Miss J. Firth. | io—Miss Cameron Smith v. Mrs Fran10.4—Mrs *W. A. C. McDonald v. Miss Tonkin. „„ v. *» 10.8—Miss N. Buchanan v. Mrs R. K. Bell 10 J2—Mrs Freeth v. Miss Donnelly. 10.16—Mrs Tingey v. Mrs G. Anderson. 10.20—Mrs Grigg v. Miss Best. 10.24—Mrs Cracroft Wilson v. Mrs J. H. Macdonald. ___ 10.28—Mrs Bonnlngton v. Miss M. Enri 10J2—Mrs A. Sims v. Miss N. Enrfght. 10.36—Mrs Louisson v. Mrs Turrell. 10.40—Mrs Frater v. Mrs Foster. The following have byes: Mrs J. Middleton, Miss N. Firth, and Miss J. WhitCombe. ■ l