N.Z. Team’s Tour Of Britain “Successful And Enjoyable”

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27402, 15 July 1954, Page 16

N.Z. Team’s Tour Of Britain “Successful And Enjoyable”

GOLF

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ».A.)

LONDON, July 13. “It has been a highly successful tour and most enjoyable,” said A. Gibbs, captain of the New Zealand team, on the eve of their return home. Gibbs, A. R. Timms, and T. J. Jeffery are to leave London by air this evening, and will see D. L. Woon playing in the Canadian open tournament at Vancouver. Woon left London last week to make the necessary preparations. The four will continue the flight to Auckland after the tournament, and are due to arrive at Whenuapai on July 19.

S. G. Jones will leave London today by air fpr New York, and will later go to Vancouver to see the Empire Games. B. M. Silk is remaining in England for some eight weeks with his wife. Mr D. Richmond, the manager, is returning home in November after attending a law conference in Monte Carlo.

“Our visit here meant we played the equivalent of two years of competitive golf in New Zealand in about eight weeks,” said Gibbs. “We had about 50 rounds of hard competitive play, compared with about the normal 25 rounds a year at home. “The Commonwealth tournament undoubtedly was the highlight of our tour,” Gibbs said. “It was very well run and full of interest, and I am quite sure that somehow or other it will be continued in future.

“There are two main problems—finance, and the dfficulty of getting the best team away from the United Kingdom. “But all Commonwealth teams enjoyed the tournament and were most enthusiastic about it “I think it fair to say that we were able to put New Zealand amateur golf on the map in Britain. Surprise at Dominion Standards “Indeed, there seemed general surprise here that amateur standards in all the Dominions are so high. “The form of all our players varied from time to time, but all had their ‘moments’ and did well. “For Woon to beat Ron White on his own course at Formby by six strokes, for instance, was an excellent performance. White is the most impressive amateur in Britain,/an my opinion. He is a pure stylish but unfortunately he does not seem to get enough competitive golf. “We all noticed a marked difference in the standards between amateurs here and professionals, and there was quite a big gap, with professionals playing a far stronger game, which, perhaps, is only to be expected. “We were fortunate at various tournaments to see all the leading golfers, including Henry Cotton, who seems to hit the ball as well as ever.

“We found all the courses far more difficult than ours in New Zealand, the best probably being Muirfield, and the

most enjoyable being Mere and the old course at Sunningdale. “I have a feeling that our courses in New Zealand are far too easy. They need to be lengthened and have more fairway bunkers. Our par fours, for I instance, are much too short.”