Golf Venue Criticised

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 15

Golf Venue Criticised

Adaptability might be the principal virtue demanded of golfers in the South Island interprovincial tournament at Invercargill this weekend. in view of recent harsh criticism of the Otatara course by the international player, G. D. Brown, who will be No. 2 for Otago. The course, which is also the venue for the Freyberg Rose Bowl tournament next month, had deteriorated "almost unbelievably” during the last 12 months, said Brown, after playing there ini the Invercargill summer stroke event two weeks ago. Brown was critical of the fairways, which, he said, did not provide good lies, possibly because they had been cut in the same direction all the time. And, he added, many of the holes were raised, and several putts on line ran away at the last second. Victory To Fittest In these circumstances, the South' Island tournament might prove to be a survival of the fittest. Mid-South Canterbury, winner for the first time last year, has several players capable of quickly settling to the task on unfamiliar fairways, and the ad-

. mirable steadiness of G. P. Vesty should hold the side together. Canterbury, which has won ■ the teams’ title four times since the tournament was started in 1962, has an ex- ’ perienced side. E. H. M. Richards and R. K Atkinson have : good records in the fixture, , but Otatara’s length makes it imperative that Atkinson ’ should achieve greater dis- ! tances from the tee. After his win in the Canter bury stroke championship, B >iC. Taylor has been placed ! among the hierarchy at No t 4. A good performance would I make him a definite Rose ; Bowl candidate—a situation I which seemed unlikely a i; month ago. It seems strange that a place was not found in the : Canterbury side for T. M I Stout, who was once the uncrowned king of Otatara and i who won both his matches • against Mid-South Canterbury ' in a recent representative I game, 1 Farrant’s Big Task R .M. Farrant, who beat R. C. Murray on that occasion, : will face both Murray and his I fellow international, G. E. I Clarke, the Otago No. 1, with • confidence, while Richards, I with his great power, will be I a formidable No. 2 for Can- ’ \ terbury. Otago, three times winner ■ of the title, can be expected

to make a bold bid for first place. Southland, despite its accomplished left-handers, G J Williamson and P. R. Adams, and Buller-Westland Nelson-Marlborough, led by G. R. Lummis and M. R. Gyde, are unlikely to win, but thej might have a hand in deciding the champion side by upsetting one of the favourites.