Golfing Rulings Disappoint N.Z.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32383, 24 August 1970, Page 11

Golfing Rulings Disappoint N.Z.

IN.I tren Association: WELLINGTON. Arbitrary rulings by the Australian Professional Conors' Association have "antremoly dlaaapalntad" the How Zealand Professional Golfers' Association, said Its secretary, Mr C, Clark, In Auckland at the week-end.

"We hoped the A.P.G.A. would appreciate our problem when we wrote last year. Wo gave as much notice as we could, and the P.G.A. captain, John watt, received an assurance some time ago when he teleE honed that there would be no ar to Australians competing here," Mr Clark said. The trouble arose when Caltes Increased its prize money to 57000, and the long-standing tournament was moved from a mid-week to a week-end date. "But as in 1007, when they arbitrarily told us to surrender a week of our circuit, they have been fully aware of our proposals, yet have taken an arbitrarily unilateral Una." Just how binding these assurances were for the New Zealand circuit —"hemmed In" by the 45-week Australian circuitremained to be seen.

“The New South Wales professionals will probably feel dutybound to compete at homo, but we are still hoping for a good proportion of internationals on our circuit." Mr Clark said. "After all, the Australians usually scoop the cream off our 380.000."

After being informed last November that the n.Z.P.g.a. intended to use November 10-21 as part of the soven-week, 380,000 New Zealand circuit, the A.P.G.A. has orgahlsed the North Coast Open lit Coffo Harbour on conflicting dates. In a later move, the A.P.G.A. sought assurances from golfers in Brisbane earlier this month that they would play in the

Coifs Harbour event instead of the richer Caltox tournament. Only four of tbo 41 golfers at the South Pacific Open In Brisbane refused to gtve that assurance, and two ot those were New Zeslanders, the other two being Australians already contracted to play in New Zealand at that time. The A.P.G.A. secretarymanager (Mr G. Gulin) expressed disappointment "when we teamed of the New Zealand decision to oppose our tournament because It followa closely on a type ot agreement we had with them to try to arrange dates so that none opposed each other."

Australia was Informed well in advance. Mr Clark said on Saturday.