GOLF.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 18

GOLF.

(By

“Niblick.”)

THE NEW CHAMPION And so the oft-predicted has come to pass; somebody has beaten Arthur Duncan for tho Wellington provincial championship. But what a record ot unbeaten golf of the quality that has made him famous in New Zealand, has Duncan achieved 1 It is unlikely that it will ever be equalled. Nor was he defeated, as was so often foretold by some brilliant boy with a style of his own. He was beaten by a ripe and accomplished golfer, wise in all the finer details of match play, and beaten moreover, by faultless golf to the tune of 35 for the last nine holes. Though eight years old than the winner, it was not age that was responsible for Duncan’s defeat, but the fact that it was one of Bidwill’s good days, and not one of Duncan’s best, as his qualifying round of 148 on an indescribably abominable day shows. Though this is Bidwill’s first provincial championship, no has striven many years for the honour A plus 2 man, he has held the Wairarapa Club’s championship for a good manv years, with one or two breaks. He has played golf nearly all his life. Once, eight years ago, he got into the semi-finals of the Australian championships, and has been runner-up. in the New Zealand amateur championships at Palmerston North (two years ago), has twice reached the semi-finals in the New Zealand championships, and was second once in the open New Zealand championships at Christchurch. So the cup goes to worthy hands, , The match at Waiwetii to-day between A. Duncan and J. Black and A. Brooks and A. Ham, the Lower Hutt and Heretaunga professionals, should provide *.ome splendid golf. The amateurs will prove a hard nut for the to and they will get what thev are always asking for—some real golf. . The championship meeting clearly showed that there is some excellent materiaT amongst the rising golfers. Those who saw Speedy’s play against the cx-cliampion must realise that here is one -of several who have made a start which should see them far on the road to fame. The Wagg brothers and Speedy have learnt a sound foundation from the commencement. They I have practically nothing to unlearn, and wiblr the confidence which a few more rears of play will give, they will honefullv contest the most coveted of golf distinctions. It was a sterling rformance on the part of the young T'ntt player to down such a redoubtable opponent as A. E. Conway by 3 up and 2 in the first round. Speedv followed iliis up in the second round by outplaying J. B. Parker to the tune of 3 and 1. . R 0. Chesnev is an ab]e player, who has not had the best of luck in bio- tournaments recently. That he. is amongst the first flight of Dominion players fie proved on Monday last when he defeated T. H. Horton, of Masterton. by 4 and 2 in the second rouricl. florton was runner-up to Artliur Duncan in the battle for the amateur championship last year. The old question of reducing bogey for the Herefaunoa course crops up at every meeting. Many declare it i.s too low when compared with other clubs links. Certainly' the puller and slicer is not penalised sufficiently at Heretaunga. where the lies in the 1 rough, well off the direct lino, are as good as in tho fairway at most other courses. With the exception of the fifteenth, with its big natural bunker, and the sixteenth, with the creek yawning for slices, tho last nine holes offer nothing as a nerve test, and, leaving out tho third, fourth, and ninth in the first nine, there are few penalties for getting off the line there. Hie remedy appears to “Nibblick” to consist not iii lopping bogey, but in addfno- more bunkers, imparting more formidable characteristics to existing bunkers, and sowing a strip of paspalum or rushes on either side of the fairway. At present Heretaunga is all fan-way, and some of the bunkers would not be an insuperable obstacle to croquet. Most balls with a little run on them hop blithely m and out of the hard, shallow gravel pans. It sand cannot be/obtained, tho should be raised and left rough. BOGEY AT HERETAUNGA

The need for an increased bogey, or a stiffer course at Heretaunga, was very evident at the championship^meeting. D. L. Hartwell, a Mornington player, with a handicap of 10, and a goodly stroke allowance, succeeded in doing” tho round in 80, which constitutes bogey for the 18 holes. In this were a 6, eight s’s, seven 4’s, and two 3’s, so that the course evidently presented no great difficulties to him. Yet the Berhampore links, where ho usually plays, and whore he was handicapped, aro frequently alluded to as rids culously easy. Miraimir players say their own links are much harder to play on than Heretaunga, and yet the Miramar Chib is putting in more difficult bunkers, and otherwise stiffening up its course. Nothing tends to produce careless golf more than the easy course, and a general attention to proper bunkering would bq all for

the good of the game 5n New Zealand. A course that 7s at present rather like a paddock is the Lower Hutt, which a few. juc/iciously placed bunkers would turn into a really sport ing links. There is a difference in the Home and Dominion’s outlook on innovations in sport- More than a tinge of American stjde and methods was apparent in tho younger players at Heretaunga this week, where it aroused interest, and probably /;urreptitious tentative emulation. Suggestions from America, which hqs beaten the best England could send over there at all branches of the game, aya, however, coldly received in tho Old Country. Sa'/s “Sporting Life’*’: —“As a matter . of fact, with the exception of a slight departure in the make of the ball, the game of golf to-day is practically simlar to that played in 1754, the year of the formation of the Royal and Ancient Club. It is possible that the Americans do not realise this- They can hardly be expected to regard a mere ball game with reverence. But once they commence to assimilate the atmosphere of St. Andrews—as they will in course of time —they u’ill recognise the futility of attempting to reorganise a sport on what we may term mechanical lines that was in existence in these isles 150 years or so before it was adopted by their own sportsmen.”

SPOILED AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS Offers of “purses” to induce professionals' to compete in tournaments have been condemned by the United Ses Golf Association. An English er, commenting on the extent to which commercialism has entered into golf in the States, says:— As a direct consequence a class of professional has been created who de votes his whole time to wandering about the country playing for verv substantial sums. Anything from KMX) to 85,000 dollars is a commonplace figure, and as these tournaments, for which two dollars ahead is charged,, as admission fee, range from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific, and southwards as far as Florida, there is very little time left for the professional to attend to the wants of the members of lp‘» own club He is paid handsomely for services which he does not render.

In States,, where golf is more than a craze—it is a disease —the profe&s;onal is rather like a spoilt child. He is petted and worshipped until his head is apt to become a little swollen. The case of Gene Sarazen. America’s new champion, provides an illustration. Recently, when the terms of his engagement to the Highland Country Club, Pittsburg, came under review, he asked for an annual retaining fee equivalent to £1250, all the usual profits accruing to the position, such as the sale of goods, and fees from lessons given by other people, and complete freedom to go away and play in tournaments where and when he pleated. Under this arrangement, the members of the club would see little of him. The Pittsburg Club did not approve very one-sided scheme, so Sarazen has tendered his resignation, which has been accepted. I learn that the Westchester-Biltmore Club, the 6,000,000 dollar organisation at Rye, New York, has offered him the post,of resident professional. I hope they will get their money’s worth. “Golf seems to me to be going ahead in leaps and. bounds in Australia,” says a writer in “The Sporting Globe.” The summer, or off season, lias been practically the same as the winter months. This only goes to show what big .strides the game is making m Australia, and, I venture to add, that in a few more years the golf enthusiasts here will be every bit as good, if not better, than those in America, or England.”

KIRKWOOD’S POPULARITY That the ex-Australian golfer, J. H. Kirkwood is very popular in the United States is evident from the following extract from the Francisco Journal,” a paper of the highest standing in the AVest: — . ‘“With the largest gallery in the history of golf in California present, J. Kirkwood, champion of Australia, 'and one of the world’s greatest exponents of tho game, defeated Macdonald Smith by two strokes at the San Francisco Golf and Copntry Club, which crowned the golfer from the Antipodes open champion of the Golden State. More than 2500 enthusiasts followed the match. .Kirkwood was the same in victory as in defeat; the same modest, generous player. Kirkwood has missed championships time and again, but has always been, in the running. He deserves to win a title, and it will do golf no harm to see such a grand sportsman as Kirkwood at the head of the list in California golf. Kirkwood, a great golfer, and a fine gentleman, has won the championship, and he has also won a place in the hearts of Californians,, who will welcome him always to their links. FROM CADDIE TO CAPITALIST

A few facts about the meteoric career of Gene Sarazen, America’s new. boy wonder, will (states an English writer) throw a flood of light upon the commercialisation of the game in the States. Four years ago, at the age of sixteen, Sarazen was a caddie at the Apawamis Club, New York, earning about 30s. a week. Then he became an assistant professional at; £lOO a year, and in 1921 ho launched out as a full-blown professional at the Highland Club, Pittsburgh, earning, all told, £4OO a year. Last season, when he won the two national championships, a feat never before accomplished by one man in the same year, Sarazen’s earnings jumjied to £3500. Now he has joined the Briercliff Club, Westchester, New York, at a salary of £2500 per annum, and for a series of exhibition matches on the Pacific Coast he is receiving £l5OO. His net income this year will be at least £6500. And he has not yet reached his majority. The Briercliff Club, having insured Sarazen’s life for £20,000, now wish to have some sort of control over his movements. Not without reason they are anxious to see him play and give lessons on his own course, and with this object in view the club has decided not to grant him permission to visit Great Britain to play in this year’s championship. This decision was taken whilst Sarazen, along with Hutchison, Hagen, and Kirkwood were touring the Far West, preparatory to proceeding south to Florida. Final ratification of the club’s decision has, however, been deferred until Sarazen’s return in April. He regards it a,s a breach of the arrangement whereby he stipulated that he should have perfect freedom to go where and when lie liked. If this position is maintainable it Iwcomes a question whether the mythical services of a golfing “star” are worth the candle.