GOLF

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 46, 18 November 1925, Page 6

GOLF

(By

“Niblick

LOST BAL.

It seems almost incredible, but nevertheless it is a well-attested fact, that about 4000 golf balls are found on the Wellington Club golf links at Heretqpnga, annually. On occasions over a hundred have been discovered in little patches of a few feet square, especially after the flooding of the small streams has subsided, or the long grass off the fairways has been cut. A case was cited of where a ball was sold to a player in the morning and resold to him again the same day, within an hour of his losing it. Caddies, who are under very strict discipline in the matter of lost balls, and attendance on the players, find literally hundreds of balls over a weekend.

BIG PRIZE MONEI It is recorded that the prize money for the Los 'Angeles open championships, to be played between January 7 and 9, will amount to £2500 in cash. To this amount has been added £5OO by the Virginia Country Club at Long Beach for a one-day 3G-liole open tournament just prior to the championship event. THE SEASON ENDS With the majority of clubs in and around Wellington the golf season may be said to have officially ended. This does not mean of course that the bulk of the golfers will cease to play for the summer months. Visit any links in the hottest months of the year and you will still see many players going round the course.

For most clubs the past season may be said to have been very successful, and that the game continues to gam _ ground is evident from the large number who engage the services of a professional coach to instruct them in the art of wielding the various clubs. It does no?require much, watching of good links being ruined by seeing pot-holes where divots ought to be to reach the conclusion that lessons from a coach are absolutely necessary if one would reach even to an average of efficiency.. The official’ closing day for Miramar has been set down for the 28th. For the competitions to be finished in time will require of contestants the keenness to hurry their matches. Under the capable and tactful guidance of Mr. T. H. Gibson, the club secretary, there is no reason why the competitions should not conclude in time. . Faced with very bad weather m the early part of the season causing some of the holes to become unplayable, Miramar had a very bad spin. During the New Zealand ladies’ championship the links were in a condition that was the envy of the visitors. The greens and fairways were well nigh perfect, and the surroundings were a picture. Only hard work over a long period of time could have achieved such an excellent state of affairs. The Hutt Club went through its season without a hitch, all the events, under the control of Mr. M. Evans, and a good committee, being run well to time. Efforts are every day being made to improve the apnearance and increase the difficulties of the links, which already are very fine and a credit to the district. Wellingtonians are very fortunate to have such a course so close to the city ... . , The Karori links, which have done yeoman service for some time past, will now be no more, the land being required for other purposes. It is pleasing to record, however, that there is every possibility that the club will not disband, but will be transferred to another place. How much members owe to the enterprise and initiative of their secretary, Mt. W. DCooke, cannot be properly estimated. He has, with commendable, zeal and enthusiasm, guided the destines of the club through many phases of its existence.,

The Johnsonville Club has always been well to the fore, chiefly through the good offices of Mr. Ellis, the secretary.

It is pleasing to reflect that in many instances Hie club secretaries have been among the most prominent of the golfers of the several clubs. Mr. Harry Shanks, of the Mornington Club, is no exception, and he has been prominent in both departments of the royal and ancient game. Few club secretaries have,earned a better right to the respect and support of club members than Mr. C. A. Giblin, of the Ranui Club. He is regarded as part and parcel of the club, and he is to be congratulated on his getting to the final of the club championship, and for the plucky fight he put :up against P. D. Daniell ,who proved the winner. Mr. Giblin is always considering schemes to further the interests of the Ranui Club, snugly tucked away in a beautiful portion of' Taiva Flat.

One would like to have heard something from the men of the Waiwetu Club throughout the season. The ladies were excellently served by the energies of Mrs. Parkinson.

TOURNAMENTS AT DUNEDIN

During the exhibition there will be played at Dunedin’ a ladies’ open tournament and also the New Zealand professional tournament.