GOLF'

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 288, 5 September 1928, Page 9

GOLF'

By

"Niblick."

Walker Cup Match. America has again proved the superiority of its golf, and in the international contest with Britain for the Walker Cup on Friday and Saturday last she won every match with one' exception. The only British success was Hint of T. A. Torrance, who defeated “Chick” Evans by 1 up. Torrance represented Britain in the Walker Cup games at Garden City in 1924, when he lost to Jesse Guilford by 2 and 1. He is a fine allround player and had captured many notable events, the biggest being the Irish open championship in 1925 and the German championship in 1927. He is a dental surgeon by profession. It was expected that T. P. Perkins, British amateur champion, would make a better showing against "Bobby” Jones, amateur champion of U.S.A., but the latter had a runaway victory, winning by 13 and 12, During the amateur championship at Prestwick in May last the English championship committee were keen to discover the best talent, and they kept a elose watch on all the players; but they did not find another “Bobby” Jones, They found,, in fact, that the golf being played taken as a whole, was far below the usual standard. This has been borne out by. Saturday’s result, the showing of the British team in the Walker Cup contest being less successful than in the ' past. ■ On the other hand, the American representatives are all star performers, and they make a very formidable team with “Bobby” Jones as their captain, Britain had no amateurs representing it with performances like the members of. the American team, and was completely overawed by the prestige of its opponents. Australian Championships.

New Zealand is represented at the Australian golf ehampionships, which are taking place at Rose Bay, the splendid links of the Royal Sydney Club, by A. D. S. Duncan and K. D: Duncan, of Wellington. Mr. J. B. McEwan, also of Wellington, had originally intended to take part at the meeting, but he now finds that he is unable to make the trip. The meeting opened on Monday, and concludes on September 15. The contest opened with the mixed , foursomes, but as was expected, this event has not attracted a good field, because of the gap of a fortnight between the conclusion, of the women’s meeting and the date of the event. The seven-a-side inter-State matches were played yesterday, and today the links are closed for preparation in view of the open, to be commenced to-morrow. This will be played over 72 holes, but unlike former years, the four rounds will not be crowded into two successive days. The new arrangement is that one round will be played on September 6, and another on September 7. The final stage of the contest will be restricted to the 60 leading players on the first 36 holes play, provided 24 amateurs are included among those who qualify. The 16 leading amateurs in the open will qualify to contest the amateur, title. New Zealand Tourney.

Advice has been received by Mr. G. 0. Sutton, secretary of the New Zealand Golf Council, that the Rose Bay professional, Carnegie Clark, will visit the Dominion next month to compete for the open championship, at Balmaeewen. Clark is a past open champion of the Commonwealth. It is highly probable that some other Australian professionals will accompany Clark to New Zealand.

Golf at Berhampore. When the City Council enforces its' recent decree and charges golfers using the links at Berhampore on Saturdays, Sundays. and public holidays, a green fee of Is. 6d., instead of allowing them IS holes fur a shilling, or nine holes for ninepence, us at present, it will be interesting to sec if this achieves the object for which it is intended, namely, the relief of congestion. To thosf golfers who by force of circumstances >.re compelled to play at Berhampore, it does not seem.’' unreasonable to suppose that the improvement will be negligible. The mere fact of a Hat rate b£ Is. lid. for. play on these special days is unlikely to cause any diminution in players. How many golfers ’go to the municipal links every week-end, pay ninepence for nine holes and play seven, or a shilling for eighteen and-retire with several holes to go? There must be dozens of them, and just that extra number that causes congestion, and the proposed increased charge can be no guarantee that players will play the eighteen holes to have their money worth. It is more than likely that many will be quite prepared to pay the 18-hole fee. but be quite content with the nine holes on the western side of the road. The fact is that where golf is reasonably cheap, as it is at Ber—hampore, the number of would-be players far exceeds the number the links can accommodate. When the committee’s recommendation to increase the fee was before the council, Councillor G. Mitchell suggested that the present course be divided into two self-contained nine-hole courses. This suggestion, in “Niblick’s” opinion, is a wise one, and the only practical solution put forward at the council table that offers any remedy for the present difficulty. The outlay incurred if this were • done need not be large. Although all hope to see an up-to-date club house at Wakefield Park, no serious drain on the resources of the returns from Berhampore would be involved if a temporary structure were erected there. This could be made the central club house and the one at Britomart Street could be closed. From Wakefield Park players could be directed from one links to the other, according to the accommodation available. Those who wished for more than the nine holes could play over the ■ y " same course twice, and if Councillor Mitchell’s suggestion were given effect to. congestion would be very largely disposed of, while the games could be speeded up. more players could be put through, and further, this would result in a still greater return to the City Council. Miss O. Kay.

The following paragraph from Sydney “Sun” shows how quickly Miss O. Kay attracted attention in the ladies' championship at Rose Bay:—“The indisputable proficiency of the seventeen-year-old Miss Olive Kay, from New Zealand’s beautiful St. Clair links, was only rumoured around Royal Sydney when the qualifying round for the championship commenced. Inconspicuous, she talked quietly to friends. Nobody walked round with her when she played—occasionally someone would say idly, ‘That’s Miss Kay, from New Zealand; she’s supposed to be pretty good.’ She did not commence brilliantly, but having played one round of the course, she turned in a 77, breaking the course record, and has been doing surprisingly well since. What a difference there was when the knock-out round was played yesterday. A large gallery followed her, dwelling on her -every stroke. Yet she has the true champion’s sang froid and coolness.” Miss Kay intends to take part in the New Zealand ladies’ championships at Middlemore ■ next month. It has been rumoured more than once that upon winning either the Dominion or the Australian ladies’ championship she intended to turn professional. Interviewed in Sydney Miss Kay said there was no truth in the rumour. “Certainly not,” she replied, “there’s no money in it and very little fun.”

G. W. Melvins Golf School.—Expert tuition; clubs made; till requisites stocked. Swinson Chambers, next King’s Theatre.—Advt.