GOLF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 232, 27 June 1929, Page 7

GOLF

By

"NIBLICK"

BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SUCCESS OF CYRIL TOLLEY

The British amateur championship has been won by Cyril J. H. Tolley for the second time. His first win was in IJ-U, his opponent on that occasion being iwoert A. Gardner, American amateur champion in 1909 and 1915 and runner-up in 1916. The American golf invasion Of Britain was then in its infancy, and though W. J. Travis had won the .British amateur in 1904, Gardner was one of the pioneer adventurers. In ivzd Tolley reached the sixth round of the amateur, but since 1920 he has never reached the final until this year. He has, however, numberless minor successes to his credit. He is a great golfer in stroke as well as match play, and he competes generally shows up well in the British open championship. At Mudhead this year he qualied third with two rounds of 75, and in the championship itself he was the second amateur with an aggregate of 313, T. P. Perkins being first amateur, with 310. Both of •J'. 61 ’ 1 were a long way behind the winner, Walter Hagen. Some time ago Tolley announced his intention of competing in the American amateur championship at Pebble Beach, California, in September next. In view of that intention his win in‘the British' amateur is particularly interesting. Last year the final of the American amateur was an international affair, the finalists being. Bobby -tones, American amateur champion, and T. P. Perkins, British amateur champion. Will this year’s final come down to the British and -American champions, and, if so, how will Tolley fare against Jones?

Testing a Golf Ball. Few golfers probably realise that the testing of a golf ball is almost an exact science, in ■ which X-rays and mercury baths play important parts. When the rubber and liquid core is fitted into its cover it is placed in a mould, and a pressure of 14001 b. to the square inch ensures that its sphericity is as perfect as science can maJie.it. The core, however, may not be symmetrical, and the ball is therefore floated in a bath of mercury. Immediately the heavy part comes in contact with the fluid the ball turns, sways for a second, and then settles with the heavy part at the bottom. The ball is marked at the point where it is heaviest/ and then tested again in another bath of merenry. Should the same defect be revealed it is X-rayed to determine the extent of the flaw in the core, and .the operation necessary to give it correct balance. A golf ball can be as big as a football, but it must not be less than 1.62 inches in diameter, or. weigh more than 1.62 ounces. In actual process manufacturers make the weight a trine less and the size a trifle more, the finished product being weighed in the most delicate balance, and measured in micrometer gauges. The flight of balls is tested by means of a special mephanical driving machine, which consists of a tripod with a revolving arm into which is fixed a golf driver. The ball is placed on a rubber tee and by slight adjustments of the driver can be made to slice, pull, or top a shot. The peculiar markings of a. golf ball hold-the secret of its true flight and an expert can tell whether a ball will carry well simply by looking at the markings. A smooth ball rarely goes straight, and tends to “peak” instead of making a curve, whereas the little in-

dentations and protuberances on the cover give the ball a grip on the air and steady it in its flight.

Short Putts. The professional attached to the Manawatu Golf Club at Palmerston North, J. R. Galloway, has been confined to his bed with a' severe illness for' some little time past. He is, however, making good progress towards recovery, and hopes to soon be back on the links. The New Zealander named Gillies, mentioned in a cable message from Home as having been beaten in the first round of the British amateur championship, is probably the player who created something of a sensation in a New’ Zealand amateur championship several years ago by taking an armchair around, with him and sitting down between putts, his opponent being so slow and deliberate over his ■ strokes on the green. Incidentally, Gillies won the match. The death of Mr. Albert James Ab-’ bott, in .London, on Thursday last removes one who was well known in New Zealand golf circles, not only as a player, but also’ as a member of the New Zealand Golf Council. He had not been in good health for the past two years, but his death was quite unexpected. Deceased, who was a partner in the firm of Abbott, Oram and 00., is survived by his widow, a daughter, and a son, who are residing in London. Hutt Winter Tourney.

AU the members of the team selected to represent New Zealand in the Kirk Wlndeyer Cup match at Melbourne—Sloan Morpeth, A. D. S. Duncan, T. H. Horton, Dr. Kenneth Ross and J. H. Black—have accepted Invitations to play at the Hutt on the first day of the Hutt Golf Club’s open tournament' on July 18. The Dominion’s representatives, who sail for Sydney the next day, will play, in a thirty-six hole scratch event in conjunction with the qualifying round of the Hutt Winter Cup. Several Wairarapa players of the first rank, including Bidwill and D. C. Collins, and H. A. Black and J. H. Drake, of the Miramar Club, have signified their intention of taking part In the tourney. Invitations have been issued to all prominent golfers, and as entries do not close until July 15, prospects are bright for a successful meeting. The presence of the Kirk Windeyer team on the links for the opening day should give an uplift to the tournament, while their performances, In view of the sterner contests to come, will be watched with Interest. American Open.

To-morrow, on the Winged Foot Course, New York, the American open championship will commence, close on 1200 entries having been received. One . hundred and fifty are to, qualify. In addition to all the star American professionals such amateurs as Bobby Jones, George Voight, George Von Elm, Chuek Evans, Jess Sweetser and Harrison Johnston will be taking part. An English paper just to hand states: —“It is possible that an organised attack may be made by British professionals to try to win the American open golf championship. .Various criticisms of. the more prominent men of this country have been made since eight American representatives finished in the first, ton at the end of the British championship at Mnlrfield, and Ar<4iie Compston, Henry Cotton, and Herbert Jolly have set themselves the task of organising a party of Britons to compete for the American title,” Last year-Bobby .Tones and Johnny Farrell tied for the title and Farrell won by a, stroke on the playoff.