Golf

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 267, 7 August 1929, Page 8

Golf

By

"NIBLICK"

NEW ZEALAND’S TEAM PLAY IN AUSTRALIA

Interest is very keen this year in the contest for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup, which will commence on the Metropolitan Course, Oakleigh, Melbourne, to-morrow. The eup is at present held by New South Wales but it is not yet certain that this year’s struggle will be between that State anti New Zealand. Victoria is challenging the right of New South \\ ales to the honour of meeting New Zealand, and there will be a preliminary match between these two States to decide the issue. The result of this match will probably be received by cable, and the personnel of the team announced to meet the New Zealand quartet. Australian Comment.

In the "Australasian” (Melbourne), the following comment is made on the Kirk-Windeyer contest Victoria has yet to have its name engraved on the cup, which has been won once by New Zealand and once by New South Wales. , This year, for the first tune, both > ictoria and New South Wales are treating the matches as seriously as New Zealand has always done. . Whitton is certain to be playing No. 1 for Victoria this year, but he will not have an opportunity of avenging the defeat by A. D. S. Duncan in 1927. Even if Duncan plays, which is doubtful, the New Zealand No. 1 must almost certainly be Sloan Morpeth, amateur champion in 1927-28, open champion in 1928-29, and holder of the Auckland provincial title. The team, in addition to Morpeth, is likely to be Dr. K. Ross (Dunedin), T. 11. Horton (Masterton), and J. L. Black (Hamilton). Ross and Horton have played in all the cup matches, and Morpeth was in the team last year, when he was defeated six up by Dr. Lee Brown, who did a round of 70 on a hard 78 bogey. Morpeth, who has a tremendous drive, is likely to be the principal attraction in the contests, Ross has the best New Zealand record in the cup matches —three wins and one loss. Horton, the present Dominion amateur champion, has been a leading player for a number of years, and is a stylist. Black, the newcomer, was runner-up to the open title in 1922 and 1924, and was defeated by one hole in the last amateur final by Horton. As a lighter he has a great reputation. Almost equally good on paper is the New .South Wales selection, which comprises; E. Apperley, U. H. Fawcett, I. K. Harrison, S. A. Keane, H. Morrison, and W. R. Smith. Some surprise has been expressed nt the omission of Nigel Smith, but he will be in Melbourne and available if required. Interest’ will attach to Keane, who was runner-up to Fawcett in the New’ South Wales title last year. Not yet aged 21 years, he learned, and still plays, at a course on a Sydney park at Caninieray. The other players are well known. W. R. Smith was a member of the winning team in New Zealand last year. Morrison, winner of many titles, was defeated by Whitton in the final at Sydney last month. Morrison saved a worse defeat than 5 and 3by some remarkable putting. When the cup is handed to the captain of the winning team this year, possibly a minute will be spared in liono r of the late Mr. R. C. Kirk, one of those who presented it, and who realised his chief ambition when he saw the first matches between Australia and New Zealand played at Sydney. Mr. Kirk had a remarkable golfing career. He played his first game when he was aged 40 years. Ten years later he was handicapped at scratch, and was champion of several clubs. Victorian Championship*.

Since their arrival in the Commonwealth members ot the team have been spending every available moment on tlie links acquainting themselves with Australian conditions. A few hours after stepping ashore from the Malieno at Sydney the team was out at Rose Bay. where tlie quartette had very creditable rounds. Morpeth had a round of 6G for 17 holes (he lost his ball at the fifth and did not count

(lie hole), whlell was a Highly meritorious performance for one making his first apoe'ii’anec on the links. ‘ The team started off well in the Victorian State Championship, and three of them Sloan Morpeth. T. H. Horton and Dr. Ross -uu-ilitied. As the Kirk-W mdeyer Cup matches follow immediately after it may be that the best Australian amateurs were competing, probably a greater percentage of class players than will take mirt iii the amateur championship ot Australia at the eml of August, so that the team has given a good account of itself. Incidentally, for many years the Victorian amateurs have been considered the soundest and most brilliant players tn the Com-monwealth,-and to qualify for one ot the nt places in the State championship was no mean performance. Ivo Whitton, one of the outstanding figures in Australian o-olf, headed the qualifying list with 161. Morpeth had an aggregate of IG9 for the two rounds. Horton’s putter let him down on several occasions, and he finished with 17*1 Vnv misgivings ns to Dr. Ross s irn'ine due largely to his form on the Hutt course the day before he sailed for Sydney were blown to the winds, and he qualified with 172. The other member of the team, .1. L. Black, seemed unable to strike form at all. The brief cable piessage referring to the qiiiilifvlng play states that the entry numbered 70, and comprised the most talented field in the history of the event. The message also seems to indicate that Morpeth was- the outstanding personality of the New Zealand team. It also states that he was favourite for the event. Morpeth is at present as sound as ever before, and a matched set of Irons has made an enormous improvement in his game. His greatest asset Iles in his long wooden shots. He has other line shots in his bag, however, and Australian caddies are likely to be puzzled when they search for the particular club required. Morpeth is certain to attract large galleries, for in golf, as In cricket, the crowd prefers the big hitter to the more artistic shots of the finished golfer or batsman. Morpeth is the only Now Zealander who Intends playing In the Australian championships—open and amateur—at Adelaide from August 19 to 29. In the match play of the championship Morpeth is still holding his own, defeating Morrison, of New South Wales, G and 5. Dr. Ross and Horton did not survive the second round. The Australian newspapers giving fuller accounts .of the match will be awaited with Interest. Money on Sand Boxes. Money spent on the upkeep ot sandboxes tor tees is spent unnecessarily, according to an American exchange. Says this writer: “The number of golf clubs which have abolished tee-boxes of sand is now quite considerable. In practically all of these clubs the original idea was to replace tlie sand with free peg tees, but in most eases tills latter substitution lias come to be regarded as unnecessary, being In one way an economic loss through waste of time and carelessness, and in another being a deprivation of what lias become the professional’s prerogative, the sale of tees. After all, if the sand-boxes are removed—and on most courses nowadays thev are quite unnecessary—why supply anything? Artificial tees are sufficiently cheap, so that the golfer can just as well equip himself with these as he can With golf balls, at the professional’s shop.” Golf Confessions. What is your opinion ot golt? It varies with each game. What is your handicap? Playing badly. Which is your favourite course? The one where I have the lowest score. Which club do you play best with—wood or iron? All and —none. Which is your favourite ball? A new one. What do you sny when you foozle your drive? My pen forbids. What do you say to your caddie when you lose a new bail? Ho might tell you—■ I won’t. What do you think of the players in front who keep you waiting at every hole? The same as they think of me when I’m tn front. What is your favourite expression when you enn’t get out of a bunker? Every golfer knows. Whom would you like to play a round with and beat at the tenth hole? My opponent.