THE GAME OF GOLF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 286, 29 August 1933, Page 6

THE GAME OF GOLF

Standard of Play Showing Improvement SOME BRILLIANT ROUNDS

(Notes by

“Niblick.”)

It is pleasing to notice that the form of local players is improving as the days continue, to lengthen and links to harden up. Quite a number of good rounds were doiie during the week-end, which points to the fact that some accurate shooting should be seen at Auckland when the New Zealand championships open on the Titirangi links on October 6. Season’s Outstanding Player. So far this season, Brian Silk, the youthful Wanganui player, must be classed as the outstanding golfer of the Do; minion. At Easter he went up to Auckland, and carried off the provincial championship, and .a little later annexed the Masterton open championship against such strong players as J. I’. Hornubrook and T. H. Horton. Since then, Silk has even improved in form, and at . the present time is playing brilliantly. Last week-end. he turned on a 69 at Hei-etaunga, but this was nothing to the 65 ■■he, recorded on August 13 on the Bel-' mont links at Wanganui. are 6047 yards in length, 3068 yards:out '■ and 2979 yards home. Silk did the tun • out in even 4’s, having a £ at the third . (275 yards), a 3 at the fifth (156 yards), and 4’s at every other hole. It was, however, on the. homeward run that Silk turned on the fireworks. Starting off with a 2 at the tenth, (164 yards), he got an eagle 3 at “Long Tom” (462 yards), where he holed his mashie chip.: "He registered another 3 at the: twelfth (139 yards), and recorded 4’s lit.the thirteenth and fourteenth, both of which are over 400 yards.in length. He did the fifteenth (212 yards) and. the sixteenth (377 yards), in 4, and finished up brilliantly with 3’s at the seventeen th and eighteenth, both of which are close upon 400 yards in length. He thus , did the run home in 29—a record, as was his 65, for the Wanganui course. The atmospheric conditions were good, but the course was very heavy after recent rains,. and there was a complete absence of run. Silk’s sensational card read : — Out: 445431144 -36 In: 233443433—29. ■ ■ . 65 .. Some Good Rounds. . .' . ’ Some excellent rounds were recorded on city courses during the week-end. • ; • The unattached professional, J. D. McIntosh, on the Shandon links did two . brilliant rounds of 69 and 70. This player appears to have got back to, the form which gained him the professional championship of the Dominion in, 1926 and> 1927. ' '' ) ' The Shandon links are in excellent condition just now, and other good scores were registered there during the weekend. - - ' - . J. D. Black and R. G. Hayward, who ; met in the semi-final of the Shujjdon sen-, ior championship, played attractive golf. In the 36-hole tussle, Black won by a putt on the last green. Black went round in 74 and 76; while Hayward took’ 77 and 74. ' R, M. Stratmore turned-on a 74 on the Manor Tark course, and H. Page, playing No. 1 for Manor Park in the-Watt Cup match against Waiwetu.on the Wai-' wetu course on Saturday, went round in 76 to beat A. T. Clelland by 2 up. . W. K. Cook in the third round of the Hutt championship recorded a 75, which included a couple of 6’s. This all goes to show that when winter is gone and summer ie come, it should be no uncommon thing to see 70 broken.Australian Women. - Commenting upon the Australian cham■rpionships, which are to he decided in Melbourne next week, a Melbourne writer states that the Victorian club’s course should prove an ideal test for the women. “This course,’’ he writes, “is situated on what is perhaps the best golfing country in ' Melbourne. The layout has been cleverly done, and the course ranks right up with the best in Australia. The sand appears to have a little less “body” for ‘ fairways grass-growing purposes than that on some of the other first-class links, hti’t the sole of turf is now very good, and everything should be in most satisfactory condition for the big events. The greens are much above the ordinary. “Considerable additional interest will be lent to the women’s championship b.y the presence of five New Zealanders, Mrs. J. C. Templer, Miss O. Kay, Miss B. Gaisford, Mrs. H. Dodgshun and Mrs. Guy Williams. Another newcomer who is certain to attract attention is Mrs. A. H. Wilson, of Bendigo, who has played much in Britain and elsewhere abroad. She is a very convincing player who may be prominent. “On tho great form she hit recently, the defending champion, Miss Mona MacLeod, is favourite for the title. Next to her is rated Miss Susie Tolhurst. New South Wales has three very strong contenders in Miss O. Lefebvre, Miss J. Hammond/and Miss V. Ebert. Miss K. Ryunill and Mrs. Britten Jones, of South Australia, are likely to make serious bids for the big honour. “The form of Mrs. Templer is not known, but Miss Kay_ made a fine impression when she was here in 1930. If she has improved she would be good enough to take the title away.”

Manor Park Course. ? “Situated in the Hutt Valley, surrounded by hills which afford protection from the prevailing winds, the Manor Park course provides golf to suit the tastes of both the plus man and those not on the low marie,” writes a Watt Cup player. ""With fairways and greens in capital order, also natural tree and sand hazards, which call for straight shots both from the tees and to the greens, the Manor Park members have good cause to be proud <of their course. Although sufficient country is available for an 18-hole course of championship length, the executive of the club have wisely concentrated on 13 ‘ holes, thus enabling first-class greens and fairways to be provided. In due course the other five holes will be laid out Just on 6000 yards in length, it has a scratch score of 76, which so far has not been equalled, notwithstanding the fact that- several first-flight players have pitted themselves against it. \ "The course will be at its best from now until December. Only the lack of water on the greens prevents it being classed its an all-season course,. the winter months being the best; teeing up or placing in the wettest of months being unknown on Manor Park. Visitors will find the club house hospitable if not pretentious, and quite a pleasant hour can be spent here with the members and their friends.” A Sporting Family. The Hon. Michael Scott, who won the British open amateur championship this year, is the youngest member of the third Earl of Eldon's family, and five of the seven children have distinguished themselves in golf. When the women’s championship was started, Lady Margaret Scott, who is now Lady Hamilton Russell, captured the title three years in succession. The late Viscount Encombe played for Oxford against Cambridge in 1803, the Hon. Osmond Scott was runner-up for the amateur championship against Gordon Barry in 1905, and once won the Italian championship, and the lion. Denys Scott also won the Italian championship. Michael Scott carried off six Australian championships (amateur and open) and two French championships. In this wav members of the family have won as many as 15 national championships. Australian Championships. The Australian championships will be decided in Melbourne next month, the men using the Royal Melbourne club’s links, and' the women the Victorian club’s course. .The holder of the open championship is M. J. Ryan, of Melbourne, who is playing even better than ever. Dr. Reg Bettington, of Royal Sydney, the amateur champion of the Commonwealth, will not defend his title this year, as he is concentrating on his profession. Fergus McMahon, of Adelaide, .is the

holder of the professional championship, and he i« reported to be approaching and putting as surely as ever. Miss Mona MacLeod, of Royal Melbourne, is -the Australian lady champion, and New Zealanders will hope that when the cheering and shouting has died a wearer o£ the silver fern will bear the proud title. Watt Cup Match. Some good golf should be seen at Shandon on Saturday When Shandon and Manor Bark meet in a Watt Cup contest. - It will be interesting to see whether H. Page, the 19-year-old No. 1 for Manor Park, will be able to repeat his success of last Saturday, when he won his first game in No. 1 position for Manor Park. This colt possesses good temperament, and only requires experience to make him a first-class player. '■ . Manor Park did well to defeat Waiwetu on' the Waiwetu links on Saturday by 6J games to 54. They will, however, have a harder task on the Shandon links next Saturday, as J. L. Black,-R. G. Hayward, J. C. Marchbanks, K. Jeffery, and M. R. Bowring are all playing well just now. ■ . RESULTS AND FIXTURES - Manor Park Club The following will represent Manor Park in the Watt Cup match at Shandon on Saturday next:—F. Page, J. Ogilvie, I. Duncan, H. Mehaffey, A. Butler, A. Radford, C. McKinney, K. Hendry, E. Rodgers, V. Hay, D. Butler, E. I3rockett, O. Ronberg, 11. Pope, J. Pope, L. Fitt. A. McKinnon, H. Payne, G. Blundell, H. Sherwood, N. Jackson, E. Edwards. ~ <:• '■ 1 Miramar Club Following are the results of the first round of the Magnus Intermediate Cup, played on handicap by the Miramar elub: C. V. Sutherland beat S. A. Gover, 4 and 3; V. 11. Freeth and N. R. Pulver, all square (will have to play again); 11. Parkin beat F. W. Gover, 2 and I s ; L. A. Greig beat C. W. Palmer, 3 and 2; 11. E. Napier beat R. W. Scott, 2 up; O. Mills beat J. J. Dalgleish by default; H. H. McLean: beat A. T. Seaward, 1 up; R; 11. Nagle beat T. R. Lawson by default; J. P. Colwill.beat A. G. Williams,.3 and 2; D. R. Richmond beat J. T. Lewis, 2 and 1; C. L. .Dentice beat J. F. Reid, 8 and 7; G. S. Matthews beat A. Marsden, 4 and 2; F. P. Wilson beat A. B. Siev- • weight, 2 Up; A. M. Tartakover beat C. E. 2 up; J. W. Sandham beat L. B. Campbell, 3 and 2. Mary Alward Cup Match The match in the Mary Alward Cup contest between the Paekakariki and Shandon Ladies’ Clubs on the Paekakariki course during the week-end resulted in a win for Paekakariki by 54 games to 44. The following are the results, the Paekakariki player being mentioned first: Miss Newman bent Mrs. Burke. 6 and 5. Miss R. Smith beat Miss M. Ilodgins, 5 nnd 4. Miss J. Smith beat Miss D. Press, 6 nnd 4. Miss Neely beat Miss Read, 2 and 1. Miss Battersby bent Miss Pownall, 3 and 2. Miss Chote lost to Miss Hay-Macken-zie. 9 nnd 8. : Mrs. Marshall lost to Miss Sidford, 2 down. Miss M. Browne lost to Miss Levy, 9 down. Miss V. Browne and Mrs. Low, all square. Mrs. L. Smith lost to Miss M, Press, 8 down.