THE GAME OF GOLF

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 37, 7 November 1933, Page 14

THE GAME OF GOLF

Summer Activities FINDING THE CHAMPIONS

(Notes by

“Niblick.”)

Winter is gone and summer is here, but the game of golf goes merrily ou. Time was when the ancient game was played in tins country only in the winter. This was not because devotees of the game had become stale, but because the spring grass caused so many balls to be lost that play became expensive as the grass lengthened. In recent years motor lawn mowers have enabled groundsmen to keep the fairways cut, and golf is now played all the year round. ■ Most of the local clubs have summer seasons, and many members join for just the summer. The generous raius which have been experienced of late have caused the glass on local courses to come away in surprising fashion, with the result that the rough is now downright rough, and if a hapless player pulls or slices, or is too strong with his approaches, he has to play out of about two feet of lucious Br< While he may not believe it, this experience is good for players, as playing out of heavy rough is a ticklish business, and can oijy be mastered by diligent practice, which local players are now certainly getting. Finding the Champions. Clubs have been busy during the past few weeks iu finding the champions for 1933. So far the fo’lowing have annexed titles: —Titahi, M. Moore: Shandon, J. L. Black: Hutt. Rana Wagg; Manor Park, F. Page; Pa-’kakariki, F. Kember; Mornington, J. T. Bowness. In the women’s clubs, the following have carried off the honours :—Wellington, Mrs. Stout; Hutt.- Mrs. Wagg; Shandon. Miss Hodgins; Manor Park, Mrs. Butler: Titahi. Miss 'Wilson. This is the fifth time that Mrs. Stout lias carried off the Wellington title, which is a tribute to her outstanding ability, as Wellington is strong in players of quality. Some Sterling Rounds. G. B. Ward, the tall Waiwetu .lefthander. was in brilliant form on the Shandon links at the week end. Playing in a fourball competition, he completed the course in 70. going out in 37, and return-' ing in 33. His card read: . - Out: 4. 5,4, 3,4, 5,4, 4, -t—37 In: 4,3, 4,5, 3,4, 2,4, 4—33 70 J. D. Mclntosh; the unattached professional, played a sterling round of 71 on the Manor Park links during the weekend. Partnering A. McClure, who is on the 11 mark, Mdntosh, from scratch, went out in 34, and ran home in 37, to win the competition with 10 up on bogey. This was a great performance, as there is plenty of rough at Manor Park just now. Mclntosh, however, kept perfect direction, got full length from the tees, played his iron and mashie shots perfectly, and putted brilliantly. Rccord-Slkattcring 66. With a record-shattering second round of 66 at Killara on September 30, the Australian Golf Club champion, Jim Ferrier, came from away behind to win the New South XVales champion of champions event by seven strokes. Pymble’s champion, -P. Ellis (with 5, 3. 5,2, 5,4, 3,5, 3—35, and 4,4, 4,4, 5,2. 4,4, 5—36, total 71), led the field in the first round, two strokes ahead of Royal Sydney’s title-holder, R. 11. Bettingtori, and Long Reef’s champion, Gordon Thomson. Ferrier was sixth with Ellis played sound again after lunch, to reach the turn in 35, but his opponent, Jim Ferrier, made him look to be playing mediocre golf. Ferrier played astounding golf. He made mistakes from the tee quite often, and occasionally through the green, but recovered brilliantly. At the first hole Ferrier lipped the hole for a three, ■ next hole he sank an eight-footer for a three, and followed it with a 25-footer at the third for another three. At the short fourth, however, he missed a two-footer for a two, followed with'two correct par fours, and then holed a chip shot for a two at the short seventh. Following a par fourth at the eighth, he clipped dead, and holed a three to be out in 30, to wipe out Ellis’ four strokes lead, and was ahead one stroke. It was too much for Ellis, and he lost touch on the homeward journey, taking 42. Coming home, Ferrier holed a four at the tenth hole, missed a seven-footer for a three at the 11th, hooked his drive to the 12th, and then showed his golfing brains. The ball was lying poorly, the pin was just over pots hugging the green side beyond the green, an out-of-bounds fence was adjacent, so Ferrier elected to run tlic ball through the bunkers, nnd brought the shot off, to hole an easy four. Next hole he sliced his second shot into a drain, recovered brilliantly, and boldly holed a 12-footer for a four. At the short .15th he failed to get the green with his tee shot, but chipped dead and holed in three. At the 16th hole, after a sliced drive, he recovered magnificently from an atrocious lie, and then sank a seven-footer for a par four. But he hooked his second to the 17th and put in a five. Ferrier’s figures were: Out, 4,3, 3,3, 4, 4. 2.4, 3—30; in, 4, 4. -1, 4,4, 3,4, 5, 4—36; total 66. The total lowered the course record, established by R. J. Withycombe, by two strokes. American Women’s Open. Miss Enid Wilson, British Women’s golf champion, failed to do what Miss Oliver Kay accomplished this year—rwiii tlie open championships on both sides of the herring pond. Miss Wilson made a third attempt this year to carry off the American title, but was defeated in the semi-final by Miss' Van Wie, who went on to defeat Miss Helen Hicks in the final by 4 and 3. This was the first time this year .Miss Hicks had been beaten. . In the.match with Miss Van Wif, the English champion could do nothing right. She found almost every hazard on the course, and her putts simply would not go down. On the other band, Miss Van Wie played superbly. She could do nothing wrong, holing putts from all over the green. She was out in 37 —two under par—having never exceeded par at any hole. Miss Wilson was out in a poor 44 —five over par. a contrast to her brilliant form in the earlier rounds in which she played 66 holes in an average of seven under par. New Girl Cluimpion. Miss Jessie Anderson, the new British girl golf champion, belongs to the Craigie Hill Club, Perthshire, and has after an interval of three years, carried the trophy back to Scotland. During the interval the title was held by Miss Pauline Doran. Miss Nan Baird previously won it for Scotland. Miss Anderson is slightly built. She has blue eyes and a small face sprinkled with freckles. She conveys the impression of a modest and gentle sort of girl, but there' is nothing gentle in the way she hits the golf ball. A daughter of the Scottish professional. Joe Anderson, she has grown considerably and lengthened her driving since last year, with a very upright swing, and she treat's bunkers with contempt, getting as long shots from them as other girls get with wood on the fairway. But it is her delicate chin and run shots which make her a formidable opponent, and she is a very good putter. Events Past and to Come The Waiwetu club opened its summer season on Saturday, when a four-ball bogey was played. This was won by Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Maitland, with a card of 6 up. The next best were: J. B. Wallace and Miss Horman, 4 <up: W. F. Gill, and Miss Milne. 3 up; L. Marsden and J. Colquhonn. 2 up. ‘ , In a stroke competition, points for which count in the Summer Cup J. J. Garbett won, with a card of 88 —22—66. Next came 11. C. Hogan, 93—-4—69: Jj. Marsden, 81—11—70; Mrs. Mtutland,

107—36—71; J. B. Wallace, 77—5—72; N. O. Maitland, 82—10—72,. Next Saturday a’ Canadian foursome bogey will be played, with a stroke competition ou the day following, ' - J ■ Wellington Ladies’ Club The following is the draw for a medal competition to be played at He'retauhga to-morrow for prizes presented by the ladies’ captain, Mrs. T. A. Hunter:— Senior: Miss Barton v. Mrs. Brodie: Mrs. Menzies v. Mrs. Hunt; Miss Bell v. Mrs. AVebster; Mrs.' Blain v. Miss Juliet Nathan; Miss P. Bliindell v. Miss Grose; Mrs. Gregory v. Miss Ward: Miss M. Mclntosh v. Mrs, Tweed ; Mrs. Henry r. Mrs. Seddon; M?s. Robertson v. Mrs. IT. Nathan; Mrs. Kemp v. Miss C. Young; Mrs. AVelton-Hogg v. Miss M. Richardson; Mrs. Hayman v. Miss WyJie; Miss M. Wheeler v. Mrs. Stout. Juniors: Mrs. C. Bell v. Mrs. S. Paterson ; Mrs. E. Blundell v. Mrs. B. B. AVood ; Miss Gilmer v. Mrs. Hanna; Miss Harcourt v. Mrs. A. T. Young; Mrs. V. AVard v. Miss Joyce Nathan: Miss JlcParland v. Miss Parker; Mrs, R. A. Holmes v. Miss S. Nathan ; Miss A. Macintosh v. Mrs. T. Young; Mrs. G; Nathan v. Mrs. B. Todd; Mrs. Howden v. Mrs. Tripe: Mrs. Riddler v. Miss S. Todd; Miss V. Richardson v. Miss N. AVheeler; Miss J. Wheeler v. Miss Ilempton ; Mrs. J. A’ogcl v. Miss I. Young Mrs. Turnbull v. Mrs. R. Hill. . ' . The winners of the previous competition; the Joseph Cup. were Miss L. Dyer in tlie seniors, aud Mrs. C. Bell iu the juniors. Wellington Club

A stroke competition was played at Heretaunga on Saturday, and was won by E. O. Hales and G. Magnus with a net score of 68 each. Following are the best scores handed in:—

Next Saturday a mixed foursomes for tijo captain’s prize will be played.

E. 0. Hales .... 74 6 6S 82 14 68 W. Young 87 18 69 D. G. Webster .. '<!> 0 70 G. T. Dawson .. 77 6 71 AV. E. C. Gregory 78 71. V. A. Ward .... 81 10 71 A. D. S. Duncan . 70 ■p]us . 1 71