GOLF

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 188, 8 May 1934, Page 13

GOLF

British Form Improving PADGHAM’S RECORD Trouble Over Amateur Status

(Notes by

“Niblick.”)

The cx-Australian, James East, who is now in the United States, recently expressed the opinion that the standard ot golf was improving at such a rate that before long the leading players would be returning as many scores under <0 as they are now registering above this figure. Play in the Dunlop tournament, which was won by A. Padgham in England last week, with the record score ot 2iJ tor the 72 holes, bears out this forecast. Padgham recorded TO, TO, 68, and 71, which is a record for 72 holes in a major competition. . Some wonderful form was shown in the tournament. In the qualifying round, Cotton and Ayton played round together, and both recorded 66, breaking the record for the 6,800 yards Southport course. Ayton is a veteran Scotsman, who is over 50 years of age. The sterling play shown by the British players in this tournament was a spirited reply to Gene Sarazen’s recent ranking ot the world's ten best professionals, in which he did not include a solitary British player. Sarazen’s ideas may be further disarranged when . the Ryder Cup competition is fought this year. The Tasman Cup. It is pleasing to know that New Zealand is to enjoy a visit from an Australian team of women golfers this year. Australian papers intimate that thirty women golfers have been circularised in the various States with the object of se-. lecting a team of five to play in New Zealand. The team will probably be accompanied by an non-playing member as manager, and by several other leading women players from the different States. The Australians will compete in the New Zealand women’s open championship tournament, which is to be held on the Titirangi course in September, and the match for the Tasman Cup, which the New Zealand women won at Melbourne last year, will be played after the championship tournament. The presence ot the Australians will add greatly to the interest taken in the championships. Miss Oliver Kav and Miss Bessie Gaisford should be back from England in time to take their places in the New Zealand team, and should have, benefited from rubbing shoulders with the leading British players. Question of Dress. While on the subject of women's golf, it might be as well for the Ladies Golt Unions on both sides of the Ttismau to give a ruling on the delicate subject ot costumes for the links. The cables told us yesterday that Miss Odette Lefebvre, the New South Wales champion, had declined to play in an inter-club match rather than be compelled to wear stockings. The Ladies’ Golf Union last week introduced a new rule forbidding the appearance, of women without stockings in events under contrbl of the union, and the New South Wales champion promu’ly rebelled against this rule. We are familiar on New Zealand links with women payers in hot weather appearing in sleeveless garments. and one is inclined to agree it is wise in hot weather to wear as little clothing as possible. It is no infrequent sight in Wellington streets during the summer months to see women without stockings, and it is difficult to understand why players should be compelled to wear them on the links in hot weather. No doubt Miss Lefebvre’s protest will fully test the wisdom of the New South Wales Golf Union in passing such a rule.— '

Slmndon’s Good Shirt. The Shandon Club, holders of the Watt Clip, appear determined to retain the trdphy this year, as they have started off the competition in great style by piling up 19 points in the two matches which they have so far played. Shandon seem unbeatable on their own links. They started off by defeating Titahi by 9j games to 2} a fortnight kgck, and followed this up on Saturday by routing Waiwetu by exactly the same margin.

This gives Shandon a big lead for the cup, which will take a lot of catching, ns next to Shandon’s tally of 19 points comes Titahi with 9 points. Manor Park lias scored 5| points in one match, and Waiwetu 2$ points in' one match. Shandon possesses a very strong team this year, being steady right doyu to the twelfth man.

W. B. Reilly’s Return. It is pleasing to see that W. B. Reilly has returned to the game after an absence of some 18 months. This able young player learnt his golf in Dunedin, and some three years ago made his presence Mt at Wanganui and Palmerston North. He is in the Railway Department, and has had to move around a good deal during the past few yenrs. He ie now settled id Wellington, and should soon be in his best form again. He signalled his first appearance as No. 1 for Waiwetu on Saturday by defeating R. G. Hayward (Shandon) by 2 and 1 in the inter-club matcli on the Shandon links.

The rain was so pers’stent that it was difficult to get a firm stance, and grips became slippery as the round progressed. Reilly duffed a drive or two. and pushed out a good many of those he did get ou to, but he more than made m> for this by his masterly short play. He was on lhe fourteenth and sixteenth greens from the tee, and several times nearly found the cup from outside the greens. Ills chipping and approach putting were well nigh perfect, and he should soon be back to scratch form. Hayward played his usual steady game, keeping excellent direction from the tee, and putting well. He had bad luck to be stymied on the sixteenth green when sitting pretty for a win in 4. There was not much between them, Reilly covering the course in 79 to the Shandon mans 81. A Steady Player. M. R. Bowring, the Shandon No. 2 has come right back to his best form this season. Taking 38 each way, he proved too good for IL Laver on Saturday by 5 and 4. He notched 2’s at the fourth and ninth holes, and played steady all the way round. Laver hails from le Arohn, where he was a leading player a few seasons back. A Reliable Player. A. Gwillirtm, who defeated W. .1. Davidge (Shandon) by 4 and 3, was the only other Waiwetu player besides Reilly to notch a w:n for his train. Gwilliiun went round in 78. It would pay the Waiwetu club to play this reliable match player further up the list.

A Hole In One. A promising young Moruington player. Ken Stephen, joined the ranks of the hole in one brigade, by holing his tee shot at "Kaikoura” (177 yards) on the Mornington links at the week-end.

Trouble In Amateur Golf. ■The new amateur definition in golf lias caused a good deal of trouble already. although it came into operation only nt the New Year (remarks an English writer). The fundamental nr.nciple of it is that a player shall not exploit his skill in the game for the purpose of making money. The ease of Jack McLean. Scotland s best amateur, has arisen. Is he qualified to compete in the championship and take part in the Walker Cup match against the Americans? > The rule dennitely puts the bar up against golfers who are employed by manufacturers of the implements of the game, and McLean was engaged by a ball-making firm. Before the rule came into operation, however, he resigned his position, and joined the staff of a Glasgow newspaper, to contribute articles on. golf. Now the Point has arisen of another provision of the . rule. Would McLean have received his

newspaper appointment if lie had not been a star golfer? It is contended that previously he had had no journalistic experience, and many authorities take the view that' he is not eligible to take part in amateur events. It is believed that the British team lias been chosen, but that its announcement is being held up while the case of McLean is settled by the St. Andrews committee. I shall be surprised if he is in the list of players. The rule is likely to hit others, who may not suspect that they come under it. For instance, it is known that players are representatives of wine merchants, and that, while visiting clubs ns golfers, they do not miss the opportunity to seek orders. Others arc motor car agents, and they also ply their business on the links. The object of the rule is to put an end to this sort of thing, and I believe the authorities intend to carry it out draptieal’y. Those who come under it do not become professionals, but they mny not play in competitions as amateurs.