GOLF

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 202, 24 May 1938, Page 3

GOLF

Hutt Players Score Well ROBERTS NOW ON SCRATCH

Niblick.)

(By

With the milder weather which has prevailed during the past fortnight, Wellington links are in good shape, and players have been able to work into something like true form. The Hutt club, largely as a result of the enthusiasm of the captain. C. A. Burgees, has embarked upon an improvement campaign, which has done much to improve the course, and give players a. better chance of returning good figures. Several of the superfluous bunkers, which formerly contained as many stones as sand, liave now been turfed over, with the exception of a sand area in the centre of the bunkers. Another improvement which will be appreciated by members is the provision of a car-parking area at the rear of the clubhouse. Down to Scratch. It is riot surprising to see that tl.at finished . Hutt player. G. P. Roberts, has at last joined the select band of scratch players. He has been steadily working down to scratch rank all through the season, and during the past two week-ends has covered the course in even 4’s. Ho recorded a brilliant 72 in the qualifying round for the >Bl. Andrew’s Cross competition on Saturday afternoon, which was good enough to win the bogey competition, with 3 up. He could have knocked a few strokes off this score as he started off wit.h an indifferent 5 at the first hole. After this he never made a mistake, as he went out in 35 and returned in 37. He had a2, seven 4’s, and a 5 on his card going out, and a 3, iix 4’s, and two s’s coming back. Roberts did rounds of 81, 79. 74, and SO in the New Zealand open championship at Hamilton in September last, and was beaten in the first round of Ihe amateur championship by Hobbs, Napier, the margin being 3 and 2. He has now tightened up the loose links in his game, and is playing really good golf. I. Ewen, another Hutt scratch player, also recorded 72 on the Hutt links on Sunday morning, taking 36 leach way, but in the afternoon he had to strike his colours to Roberts, who beat him by one hole in the first round of the St. Andrew’s Cross competition. Ewen had to concede Roberts one stroke, and it was more than he could manage. It was not surprising that the handicappers should decree that Roberts should be reduced to the scratch mark. _ W. G. Horne, the Wellington provincial champion, is still another Hutt player who is scoring round about even 4’s at present. He handled his clubs deftly in recording 73 on the Hutt course on Sunday afternoon. If the Hutt men retain this form. Miramar’s leading players will need to be in form when Miramar and Hutt meet on the Miramar links on June 18. Walt Cnp Form. The evenness of the teams’ this year is causing unusual interest Io be taken in the Watt Cup contest. Shandon started off by beating Manor Park at Manor Park by 6J games to 54 and on lhe same day Paekakariki caused a sensation by overwhelming Waiwetu by eight games to two, with two games halved. Then Waiwotti redeemed themselves by outplaying Manor Park by six games to five, with one game squared, at Waiwetu. Titahi came into the firing line on Saturday at Titahi and started off well ,by beating Shandon by seven games to five.

Baek to Form. It was pleasing to see E. Hollis back in something like his very best form its No. 1 for Shandon nt Titahi on Saturday. Hollis had hie annual leave a few weeks tigo and rather lost,form. but since returning ho has' worked info something like the form which made hint champion of the Miramar club in 1936. He started off in convincing form against I). A. Dacre and did not make a mistake until he reached the eighth green whore, after a gem of an approach idiot from below the green, he missed a 5-foot putt and took 5. He had birdies at the fourth (400 yards) against the stiff nor'wester, at the sixth (.394 yards) with the wind, and at the ninth (237 yards). Driving splendidly, he handled spoon and irons with skill and his chipping was brilliant. At the ninth he was well through the green from the tee. but made a masterly chip to within three feet of the pin to got a birdie 3. Ont in 35, he was 2 up on Daere. who took 40 for tile out .journey. A little black dug which was gambolling around

the first tee caught Dacre’s eye as he made his drive off and his ball forlornly dropped into the long, marram grass below the elevated tee. He failed to get out of the rough at the first attempt, and took 7 for the hole. He played well, however, after this, getting birdie 4’s at the fourth and sixth, but even these meant only halves

Hollis made his run on heading -for home, winning the eleventh, twelfth aud thirteenth holes in 4,5, 3, to stand 5 up. The fourteenth was halved in 4, which gave Hollis the match by 5 and 4. At this stage Hollis bad taken 51 for the 13 holes played and had a glorious chance of equalling the course record, 69, held by N. Parker, of the Titahi club. "Niblick” had visions of being able to record a really brilliant round, but Hollis took a disastrous 7 for the home hole. Requiring a 4 for a 68, the Shandon man made a faulty drive, which was very short. He took his brassie for his second shot and hit a long one against the wind. 'Die shot had a little fade on it and the ball landed pin high to the right of the green, an unkindly kick taking it among gorse bushes close to the tenqe. where it came to rest in an impossible lie. A brilliant round ended with a disastrous 7, which gave Hollis 39 for the home journey and a card of 7-1. Except for tlie last hole, it was masterly play in the fairly strong north-westerly wind.

A Hot Round. The best round of tbe day was that of N. Parker, No. 2 for Titahi. in beating F. H. McDonald by 3 and 2. Both went out in 37 and would have had better figures had they not: struck trouble at' the tricky fourth (400 yards), which Parker took in 6 to 8. McDonald played brilliantly but for this, recording eagle 3's at the sixth (394 yards) and the eighth (407 yards). Parker played sound golf to do the return journey in 36. with 3’s at the tenth, fifteenth and eighteenth. He took the match by 3 and 2, McDonald taking 6's at the twelfth and sixteenth.. A Consistent Player.

C. G. Swinburne, who captained the Titahi team on Saturday, has been playing good golf lately. lie covered the cour=p in 75 to beat R. G. Hayward by 5 and 4. W. B. Reilly (Shandon) had to record 75 to get home from F. Carr by 2 up. The Shandon man owed his victory to a brilliant home journey of 35. Carr went out in 41 and returned in 37.

Another Scot. Shandon have obtained a useful recruit In J. E. Nicolaus, who learnt his golf with the London Links Club near Leven, tn Scotland. Since arriving in the Dominion some five and a half years ago. he has been engaged in farming and thsi is the first season in which he has been able to play golf. He beat T. Johnston by 1 up on Saturday and in doing so showed that he can handle every club in his bag. II? drives a long ball and is a particularly strong iron player. When he becomes accustomed to Wellington conditions he will prove a difficult proposition in Watt Cup matches. He was 4 up at one stage, but Johnston fought hack gamely to reduce the deficit to 1 down.

The Titahi tail wagged strongly. H. D. Gyles. C. IT. S. Gyles and G. G. Hankin registering wins in tenth, eleventh and twelfth positions. Hankin made no race of his match against W. H. Dillicar, the margin being 7 and 6.

Limiting Number of Clubs. A vote of golf club members, representing more than 250,000 players, on the question of limiting the number of clubs carried to 14, has shown a majority in favour of two to one. This was reported at the annual meeting in March of the English Golf Union Council, who took the vote.

To date the points At home stand Away Pointe Shandon . . 0 9 in Manor Park . . 1 1 101 i’aekakariki . . 1 0 <t Waiwetu .. 1 1 <) Titahi .... . . 1 0 7