GOLF

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 49, 26 August 1922, Page 15

GOLF

(By ''Bunkers.' ',

Our reference last week to the incident on the Miramar links where a ball lodged in a rabbit burrow in a bunker, when we expressed an opinion that, in the absence of a local rule regarding play out of rabbit scrapes (our having been assured none, such existed), the player's only relief could be sought under the law. relating !to "unplayable balls," has brought to us the following letter from a correspondent upon whose knowledge of golf practice we have reason to place considerable reliance:—

"Dear 'Bunkers',—Your "riom-de-plume is particularly appropriate in view of the subject about to-be discussed, i.e., hazards within hazards. lam sending you a Miramar Club score card, and would draw your attention to paragraph (c) of Local Rule 2: 'A ball lying in,a rabbit scrape, sheep-track, wheel rut, or within tw,o yards of a guide post may, with the opponent's consent, be lifted and dropped, without penalty; within two dobs' lengths of the spot where it lay, but not nearer to the hole.' Even though this local rule exists, I dp hot think a player, whose ball found a rabbit scrape in a bunker; would be entitled to.relief from this rule, for it might often happen, that a ball could be lifted'and dropped outside the bunker! < ,The Miramar bunkers get a fair amount of atten-' from the, green-keeper , and as a rule at the start of a competition the sand .bunkers are raked and present a well-kept appearance, but they, do not remain like this for very long. . I am afraid that a great many golfers do not know that holes made by ; them in bunkers should be just as carefully filled up as sclaffs in the fairway. I have seen players walk up the face of sand bunkers and leave foot marts 6 inches deep, a veritable death trap to the poor devil whose ball chances to lodge therein. I enjoy reading your notes, and always wish there \wete more of them," ; i It, is quite evident that to allow this local rule to operate where the ball had founij a bunker would be to abuse the spirit of the rule, which is intended evidently by the context to. apply, to the fairways, but on the other hand it jnay be reasonably argued that the existence of rabbit, burrows is recognised and ought not to place a player in an absolutely unplayable position. We ire inclined to' think that' the fairest ruling , under the circumstances would be to follow the decision arrived at by the players on the spot, and allow the player to stand at the rabbit burrow and drop his ball still in the bunker.

'We thoroughly endorse onr correspondent's appeal to all golfers to observe one of the most important, branches of golf etiquette.. To trample in a sand banker and then riot do one's best to smooth over, 1 the inequalities made is one of the most selfish and unkjnd actions,possible, and may injure the prospects lof even /the best friend of the careless delinquent, who may follow'after. ■■ ,

We congratulate the ladiec . of. the ifiramar Club upon their sporting spirit in inaugurating an open championship and handicap tournament for lady golfer* to be held on Wednesday, 30th August; and two Mowing days. The event will, we hope, attract not only all local keen players under 24 handicap; but alio some of the ladies from other districts who may be oh their way to the championship, meeting at Wanganui in September. The fairways and greens at Miramar are now in such capital order, and' such good length caik be obtained on that course/ that players''should have a thoroughly enjoyable meeting if the weather prophet can be squared for the occasion. .

We fear that golf is often a somewhat selfish game, and. hot infrequently takes many a family man away from, home at week-ends. One local player who.'will admit the truth" of the. impeachment implied, has frequently had to tell hia little. son, who' is his inseparable companion when at home, that he must-go to golf on Saturday afternoon. The little lad has recently gone to school, and made acquaintance with the joyful meaning of "holiday." His father oneSaturday afternoon lately had no particularly . attractive fixture at the links, and announced his. intention of staying at home "with the children, when thj small school laddie , inquired: "Oh, daddy, are1 they giving you a holiday from golf to-day?' \ j 'We have been' given, by, one ]of hisopponents, particulars of A! Duncan's play at Miramar lart wetk-ehdi, The rounds were 74, 79, and 71. The individual figures of this last brilliant round were:— '.'■:.'. '' \' "". „..■. -.. ■''.'. :■' ; ..-' ' Ont: 4.3-4-2.M4r6^—32. In : 4.4*44^45-6-30. > The course is 6004 yards and bogey 80. In this 71, Mr. Duncan took three putts on the eighth green, , and on several occasions his putts looked holing, but turned off in an unaccountable way at the last moment. One remarkable incident of the round was that while Duncan at the fourth hole, 209 yards, drove his'ball to within 18 inches of the pin and secured a 2, he did not win the hole, as his opponent's' ball was likewise not very far from, the pin and he holed in the like, securing a half. It tnay be quite a long time before that hole is, again halved in 2, and we would not like to have to give up the game until that happens. ■ . We learn that Sime, the present Dominion amateur champion, hopes to. play at'Miramar in a week's time, before going on to the championship meeting, at Palmerston, and it will be interesting to see how he is shaping. He, however, is a player who cannot get a great deal of practice, and relies upon playing himself into form at the big meeting. Certainly last year he improved with each round he got through at Shirley, and his 72 in the morning round of the final against Black' stamped him as a most confident and skilful player. It must be remembered, however, that, he had neither Morpeth, Dr. Bom, nor Duncan to bump up against.during that contest.. We hear Morpeth; frequently tipped as the likely winner of the open and amateur championships..' In. i the open, however, 'he will have, very serious opposition in Brooks,- Hamm, Duncan, and Moss, and. in the amateur Me will find Duncan a very different player from what he was -.at Hamilton two years ago. It will. be granted that on that occasion Morpeth was the finest player, professional or amateur, in the Dominion. He won the amateur final: with a large margin, and was second only to Kirkwood in the open.. ; At the Hutt last Saturday the yearly tombstone ,match was played, = about 50 members carrying their wooden, monuments with them. All had to go out, with 4 less than normal handicap and see how far they could get round the course in a number of strokes equalling bogey 76,, plus their reduced handicap. As usual, the neighbourhood of the 16th green was the most populous cemetery; several nearly or quite reached the 17th green, while two planted their pegs on the 18th. Black had a great chance of a good score from four behind scratch, as he was abreast of the 17th green in his second shot and»wanted a 4 there and a 3 at the last,short hole, for a 71. lie was short, however, in his run Up third, a bit strong with his fourth approach puti, and failed to hole in 5. He therefore only had two strokes left for the last hole, and finished a foot fromthe pin, completing the round in 73, Colonel Chcsney, two behind »cratcli; also did a nice 75, and consequently h|4J

a drive left for the: 19th hole. L. Speedy was left also in the Mine position. ; But these players had no chance, because four other competitors < arrived at the 19th tee with strokes still in hand. But Wagg had' reeled off a handy 75 to signalise his return to form, and had two strokes to go. His brother Jack had three strokes left, as also had Rout and Blaxall. Jack Wagg finished a few inches from the 19th pin, and won Mr...Kirk's trophy, Rana Wagg three or four feet farther away, and Rout near by. ' .

Now, this sort of scoring makes either the Hutt bogey or handicapping look ridiculous. Last week the medal round was won in nett 69, while in this competition three men did a net 69, and one a 70, against a bogey of 76. We are quite sure, from a comparison with players' of other clubs, that there is nothing seriously wrong with the club's handicapping, bet the, course is far tod easy for the bogey. There are four 4-bogey holes which are not hard 3's, and at. least three 5-bogey holes which are not difficult 4-holes, and1 three short inashie holes and. one halfiron shot hole with bogey of, 3 which give opportunities to obtain at least one 2 in each* round. If a bogey of 3J cannot be fixed for some of the holes, then some must be reduced to 3, leaving the' others at 4. But the Veal remedy is to make the eonrse more stringent by severe bunkering. There is in the long holes not sufficient punishment (where there is any)" for being off the line, and some of the short hojee are not trapped enough to catch inaccurate playy. The (great difficulty which W recognise the club committee; has to meet is in deciding what sort of bunkering is. likely to remain effective, and is practicable, on the soil svhich exists. The salnd is not available for sandy potbunkers except at vast expense.1 Sod walls make poor bunkers, and are knocked about bv-.the sheep. The soil is so stony in, parts as to mate it unwise to break) up its sur-\ face. We are inclined to think .that rows of. deciduous trees cduld be planted to define tnd. narrow the fairways, i while in other parts the land could be ploughed; and: left, in the. rough. We do, not envy'the committee in having to solve1 tfie; problem,'but solved It must be if the players are to be taught to play accurate, and not loose, golf, i