GOLF

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 24

GOLF

FAR IN FUTURE?

GEAR ISLAND FOR SPORTS

GOLF AT HOME

The decision of the Hutt River Board that tenders received for Gear Island from sports bodies were not satisfactory, and the calling of fresh tenders for the short term of five years, seem to point to the unlikelihood of a combination amongst sports bodies sufficiently strong to offer a combined tender for the island for the shorter term. Five years is in any case of no use to a sports body. Cricket pitches, playing grounds, tennis courts, and golf courses cannot be brought to perfection in a year or two, and with the short term lease there is no incentive-to do so, unless a renewal of the lease is guaranteed. The idea at the back of the minds of thj board seems to have been that the time was not ripe for sports bodies to take over the island, and, though a majority of its members apparently favoured the eventual placing of this fine stretch of country at the exclusive disposal of sports bodies, it was not at all so evident that they would welcome the use of its greater portion for golf, nor has there been so far an indication of co-operation to that end from the other sports bodies. The reason for this is easily understood. The offer made by a golf club for a big lump of the island was made possible only by the prospect of a large membership to an eighteen-hole conrse. The golf club's prospective revenue was from members' subscriptions. Golf clubs do not as a rule in this country charge a "gate," though something of the kind will probably be done in connection with the visit of'Kirkwood and Hagen here. Rugby, which is one of the best sporting attractions, obtains its revenue directly from a "gate," and will naturally put on its most attractive matches on grounds where the greatest number of people can attend without paying ponderable transit fares in addition to entrance money. Though there are over 25,000 people living in Petone and Lower Hutt to-day,. there is not the same probability of as big an attendance at Gear Island at an important match as would be certain at Athletic Park. Probably, with the attendances likely at the matches which would be put on with the limited population at present available at Petone, the Rugby revenue available thence would not nearly approach the £500 a year offered by the golf club, and if it is the intention of the River Board to defer granting sports bodies a lease of the island uatil ; Rugby, which is apparently the only financially successful sport anxious to use Gear Island, is really to transfer its drawing games there, many terms of five years are likely to pass before the area is devoted to sports. Association, lawn tennis, cricket, bowls, and the other sports which, like Rugby, take less room than golf, have, however, this much in common with the Royal and Ancient Game, that it takes years to bring grounds and buildings to perfection, and while the position is uncertain little ground work can be done to gradually make the island fit for sports. It seems as though an impasse had been reached at present, even with a River Board entirely favourable to the use of the area by sports bodies, and' it is to be hoped by the time the interests of the latter coincide sufficiently to make concerted action possible, that the collective mind of a possibly reconstructed board ' may not have changed. 'Without the substantial support now offered by golf, other sports bodies would need so much larger a revenue before they could make the River Board a satisfactory tender, that the whole proposition would be pushed into-the realm of unfulfilled ideals. As far as golf is concerned, a five-year lease is valueless, unless some understanding in regard to progressive improvements and a renewal of the term can be arrived at. If the board was genuine in its desire to see sports bodies "n occupation of the island, this should be possible by means of a clause, in the le,ase with the successful tenderer, who, it seems fairly certain, will not represent a sports body. Greens. Clovers, weeds, coarse grasses, and earthworms, it is claimed by a British chemist, can all be obviated on greens if they are tested for acid reaction, and then periodically dressed with a chemical mixture which encourages the finer grasses and-excludes the pests. Experiments are already being made in New Zealand with the creeping bents and other grasses, which are making such wonderful greens in America.. These make a close, even mat. which excludes other varieties of grasses, and so interwoven are the roots that strips of the turf several yards long may be lifted by the ends without parting in the middle. One of the greatest troubles in New Zealand, with its rapidly advancing population ana values,'is continuity of tenure for golf clubs. Even freehold does'not guarantee that clubs will not be "frozen out" by the rates. In An^rieaV where motor-cars and petrol are. cheap, everyone who can afford a gjjlf subscription finds it easy to reach- his country course, and some of these are laid out to compare favourably with the more expensive city clubs. Greens in New Zealand have improved wonderfully in late years, but there is still much that could be done. Abe Mitchell's Length. A feature of Abe Mitchell's victory over P. H. Rodgers, in the News of the World £ 1040 tournament at Wentworth, was his tremendous driving and miraculous iron play. There was his enormous drive, followed by a light iron shot to the niuth, a hole of 515 yards. And though he was away over at the back of the green he chipped back and got his 4. At the 11th, a hole of 500 yards, he hit a drive of 340 yards in length, and with a half-shot with a mashie was hole high, putting for a three. In this case a 4 was sufficient, gowever, it should be explained that in each instance the wind, very forcible and gusty, was at t.he players back. Even so, this represented hitting of a type rarely seen on any golf course. But the most impressive shot, one denoting the true artist, if not the genius was Mitchell's cleek shot to the 16th. a hole of 462 yards, with the green fiendishly guarded on all sides. The wind was blowing directly in his face, and, though the ball was lying none too well, Hit? chell picked it up as sweetly and as cleanly as if it has been perched on a pinenshion." Boring its way like a rifle bullet through the wind whistling down the gully, the ball carried all intervening obstacles and finished a few yards short of the ilag. At any time, and in any conditions, a 4 at this hole is an achievement calculated to create intense satisfaction »to any golfer, but in the particular circumstances it was a most notable accomplishment.