GOLF

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 11, 12 July 1930, Page 22

GOLF

fiv "cv/Mrnr* ■■ LIGHTER BALL

WILL IT BE UNIVERSAL?

GENERAL NOTES

The golf fixtures for some weeks have been of a rather uninteresting nature, chiefly card and pencil affairs which, however engrossing to players, have not the interest of match play. Heavier courses have kept -the cards fairly high so far. New Ball at Last? Argument has centred in the size and weight of the standard golf ball for years. There has been a gradual change of opinion in favour of a lighter ball for some time in America, ana apparently, from statements appealing in the American Press, tho lignter ball is about to become generally accepted there. Tho present diameter of a' golf ball is 1.62 inches. The new ball will measure 1.68 inches, or six-hundredths of .111 inch more in diameter, but its weight will bo reduced to 1.550z. It will therefore be bigger and lighter. The new ball will be optional at present, but it will become official in tho United States Golf Associations in January. The difference, to anyone who has not played golf, may seem trifling, but the player knows just how much this is going to affect his game, .especially the long handicap man. For one thing, there will be a small loss ■of distance, six. yards in 250, or. so, and three or four yards oil the iroiv shot. In the shorter shots it will make little differenco as to length, but in tho long game, with - courses in many instances built lor tho heavier, moro compact ball, with less wind resistance, and a longer roll, it will undoubtedly leave the average golfer some leeway to make up in his shot to the green. According to some authorities, tho new ball stands up better in tho rough, or in a bad lie, and it should be easier to hit whether off tho tec or on the fairway. This may bo so, but here the second great factor comes into the proposition;- tho ball must be hit more truly than the heavier one to secure the same results. Trilling errors in tho streke with the old ball often did not make much difference to the shot; but it will not be possible to get the same run from a topped shot with the new ball, while slight slices and pulls that showed only at the end or the shot formerly will.-.begiii to show up' sooner after the ball leaves the club, and will be greatly magnified by the time the ball has come to "rest The same applies in a less degree to putting, though no doubt the new bail" will be a relief on fast greens, as it'>can bo •hit moro firmly than the old* Good golfers need have no fear of it, though, it-may plant records, where1 they are, for all those whoso ball does not go sweetly oft' tho centre of the club. The courses over six thousand yard's will be harder without doubt, because the longer shot to the pin needed will call for greater accuracy, owing to the peculiarly tell-tale behaviour of the,: lighter ball when it is not struck It should" be able to pull up on a welltrapped green in a shorter' spae'e than with tho Did ball, and for thbse who ' can lay such shots with cut or backspin, tho new ball should have merits in that respect. If it adds several strokes to the course for the' scratch player, it will not be a disadvantage, as.;.it was time that something came to light to make, golf harder for the-cracks, otherwise courses would have.'had. to ba strengthened to a point where, tie long handicap man would derive little pleasuro from his round. One thing is, however, certain-,-that many a man who thinks he is a golfer with the present ball "will alter bis'ideas when He. comes to play with the new- one,: which is calculated to give full effect too all his foozles and miss-hits. , The..size, of the now ball is said to give confidence; let us hope it will not. be misplaced," as its use seems likely to become universal. How Tolley Crashes. . -; Great hopes were centred in the Walker Cup in Cyril Tolley, who, as British champion, was- given the honour of leading his side, his opponent being tho American amateur champion, Harrison Johnston. He had an unfortunate start, losing three out of the first five holes, which Johnston accomplished in, tho startling figures of 4, 3, 3, 4, 4. Tolley never got the holes back, anil at the end of the morning round was still 3 down, with a score' of 76 to the American's 73. A magnificent recovery by Tolley in the first few holes of the afternoon round raised the hopes of the crowd. He won" the first in S, putting his iron shot atone dead. Tolley,, accomplishing the first four holes in 3, 4, 3/4, won three of them and.squared tho match. Now was his opportunity to rub it in, but ho flatterd only to deceive, for" some unaccountable slips, which caused the crowd to gasp with horror, saw the deficit grow and grow until at the.ninth he, was.again S down. Playing with resolution and dash, the American.not only stack to hia lead of three holes, but added two more to th« account and won by 5 and 4. Wanganui in Form. ' ■"' , Wanganui had a remarkable victory against Napier in the Wilson Cup, which the Napier Club has hold for three years. The cup wan played oa the Belmont links. The Wanganui pairs lost eight out of nine of the fourballs, but won every singles match without exception. Presented to the Manawatu Golf Club in 1904 by the late Mr. G. L. WiJson, a former member of the Royal. St. Andrew's Club, the cup was given for competition among clubs^ other than, Wellington and as far north as-Hamil-ton. . The Napier Club annexed tha trophy, only to be beaten by Manawatu, who were in turn defeated by Wanganui. Manawatu, Eotowai, and Masterton all had victories until the cup came back to Napier, where it remained till Saturday. Easy Generosity. , Ono of the New Plymouth Club** oldest members celebrated his 69th birthday during the week-end, and he was in a rather reminiscent mood, says the "Taranaki Daily News.'f One of tho tales he told is well worth repetition. On one occasion he was playing with a friend of the Hebrew race, and about half-way round it commenced to rain. His friend was getting very wet and rather sorry for himself when a youth turned up on the scene and offered to curry his clubs. Surprised and pleased, he lost no time in accepting the offer. When they were playing the last hole the Jew began to think. "You know," he said, "I.think we ought to do something to reward this boy. It has been very good of him to come round through this rain. You give, him half a, dozen balls and I will give hint a club." A littlo bit puzzled as to why he should reward the caddy for carrying hia opponent's clubs, he handed out the balls without demur, and his friend then disappeared into tho clubhouse and duly arrived with a mashie, which he presented to the delighted boy. The member was frankly puzzled at the generosity of his friend, and had a good look at the club, which he found to be quite a good one. Then, however, an idea struck him. "I sa)', old chap," he said, "was that ono of your own clubs that you gave the kid?" "Oh, no," came the ready answer, "it was one that I gaw inj the corner over there before we cam* out!. 1! ' ' •