GOLF NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21991, 29 March 1935, Page 5

GOLF NOTES

[By Sues.] There was much enthusiasm at the St. Clair Club, when, on the occasion of the holiday last Saturday, players indulged in a stroke handicap in the morning and a four-ball bogey handicap in the afternoon. A, B. Watt is to be congratulated on his fine 72—10 62, and there is ho doubt that his handicap will be materially altered. Scarcely less creditable is J. E. Maca»: sey’s 75—10—65, while S. Goldsmid returned 80—12—68. F. H. Elsom returned 79 —10—69, and H. A. Gamble had a 74—4—70. These scores reflect an improving standard of play, and the writer predicts that in the near future quite a number of players will reduce their handicaps to near scratch. In the junior division a 62 net was registered by J. M. Paape, an improving player, with a card of 76—14 —62, while O. L. Garden came second with 79—16 —63. Twenty-two players returned a net-of 72 or better, which is surely a record. In the four-ball bogey, D. C. Bennie and J. Dobbie and S. Goldsmid and J. W. Delbridge proved excellent combinations to finish 10 up, while J. M, Paape and J. Ramsay had 9 up. It,was a pity that no match was on the programme at the Otago Club last Saturday, There has been rather a dearth of matches lately, and the players do not thus get an opportunity to bring their handicaps down. Matches, too. are most profitable to the club, as well as keeping up enthusiasm. The official opening of the Belleknowes Club will take place to-morrow, when mixed Canadian foursomes will be played. AT THE MACANDREW BAY CLUB. Mr J. M'Phcrson, president of the club, welcomed a very large attendance of members and .visitors on Saturday last at the official opening of the club for the season. He dealt briefly with the progress, the club had made, and wished members ; a successful season. After afternoon tea had been handed round, mixed foursomes wore playea for the .president’s trophy, this being won by Mr and Mrs Deaker, with Mr A. E. Hellyer and Miss Whyte second. To-morrow a medal round for men will be played, and a similar competition’ will be held for ladies after they have met at 2.15 to elect their captain.

The. 1935 handicap regulations, which were received by the New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Union from England recently, show no essential differences from those of last year. Club secretaries and handicap managers arc asked to note that the special rule for New Zealand only, by which all medal scores returned at provincial tournaments were; accepted for handicapping purposes, has been' rescinded and, , with the exception of medal competitions played during the New Zealand championship meeting, the Ladies’ Golf Union rule by which only the first 18 holes of the day may be used for handicapping purposes is to bo enforced. Last*, year’s drought in Britain had a bad effect on golf courses. Probably for the first time on record the old course at St. Andrews, was closed for eight .weeks. When play was resumed in December the course was played in a reverse direction, in order that it would benefit thoroughly from its recuperation, and it has also been arranged to close it for a further period of six weeks during the growing season so that it will bo thoroughly recovered for busy weeks ahead next summer. The December issue of London ‘ Golf Illustrated ’ states that an augmented staff of greenkeepers has been labouring on the famous course making good the effect of the drought. Greens have been spiked, sanded, and top-dressed, bare patches of the fairways have been grassed, and large tracts have been returfciL Among the important events to be decided at St. Andrews in the near, future are the Scottish amateur championship, of 1935 and the British amateur championship of 1936. “A seeker after pleasure " is the apt description by an English critic concerning golfers who will not practice. It is admitted that practice is hard work, which requires much self-discip-line, and is not nearly so exciting as competitive or friendly games. In these days, when everyone or nearly everyone desires to excel at golf it would seem remarkable that the number of peopje who practise seriously is small. ’ There should be no need to emphasise the value of practice, as everyone should know by this time that golf demands it more than, most games owing to the variety of shots, and, also because the actual ' conditions alter frequently. When practice is thought a tedjous business it is suggested that if two players decide to practise together—when they can play shot for shot—a slight competitive instinct will be aroused and practice will become more interesting.