GOLF

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 April 1933, Page 2

GOLF

SIX-INCH HOLE TEST. LONDON, February 16. Gene Sarazen, the American and British golf champion, is laughing up his sleeve ovei' what he calls his eightinch “leg pull.” It started in this way. One day Sarazen was all at sea with his putting, and he remarked: “These holes are much too small; they ought to be eight inches in diameter instead of 4J.” Some one seized on the idea, and, making Sarazen father of it, used it as a stunt. And it is still a stunt and nothing more. But although no one takes the idea seriously, an enterprising club has decided to make a test. Instead of eight-inch holes, however, they have decided to confine them to six inches, and they have arranged an open amateur tournament on these lines. At the same time four professionals, Abe Mitchell, Ted Ray, Alex. Herd, and probably Harry Vardon, are to play an exhibition match under the same conditions. The club cut holes, measuring both six inches and eight inches, on a green to see what they looked like. The eight-inch hole was ridiculous, and the six-inch one looked very big. But without any idea of rebellion against the present size, it was decided to see what would happen in play with a larger hole. It ought, of course, to make some difference to the scoring, but whether it will amount to as much as might be expected remains to be seen. It is bound to lead to more venturesome putting, because there will be little fear of running out of hole distance if the first putt is missed. But it is doubtful how far off the hole the player may be able to consider himself dead. I should say that four or five yards would be the maximum. In the circumstances, only the player who places his approaches accurately will gain any advantage. On the other hand, the third putt ought not to enter into the game.