GOLF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 July 1924, Page 10

GOLF.

The season is treating the game much better during the last week or two and players have taken the utmost advantage of the opportunities. Competitions are still being keenly con tested and some good play is being shown. The coaching is going to be a great uplift for the standard of play. Many complaints are made of the tees at present, hut players must consider the terrible state into which the ground got during the wet spell. i The first round of the Royal Sydney Cup was played at Rose Bay on. Saturday. The entries were so large that it was decided to play only one round on the Monday. If two rounds were played, making three in all, which has been the custom heretofore, the players would have to start at 6.45 in order to be able to complete the final rounds in daylight. In this connection if may be noted that Killara playing only a club event on Monday had to send the players off at 7.30. What is going to happen in the 1 future in open events goodness only knows. The entries for all open golf events in Australia are assuming suc-h proportions that the clubs which hold them will have to devise some scheme to limit the number of players. To start competitions at seven in the morning, or shortly afterwards, in order to finish' in daylight puts the early starters at a very great disadvantage. “Where’s that startling woollen jumper you used to golf in?” asked one player of another ... it was worth a couple of holes a round to you?’’ “Ah, yes, I know,” replied the owner sadly, “but you see the moths a complete new nine-hole course on it and I had to chuck wearing it.” Query: A and B are playing in a medal competition and on one green A, finding B’s ball on the line of his putt asks B to move it. B promptly knocks the ball on one side with his putter and after A has holed out B pushes his ball back again to its original position and holes out. A objects that B has only a right to lift and replace. . Failing some penalty B wins the competition. The general opinion seems to be that B should be penalised 2 strokes. Answer: When A asked B to move his ball, B ought to have lifted it and marked the spot in order to replace it after A had played his stroke. There does not, however, appear to be any suggestion that B failed to put the bail back in its original position, and although B’s action was irregular, 3 do not see that he gained any advantage from it or that it involved any such infringement of the rule as to justify the imposition of a penalty. The incautious golfer had just returned from his Sunday morning round of golf With his four clubs slung over

his shoulder, liis repaints in his poc-ket, and joy in his heart at the fact that he had holed out in “one.” He met Sandy Herd in the village high street, and, with incautious joyfulness, took hold of the veteran golfer's arm and chortled out, “Mr. Herd, I’ve done something to-day which you never did.” Quick as a flash came the words, “What, did ye miss the ba?”

It was Saturday evening, and the golfing husband had returned from the club flushed nvith pride, “My dear,” he -told his wife with unusual gaiety, “I’m very huc-ked with myself to-day. Fancy. I was seven up on bogey.” “I’m very glad,” replied his wife feelingly, “that I’m not Mr. Bogey’s wife to-night.”

“Hey, • caddie,” called out the pompous golfer, “I saw you caddying for Mr. Jones this morning. Tell me, what sort of a. player is he . . . Hot stuff, eh?” “Na-, sir, he’s nae guid at a’. He eanna.’ hit a ba’.” “Really, now,” chuckled the player, “that’s excellent. I’m playing him to-morrow for ten shillings.” “Oh, he’ll beat you a’ richt,” said the candid lad, unexpectedly-

“WetherecV heats Leitch” is the courteous way in which one of our snappy morning news-sheets heads a recent account of a match between England’s two greatest lady golfers. \Ve presume the. journal in question sends its police court reporter to do its golf notes in his spare time. —Golfing. “Hullo, Billy Jones, why ain’t you been down to the links caddyin’ lately ? .. . . Did you get the sack?” “Yus!” “What for.''” “I couldn’t keep from larfin’!”

‘Hie Major had lost his golf ball at a critical .stage of the game. Recollecting the rule “Lost ball, lost hole,’’ he and his caddie were feverishly beatiim the tangled jungle. When they were about to* give up tlie bunt, a tall and angular spinster bobbed up from the undergrowth. “I think it's disgraceful that you are'allowed to drive those horrid balls about,” she cried indignantly. “Why, one came over tins way a few minutes ago and it’s absolutely ruining iny bulldog’s teeth.” A non-golfer decided to walk round the course with a friend who was playing man important match. At the first, his friend’s opponent was stymied and lost the hole. Somewhat perplexed, the spectator whispered to the player, “1 say, Jack, why couldn't that Awn 7 et thfl ball hi to. the hole?’’ Well, he was half-stymied, you see ” answered Jack. “He was what “Half-stymied, I tell you !” “'Ooh er. by jove, I believe you’re right. * I thought he had had more than was good for him at lunch. M