GOLF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 11

GOLF.

The finish to the senior championship gave the greatest finale to that oart of the season in the history of the club. The report will have given members, details of the play, and it only (remains to add what a sporting spirit was shown throughout. This is, of course only what one expects’of all sports, but somehow, especially of golfers, or so the members of the cult in their extraordinary pride or hautiness are inclined to think. They hone that devotees of every sport think the shine. It is that feeling which builds up a game. The match, was fought out to the bitter, or pleasant, end, according to the point of yiew in the most determined spirit, and with the utmost keenness, each strivmg his level best to beat the other, but looking for and expecting no favour, and throughout the umpire had the pleasantest of duties—he had no experiences such as a football referee or even a cricket iimnire might have—and the only decision which perhaps gave him any trouble at all was when Quin unluckily hooked or half duffed and got into difficulty at the last hole, in the place where now are rushes and part water, but where formerly was a sheet of water, and then the question was at once solved by the help of the opponent, who at once said “Casual water —lift without penalty,” and that at the most critical position of the match, This is nothing but what one expected, hut it is. worth mentioning as an example of the sporting spirit shown all through. It was typical of the best in golf. The loser made a fighting finish, a.nd was full of energy to the end. The cards read as follows: Morning. O’Callaghan— Out: 4,5, 3,5, 6, 4. 4,5, 7 —43. Home: 5,5, 5,4, 5, G, 4, s’ 4—43. Quin — Out: 5,4, 3,5, 6,4, 4,5, 8—44. Home: 4,4, 5,4, 4, G, 3,5, 4—39. Afternoon. OUallaghan— Out: 4,5, 3, 5, 6,3, 4, 4,.5—39. Home: 5,5, 4,3, 3,7, 4, 4,‘5 —40. Quin — Out: 4,5, 4,4, G, 3,5, 5, 5—41. Home: 5,3, 5,3, 5, G, 4,5,.G —42. While O’Callagha n is entitled to the heartiest congratulations on his great win over a redoubtable opponent, who played remarkably good golf, and gave comparatively few openings to catch him when once he had established his lead of three up, one can quite realise what the victory of J. Quin would have to them. It would have given the three boys a wonderful record—now they have the amateur championship of New Zealand, the championships of New Plymouth, and of Eltham and runner-up at Hawera. Even that is a remarkable achievement. The annual teams match, Patron v. President, was played to-day, and whether the result was close or'noit, the interest is of the keenest, and everyone on both sides is striving his hardest for his side. The dinner will take place as usual to-night. Leo' Quin beat his brother James last *week at Eltham over 18 holes in the senior final, two up and one. Both played remarkably good golf. Our good friend and sport, Andy Smith, made a game effort against Frank Quin in .the New Plymouth senior championship, and though beaten was not by. any means disgraced. It was another great struggle. N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. Writing cf the form of the players generally, “Buff,” in the Wellington Post, says:—lt was frequently suggested before the championship that seventy would be broken more than once—but the competitors found that it would have required a combination of luck and perfect play to do it. Wishing to he quite open about the matter, I wrote to three golfers of repute, two in the North Island and one in the South, enclosing my notes, and asking the following three questions: (1) Do vou consider, that the holes were placed in. a position on anv of the greens that was unfair? (21 What is yo.ur opinion about the greens, and do you think*-the Auckland Club could have done more than t-hev did to make them playable? (31 To what do you attribute the poor scoring in the open championship? . Mr J Carne Bidwill supports the views that I have adopted, for lie renlied: (1) I think the holes for the open ebampionshin were placed in the most difficult nositions on each green. (21 More cutting would have improved

them. (3) Weather conditions and placing of holes on greens. Unfortunately the Christchurch player approached considered no good purpose would he served in expressing an opinion, and therefore declined.

Mr A. D. S. Duncan is the first player I hay© met who differs from the opinions quoted, and ne repli..;l: (]) The position of the holes at the recent open championship at Auckland were, in my opinion, well chosen and quite fairly placed. Consideration had to be given to- the placing of tee shots by the player, but this is only in accordance' with the accepted practice in other countries, and a well-directed drive was invariably rewarded by a reasonably easy approach to the hole. In no case were the holes so placed that a sound approach shot would Le punished. (2) The greens were in excellent condition, and should have presented no difficulties, as they were on the slow side, and therefore comparatively easy. I consider everything was done oy the Auckland Goir Club to Lring the greens into first-class order. Some criticism was expressed because the holes were not changed for the second tiv’s clay in the open championship. This is certainly unusual, but that it did not detrimentally affect the play is evidenced by the fact that the scoring was appreciably better on the second day than on the first. (3) I find it difficult to account for the poor form displayed. All the conditions necessary for low scoring, including fine weather, were present, and yet there can be little doubt that the form shown was much below the New Zealand standard.” REVERSAL OF FORM. IN GREAT PLAYERS. * The crashing of T. E. Howard, the Australian crack—and to his name may be added Walter Hagen, Vardon, Tolley, and in our own Dominion, Arthur Duncan—at championship meetings, after they had 'put up brilliant opening rounds, is a matter of golf history. Writing of Howard’s ,lapse from brilliancy, the Australasian critic says; —.“Some little screw then worked loose in the machinery of his swing, and the mishap at cnee reduced the effectiveness of his play to that of a 3 or 4 handicap inan. He began to hit the long shots, which he had been executing so confidently and well, with, some inaccurracy, and his strokes generally began to go agley. His putting also deteriorated, so that it was suspected that he could not have been keeping his eye on the hole as, eccentrically, it is his' practice to do, instead of on the ball. There was quite a sensation when at lunch time he turned in a card of 83. Even then people opined that the afternoon would see "him make a- determined attempt to retrive his lost ground, much as that amounted to. Far from doing anything of the kind, i he went from bad to worse. He could do nothing right—developed a turn for Setting into bunkers, an ineptitude ii getting out again, while Iris' ail-rounc play became unrecognisable as that of an open champion. It was the most amassing sight thus to see the redoubtable and capable “Tommy” almost as much at the caprice of the game as one of his average pupils at Concord. Eighty-nine strqkes is what his last round cost him. A more striking paradox still, is afforded by the result of the long-driving competition among the women. Miss Ruth Affleck, who had been going round only with the help of two walk-ing-sticks to save her recently sprained ankle, dropped these supports to drive not only the longest hut the two longest halls that were hit, and appropriate first prize from. 29 sturdy and soundlimbed opponents. Truly has Harry Vardon said of golf, as Sam Costick cnee said of cricket, that it is a funny game.” GOLF FOR, THE MASSES. One thing the public golf course in Richmond Park has proved without the slightest doubt’ is that there is an ever growing army of would-be golfers (says Joshua Taylor, an English international,. in the Lyttelton Times). We look upon the increase in the followers of the game during the past twenty years as something amazing, but I venture to state that we have barely touched the fringe of the multitudes who are anxious to taste the joys of hitting a little white ball over half a county. I have been professional at the Richmond Park course since its opening thirteen months ago. and in that time something like 30,000 tickets have been issued. Add to this the rounds that have been played by some 500 odd five-day season ticket holders and that total must be in the neighbourhood of 40,000 rounds. On our busiest day we issued over 400 tickets. As may be understood, the course is most congested at the week-end.’ there being frequently a wait of three hours at nine o’clock on a fine Sunday morning. The first couple is usually off bv 5.30 a.m. From then until eight o’clock the players arrive in driblets, and then comes the rush. Workmen from nearby factories vie with bank clerks in getting off first.

There is much good humour in the race that takes place in the very early morning from the gate to the ballrack. Soon, it becomes necessary to issue starting tickets, then the players settle down to a wait. The practice putting course of eighteen holes helps to while away the time. At the club-house tea, coffee, bovril and other light refreshments are served at low rates, whilst often a player can be seen partaking of the breakfast that he had no time to eat at home. A cycle shed to hold sixty machines is provided free, and the convenience is fully taken advantage of. TRUE DEMOCR ACY. All classes are represented. We get the Rolls Royce (very, very occasionally), but most of the cars seen here bear only too plainly the trademarks that distinguish their usual work. Clerks and mechanics, retired business men and policemen, girls from the big London stores and the post office together with the wives and daughters of small business men are of our community. Princess Maud and her husband Lord Carnegie -paid us a visit a month or so ago. No one knew who they were. They simply paid for two tickets and started to play, and I venture to say that they enjoyed their game just as much as if it had been played on the most conservative course in the country. The outstanding feature has been the way the classes intermingle. No distinctions are made. All that is asked is that the players observe the usual courtesies of the links, and the i tiles of the game, and it must be a source of great pleasure- to the Management Committee to know that no single note of discord has, ur> to the present, been struck. Ours is a public golf course, open to anyone—open, as the Prince of Wales stated in his inaugural speech, to those who work with their beads ae well as those who work with their hands. Now what are the nrospects for other such concerns a.s this? v I verilv believe that soon every town of 20,000 inhabitants will have its golf course

—a course that anyone can use on payment of a small fee. No palatial club-houses are required, while the course need not be up to the standard of our beet private links, but, at the same time, the present day golfers will, not he content with just a rolled piece of ground with a hole cut in the middle. THE ONLY WAY. On certain golf courses the presence of rabbit holes adds to the natural difficulties. A beginner who had tried the patience of his caddie by never getting anywhere near the fairway presently saw r a badly-pulled ball disappear down a habbit hole. Scratching his head in perplexity, he fingered his unnecessarily large assortment of clubs, as he debated with himself -which implement to use. “What do .you think I ought to take for this?” he demanded of his caddie. “I’d say ye’d better take a- ferret,” was the scathing response. He: “Confound it! Everything's at sixes and sevens.” She: “Still talking about your golf game, dear?” All winds are contrary to the disgruntled player; Golf is a mirror, in which we see the best and worst of ourselves. Never cackle till your egg is laid. To believe a shot impossible is the sure way to make it so. Everyone can cure a slice but him that hath it. Two chronic kickers in any club are too many by a couple. The golfer who talks little.., talks not of himself. Physician : “You ought to have some recreation.” Patient: “But I can’t. I don't have time. I spend eight hours a day in bed, eight at work in my office, and eight at work on the links.”