GOLF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 November 1924, Page 10

GOLF.

The drawing for the Summer Cup competition has new been made, the entries totalling twenty-six. Members are urged to get off their first round fixtures as early as possible, so that the succeeding rounds may be pushed forward. Each player has two lives, and after each round winners and losers play in their respective sections. This is an excellent scheme and serves to add greatly to the interest in the competition. This has always been a most popular event, and with the capital conditions now ruling on the course bids this year to be even more popular.. The course is getting faster every week, and members are all having the happy experience of getting much longer balls than was possible during the winter. There is a reverse side to this asjreet of the game in that approaching is the more difficult. But this only adds the more to the interest in making players adopt a change in tlieir methods. Probably the run-up shot will be more in vogue as the grass gets shorter. ACCORDING TO CONDITIONS. Amongst a number of good l golf stories told by the famous professional, James Braid, is one concerning a crusty old gentleman, gouty as well as golfy, who happened to be playing on a course through which, in front of a gieen on the outward and inward halves, there ran a fine, clear crystal broolc. * On the way out the old gentleman had a. “peach” of a shot as he approached the brook, and he had the great pleasure to see the ball sail across and land on.the green opposite. “Beautiful course,” he remarked,

“How glorious it is to have such a SAveet, cooling, crystal stream running through the golf course.” , . On the Avay back, the. old fellow had. the misfortune to put his ball into, instead of OA T er, the stream, Avhereupon he lashed out with his volley of vocables:

“Who the deuce could play on. a course Avith a sewer in the middle of it?”'

This is not new, though somewhat differently told—but it is quite a good story.

YOUTH ON THE LINKS.

IT IS ACTUALLY DISCOURAGED IN MELBOURNE. (Referee.) [ A perusal of the season’s {jennarit lists re\ T eals no more regrettable feature than the alriiost entire absence of players who are yet in their teens. Young playets there are in plenty, but not the brilliant boy-golfers who, like Iyo Whitton, are likely to prove open champions before attaining their majority.. . When Whitton was 18 he was open national champion. Who is there in this State with any prospect of emulating tlris feat? Absolutely no one. About .130 players have appeared in pennant matches this season, and there .are but two or three under 20.

Easily the 'most promising of these is the 16-year-old Oommomvealjih iad, F. Bulte; but even he cannot be said to .have’.serious claims to State.or national titles. A beautifully free sty Ji sty Avho has not yet lost a pennant match this season, he may*in time take these high honours. A boy who can go round the Metropolitan course in even, fours is worth watching. ,

But the fact remains that, on . tho whole, we are miserably deficient in brilliant youngsters. • The ' blame for this rests with the club. Not half enough encouragement is given to schoolboy golfers. They are often looked upon as a nuisance on the course.

In Britain and America schoolboy championships, inter-collegiate matches and other events fpr golfing youth ate a recognised institution. Until w.e are prepared to give similar encouragement to our schoolboys,; Ivo Whittoas are going to remain an extreme rarity hete.

E TOLLEY ON THE JOB. In British amateur golf circles there ’ is sure, to be much elation over the fine victory of Cyril J. Tolley in the recent French open championship. As the field for this event included most'of the stars who competed iri the recent British open, Tolley ’s achievement was a sterling one. ’ . In triumphing over the best British talent, as well as the new open champion Walter Hagen, the . diminutive American wonder, Gene Sarazen, and other of the world’s leading, players,'the Yarsity star registered probably his best performance throughout his brilliant career. i As an indication of 'iris present great ,< form, he took, fifrst place among the amateurs competing in the ' British open, and at the. end of the first round actually led the expert field. A tall, exceedingly powerful man, he is noted, as a hard- hitter. By* some critics he is described as lashing at the ball with a ferocity that , is almost a frenzy. Although a long driver .at present, he does not try for prodigious lengthy as he did a couple of years ago, being one of those who in their wisdom sacrificed a little length to greater accuracy, with a result that? lias been of much benefit. Such victories as those of Tolley in the French championship and Arthur Havers in the 1523 British open, must bring great consolation to British golf enthusiasts- in these days, When they are hard put to.it to stem the American; tide.