GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 August 1926, Page 13

GOLF

NOTES. All keen golfers know the exasperation! of lieiug kept waiting, whether through the fairway or at the first tee. Hagen kept Ahe Mitchell waiting 30 minutes before lie arrived on. the second day, which resulted in the downfall of England’s leading “pro.” Hagen has incurred some very eauistic comments by American writers' on his loud-mouthed attitude over hi® victory. “The high-water mark of boorish impertinence” is kind compared with the suggestion that Hagen had been celebrating his victory before lie happened across the reporter. It was chiefly by masliie and putter that Hagen won, as in the* long game he was beaten all the way along. Hagen’s method was to lay approach shots close to the flag and bole the put. Starting off four up on the second day, Mitchell lost'his lead in six holes. In his round of 68 Hagen had only 28 putts, and' in the 17 holes in the afternoon 29, 13 under two’s for 35 holes. There wais still hone for Mitchell at the sixteenth, when Hagen pushed out a. bad iron shot, hut the hall hit a. lady and stopped handy. Mitchell’s hail lay in a cup. and lie topped it. The true story of the origin of the game of golf is vouched) for by the Morning Post, which says: “Golf, as everybody knows, began in Scotland about the time of the Reformation. ■John Knox, ais is also well known, had sadly discomforted the Evil One, who up till that time had: had it very much bis own way in that country. When the Prince of Darkness discovered that the Sabbath was kept with iron: strictness, that- gaining and cock-fighting had gone altogether out- of fashion, and that even swearing was practically unknown, he bethought himself seriously of some method by which to reintroduce original sin into Scotland. He discovered that the professors and undergraduates of St. Andrews,- Who had 1 once been Ids' boon companions, now walked straitlv and sedately along the links by the seashore, where they supposed themselves to be beyond' the reach of temntaion. It was then, that lie cunningly insinuated’ into their minds a new use for their walking sticks, which was' something .so diabolically calculated between chance, and skill, so alluring and so baffling, so tempting and disappointing, so exalting and yet so shattering to human pride, so vexatious and :so provocative that within a week it. had drawn an oath from a Professor Divintiy. Thus

the Devil .squared the match against .John Knox on the Old Course at St. Andrews, and he has never, they say, been quite out of business since. It is long since such keen interest has been shown in golf in Haver a. both in the Men’s and the Ladies’ Clubs, and this fact is most cheering and promises well for the future. The course has shown, steadv improvement ever since the dry spell early in the season, and that in' the outside area is beginning to he quite marked. As one looks over the new country to he

taken in, one cannot fail to be rmnressed with the possibilities' the future holds in' store for players. The experience of the past proves that that country will come in rapidly. The improvement already is quite evident, and' the new greens are coming in well.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. The second i-ound of the Men’s Club will serve to maintain interest unabated, and will provide a. number of excellent matches. This year the drawing was done in the ordinary way, but in order to ensure a. .maintenance of keenness and enthusiasm and* to also keep in the later rounds the leading players the committee' will probably adopt the automatic draw, as used' at the championships and in many clubs. This means that the draw is taken from the qualifying rounds—No. I plavs No. 16. 3 plays 15, 3 plays 14. and so on. In this way, as a; general rule, and except in the case of a. surprise result, the top men oomei on into the later rounds, and the semi-finals and final are inereaed in interest. PERSONAL. The only remaining first round fixture in the seniors was played, on Wednesday J. Quin beating Vinnieombe, and the draw is now complete for the second. There are still a number of the juniors to lie played, and it is* hoped they will arrange as early as possible and so expedite the playing of the second round. Leo. Quin is playing great golf, and in his final for El'tham championship broke 80 oiv each occasion. He has also been playing equally well at New Plymouth. His form shows' that in. the New Zealand championships at Miramar he should be a serious challenger for the title. CHAMPIONSHIPS. N.Z. open and l amateur, at Miramar. October 15 to 23. Others to be played are: Manawatu, September 8 to 10; Hawke’s Bay, September 14 to 17; South Auckland. September 21 to 24; Wanganui. October 7 to 9; Seafield, October 23 to 27. A FINE POINT. It is reported that a blowfly which flew on to a ball hanging on the lip of the hole was sufficient to make it fall in. This appears to be an agency outside tile rules, and needs no explanation or excuse. IN CHINA. . Golf in Shanghai dates back tio 1868, when Mr Ferrier, of Scotland, went ou t and. with the golf instinct strong in his blood, formed a small course of six holes. Later a nine-hole course was formed and later extended to 18 holes. In succeeding years the game progressed, and from 1909 the amateur championship was. played,, being won bv Mr Ferrier. Golfers, from all parts of the East came later to play for what was the championship of China. The. game is still progressing.

COMMUNIST GOLF IN ENGLAND

I always like getting the Metropolitan Golfer (says “Anlcl Beekie” in the Referee). Some kind person sends it to me. I don’t know who, or I would write and l thank him. Ini the last issue to arrive, is a pretty par: “The Communists taking over a. golf course in England was 'hailed! as a triumph for Socialism. Punch says the triumph will not he complete, until all the scores-, made there are added together and divided equally among the players.” .

THE QUESTION OF PARTNERS

INFLUENCE ON YOUR GAME. 1 The stern work of competitive golf has started, and, to me, it does not get any easier, writes Arthur Havers. have been playing since I was old enough to swing a club, and the game gave me no serious trouble until I went to America. What happened during the tour I cannot say, but, from the time I returned, the position has changed. I have heard Abo Mitchell say that he is satisfied that liis trips have not been to his benefit, and, though it is something of a mystery, it is possible that in my own instance, the different conditions in America were unsettling. Starting iny professional career under Ernest Riseborough at Sheringham, I have competed in first-class golf since I was 15. Indeed, at 16 I entered for the championship and passed through the qualifying test at Prestwick. That Was the year when Harry Vardon won the title for the sixth time. One incident at Prestwick occurred at the 17th hole, where the second shot is over the top of a high hill and a deep bunker lies on the other side at the foot of the green. I thought I had played the shot well, but when I got over the hill I found my ball in the hazard. And what a place! It was lying in a hole, and close to the face. I thought I should never get it out, but in some wonderful way the ball rose straight, and better still, it finished stone dead. At the age of Hi I was better pleased with the shot than L might bo now, for I am afraid that, I should think that it was touched with luck.

Competitive golf always creates a feeling of anxiety, and for the first two or three holes I admit, that I am a little nervous. From this aspect it does not seem to matter whether it is stroke or medal play. Personally- I prefer medal play, although in some respects it adds to one’s responsibilities. Every blemish is recorded on the tell-tale card, whereas in a match you may take ten to a hole, and it only means the loss of it, and forget all about the disaster. But in a match things happen so quick ly. You may lose two or three holes, and your chance, of winning has departed. At any rate, it is a mighty difficult matter to get them back. It is not, of course, so bad in 36 hole matches, but in this country we get too few of them, though they are undoubtedly the better, and the fairer test.

In stroke play I airways feel that I am not merely playing against one man, but against the whole field, and that is helpful. Again, if you make a. shaky start, there is always a chance to pick up the strokes which you have dropped. In both forms of golf I do not think it is fully realised how important is the part- played by one’s partner or oppo-

nent, for we are all usually inllueboed by him for good or bad. A good player is a fine ally; For instance, it is most, helpful in assisting in the judgment of distances, but in this matter you must know your man. If you were playing with Abe Mitchell, and he took an iron when you thought the shot demanded a spoon, you Would probably be wrong to follow liis lead, for the simple reason that he can get further with an iron than any other player. A partner’s style is also important, lie may swing quickly, and by watching him yoiAvill unconsciously be liable to accelerate the speed of. your club, with harmful results. A player like Duncan, f(*r example, might influence you, as he has done many of his opponents. There is one professional Duncan declares lie can always beat, provided lie can get the honour, for from experience he knows that his opponent will at once fall into the trap of swinging beyond his normal rate. Probably one is influenced to a greater extent in the putting than in any other phase of the game. Give me a good putter to play with and I shall have small reason to complain, no matter what his faults may be. - One is, bound to v r atch the other fellow on the green, because he can be so helpful in the all-important matter of strength. But even in this it is easy to be deceived. A player’s ball stops just short of the hole, and tiie natural conclusion to draw is that the green is slow. But there, is the possibility that he has\ struck the ball badly. •

Again, he may miss a tiny putt, and the thought at once fiasdies across your mind that you may do the same. Should you be left to hole a similar one, the position is still worse, for you start trying to find out why he failed, and it is extraordinary what difficulties can be discovered when you begin to look for them. And all the time v 'the putt was missed for the simple reason that the ball was not properly*, hit.

Unless you are sure of your opponent, or partner as he may be, the player who decides to ignore him altogether may- be wise, because whilst he can undoubtedly be a help, he can also be a hindrance. As another instance of how you may get into trouble, when you see a man cut a shot into a bunker and you have still to play, it is not easy to get the hazard out of your mind. At all costs you decided that it must be avoided, and, in making sure of doing so, you commit an equally bad mistake.

In a word, you must settle for yourself what “information” to accept and make use of and what to reject. If there is any doubt it is always best to rely on one’s own judgment. To entertain opposing ideas is usually fatal. You fall between them.

To sum up, score play has more responsibilities than match play, if only because you have to carry your score on your back to the finish, unless you take the easy way out and .tear up your card. That, however, means the end, and it is not one that the professional contemplates.