GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 13

GOLF

NOTES.

Hawera. players will be envious when they read that all the links ar-ound Wellington have been well patronised this summer. Miramar, which is so handy to town, and which has such a large membership, being especially popular. The course there is in excellent condition. Waiwetu links are hard and fast, but also quite playable, and the Hurt course is now getting out of the rough. A few weeks ago it was stated that a player starting off to do the round of the Hurt course had to take a box of balls with him, but now the case is altered, and anyone following the reaper around can till an empty box with pick-ups. * * * During the course of a lecture Dr. Mackenzie, who is visiting Australia, described one course he iiad visited in America, which was built round a hill. At the end of the ninth hole, members entered a tunneli, and travelled up to the tenth tee by a. lift. They also used a lift for getting to the clubhouse from the 18tli hole. Players who wander from one instructor to another have only themselves to blame, says an exchange, ir they eventually lind themselves hopelessly out of touch of the game. It must be remembered that while the details that go to make the correct golf swing are practically the same in the case of every good professional, there arenas many individual .styles as there arc good professionals. While, the player might possibly notice an improvement from a change in tutors, the time will come when he will unconsciously go back to his old style. In an endeavour to correct this lie loses touch with his new style. Then he finds himself fairly and squarely cornered. If golfers were to blame themselves more and their coach less there would be much sounder and more uniform golf wherever the game is played. * * * A popular figure in golfing circles is the chairman of the Now Zealand Golf Council (!\lr t H. C. Kirk). Last week members and officials of the council foregathered a l Hevetannga to celebrate the happy c\ent. Mr, Kirk and Mr. A. 1). S. Duncan played the vicechairman of the council (.Mr. J. B. McKwan) and Captain Conway, and in the forenoon were beaten both individually and collectively. In the. afternoon, however, Mr. Kirk got into his stride and finished 1 up on bogey, Mr. MeF.wau be ink 2 up.

AWAY WITH BUNKERS. OR, MACKENZIE’S ADVICE. Tills is how the Sydney Sun describes an address by Dr. Alister Mackenzie, the golf course doctor, on the •subject of bunkers on the Australian courses. “Away with bunkers!” Tears of gratitude stood in the eyes of Millions Club members to-day, as Dr. Alister Mackenzie, the visiting golf-course expert, made this magnificent proposal during a luncheon hour address. “Your courses out 'here are very good,” said Dr. Mackenzie, “but they have not been designed in the right spirit. There are two schools of golf —the strategic school and the penal .school. The strategists are out to make golf-courses interesting, the penalists are out to give the poor devil with a high handicap a rocky time. “I think you have been overwhelmed by the penal school. The strategists have been overpowered. There are far too many bunkers in your courses. (Feeling applause.) There is far too much rough. (Great excitement.); Your fairways are far too narrow.” At this .stage several members swooned, and had to be carried out. “On the other hand,” continued Dr. Mackenzie, “your courses are not a sufficiently high test of golf for the scratch man. 'They do not cater for a super-class of golf. I believe this is why Australia has not beaten Britain iu golf, as she has clone in cricket and tennis. COURSE CONSTRUCTION. One of the world’s most notable golt architects, Dr. Alister MacKenzie, will visit New Zealand at the end of the month in connection with the proposal to remodel the Maungakiekie Golf Club’s links at Titirangi. Interviewed in Sydney last week. Dr. MacTvensde laid down two principles with regard to courses. In the iirst place, Dr. MacKenzie said, a golf course should lie so interesting that even the plus man is stimulated constantly to improve his game by attempting shots lie bad hitherto been unable to play, and the long handicap player, or even the beginner, should be able to enjoy his round, although he is piling up a big score. Secondly, green and hazards should he so constructed that every hole will demand a variety of interesting brassie, iron, and pitch and run shots. Most golfers looked upon the hazard as a trap to punish a bad •shot, he said. Actually, of course, it was meant to make the game interesting—a sauce to the play rather than a poison. “A golf course,” said Dr. MaoKenzie, “is like good music or good anything else; not- necessarily does it appeal the iirst time one plays over it-; it grows on the many with time. St, Andrews is a shining example of how a course may be pleasurable, not only to those with a handicap of 30, but to the plus 14 man, if there ever was, or will be, such a person.”