GOLF
THE NEW SEASON. The committee of tho Hawera Golf Club had a/meeting on Wednesday and matters in connection with the opening of the season are advancing much better than seemed likely a fortnight since. Though the course is still rough and the greens neglected, some of the enthusiasts who have been over it lately report much more favourably, and, with some extra stocking, the fairways will respond quickly. The com-, mittee hopes to be in a posiiton to open on April I. This is somewhat later than usual, but Easter being late it will enable those who wish to go to New Plymouth to get in a couple of weeks' practice. McCormick, of .Gisborne, a coach highly thought of by all who have had lessons, has been busy for over a week giving tuition, and this will help very materially to stir enthusiasm. Already there is a wave of keenness and anticipation for the new season, and in all directions players have got their clubs out and arc re-furbishing their outfits in readiness for the opening. As far as the players are concerned, the outlook is distinctly good, and new members are coming'in fairly well. . All the Canterbury clubs will—and this is followed in tho majority of cases throughout the Dominion — L open their links for ordinary season’s play during March. Those which have played summer golf have naturally greater facilities for opening early. Following a disagreement regarding their scores, two golfers at Orlando, California, fought a duel with -drivers, at 50 paces. They set out to play a match on a course called “Dub’s Dread,” and after several holes had been played a disagreement occurred over the number of strokes each had taken. Heated argument following, they finally decided to fight a duel. Each took ad river and two dozen balls, and, standing 50 paces away, began to drive lustily at the other. The balls flew thick and fast, and each antagonist had been felled several times when a passer-by summoned the police, who ended the affray. Neither fighter was seriously hurt. A police magistrate ended the "argument, deciding that both golfers had lied about their scores. It’s not the dead stymie that spoils the match; it’s the inquest in the club house afterwards.
In an article giving a few hints on driving George Gadd says in conclusion: “My advice to every golfer is to practise the -waggle. It promotes freedom and helps to make the swing smooth, and it will dispel some of the doubt which most players have about the first, drive.” This will cheer one wellknown left-hander, who has been known to give 15 waggles -before the ball left the tee.
George Von Elm, last year’s American amateur champion, has decided to compete in the British amateur at Hoylake in May. Last season he tied for fourth place in the British open championship, then returned to America to fight his never-to-be-forgotten duel with Bobby Jones for the amateur crown of. the United States. Von Elm is a particularly dogged fighter, and, what is more, has the will-power to concentrate entirely on the game in hand. He will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s contest for the British amateur supremacy. At the annual meeting of the Royal Sydney Club it was reported that the membership roll shows the club to be the biggest in the world. The membership stands at 2395, included amongst which are: Playing 540, country 358, non-playing 76, junior 47, associate playing 442, associate playing provisional 235, associate country 239, associate non-playing 211. All medium players know the vexation of having a day off, but it is cheering to hear of the champions suffering likewise. A Sydney paper says on the subject: How peculiar are the vagaries of golf form! Three weeks ago, A. W. Jackson, Victorian champion, was round the Victoria course in 68, equalling the competitive record for that club. A week later at both Sorrento and Portsea he was, in his own words, ‘ ‘ playing like a fowl. ’ ’ Another week elapsed and we hear of his touring Victoria in 67. This equals the best seore ever done on this course, and as that other 67 happened to come from the clubs of Joe Kirkwood, we can vote it as being as near to golfing perfections. aS we can attain at the present stage of the game. Of course, should some genius produce a ball that will travel another 80 yards and should the hole be made larger (as is being urged in some quarters) then such scores as 67’s might be very ordinary affairs. But at present this represents marvellous accuracy.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 March 1927, Page 15
Word Count
775GOLF Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 March 1927, Page 15
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