GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 April 1927, Page 13

GOLF

Conditions on the local course are improving materially; the long grass which tvas the bugbear of players coming down rapidly. The greens generally are good, some of them really excellent and a pleasure to putt upon. The great drawback to the fairways is the chance of getting a bad lie where the hummocks occur. This, of course, will be lessened as the course is played over, but it is very trying at present. The course generally, however, offers plenty of variety of shots ancl for that reason is interesting. But the more play that takes place, the more the course will improve.

It may not be generally known that the handsome gold cup which forms the trophy for the Wellington Provincial Championship was the gift of the officers of the 11.M.5. Encounter in 1912. It is a particularly tine trophy. A. D. S. Duncan maintains his form in wonderful Style and still outstands as the greatest amateur New Zealand ever produced. He lias Avon the championship seven times; in 1913, ’l4 T 9, ’2O, ’22, ’25, and ’27, and appears to be playing as well as ever. His great golfing temperament Avas amply eA-ideneed by his match Avith Drake in the final this Aveek Avhen after being four down at the turn he A\ r ent on to rattle off a brilliant 34—3, 4,4, 4,3, 4, 3,5, 4, tAvo 1 under 4’s. That Avould take a power of beating- by the very best. And yet Duncan Avon by only one up at the 18th, after halving the 17th and 38th.

Dr. Ross once more proA T od his brilliance and consistency by Avinning the Otago Championship' for the third time in succession. He is CA’idently at the top of his form, a Aerv satisfactory fact .just as lie is about to go to Australia for the Ivirk-Windeyer Cup Competition.

Chong’s A’ictory at Ncav Plymouth Avas a- cry popular for he has been playing consistently ivcll for the past season.

Ekstedt. is a name vvcll-knoAvn in Manawatu golfing history for the present champion, av-lio also Avon it last year, lias been a prominent and popular player there and also on other courses for a good many years. His win Avas popular, though his opponent 11. .Hutchison, is also held in high esteem in the Manawatu Club and gave Ekstedt a great struggle for victory. It is Avorth notice that the runner-up took Bsktedt to the 21st hole, a proof of the keenness of the contest.

Tavo Australian players had a very close game in the Unrtersity golf match. Grinnvade (Cambridge) and Oppenheimer (Oxford) finished on the 41st. green, in the former’s favour. The Avhole secret in the enjoyment of the game lies in the art of being able to go straight to your oAvn ball and find it Avliere you Avanted to find it.

For some considerable time a rumour was abroad that a neAv golfing journal was to find its Avav into the Dominion golfing circles. The authenticity of the news Avas established by Mr. P,. 0. Jacobs last Aveek. The journal Avill take the form of an illustrated monthly, the first edition of Avhich Avill be ready late in the year. -It is unfortunate that the first copy of the journal will not be published till the tail-end of the golfing season, but its usefulness -will be proved by this time next year.

From the annual report of the Epping Forest Committee one gets an idea of the athletic energies of the Eastern suburbs. During the year pitches Avere set apart for the use of 90 cricket clubs, 207 football clubs, 93 hnvn tennis clubs aud other organised games. There are three golf courses in the forest, at. Theydou Bois, Ohingford, and Woodford. It is proposed to expend £I,OOO on alterations, improvements and extension of the golf course at Chingford. It AA'as announced recently that the folloAving nine professionals have been officially inA'ited bv the? Professional Golfers’ Association to represent the British Isles in the proposed tour iii the United States of America this summer, to take part in the American Open Championship, and in the international match for the Ryder Cup (states “The Sporting Life,” London) : Aubred B. Boomer (St. Cloud, Paris). A. Compston (unattached). „ George Duncan (WentAVorth). , George Gadd Roehampton). A. G. Havers (Coombe Hill). Abe Mitchell (private, ’St. Albans). EdAvard Fay (Oxhey). Fred Robson (Cooden Beach). O. A. Whitcombe (CreAvs Hill).

As w'ill be seen, the constitution of the team is very similar to that of last year, when the Britishers won by thirteen games to one, with one halved. On that 'occasion Whitcombe did not play, but his brother, E. R. Whitcombe, and H. C. Jolly w'erc included, the teams being ten a side.

Tlie president of the British Merchant Tailors’ Federation, Mr. James Weddell, speaking at Brighton, said there had been a great increase in the number of men wearing plus fours, but the suit was wrongly named. He wished he could find a new name for it. This suit, he added, stood for something more than the expert golfer. Even golfers knew that. In fact, to be an expert meant generally to be seen wearing an old pair of flannel trousers, full of creases, and a jacket bursting at the seams.