GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 March 1928, Page 13

GOLF

NOTES AND COMMENTS The cooler and more favourable weather of the past day or two has set the thoughts of the members of the summer Golf Club in Hawera towards the links, as a kind of pre-amble to the usual winter season. In the visiting companies, musical and dramatic, there are generally a few golfing cntlmsists. This was so with “Rloso Marie’ ’ and “'Tiptoes’’ Ctmipanies. One of the latter was taken down by a Hawera. player for a round and the latter reports the course as being in really good order. This will be excellent news for the members and shows that the course will be in great heart for the opening of the season this month. The rain will have made the grass grow perhaps a little too much on the nearer portion of the course, but on the seaside section it will i 111pro vq the conditions. All members arc beginning t<> look for the opening.

It is related by the London correspondent of the “Auckland Star”- that Hobby Jones lias refused a gift of JttMJ,UdO, offered by his admirers in America, and remains an amateur. He has qualified as a solicitor and it is expected that now he will come l over to defend liis title as champion of Eh gland in May. Most players find exceptional difficulty in playing a ball when they are compelled to.- stand below it (says “Divot” in the “Otago Daily Times”). This is not surprising for it is often impossible to exert any body power and the ball is hit with arm swing only. Dio not worry about this shot when it crops up. Keep a still head, take a firm, shortened grip, and a stance rather open and behind the ball. The alteration in the stance is the simplest way tq counteract the pull which often results from such a lie. 'When length ; needed and the lie is good the spoon will be found a most reliable and nq'■"uinodating club- for this type of shot. Whatever you do remember that it is fatal to press. Concentrate upon a easy swing and all will be well.

The Aberdovevy Golf Club, North Wales, has decided to offer a reward of £SO for the detection of the persons who have lately done extensive damage to six of the club’s greens. The court recently granted an injunction against local demonstrators for obstructing Sunday play. The outrage, which occurred subsequently and is estimated to cost £SO in repair, was the subject of reference in at least one church recently. when the minister sternly repudiated .such a method of enforcing religious dbio.-tion to Sunday games.

The reference to the length which is too often neglected will he of great interest to plovers everywhere. Tt is one that provides an excellent test of tin ability to- use that, most useful of all clubs, the mid-iron, one of the best in the whole category, and one in which many of the champions speealise—one too that wins them many matches

against players who do not so regard Inis club.

A worm was the cause of so much liseussion among golfers at .Bournemouth, England, recently that the Royal and Ancient was called upon for a decision. ■H. O. Shaw, of the Meyrick and Queen's Park course, found a worm adhering to- the- ball at the tenth- green. “Can I take the worm off?” he asked, and- the caddy replied, “Yes, sir, if you don’t move the- ball.”. S-haw thereupon put one inger on the- ball to.- prevent its moving and snapped the worm off, afterwards making his putt. When he returned to lie clubhouse the question arose as to whether he liffd not transgressed the rules by touching the ball. Tin: club rules committee, unable to solve tli-o •natter, referred it to- the Royal and Ancient, which ruled that Shaw should be penalised- 0110 stroke for touching lhe ball. The penalty, however, did 110 L invent him from winning the competition.

It is rare to- -record such an event, but an Australian reports that Mr. I’. O. Mitchell, managing director of D. Mitchell and do., . Did.', wholesale grocers- of Sydney, Newcastle, and Hendon, died one morning recently while playing a, round of golf 011 the link’s of the Australian Golf Club at Kensington. lie was one- of the oldest members of the- club, and as a.- mark of respect play on Lite-Jinks was abandoned fertile remainder of the day: Air, Mitchell bad been -enjoying good health and had arranged- to- leave at the- end of the month for Loudon to join his wife and daughter.

CHAMPION SWIMMER OP N.S.W. Ernest Henry, son of Dr Henry, late surgeon of B.M.S. Tahiti, holds tlie championships for sprints as well as for surf swimming. He is a great ttdvocate of Q-tol as a perfect protection from sunburn -and salt rash. It was while at tlie Paris Olympian Games that Henry .’.earned of Q-tol from Charlie Purdy.