GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume L, 30 July 1930, Page 7

GOLF

(By “Donnie.”)

HAWERA MEN’S CLUB

PROGRESS OF MATCHES SEASON’S FIXTURES

July 30.—Four-ball bogey- . August 2.—Senior l'our-ball and junior AugSt r 3 b —llnter-club 1 Inter-club v. Opunabe. at AugSTlTand 9.—Medal handicap. August 13 and 16.' Championship round.

Agava the -weekly competition < bogey .handica’p—was seriously. affected bv in'edeiment -weather, the mid-week members ex-pcirien-cing a strong wesjt-e-iilv wind, while on Saturday the after noon was punctuated by severe showers and a 1 wind 1 Wowing, iM'f a gale, uhich made conditions far from pleasant, with the result very few earths' ive.re returned, the smallest number for a competitions this season .On We.Wescliay not a, member considered liis iftort aoiod enough to fafeo the light of day, but on Saturday a number were placed in the box. onllv one of which was outstanding. Not withstanding the severe penalty of suffering a rcdKietioir in handlcab of fi .strokes,- Sy.mc, by playing »ucd ; o-olif. c«ime in with the excellent card of one up. amdl was many points ahead of the, next man, Hakrisoii, o down; then followed a number from ti to 7 down.

A bo°‘ev competition is a hard round i to* Wav under: the best of cohdlitrons, so there is perhaps some .little excuse for the poor reteuits in this fixture. All hand si a'ppeiajred to be bothered with the wind, and the greens—though they -were in good order—were very difficult to get or keep on, as the appraaehs at. present are very dead. Sylire’s card showed a very evenly balanced! round of Sb, the only_ blemish being at 7 at Lupins. 'Fbr this resWt he suffers. :i| further reduction of two stroke's and! from now -on 'figures with those on the. 12 mark. Now he has struck form and giving morei attention to the ga'me lie is going to be a hard nut-to craick next month, when the championships are being eo-mte'stecL ft will surprise the writer if he (Hoes' not account, for mlany of those on or around his baUdiciaip.

AV G Sutton, it is understood, did a. round on '.Saturday of 3 down but, hearing of S'ymcis. card, destroyed Ills which is hardly the right thing to do, 'for it make's the duties of our liau- ’ dicap committee that much harder to } equalise lia'ndfcqps, The committee, hearing of this, and. taking > rnt'ci account pa's! performances of this player, | have decided to reduce him 4 strokes > —so he is ueiw on 22.

IX TEIJ -'CL UI-1 iM'A TCH EH A great deal of trouble and inconvenience was experienced during the week-end in- finding a team to meet, our Inglewood friends. Only tour senior members were required, yet to °-elt this quota both the Anderson Cup semi-finals had! to be put off, as these plovers were required to fill l up our teiafm. It certainly 'does not. reflect inu'eh credit on our senior division when few are ready to fulfil intei-club engagement's. This is not by any means the only occasion of this kind this season, and. it’s up to our fellows to correct this position. ■.Certainly, our ellub has a great number of -these events to ge'f 'through in a- season (some .1-5 all told), a|nid undoubtedly it is a drain on bur members, and as far as- I can, see in fu'tuke years -it looks as if we were to; meet each blub only once, instead of twice as now, it might overcome the difficulty. This is most, unfortunate, for it is a simple matter to gc't the more junior members for these matches, but as team's must be matched as near as possible, it would hardly be the right proceedure to make coin team one of juniors completely. ‘lt is a matter which is •almost entirely in the hands of members thelmselves. and it’s only fair to 'the club that they should show more ready acceptance of these engagements . than’ in ‘he- past. The mat'ch against Inglewood, though played in vile weather, turned out a very even contest, the morning games

ending with both tda'ius square.' buft. m , the afternoon t lro! Haw era players' got 1 -the best- of it by a, margin of two 1 games. From accounts the Inglewood (member's enjoyed! the outing and l are .looking forward to ,u: .return match ait Inglewood, where out members are assured of a. good day. for they ,go- out j of their way to do al.l- that is possible | for their guests.

LliM IT irAX'DIUAd’ j During the last ten days several games have, been played in the 'Limit Handicap competition, and though the progress is fair there still remain some six matches to be played l before the second round is completed. ■ It is up to these liielniibei's to bestir them'.selves and finalise this round. it is l quite likely several cannot arrange or feel thev are not. capable of contesting these games; if so, it is their duty immediate-']v to advise their opponent and the match committee that they desire to forfeit. Until this is (Tone no marked progress can be shown. 'Should anv member be in doubt, a » 'l° ""'l lo should be playing, the draw is on the nod ice board: ’at, the l 'club house, all tin played se'cond 1 round matches -were published in last. 'Friday’s “Star.” _ _ Last year a trophy for .competition' among the limit division aroused tremendous interelst among all members of the club. The success shown was evidently much appreciated 'by the donor, for ho bias presented another trophy this season, which has been ■styled by 'the committee as the: Limit Ch urn pi oivship. This fixture, which will commence! at the same) time ns the other e'lub championships, will be contested on championship lines—that is | everyone will play off the same mark. As there are same ,50 members on the list, to overcome the difficulty being expCuiem-cd with the .limit handicap at ■present under play, “Donnie’ ’ would ■suggest; that a. qualifying- round be played! by these members and say perhaps tho* best 32 'to be drawn to playoff. By acting on thi ssuggestion it would 'iniiUedlately cut: out those members whci do not wish to take part — there being a few—and then the event could be proceed at. a good pace and much interest: be displayed. iWitli to w.iny beganne'rs this season, sc'iliethin'g of this nature Will have to be reverted to to make the fixtutc the success that it is entitled to.

PH IS WEEK r S COMPETITION j This week’s .competition is m: four- J bait bogey, seniors pairing with seniors and juniors with! juniors. As in. all ] four-ball competitions the scores are likely to be (weld u‘p on bogey, but as all know, when, trying to get the best of the Oil'd Man -anything may happen, so let ’» hope a big entry comes for•TViaTtt for this eve nit; aliso* let the cards •come in, for if is only fair to the committee. as wdl'l as to ithe members tliem,selves that cards be returned. FLINTS TO BEIGINNEIRS —AND OTHERS. Following on from last week, ne shall now take what is. perhaps the most important phase in the playing ot "oil’ and one which causes more unipleasantness and heart rending than anv other fault in golf. Tins is: When can a member play his stroke and (the rights and) wrongs of playing through. First, no plafer can hit off from a tee until the party in front has pmVed his second, or is out of range. Also, you must not play your second until those in front are perfectly safe or outof orange. If members will always health is in mind no kick will ever come your way, for it is' a hard and fast condition’ with no mercy to the offender. When this was first framed golf courses all over the world were by no means as crowded as they me to-day, so to take this literally nowadays it would naturally hold up a field. lo overoome any delay, meinlDeTs nav c only ±oi use plain common sense. We all‘know our capabilities, as to how far we can hit a. ball with any club- mid provided- we allow for a. ‘little extra km"th -unexpectedly obtained at- times, especially in dry weather, a player could proceed with his shot when he knows it is impossible for him to- bridge the distance between his ball and the player in front-. By doing this it is possible to- keep- the games closer together and does- away with a great amount- of holding up’ This practice must be carried out Tight through the round. Secondly, never play up to a green until the party ahead have holed out and moved away. Thirdly should you have missed your putt' do not try it- again, unless, of course, you, have the links to yourself. Beginners- always bear those- points in mind and no harm will ever come your way. . . ~ Now we come to “playing through, which means- the act of playing through a game in ir-ont of yours. There me occasions when a- game must give way that is stop and let- the next game through. One is when any member of your game loses a ball, either on the fairway or out! of bounds. Snould tins happen, you must immediately signal to the players behind to come on and when once done on no account can you proceed ivith your game until those you si"iia-lled through are completely out of range. No matter should the lost ball be found, as it Avere, almost immediately; just sit. doAvn and fight , a cigarette, going to the edge ot the fairway to be out of the way. Another occasion for a rest is when you find that your game has lost its distance from the players ahead this happens when you find yourself a tun hole’s length behind those m front. Naturally, in a club you find members Avhoi are fast and sloav, and so you must ahvay-s remember that sloW-movnig games must give Avay and on-coming games must go through. Fortunately our club- does not possess any really fast players, but it does contain a feu- slow ones, and most of them are among our senior -players, and it is a common thing to see them holding the field upi when they should, know better. Ahvavs watch where your ball! goes ; take a direction point, Av-alking freely to

it. Endeavour to make up your mind quickly on Avhat club to- use when reaching your ball, and on tlie green alwayshave you-r clubs handy ivith putter ready to- use-. On the tee have your ball and] dub ready to take your place immediately the other' player has played. Another -grave fault often noticed: is “cutting in,” that- is, leaving off at some hole and teeing off at another in sequence. This -cannot be done, and you lose- all “standing” if you do, unless there are no players Avithin a hole’s length in front or behind you. “Standing'’ is the right to hold your place, and- remember, two-ball or three-ball matches have prior standing over fourbail matches ; club- championship- or like matches and inter-club games have prior standing to all others. These matches have the right to go through should you notice them Avaiting at any time behind you.

Now we com© to divots—-they are the marks sometimes made in the turf when playing a ball. Any divot or cut made by a player must be replaced and pressed down with the foot. Should the piece of turf not he found, fill tip the mark with something else if possible and then press down; anyway, whatever happens, leave the mark as smooth as possible. Our course is an eye isore with divots. —caused by not only beginners—and it’s up to everyone to improve this condition. Should jjou, when lifting turf, happen to cover your ball with it, on no account touch it. You must play vour next shot first. A player was noticed stamping it down with his foot a fortnight ago and then played his stroke—he

thereby incurred a, penalty, for no matter what happens you can not do anthing that , may improve the lie of your ball : excepi, of' course remove sticks of or like matter that may be within one club’s length of the ball, taking care in doing so the; ball does not- move.

Bunkers. —These are the traps set to guard greens. We have none of our course, but they may appear at any time. After playing a, shot from a bunker, carefully fill in all marks or holes made by yourself before proceeding. A Caddy is any pea-son carrying: clubs for a player, and it is the player’s duty to see he does not injure the holes or green when the ground 'is soft. Should any player incur a ponalty stroke lie should intimate the fact to liis opponent at first oportumty. Those are the main features in reference to golf etiquette, and if members will only get these points: firmly into’ their minds very little trouble is ever likely to come their way—here, or when playing on other links. It is all very simple, and mainly common sense. Now, before, proceeding to the rulers of golf, I will explain the different forms of play, and. if space permits, a few definitions of golf terms. Golf games can he played by two, three or four players. Jn competitions it is usual that only two members play together, and: in that form all medial rounds' are supposed to be played, though; it is becoming general on many links, owing to the increasing memberships. to play medal rounds in threes' and fours. In a medal round the score taken at each hole is added’, making a. grand total Li- foil eighteen. This isgenerally called stroke play. Two players are also as a rule paired off for bogey competitions. This foam of Competition is rcal'iy eighteen small games in ope. as each hole is. a game cn its Own, and at, each bole l a player plats rl gainst the known par of _ each hole, strokes being taken according to the member’s handicap. In these two forms

members play against tlio field, as it . were —that is against all ether members playing on that. day. All chani- , pieonsliip and like fixtures* afe also , played m •pairs (or called singles), but veu will notice later on, when deahng with rules, the play is som-e-what different- than when playing medal or bogey competitions. Three* members can play _ a match,. and, provided one* member is playing the combined efforts of the other two. it is a recognised match and has full standing. Friend!v games usually consist of four players and these are called fourball matches. Two members can play against two others- or one* dan play the best ball of the remaining three Best ball means the member of one side who does the bole in the least number of strokes; his effort is* called the best balll. , ... , , . . Another form of four-ball i>la> lS foursomes. In this, although- toni members are taking: part, only two balls arc used, -one to each side., the i partners playing alternate strokes. Mixed foursomes is when one player on each side is a lady, likewise mixed A' competition against bogey— -as with on lv tw*o players —can also hie. -played by four member's, two’ to a side, the scoring being the same, as in singles, each player playing on his own side, recording its result from the one who- does the bole bt Now for definitions: Bogev- is the number of strokes that should lie- ta bv si. scratch -player at a hole.. * ' The side is dormie when it is as many holies up as there are remaining holes j tL Van or standard- nla-y. is uerfedt golf without flukes, always allowing for tuo putts on a green. ... .•>» Stymie: A player is ‘laid a stymie if, oil the putting green the opponent s ball lies in the lme of Ins putt to the hole. Should the balls be within six inches of each other no .stymie is allowed. Score cards are -six inches to measure this if necessaiy. . “Fore” is the call given by a playei should his ball be travelling towards or likely to hit any, person. “Hazard” is any bunker, water, ditch, bush, sand, path or road (unless excepted by a local rule). “Casual water,” any temporary accumulation caused by ram flood or otherwise. “Out of bounds,” any ground on which play is prohibited. A ball is out of bounds when the greater part of it lies within the prohibited area. “Loose impediments” denotes any obstructions not fixed or growing. “A stroke” is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of hitting the ball. “Penalty stroke is a stroke added to the .score when a breach -of any rule lia.s been committed. A ball is in play as soon as hit from a. tee and remains so until holed out. A ball is deemed to have moved if it should leave its original position in the least degree, but it is not considered to move if it merely oscillates and comes to rest in its original position. A ball is lost if not found within five minutes. . , c \ow. beginners, that is enough tor von fellows- to get bold of for this week, and I trust it is plain enough, to follow. Get it firmly into your mind and vou will lie surprised how much more ‘interesting the game will become, narticuiarlv as different points become driven home. Don’t feel ashamed to ask anvone for advice should something not- he clear, or, while- playing around, a noint crops up winch might have puzzled you. “Donnie’ is not an authority by any means and lias learnt a- great deal about the _ ga™} from bitter experience, but he is willin<r to be of anv assistance to becrinners lie can be. A note addressed care of the “Star” will reach him should tlic occasion arise for further explanation about* a rule or incident.

HAWERA LADIES’ CLUB J U N lOR CH AMPIO NSHIP. The first qualifying round of the junior championship was played last Friday. The round had been twice postponed on account, of rough weather, and although Friday morning was most unpromising, it. was .decided the round must he played. _ However, conditions iiAproved after midday, and

a fair number of players turned out. As was to be expected under the circumstances. the scores in the majority of cases were not a source of pride to the players. Miss Joyce Powdrell and Mrs Treweek were the only two who had reason to be pleased with their cards, as both managed to reduce their handicaps. The best cards were handed m by the following: Miss Powdrell 102, Miss G Death 103, Mrs Treweek 104, Mrs Gabites ]O7, Miss Violet Death 108. A medal round was played in conjunction with the qualifying round and the best net .scores were made by Mrs Treweek 104—27 —77, Mrs T. McKenzie 113—36 —77, and Miss Powdrell 102—24—78. The first two tied and will have to play-off during the week. Reductions in handicap have been made by the following players: Mrs Thomson, 87—7; Miss Powdrell, 102— 23 : Mrs Treweek, 104 —25; Mrs Pudge. 106—27: and Mrs McKenzie, 113—34. The second qualifying round of thejunior championship will be pinked off on Friday in conjunction with the August L.G.U. monthly medal round. Miss Death is in charge of the draw, which is as follows: Mrs McQuin v. Miss D. Ha when; Mrs Thomson v. Miss Richardson ; Miss E. Burgess v. Mrs Walkley: Mr.s Wake -v. Mrs Dalgettv: Mrs Baigent v. Mrs Ritchie; Mrs* Davy v. Mrs Vinnicombe: _ Mrs Gibson v. Miss E. Hawken; Miss .T. Powdrell v. Miss Hogan; Mrs Gabites v. Miss D. Meyrick: Miss IV. Huggins >v. Mrs Bright: Mrs Hawthorne y. [Mrs Treweek: Miss Buist v. Miss R. Pease: Mrs McAnerin v. Mrs Hall; 'Mrs Fearon v. Mrs R'udge; Mrs T. Mc- ! Kenzie v. Miss V. Death; Miss G. Death a hye.