GOLF

Hawera Star, Volume L, 27 August 1930, Page 7

GOLF

HAWERA CLUB NOTES HANDICAPS REDUCED STANDARD OF PLAY RISING (By “Donnie. ”) The only fixture not eonipleted' of tlie schedule drawn up early iu the season is the return inter-club match with Inglewood, which is down for play on their links during the first week-end iu September. The match committee has been very busy of late, arranging the championship draws, but it is quite likely early in September further competition events will be staged up to the date of our annual tournament, which will commence on October -d. so. as members drop out of their respective championships, other events will come 'along to keep the club interest going. During the last week two inter-club fixtures were played, fhe first when our mid-week members .-journeyed to Manaia, where, after many very evenly contested matches, our team came off second best. As a team the Wednesday playersi are not of the strongest, and on this occasion; several of the lower handicap players could not make the trip, so the result i\vas‘ somewhat expected, but nevertheless our team fought gamely and on. several instances good golf was witnessed Our JManaia friends go out of their way to treat their visitors right royally and with the ladies’ assistance an excellent bill of fare was placed before the Hawera members. Needless to say, it was enjoyed.

The second club match was held over the week-end, when we entertained Stratford for the return match with that club. This match consisted 1 of fourteen-a-side, the games being played as. four-balls. On completing the morning round our team was one game down, but during the afternoon this leeway was made up and Hawera eventually came out victorious by seven games to six, with oixe all sJjuare. Before lunch the match was'played' under good conditions, but early in the afternoon rain set in and somewhat- marred a good day’s outing. Morpeth and Whitehead, after suffering a loss by a small margin, evened matters by winning the afternoon game. Our second pair. Wills and Hay-MaeKenzie had a comfortable win in the first match, but could only halve the second effort. (Gibson and Champion met two hard men: in Neal and Newell, losing both games by good margins, but Vinnicombe and McAnerin squared this by winning both their games by almost the same difference. Meyrick and 'Sugar, after playing two evenly contested games, went down in each. Our four lower members, Grace and Me'Hattie and Muir and Mortlock, accounted for Stratford’s bottom four and registered four wins for Hawera.

ANDERSON CUP FINAL. In almost every instance the matches played through tjiis event—a handicap one—were of a most close nature, the games being won by very narrow margins, while a number went past the eighteenth hole. If nothing else, it must certainly show that the individual handicaps of our members have received close attention to get results of this nature; .right from the early stages the club interest displayed in this fixture has oeen very marked, i Much interest was noticed over the final between W. G. Sutton and St-ur-roek and many were the opinions expressed as to the outcome. During the week-end this match over 36 holes was played off and again a great struggle was witnessed; in fact, the golf played by both was worthy of far I more experienced' nlavers. ) Sturrock took the first hole in a four, a half in bogey fives at Trough leaving him still one up. only to- give it away at the next, where Sutton’s

five took the hole without the assistance of a stroke. Sturrock at Hummocks. with a four, again got ahead, but a bad fire at Crater squared the match again and Sutton got- ahead at the next, but not for long, as a six at Sandy Hook gave Sturrock the chance to square. A stroke at Egmont made Sutton one up. while T.upins was halved in five, and with a three-at Smoko he was two up. Sturrock. not to he denied, took the next three holes and became one up. Sutton here took a hand in the game by , registered two wins at Fairfield and i Pacific, hut his lead was short lived, for Stnrrocok. with a. four at Return, squared. A nice four at Cooec gave Sutton the hole, only to play Troon badly and so they lunched all square. Sturrock taking 86 and Sutton 91 strokes. Beginning the afternoon round with indifferent fives at the first hole, Sturrock then began putting across some fireworks by doing six holes in

a row in fours —a great performance—iand became four up. This effort was beginning to have its effect- on Sut- • ton, but by taking Egmont . without I the stroke in. a five lie stopped the \ prospects of a rot and, recording a half at Lupins, followed by another win, (Hit new life into liis play. Sturrock became three up with a good four at Plateau, but from here on the conceding of three strokes to Sutton proved a little beyond him. Cliff, badly played, allowed Sutton with the aid of a stroke to knock one off. Westward Ho was halved in fives, while at If airfield another stroke came to Sut- , ton’s assistance for another win.

Sturrock. playing perhaps Ills worst hole all day at Pacific, saw his lead disappear. Then followed two halves in lives, and with his last stroke Sutton managed to keep the game alive at the 36tli. The strain was now telling on both players, for their tee shots at the 37th were not the best, but Sutton, recovering well and sinking a good putt, saw Sturrock miss his and the’ Cup. The afternoon rounds cost Sturrock 86 and Sutton 93. Considering the I rain, these figures are a credit to both players. Sutton is to be congratulated on winning this event, for he had to brush aside several good ! players to get there. Sturrock’s perjformance is also full of merit,, as lie 'by no means had an easy run to the 'final, and to ‘‘Donnie’s” mind was set 1 a hard task to concede Sutton six strokes each round. He also had to play the last nine in what is perhaps the greatest test in match play; that is, to have a commanding lead and see it gradually disappearing, for every hole lost gives more heart to the player down, and it is then very hard to stop a rot. THE QUALIFYING ROUNDS.

One of tlie main events of tlie season Was completed last Tuesday afternoon, being the final day for qualifying for our championships. "Unfortunately

this season, through conditions not be- [ ing satisfactory on the Wednesday set down for the mid-week members to qualify, the committee reverted to the old system of allowing a week iu which to put in a card. Undoubtedly this is not a good plan, for in the true sense of the game all members should attempt to quality on the same day, but in a club such as ours, where the members are broken up into mid-week and week-end players, it can easily cause an unsatisfactory state of affairs. From the number of cards returned it is easily seen that great interest was taken, for upwards ot 90 members returned scores.

At a glance the gross scores do not show anything ot ail outstanding nature, and, on running through, many names which were considered certainties are among the unfortunates. The senior division was headed by O'Gallaghan with a 79, followed by Little with 82, and Loth cards show good, sound golf, strangely marred by two sixes at the same holes, Fairfield and Return. Quin with an 86 was third, several strokes worse than this player is callable of. Then came a big drop to 90, in which were found Syme aml SturI'ock, two players who have been steadily coining down tlie handicap list. Baigeut, Morpeth. Pratt and Pease were all below their true form, the last to get in being Lewis (96). a score which this player should have bettered. It is surprising to see such a marked range between the top and last qualifying card, there being a difference of 17 strokes, which is somewhat unaccountable, for conditions on the course and the weather were in favour of good scoring. Perhaps these were, too good and. with the aid of the card and pencil, more than our fellows Could withstand.

Coming to the intermediates we find a much closer state of affairs, the first eight returning cards better than the lowest of the seniors and the difference being only 9 strokes between the top and the bottom. This grade is headed by Champion and C. Turner with 91. closely iollowed by Ryan 92, Clarke 93. and then three on 91, Simpsun, Powdrt'll and Jones, and a little lower down we find three young players in S. Anderson, Grace, and \V. G. Sutton. It was mainly in this division that the surprises were noticed. for to find Meyrick, McFarlaiie, Harrison and Lawn unable to break 160 is next to inexplicable, for all four have been playing well this season, well down in the nineties, while two of them, McFarlane and Harrison, know what it is to bring in cards better than 96. The result must have been disappointing to them, for since this round good cards have been returned by most of them

111 dealing iwtli the juniors it is good to see file Hotter than three figures, four of which, 1 understand, are the best cards returned in competitions by these players. Itobb, who has been struggling hard to beat 1(X), did so to advantage on this occasion to lead the field with a 95, while McHattic was in good form to top all previous efforts to be one stroke more. Dalgettv with 97 is third. This player has an extraordinary habit of doing nine holes equal to senior standard, only to crash badly over the remainder, or lice versa. Moftlock and IS. Enieny, with 98 (the best cards I re-’ member seeing from these two), came next. but from there on 'tall figures were registered, finishing up with

Morris 111, thus making a difference of 16 strokes with the toil card. Here again are missing- many names who have in the past returned scores considerably better than those that got in. and one can only assume that the strain must have been too much on this particular occasion. Nevertheless. although many who were considered sure to qualify are out of each division, ‘‘Dormie” can see many great games -ahead before the ultimate winners are known, for a number have not as yet, by a good deal, reached what they are capable o.f, and many considered with excellent chances will fall by the wayside.

In conjunction with this qualifying j round a medal handicap was played, which immediately shows that the scor'ing though it certainly looksi poor from a- qualifying point of view;—is by no means as bad as it appears at first glance, for no jess than 18 members returned’ cards equal to* or better than their handicaps, while! another 27 cards show nett results of 80 or better. "Robb head’s tlie list with a net 71. and thus takes what “Dormie” believes;: his first _ trophy. Closely following are five 72’s (Little.. Ryan, McHattie. Emeuy and Mort lock I and then 73 claims five names', ami so- on in ties of one stroke until the 80 mark i-s reached', absorbing in all some 35 names, which: really must- be considered a good result, and show!-; that members’ handicaps' are well judged. AN IMPROMPTU MATCH.

j,nst .Saturday no fixed competition had been arranged, but it was a. good idea of someone’s to put- on a sweepstake lor a trophy, which, to most goiters was; well worth, winning. Anyway the suggestion was well supported, some 40 members joining in for the medal handicap—and it would be well worth while for similar competitions of this nature to be staged outside ordinary dub fixtures. As in most of our competitions this season-it was by no means a runaway victory, for Baigeut had to put on some good golf when doing an S 3 to hea d the list, with; a net 71, only one stroke ahead; of Williams. Baigent is beginning to show what lie can dlo', and •’•Dormie” fully expects bettor cards than this from him yet. Williams, who is perhaps playing more golf this season than usual, was also in good form, and after him comes five with net 73 Murray Page. Syme (who will not be kept down). D l . Ryan, Jones, and Horner. Even in an impromptu event of this kind, when only those present could take part, there were 12 members to return a net card equal to or better than their handicaps, while a wither 10 recorded nets, of 79 or less . I certainly think our standard! of play is on the up grade. Now-a-days every competition ~ causes several members to suffer reductions in handicaps, and what is more pleasing, most of them arc still producing better figures, even better than those on which the reductions have been made, warranting in many cases still further reductions. Taking this competition and the qualifying round, reductions in handiitulips have been madle to the following members:—Little to 8. Biaigent to 9, Robb to 22. D. Ryan to. 18, Williams to' 26. S'yme to 11. There arc about. 10 other's who just miss a reduction.

HINTS FOE BEGINNERS—AND OTHERS As a large majority of members will £gr n week or two be very busily en-

gaged playing matches iu their respective ('lirtmipiojiisfiipis, j. wouildl suggest ad should inaKe them selves; thorougnly conversant with the rules of golf governing match play before beginning in their games. For the benefit of the more, junior members 1 will just lightly to lull on a. few points that are sure to erep up during these games. First of all after arriving at who has the first honour (usuafty decided upon by toss) remember that from the second tie onward the player winning the previous hole has the honour—if a half be registered it is at the previous tee—remember should you tee off out of the correct order, vour opponent may reread your drive—fro is sure to do it you nit. a long ball—there is no other penalty. A!so> take care you do not tee off

m ii’imi ul tue while discs,for n you: do he can again recall’ your drive without penalty. All through the game see that the bad lying: the furthest from the hole is played first, and when on the putting green if doubtful, measure the two. distances. All stymies under rules of golf must be played. A stymie, is when one ball is lying on the line of putt of the other ball. The ball nearer the hole cannot be lifted unless, of course , both .balls are within six inches of each other. At any time, should you

piay your ball before your opponent when it is life right to play, lie can recall and you drop another on tlic spot where yours was lying without penalty. Remember, tnrougli the green you alway s drop a ball—should the occasion arise ; —from the shoulder, but on the putting green you replace it.

All balls must be played from where they lie unless in. any ol our recognised sheep tracks, etc. A ball touching dung may be lifted and dropped, but on no other account can a ball be touched except tor identification, and ' then vour opponent must be laisked' fi-jfeb. Should your ball hit auu move your opponent’s, he may if. lie desires, replace it—this is only likely to happen on the green—but see that it is done immediately. You may hit the flagstick with your ball without penalty, but as either ol you can take the stick oiit do' so but be careful where you drop it. Don’t be too generous in conceding your, opponent short putts;,, it is not expected of you, but on tile other band don’t be too 'hard or close.

When playing through the green—that, is down the fairways—foeep your ■ba‘il in sight, and remelber .that if you play your opponent’s and the njistako is not discovered until after your opponent lias played his next shot, sdu lose the hole. Naturally, should :y£ur r,ypouent play youis after- you have played! his, there is no penalty; you just carry’ on until tlie hole i® played out. then change balls. Get a firm grip of the hazard rule and its penalties —and' don’t grotmd your club! ,

See that your clubs, etc., are not; in. the way on the green, and should any incident crop up which you dan hot agree upon, get a ruling as soon da possible. Play the game for all itf-ie worth- —namely. ' play Shard,; only bo fair—and treat it as a .apwt:: not ag a business. I . .’ f