HAWERA GOLF CLUB

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 26 June 1935, Page 12

HAWERA GOLF CLUB

CLEARANCE OF THE FAIRWAVS ANDERSON CUP PROGRESS NOTES EY “DORMIE.” Tho general state of the course is still on the improve. That hardy annual the marram grass is now definitely being attended to and the clearance ol the fairways of this nuisance will bo much appreciated by members. o know we should not be in the grass just as we know that we should keep out of bunkers, but there is a vast differeiice in being in a bunker and in the marram. In both cases one is rightly penalised, but in the latter case there is the additional penalty in most cases of losing one's ball as well a most unfair penalty when the grass was, in some cases, directly in the fairways. After the present clean up is completed there will be little or no excuse for being in the marram that is left.

The returfing of the Crater green is aow being gone on with, whilst attention is being paid to some of the tees. The ladies will find themselves better catered for in the matter of tees at an early date. We understand work on them lias begun already. One matter that needs the attention of all members is that of replacing the turf. Some of the scars left and the pieces of turf found nearby show only too plainly that players are not observing one of the first rules of golf. It may be thoughtlessness, lack of knowledge or even temper, but there is no excuse for it. Please replace the turf; it is to your own interest and that of the club to do so. After mil, it is your course, and offenders in the above respect are often the very ones to complain when they find their ball in a divot. LADIES v. MEN. The annual match ladies versus men, played this week, -was marred in the case of the Saturday players by the bleak weather. Nevertheless, the contest was both keen mud enjoyable resulting in a victory for the men. The ladies, however, can be relied upon to give a g;ood account of themselves, and this year proved .no exception to the rule. * This is a very important social fixture of the club, but strange to relate we rarely, if ever, play under congenial weather conditions. ANDERSON CUP COMPETITION. Three matches of the second round were played this week. Spedding defeated Galloway, 3—2. The winner is a much improved player and plays fairly consistently to his handicap, on which figure he will be hard to beat unless be has an off day. McDonald defeated Stewart, 3—2. “Mac.” is capable of playing first-class golf, and in the first round made no race of it. Like most of us, he has lapses, but the fundamentals of his game are definitely sound. McCarthy defeated Hall, 3- 1. The margin might have been greater but for inexperience. Golf, like hiosrgames, cannot be learned in a day, or even years, and it is only by playing under match conditions that real experience can be acquired. McCarthy has the eve for games and should do well.

Another reminder: Second round games must be completed by 30th inst. Yet another player has left us. O. K. Tennent has now taken up residence in Dunedin and, we understand, will be a member of the Balmaeewan club. We wish him every success in his new sphere an dtho club is indeed sorry to lose him. As mentioned in this column last week, we are badly in need of players., Our ranks seem to be depleted every year, and much depends on those younger players who are, we fear, in the minority. Those that we have, need every encouragement and a move in this direction will shortly be made in the matter of arranging a senior and junior four-ball competition for a trophy, further details of whichwill be furnished later. IE is the duty of the older members of the club to play with these juniors more than they have done in the past. One thing, we must always remember is that the future of our club depends inlmost entirely on our juniors. GENERAL NOTES. A little care in -replacing the dag in a hole will save a good deal of trouble in the matter of “badly cut holes’’ one hears so much about. The greenkeeper often gets the blame for this, whereas the damage is caused by jabbing the flag carelessly back into the hole mud breaking the sides of the cup. Further, it is contrary to the etiquette of golf to stand close to the hole when holding the flag. The impressions of the shoes left in the green just near the hole result in its being made higher than the surrounding green, with the result that a putt is liable to turn off; and miss the cup. Don’t try over again missed putts whilst others are waiting to play on the green. No one objects to you taking reasonable time over your shot, but a brisker pace between shots would reduce considerably the hold ups on our course. ~ How long is it since you handed in a card? Whether it be good or bad hand it in: it is only fair, both to yourself and th« handicapper. . . A ball may be lifted and cleaned on the putting green once, and once only. This really means what it says, and worm casts may be removed by the blade of the putter, not by the shoes, thus smoothing out a nice line to the hole.