GOLF

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 239, 27 September 1930, Page 10

GOLF

XBy

“Putter”)

HASTINGS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS. SEMI-FINAL. H. G. Davios defeated J. B. Wilson in the semi-final of the Hastings Club championship on Wednesday last by 2 and 1 after a most interesting and hard-fought game. The golf displayed throughout was of a high standard. They started the ball rolling with a pair of s’s at the first holo, but the second cost them 6’s through faulty approaches, Wilson got a nice four at the 3rd to boconfo one up, but Davies equalised with a three at the 4th to make the game all square. Ho also secured a three at the sth to become one up. Wilson was rather unfortunate at the 6th. He pulled his tee shot out Into the manuka on the left, thereby losing the ball, which fact cost him the hole. At the 7th both got good iron shots away, and Davies sank a long putt for a two, making him three up. The Bth and 9th were halved in fives. Davies going out in 39 and Wilson 443. When they turned for home, Wilson was three down, and it was at this stage that he showed great fighting qualities, he reeled off six 4’a in succession and reduced the lead to one, truly’ a great performance, but Davies hung on tenaciously and won the 16th with a nicely played four to become dormy two. Both got good drives and seconds at the 17th, which was halved in 4’s and so ended the match in favour of Davies by two and one, after a" game that was full of incident. Davies will now meet "Bricky” Budd for the club championship. He has not so far won the Hastings Club championship although ho has been knocking at the door on several occasions. Is it his turn this year! He has certainly earned the distinction of being a most consistent golfer. Their respective cards read approximately: Davies: out 5 6 5 3 3 5 approx. 255 —39.

Wilson, out: 5 6 4 4 4 6 approx 455— 43. Davies, in:4 5 4 4 4 5 4 4 6 —4O. Wilson, in: 44444454 5—38. * • * INTER-CLUB GAMES. The team of golfers from the Hastings Club that visited Waipawa during last week end to try conclusions with the local players, had some interesting games, and cn the day’s results there was very little between tho teams. The course, although only of nine holes, is quite an interesting one, and one must congratulate tho energetic committee of tho elub upon the manner in which they have carried out heir work. When one takes into consideration the difficulties that the club have to work under, it speaks volumes for their enthusiasm for the good old game. Parkvale Club also sent a team to try conclusions with Mt. Herbert Club, and if all one hears of th’s little club bo ' true, well, one feels suro that it is going to be most popular. Tho course is also a nine hole one in the making, and when completed will be quite good. DISPLACED BALL. A correspondent to the Sydney ‘•Referee” writes thus:— “In your answer to correspondents on May 21, the following question and answer appeared: Question —“A” teed up from an unplayable lie and displaced ball in addressing. Is there any penalty 1 Answer —“If a ball in play is moved in addressing, tho penalty is one stroke. This does not apply on the tees.” This reply is somewhat vague. Do you rule that the player “A” incurred a penalty of one stroke! If so, I would respectfully disagree and submit, that in accordance with the rules the player could re-tee tho ball without penalty. A teed ball is not in play until a stroke has been made at it. See decision 333, page 48, of “Decisions of tho Rules of Golf. Committee,” St. Andrews on this point. Ans: “We cannot see that there was any “vagueness” in the answer. A ball is in pity from the moment it is driven off the tee and remains in play until holed out. It does not eoase to be in play because it is picked out of an unplayable position and teed up, any more than if, in the samo circumstances, it ia were dropped. We take it that the “teed ball” referred to in the decision quoted is a ball played from the tee, not one picked out of an unplayable position end teed up. If a ball were dropped and the player moved it when addressing he would incur a penalty of one stroke and tho same holds good when ho has made a temporary tee from which to play.

PROS RESTRICTED TO TWENTY.

The decision of the New Zealand Golf Council to restrict the profession al ehampionship this year to twenty players has caused a lot of dissatisfaction in the ranks. It seems a reasonable enough suggestion that qualifying rounds should be played, and then tho players would win throne on their merits. Who is to say that any one player left out is not as good as some that may be selected in rhe twenty? MINIATURE GOLF. Miniature golf, which has sprung into popularity in England and Ameri ea, is already under way in New Zealand. A course is in the early stages of preparation m Christchurch, where a second one is shortly to be put in hand, and another is to be commenced almost immediately in Auckland. The initial course in Christchurch is of 18 holes, and is being laid out In an undulating garden at Ricearton. The fairways are of varying shades, nd will have plenty of hazards to call forth the skill of the golfers. As is tho case with the full-sized golf courses, all the holes will bo named. Night play will be possible, as the course is being fitted with electric light, A house which is situated on the section will provide a pavilion and will contain a tea-room. At the entrance to the course a rustle office is being erected where the admission charges will be collected,