GOLF AND GOLFERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 152, 12 June 1936, Page 12

GOLF AND GOLFERS

SHOTS IN THE BUNKER “One-Out” Depends on Loft ACTIVITIES ON LOCAL GREENS

(By

“Stymie.”)

“Don’t play the sand which is hehind the ball; but play the sand which is underneath the ball,'' says Horton Smith. The gist of the idea is Just about this: When you have it in mind to play the sand back of the ball you are inclined to make a flatter stroke. Sand • driven flatly against the ball propels it forward flatly with but little loft. It is likely to strike and be stopped by the bank of the bunker and trickle back down into the pit bottom again. Naturally, above all things, a bunker shot must have loft. So, if you play the sand underneath the ball the bladeloft will force that sand against the ball with an upward thrust. Loft will be assured, and a “one-out” will become much more of a certainty. Try a fairly upright back-swing, brought rather steeply down, directed with skilful accuracy just the right distance from the ball, and driven on through just beneath the ball. “Cn through” is important to maintain the upward pressure of the sand ou the ball, so that there will be ample im<petus and height to get out safely, and to hold safely on the green. Hastings Club’s Matches. The Hastings Club’s mid-week medal round was played under perfect conditions at Bridge Pa last week both as regards the weather and the course. H. G. Harvey and R. Vesty headed the list with a net -72 each, and will have to play off for possession of the trophy. Saturday’s competition was a bogey match in which the Colonel suffered defeat at the hands of several players. D. G. Sutherland 3 up and C. J.I. Campbell 3 up headed tho A grade division, whilst three other players, H. H. Edwards, D. H. O’Donoghue aud P. E. Clifton followed with 1 up aud 1. Elliott all square. The B grade was won by G. 0. Craike 1 up with M. R. G. Matheson all square, ft was again noticeable that the equivalent medal scores compiled by these players were better than the B.S.S. of the course, and they only need to produce tho same class of golf to figure prominently in tho qualifying rounds for the chib championship which appear ou the programme for the next two weeks. Ladies inter-club Contest. A team of Waimarama ladies visited Hastings during tho week aud tried conclusions with the Hastings Club ladies, the honours resting with the homo players. Tho stylo aud the distance obtained by some of the country players was very impressive, and with a little more experience Waimarama ladies will no doubt bo supplying some good material for a try-out at the local tournaments. Local Bules Nullified. Players on the Hastings Club’s links at Bridge Pa should note that all local rules have been rescinded aud that play is from now on governed strictly by tho Rules of Golf only. No ball may be lifted for rabbit scrapes, sheep tracks or wheel marks. Tho first fence at the sixth fairway and at the back of tho fifth green has been declared a boundary fence, and the local rule permitting the dropping of a ball two club lengths from it no longer applies. A ball lying in rushes, maram grass, scrub or near tree standards may not be lifted aud dropped under a penalty of one stroke as formerly, but must bo played or dealt with under rule 22, or Stroke Rulo 11. The decision declaring a ball unplayable rests entirely with the player himself, and in match play lie must elect to play the ball as it lies or comply with rule 22, which provides for the replaying of the shot from where the last was played, under a penalty ot one stroke. In stroke play, lie also das the option of dealing with the situation under Stroke Rule 11, which permits a ball to be lifted and teed up anywhere ou tho course behind the bo, under a penalty of two strokes. Players should make a point of buying a copy of the rules and making themselves properly conversant with the rules and the changed aspect of the play. Hastings Annexes Greenwood Cup. The inter-dub match Hastings versus iVaipukurau was played over the weekend, under glorious weather conditions. The A grade teams of 20 men played on tho Marakeke course, and the B grades ou the Hastings course. Both mat dies resulted in wins for tho Hastings teams by good margins. The results of the first twelve matches at Marakeke decided the possession of the Greenwood Cup, which Hastings lifted from the holders and brought home. The singles games resulted in three wins, two losses and one half and the four-ball games in seven wins and five losses for Hastings. The total being 10} wins to 7} losses. The results of the whole sixty games on both courses gave Hastings 41} wins to IS} losses. The hospitality received by the visitors at both Waipukurau and Hastings was most cordial and the day was thoroughly enjoyed by all, players. The opinions expressed by visitors iu Hioif’

farewell speeches indicated the enjoyment derived from tho inter-club matchs and the benefit to their play which resulted from playing on a new course. Parkvale “Heads” Ousted. The qualifying round for the Parkvale men’s foursome saw the elimination of a largo number of tho top players who failed to gain a place m the first eight. At least eight of the top players, including Watkins (2), A. Lean, C. Campbell, R. Attwood, Hixon and J. W. Graham all failed to gain a place aud it will bo interesting to see which pair can win the greater number of matches. Tho following eight pairs qualified and will now have to play each other: Louis aud McKay, Nowling and McPherson, Cummins and Smith, Puhara aud Barr, Muir and Sullivan, Parr and Crichton, M. Campbell and Nikera, Merritt and Toothill. This year thel committee decided that all competitors play each other but it looks on the face of it with the club championships and inter-dub matches still to play, that this particular competition will be difficult to finish. The players will have to get started right away. Waipawa v. Park vale. The annual friendly match with Waipawa was played at Parkvalo over the week-end under ideal weather conditions and a very close game was tne result, fa the four-ball match in tho morning Waipawa had a lead of one game but could not hold tho advantage m the afternoon, Parkvale eventually winning the day by one game. This year tho teams were arrayed more in keeping with their respective handicaps aud there is no doubt this accounted for the very close contest. One Waip'awa player, Trevena, on a 17 handicap struck a purple patch, covering the first, nine holes iu par figures (33) aud going ou to do tho second nine iu 37 or four above tho par of tho course. Needless to say the Parkvalo player was. like trie man who fell out of tho boat: he jusi wasn’t iu it. parkvale Ladies. This week tlie Parkvale ladies start off with the first qualifying round for the club championships. There are u largo number of ladies playing this year but the standard of golf is not as high as previous seasons and it loons as if Miss McDowell should have no difficulty in retaining the ladies’ championship. Maraenul Championship. Tho second qualifying round of the Maraenui Club championship played last .Saturday saw some very steady scoring, George Templeton heading the field with a gross 79 followed by Arthur Boggs and Bert Templeton with scores of 82. The B grade division includes twelve players who qualified for tho A grade, while not one player in the C grade qualified for the higher grades. P. Martin, who heads tho B division, also takes third place in tho A grade where ho heads off experienced players of tho calibre of W. Turner and It. D'jthlc, both former club champions. W. McNish failed to qualify in the A grade but managed to get a place in the B division. Bill docs not appear Io have struck form this season so far but he may be expected to extend his opponents in tho match play. He, incidentally,. was tho first winner of the Lady Mac Lean Cup, which is competed for annually on the King’s Birthday. Frank Logan tops tho list in tho C grade and is now playing very steady golf. lie will have a big say in the final disposition of the cup. The fine weather experienced during the last week had the effect of making the green very fast and many players were all at sea on the greens for'the first few holes. Tore Up His Card. C. A Whitcombe, Britain's last Ryder Cup team captain and winner of the Dunlop-Southport tournament 12 months ago, provided the sensation of the tournament by withdrawing from the event in the first round He played steady golf, and after turning in 37 was only two over 4’s with two holes to play. At the long 17th he hit a tine second shot, but it was a little too strong and tire ball came to rest against tho trunk of a small tree in a coppice behind tho green. Whitcombe thought that he could just back the ball away, but it went into a footdeep hollow a yard away. After two fruitless efforts to dislodge it Whitcombe picked up his ball and retired. This is the first time in any tournament that Whitcombe has torn up his card. Service Rewarded. J. Anderson, lather of Miss Jessie Anderson, who toured New Zealand with the British Women’s golf team last year lias just completed his 25th year as professional to the Craigie Hill Golf Club, Perth. Scotland, and to mark the occasion the club made him an honorary life member. Divots. Remember in driving to control Lie back swing solely by the left hand and a straight—not rigid—left arm.—C. J. H. Tolly. Slick to the iron mid the iron wiljl stick to you. —Alex Herd. Do not worry about tho man who persistently out-drives you; concentrate entirely on your own game; play your natural swing and strive all the time to keep straight.—Percy Allis*. I believe that the great golfers IhiiiH of three things when playing any old kind of a shot, namely, relaxation, slow back swing, and keeping the eye on the ball. —Francis Ouimet. The more the left wrist is in advance of the ball the less will be the loft on tho club face and the less the ball will rise iu the air.—Sir E. Holderncss. Tlie good stylo should bo tho result of the good golf, and not the golf of the st vic.—l’. A. Vaile.