GOLF.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1922, Page 2

GOLF.

I Conditions are quickly and steadily j j improving, thanks to good management; by the captain and committee backed ' I up by energetic work of the groundsman. This will be most welcome news < to members, who have been very anxious to get on the 18-hole course and are j now able to do so. The fairway will ' rapidly improve now, so that shortly it ' should all be in good order. Five members of the men's club went to compete at the Taranaki tournament, I where it is expected the number of entries will be easily a record. O'Callaghan has been playing well and, if he strikes form up there, should have a very good chance in the open events. The Waiwakaiho course is reported to fbe in excellent order. Competitors are bound to. have a good time if the , weather is fine throughout. ' Members who do not go away for Easter are having a good time on the local links. Easter is one of the few j , occasions during the year ( wljen all . players can get a few days' consecutive play, and nothing improves the game like consistent practice or play., J It is interesting to learn that the i New i'Zealand 'Golf CooirfciJ,. now a 1 more live and progressive body, has decided upon the conditions that shall

govern the open amateiir and professional championships, which have been provisionally fixed to be played on the j Palmerston North links on Monday, ; September 11 next. The open cham- ' piouship will be limited to 72 entries— J' j from the lowest handicap men. No player with a medal handicap of more ' than 8 can enter. The event, as before-, ' will go to the lowest aggregate scorer i in four rounds of stroke play. The sixteen amateurs, having the, lowest , scores in the best two out of the above i mentioned four will qualify for 1 the amateur championship, and will be drawn to play off by match play in each , case over 36 holes, instead of only 18 holes, as heretofore. The eight pro- I fessionals having the lowest aggregate ' , score in the whole four rounds of the "open will play off over 36 holes for the /professional iohampionship. This decision follows the ideas of the leading amateurs in England^ who lately t voted by a large majority in favour of , 36-hole match play instead of 18-holes. Up till now 36 holes have been played . only in the finals both in England and ' here, and a large element of luck must , always enter into any match over one ' 1 round only. The new conditions ought , certainly to work out the survival of ' the fittest. j