GOLF

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 144, 20 May 1939, Page 7

GOLF

MANAWATU TEAM. The Manawatu Golf Club’s A team to play the Palmerston North A team at the week-end, the first 12 players to defend the title 'to the Wilson Cup is as follows:—K. Glendinning. 0. H. Williams, N. Amon, W. J. Goodwin, E.. R. Chapman, J. M. Ramsay, W. Moffatt, P. Sinclair, W. W. Smith, W. F. Greenbank, S. W. Rapley, P. Barraud, J. Aitkcn, J. Mabey, M. A. Ongley, and J. M. Sliand. NOTES ON~THE GAME. MANLY’S DOUBLE GREEN. ONLY ONE IN AUSTRALIA. (By “Bunker.”) The Manly Golf Club has begun tho construction of a large double green, which will be the only one of its kind in Australia. The green, which will take the place of the present 12th and 16th greens, which, are at present in close proximity, will greatly improve both holes. The idea originated with tho club captain, Dr M. Thomas. During a recent trip abroad ho saw the leading Scottish courses, which have many double- greens. At St. Andrews there are seven double greens on the historic course. It has many attractive features compared with the present flab greens. It is cleverly trapped by five well-placed bunkers, and also contains three hollows on the putting surface. When aproaching the new green the player will find his margin for error greatly decreased. Ho will play to a Jongci and considerably narrower green than previously. , , ~ The opening lor tho second shot to the 12th will bo governed by the correct placing of the drive, which can make either an easy second shot or a most difficult stroke over either of the guarding bunkers. A large hollow about 18 inches in depth is on the right-hand position of the green to catch a slightly pushed second shot. A slice further out will find the bunker A pulled second might stay on the back of the IGtli hole part of the green, where another hollow of stnulat size divides the green into two portions. Botli these hollows are actually parts oT the green and have the tendency to make putting from them more difficult. . A player approaching from the parfive 16th will also have his target narrowed, but not decreased m length. At the back of the green there will he no trouble for a strong straight shot going too far. Tho two _ large hunkers which mark the opening to the careen will not bo deep, but then presence will give the hole chaiactei. The alteration will lengthen both holes. A drive and pitch hole at tho 12th will bo turned into a testing two-shot-tClt will he interesting to see how the green fares as success will no doubt mean that when future alterations are considered similar greens may be constructed. They save much m time and labour and add greatly to tho cliaim of the course. Bobby Jones’s Comeback.

Bobby Jones made his usual reappearance in the -sixth annual masters tournament on the Augusta course, New York, at the beginning of April, but a (r ain showed that he could not pace it with the professionals who are playing regularly. An American critic states that ho hit his drives as lustily and his irons as crisply as e.ver, but when a golfer competes in only one tournament a year, as Jones does now, the shots that count are made on the putting green. Jones began to miss easy putts, and lie was soon out of the running in what proved to he a record-making tourney. Ralph Guldahl, last year’s open champion was the winner with an aggregate of 279, nine under par for the four rounds. ’There was a surprise at the half-wav mark when Gene Sarazen took the lead by a stroke, with a round of 66, which tied with the record. The circumstances under which the sensational score was fashioned wind, pelting hailstones and a downpour of rain—made it one of the great rounds of all time, eclipsing even the 66 he made in the last round of the United States open the year he won. Byron Nelson some years ago also had a 66, hut in far less trying conditions. Sarazen (73 —G6 —-139) had a lead of one stroke from Snead, Guldahl and Nelson when the third round was commenced, hut it was left to Snead and Guldahl to provide a thrilling battle for the win. Snead finished with a 68 to break the previous best record by two strokes with 280. Guldahl started the last nine needing a 33, three under par, to heat him. He got a birdie, two pars. Then he hit a weak, 220 yd. drive on the 480 yd. thirteenth and" his chances seemed to be gone. His ball was in a downhill lie, in front of the green 260 yards away was a deep, water-filled ravine. Without hesitation, Guldahl took a. spoon instead of a safe iron, sent the ball across tho ravine to the green, six feet from the cup. When he sank the putt for an eagle 3 the tournament was his. The British Amateur. The 167 entries for the British amateur golf championship, beginning at Hovlake next Monday include the title-holder, Charles Yates, of America, who is ambitious to emulate Lawson Little's two successive victories. The former world tennis champion, Ellsworth Vines, it is suggested, may be one of tho surprises of the tournament. D. C. Collins, of Wellington, the former New Zealand representative cricketer, lias been drawn against C. S. Buckley (Blackwell). A Record Equalled. After an interval of 13 years Bobby Jones’s record of 66 on the old Sunningdale (England) course has been equalled. William Smithers, formerly a caddie there, and now assistant to Michael Bingham, accomplished this remarkable feat —eight strokes under tho scratch score —when winning the recent Guilford and District Alliance championship. An Unusual Happening. N. Whitfield, The Lakes Club (Sydney) president, who recently holed the sixth hole in one stroke, had his card marked by G. Brown, the club captain. A few years ago H. Witham, who was then president, also had a one at the same hole, and his card was marked by the captain—then N. Whitfield. This do s not mean that the feat is confined to golf executives.