MINTIES WERE INDICATED

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7008, 18 November 1932, Page 8

MINTIES WERE INDICATED

Golfer Down-in-ome Twice in Same Round

To sink his ball in one stroke from the tee is the dream of every ambitious golfer (states the Levin Chronicle). To few comes the satisfaction of achievement and when it does, by universal caution, devotees of the royal and ancient game, celebrate the occasion by fitting libations to the goddess of fortune, and it passes into the tradition of the place wherein it was accomplished. If such honours be accorded worthy of one who reaches what is regarded as the highest pinnacle of fame, what shall be said cf a golfer who achieves it twice in the one afternoon. The Otaki Golf Club champion, J. Winterburn, is the happy mortal who has thus placed himself in a class unique and apart, for no other feat of similar prowess is recorded in golfing annals, at least of this Dominion.

Friendly Match Was Right. The occasion was a friendly match between the Levin Club champion, Elsdon Clark, and J. D. Brown, another Levin player, and Winterburn and W. IS. Gray, of Otaki, and was played on the Otaki links on Wednesday afternoon. No. 4 hole, locally known as “The Spoon,” rvas tho locale of the sensations that ensued in the course of the game. Its distance from No. 3 is 178 yards and three strokes are regarded as par. Using a mid-iron on the outward journey, the Otaki champion sent the ball truly on its course. It landed on the edge of the green and ran straight to the peg, resting between :t and the edgo of the hole, a termination that invited and received the hearty congratulations of the other players. They little thought they would be privileged to witness a like occurrence on the inward. circuit, but so it happened. Onco again “The Spoon” ,was accomplished in one stroke with the mid-iron, and it transpired that this was the third occasion on which Winterburn had holed out in one at tho same hole. As the game turned, the Levin players won the match, but this was as nothing compared with tho satisfaction they felt at having been thrilled spectators while golfing history was being made. MANAWATU GOLF CLUB. BEST ROUND OF SEASON. With the official season of the Manawatu Golf Club set down to close tomorrow, it would appear that A. E. Ekstedt, winner of the championship at the annual tournament, will ba the first player to have his name engraved on the cup presented this year by Mrs. L. Seifert for the best gross score during the season, Ekstedt having recorded a 70 just prior to leaving for tho New Zealand open championship. Ekstedt might have broken 70 but for a lot of bad luck at the 14th. At this bole his ball was lying against a stone in a bunker and he had to play both, the hole costing him five. A four at the home hole would still have given him a 69, but he missed a short putt. It was a particularly fine round and the 31 going out will take a lot of beating for he recorded no less than six birdies and was six up on bogey. Tho return half took him 39, his figures for the round reading: Out: 43424443 3—31. Tn: 54355444 5—39. CLOSE OF SEASON. The official closing of the Hokov/hitu season takes place to-morrow and tho afternoon competition will consist of mixed foursomes. Broad Fairways—Erratic Driving. Giving the ball a long “ride” may be a pleasant sort of occupation, but it is not the sole merit in golf, declared one golfing legislator. He added that he was convinced that the increasing widening of the fairways was the cause of much erratic driving and were they decreased and the rough allowed to grow to,, a moderate length to carry a just penalty, the obsession for enormous distances would lose its attractiveness and act as a sobering influence on those so affected. The road to the hole is where the bunkers are not. Were the fairways strewn with hazards of some kind to force the player to pick out his way from tee to hole, it would render the- game more interesting and skilful. TWO BIRDS WITH ONE BALL. Mr. G. Scott, a member of the Surbiton (England) Golf Club, had an unusual experience while playing over tho course. At the ltlh. hole he played his second shot with his brassie, and the ball killed two sparrows in flight. There are numerous instances of a bird being killed by a golf ball, but only on one previous occasion have two birds been killed together by a ball. In 1925 J. Bamford, professional to the Curzon Park Club, Chester, with an approach shot to tho tenth greon, killed two water wagtails. It is on record that at Manly (N.S.W.) a player hit three balls in practice, the 1 first and the third each killing a ground lark. A few months ago, on the same course, Mr. Williams, a member of Tattersall’s Club, killed a'bird in flight

with his club during the up swing. There is no known parallel for this performance, states the Sydney Referee.

The first golfing competition of its kind in Australia took place on the Bonnie Doon links, Sydney, on October 27, for the “Valet” Hole-in-Ono Club’s Cup. Nearly 100 golfers (including associates) took part, and tbe competition promises to become an important annual fixture. The tournament was instituted by Messrs. Phipson and Co. (representing the Auto-Strop Safety Razor Co., Ltd., of London, donors of the trophies), and all those golfers who have holed in one and have received a trophy razor set and certifiate become life members o£ the club and eligible to compete in tho annual tournament. Among the competitors were a father and daughter. MELBOURNE’S £SOO TOURNEY. Golf is to have its part in Melbourne’s lavish centenary celebrations in 1935. The Metropolitan Club has announced its intention to stage a big golf meeting. A purse of £SOO or more is to bo offered, with tho view to attracting overseas professionals. For amateurs, the Centenary Cup is to be the big draw. No more picturesque setting could bo found for this ambitious scheme. With its wealth of sylvan beauty, its renowned fairways, and its testing layout, Metropolitan will bo an ideal course to house what should be an historic meeting. NEW ZEALAND TOURNEY. THRILLING FINISH TO AMATEUR FINAL. The closing scenes of the amateur final were thrilling. Both had good drives and seconds at the 18th. By this time the gallery was keenly interested in Wagg’s uphill fight, and the green was surrounded by people on tip toe. Horton’s second was a trifle short, and Wagg’s lay on tho left-hand side of the green. Horton clipped up to within four feet of the hole, Wagg’s approach leaving him rather more. Vvagg got his ball down, though it created a sensation by hanging on tho lip. Horton only wanted a half to give him the championship. He putted straight, but the ball stopped not an inch from the bole, and the match was ali square again. Tho gallery ran for places at the 37th. hole of the match. Both got well off the tee. Horton’s iron was short, and to the left of the green. Wagg played a high pitch that went past the pin on the right of the green. Horton’s chip was too strong and the ball went nine feet past the pin. Wagg chipped up dead, laying Horton a dead stymie, as far as lino went, though there was a suspicion of possible “borrow” in the slope of the green. Horton’s only hope lay in going for the shot. He hit Wagg’s ball, nearly knocking it in, and Wagg, taking the bole in four, was amateur champion for another year. SHAW THE STYLIST. The large gallery which followed “Andy” Shaw' in tho final eighteen holes of the open championship at Heretaunga could not but admire the quick decisions he made. He did not linger over his shots. His usual procedure was to walk up to the ball, select bis club, take his stance, and then send the ball unerringly on its flight. There was no prolonged or irritating delay while he examined the lie or indulged in preliminary swings or waggles. The champion is probably the best stylist in the game in New Zealand. His shots look ridiculously simple, but that is because they are correctly played, and are beautifully clean and crisp. The last few holes wmro played under very advorso conditions, otherwise ho might have been easily a couple of strokes better off. D. C. Collins, who went out with him, is the cx-cricketer. He kept Shaw extended, and was only a few strokes down on this round. Like the champion, ho does not waste time, and in that respect he is an example to many less competent players. It is worth noting that tho amateurs did very well in the open, filling four of the first eight places.