Mt Denby's Standard Scratch Score To Be 72

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1949, Page 8

Mt Denby's Standard Scratch Score To Be 72

NORTHLAND SPORTS DIARY - - -

A DECISION to apply to the New Zealand Golf Council to have the standard scratch score of the Mt Denby golf course reduced by one stroke to 72 was reached by the committee of the Whangarei Golf Club during the week-end. This decision is of considerable interest to golfers generally, and will be welcomed by members of the Whangarei club, many of whom have thought that some adjustment to the standard scratch score was warranted.

The standard scratch score of a course is allotted by the New Zealand Golf Council and takes “par” as a basis, adding or deducting this for extra length of for shortages in the playing lengths of the 18 holes. A further adjustment may also be made also for additional “course value,” such as bunkering or other difficulties, as in the case of Mt. Denby, a number of comparatively narrow fairways, profusion of bush, and for the most part, well-protected greens. PLAYING CONDITIONS IMPROVED. The par of Mt Denby is fixed on the measured length of each hole, at 71. and an allowance of two strokes was made by the New Zealand Council when the course was first opened, giv- . ing a standard scratch .score of 73. Since then the course has been developed and playing conditions improved substantially and it is now considered that the allowance above par should be reduced to one stroke.. The hole selected as the one to be reduced to its par value of four is the eighth “bogleg” of 400yds. A careful survey of cards returned by leading players has shown that under most conditions more fours are obtained i than fives, and therefore the present ® bogey of five is no longer warranted. _ READJUSTMENT OF HANDICAPS. The other stroke allowed by the council was allotted by the club to the sixth hole, “Avenue,” of 405yds. It is a par four, but a bogey five, and this assessment is being retained. The change will necessitate a readjustment in handicaps and should place | Whangarei Club members on a more | equitable footing with players of simi- >; lar handicaps in other clubs, more I especially when competing in tournaj ments away from home. | It has been argued that the redue- :] tion of the standard scratch score near j to, or to par, improves the standard of ■ play, in that a player is forced to ;i shoot for par at each hole and not the s allotted bogey. i However, this does not seem altojj gether convincing and the most probi able source of improvement appears to lie in regular, hard and intelligent | practice by the player himself.