GOLF & OTHER THINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 29 March 1909, Page 2

GOLF & OTHER THINGS.

OUT IN - THE OPEN. A HEALTHY EXERCISE. A rich heritage is the golfers. In Nelson lie plays in a perfect world of beauty, and the whole scene is brimful ofhappiness, and the heart is gladdened as the eye scans a wide expanse of sea and land. Nature has 3-ielded some of her best to the iVj.son Goif Club's Littles at lahuna. It is the sun-bunding scene mat gives tlie picture its particular charm, whilst the quiet undulating plain tieluw throws the distant hills and valleys into true perspective. To what heights they tower, and how the rugged beauty of ihe mountain ranges forms au iron barrier to the scene ! The fragrant Uaimea Plains are hidden by the foliage, bnt this enhances the beauty the more. Balmy sea air, laden with healthfulness, fills the lungs at every breath. The water washes almost at the golfers' feet, and from the shore the rich green f Blind Bay covers a wide expanse, and is in pleasant contrast with the cerulean blue above. All these glories of earth and sky are reserved for the golfeTS, or rather thrry are those who. take advantage of them most. It was such a day last Saturday afternoon when ths local club commenced its season. An exhilirating chill in the air was prophetic of -wiutry days, aud after the club captain, J. H. Cock, "drove" the first ball, play commenced merrily. A CHANGE. People generally have refused to take golf seriously. The idea of a strong man hitting a silly little white ball all over the' country side has not appealed to these unacquainted with the game. They imagine that golf is nothing more or' , I. 'ss than an expensive fad, and that it is not indulged in because ofany particu- _ lar merit of its own. A short time on the links would give the doubters a far better idea of what is really done. - They would find that the golfer is. quite entitled to be at large, and is essentially a sane man (when the game progresses favourably). All golfers wear absorbing looks "on their faces, and they are ; particularly interested in the game. But they aro out in the open, and that is golf's great charm. Business worries, and city life even in Nelson, tell upon the man, but the links are at hand to • build up the tissues, and, ns well as sleep, knit up the "ravelled sleeve of , care." A little "putting" on' the green > recuperates the nerves. Care has no home i upon the links, and seriousness is not allowed to linger there. The game takes the mind kindly by the hand and leads i it into pastures new, and its requireI ments exercis? the body without the ■ coming of fatigue. The grinding on the old groove stops when the game is 1 entered into, and the man is refreshed • in his body and in mind. The faculties ar? all the clearer, and the tendons all 1 the stroncr for a day upon the links, I and work is almost annihilated when it is ' resumed. „,_, ON THE LINKS. This beauty spot at Tahuna was dis- ; covered only'a few years ago. Its poten- ; tialities were realised by the observant, and before long it was a flourishing rendezvous. The links now cover an I area of something like 110 acres, and Jhe ; grassy slopes whisper quietness in the ! ear. Woman bears the reputation of f being formidable with a stick. It was proved on Saturday. She plays with I the ball before hurling it away like a . cat amuses itself with a mouse. The month is watering for the blow as the. j stick is flourished repeatedly _to obtain [ the correct swing or something. Then . the effort comes. The whole of the body ' !, assists in the blow, and the little white ball goes singing on its way in a great { parabola. If success has been won a r smile shines forth, but if a mistake hasbeen made the lip is bitten hard, but another chance comes soon, and is awaited eagerly. , Near th? entrance to the links a neat pavilion crowns an adjoining slope. . From its shady verandas many different . scenes present themselves. There are s many ladies in the club, and tea is one „ of the necessities of life for them, and after a strenuous game a warm cup gives new life to the golfers. On Satnrday afternoon those visiting the links were entertained by Mrs J. H. Cock, wife of the captain, in the pavilion.., THE BEGINNING. 7 For its inception in Nelson golfers . are indebted to the ladies. In the g nineties a small band of ladies, conb sisting of Mrs Stephens, the late Mrs 1, Percy Adams, Mrs A. P. Burnes, Mrs c J. Sharp, junr., and Sirs Dodson, with 7 - tho assistance of one or two men, 1 searched round to try- and securo a a place to play and a rough spot up the ' -Maitai. wns decided upon; but before B Jong this was found to be unsuitable, and had to be abandoned.^ The jn- . fection soon spread to the men, and the first records of the minutes of a golf meeting appear in the minute . book dated July, IS9S. Mr W. H. ■ Price, hon. secretary of the Golf Club, kindly looked up theso facts for an "Evoning Mail representative, and in an interview gave some interesting details in connection wit-i--tho club, and was induced to make a few remarks upon the game in general. The minutes show that the first re- - coided meeting was attended by Miss Lnbecki, the late Mr J. F. Dundas (in ihe chair), H. S. Bobison, J. Sharp, junr., W. S. Curtis, J. Y. Dickson, T. D. P. Patterson, E. J. W. Cook, A. P. Burnes, and Cecil King. Mr King was elected hon. secretary — - a position which ho filled until 1906. The course was then on Tahuna now; thickly populated with airy summer residence?. This land was secured from Messrs Green Bros, for an annual rental of £10. One of the clauses in the agreement was that no bull wag to be grazed on the ground. The golI fers evidently did not desire to be , forced to put up record sprints for a fence or neighbouring tree. Jn i the year 1900 Mx J. H. Cock was 1 elected President. There were many '. hardships' to put up with in the early ; days of golf. When if rained a small shed hardly big enough to lie down in was greatly sought after, and the golfers had to take it iv furus to breathe. TIIE GROUNDS. As is well known, the actual ground bolongs to tho Golf Ground Company, which was formed of golfing enthusiasts, who readily put their hands in. thoir pockets to secure the ground, , which the golfers are proud tb Hear confirmed on all sides as the finest in New Zealand. The company has also erected the present club' houso. Messrs J. H. Cock and A. P. Burnes havo been tho captains of the club, and,- as 'Jtated, tho secretaryship was in the hands of Mr Cecil King until 1906, when -he resigned, and Mr Bichmond Fell took over the duties, and ho this year relinquished them. Mr W. H. Pricet is the present hon. secretary. THE GAME. It is interesting to observe that the game has its origin from a shepherd, whilst minding a flock, knocking stones into a hole with his.crook. That the game is an old one is exemplified by the fact that the Kings of England and Scotland used to try conclusion on the links. Mr Price, in speaking generally on tho game, pointed out that the object, in a few words, was to put tho balls into a certain hole iv tho ground somo distance away. The player who achieved tins, and in the least number of stroke?, wou the game. The longest drive on. record was that of 395 yardsi by Baird. Ordinary players come very far short of that distance. "People think golf is a very expensive game," . said Mr Price. "Look here; a beginner conld be fitted out easily for -355. You know a golfer's kit generally consists. of six sticks; but a beginner 'could "get along very well With . three. ■•-'' Each stick costs Ss, and.half a: dozen 'Balls would be quite enough. By this; it is seen that it is not the expensive luxury it is made out to be." .7. The play on Saturday was. a mixed foursomes between teams picked by the captain and secretary. The captain's side won, doing the holes " in 411 strokes, against the secretary's " 431. The greens" were foiiratl to 1&» ifi good order. . ■■>■-.:-.: ■- .---■. •