GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 10

GOLF.

ENGLISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

REORGANISED

The scheme under which the open golf championship of England has been held for the past seven years has been completely altered, a meeting composed of the representatives of the managing clubs and a deputation from the committee of the Professional Golfers' Association, which was held at the Hotel Metro pole on January 17, unanimously voting in favour of the new conditions. The following official statement was issued to the press at the conclusion of the meeting:—"The Managing Clubs having had under consideration for some time past the necessity for a change in the conditions of the open championship formulated a scheme which was submitted to the committee of the Professional Golfers' Association. At a meeting at the Hotel Metropole, -he delegates received a deputation from this committee, and, after discussion, unanimously ■ resolved : ' That qualifying rounds be held on courses other than the championship course;' 'That all competitors play one round on pach course, and that the first 100 (one hundred) scores play in the championship proper four rounds of the green;' ' Any ties for the last place to play off ;' ' The championship will be played at Prestwick on June 18 and 19;' ' The qualifying rounds will be played on June 11 and 12, on courses to be named later."

The steady growth in the popularity of golf, with the resultant yearly increase in the entries for the open championship has necessitated several alterations in the conditions governing that event. When the competition was instituted by the Prestwick Club in 1860, it was decided in a single day over 36 holes, and these conditions held good until 1892, when play was extended to 72 holes and two days, 36 holes being played by each competitor on each day. In 1898, to cope with the still increasing entry, it was decided that any competitor who was 20 strokes behind the leading soore at the end - of the second round on the first day be compulsorily retired, -and subsequently it was found necessary to introduce qualifying rounds.

Last year, at Hoylake, the Sporting Life remarks that the competitors "were divided into three sections, and one daywas allotted to each section for the playing of its qualifying rounds of 36 holes, the best 20 scores and scores tieing'for twentieth place in each section qualifying to ta£e part in the championship proper, which lasted two days, and was by stroke play over 72 holes. In 1305 the margin was reduced to 15 strokes.

According to the new scheme, the championship proper has not undergone any alteration, except to definitely fix the number of competitors. The present holder of the event is J. H. Taylor, who was previously successful,in 1894, 1895, 1900, and 1909. The winner of the championship has the custody of the championship Cup for a year, and also receives a gold medal, and in addition, if he is a professional, £50 in money. An indication as to the great rate at which the entry for the open championship is yearly increasing may be gathered from the fact that last year the number of competing player! was 269, which was an increase of 54 on the entry for 1912.