POPULARITY OF GOLF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19676, 30 June 1927, Page 6

POPULARITY OF GOLF.

GROWTH IN AUCKLAND. MUNICIPAL COURSE NEEDED. SCOPE FOR YOUNG PLAYERS. SUCCESS IN OTHER PLACES. During the past few years the game of golf has been gaining rapidly in popularity in New Zealand, and Auckland, perhaps more than any other town, on account of its larger population, has felt this growth. There are eight courses-'in the city and immediate suburbs, and the aggregate membership of the clubs is about 3000. Most of the clubs are full and additional facilities are necessary. The establishment of a municipal golf course suggests itself "a&Jhe best remedy. The fact that there are largo numbers eager to play golf is proved by the success that has attended the formation of the Akarana Golf Club. A few days after the links were opened at Mount Roskill the club had a capacity membership of 500, and there is now a large waitinglist. Thus, before the club was formed there were 500 people waiting an opportunity to play, and it is stated there are hundreds more similarly situated. Advantage of Low Cost. Of the many advantages of municipal links, the greatest is the cheapness of the golf. The small charge made for each round is within the compass of all and the many who at present cannot afford to join an affiliated club could play. This consideration applies especially to young men. and women drawing small salaries in offices. Many of them find club mem bership fees beyond them and are enable to take up the game nntil later on in life If New Zealand is to produce champions it is considered they should commence the game when young, and municipal links would offer a great opportunity in that direction.

An instance of the need of cheap golf is the experience of three young Scotsmen who recently came out to settle in the Dominion. They played on a municipal course in Scotland and brought their clubs oat with theta, expecting to join a municipal course in Auckland. However, they were not here long before they advertised their clubs for sale. They could not afford to join an affiliated club and were obliged to give up hope of playing. One of these Scotsmen was a plus three man and Auckland has lost, temporarily at any rate, a valuable addition to its golfing strength. One Tree Kill Area Favoured. In discussing tha question of a site for a municipal course, a prominent golfer stated that two areas within easy reach of the city seemed quite practicable. One was a considerable a.rea of land near One Tree Hill, controlled by the Cornwall Park trustees, and the other the Lake St. John area. He favoured the area near One Tree Hill, stating it was admirably placed near the city and would require little preparation. The draining of Lake St. John and the preparation of a. course there would run into great cost and, in addition, the area was farther away from town. However, if negotiations for the One Tree Hill area failed, the other was open to serious consideration. There is little doubt that a municipal course would pay handsomely. The muni cipal course in Wellington, situated or the hills at Berhampore, and one of the most difficult courses in the Dominion, is very popular and is a source of con siderable revenue to the Wellington City Council. A charge of 9d a round is made and hundreds flock there during weekends and in lesser degree during weekdays. The municipal course has taken a great part in popularising the game in the United States and United Kingdom and nearer home in Australia. At present visitors to Auckland wishing to play on any of the club courses have to be sponsored by a member. Often this causes delay and inconvenience. "From the point of view of the good of the game, a municipal course is badly needed in Auckland," another golfer said, "The days when people considered the hitting of a small ball along the ground was futile and silly are gone and the great fascination of golf is drawing everincreasing numbers to its ranks. Provision should undoubtedly be made for all those who wish to take up the game and a municipal course is the best solution."