GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 16

GOLF TOPICS.

SYSTEM OF THE MASTERS. OPENING OF 1928 SEASON. SOME NEW WINNERS UNEARTHED.

BY FAIRWAY

System is the secret of success and of consistency in many an enterprise. In golf it is impossible so to systematise one's efforts that the game becomes mechanical, but some advance can certainly be made toward a system. One way, open to all good players, is to cut out fancy shots and to rely upon the obvious straightforward shots all the time. In the approach shots to the green, and, indeed, to the pin, the Americans have conic closer to the achievement of a system than have British players. The recognised method among American golfers of ability is the high shot with stop on it. They believe that is the most effective shot; they learn to play it accurately; they cultivate it all the time. To American golfers it has become a simple and most common shot. The regular production of this shot to all sorts of greens becomes something like a system.

Our golf in general would become more reliable and consistent if wo persisted in the straightforward shots, especially on all important occasions. I notice Francis Ouimet juts his finger upon this characteristic, shared in common by Bobby Jones and Mac Donald Smith, as tho secret of their success. He says: "They are supposed to have every shot in the bag, and there is no denying the truth of this either, as they have, but it is not the variety of' their strokes that' permits them to score low. It is the strict avoidance of playing any but the simplest shots that has accounted for their success." A Wide Range of Shots. About. George von Elm,'the same writer says: "There is no player I can think of who has a wider range of shots, amateur or professional. Does von Elm attempt to electrifv the gallery with some unusual shot ? Not much. He will play it in what is to him the easiest way.' His system leaves less margin for error. The same may be said about one of our leading New Zealand players, who is notable because he makes fewer mistakes than ayone else. I mean Dr. Kenneth Ross. Dr. Ross has his regular method of playing his shots, and he does not vary that method. Ho is consistent in his method, of stroke production, and as a consequence he is consistent in his achievement of good figures. I do not recall a single instance of Dr. Ross playing an unusual or a fancy shot, and he plays his shots to-day in the same way as he played them 20 years ago. He is systematic and so makes fewer mistakes than others do. Straight Left Arm Helps. For the interest and benefit of those who are trying 'to regularise or systematise their stroke production, I think the cultivatioh of the straight left arm "is a help. If I make up my mind to keep the left arm straight out. from the shoulder in addressing the ball and in the back swing, the left arm acts consistently, like the arm of a compass or the spoke of a wheel, which moves always with a certain sweep, in a certain orbit.

This movement becomes and feels regularised, systematized, and one has the feeling that shot after shot can be leleased by the almost mechanical action accompanying the straight left arm principle. Further value, of course, accrues because the straight left arm, in any case, is a positively good factor in stroke production.

The open golf tournaments held at Easter time in many parts of tho Dominion mark the definite commencement of the full golfing programme for 1928 in New Zealand. Oolf is now once more in full swing. Golfers examine their cluhs, hope to buy some new and better ones, begin to think of their weaknesses in the game, and to endeavour to overcome them; begin to discuss the form and the achievements of outstanding players. Players Brought Forward.

The Easter tournaments have brought forward some players who have not before this occupied the leading positions in tournaments. R. D. Wright, of course, has won the Auckland provincial championship and other events before now. But his performance at Middlemore when ho put on a 76 and a 74 in the qualifying rounds at Easter was one of his best. He displaced Sloan Morpeth by one stroke. At Wellington the lead on the qualifying rounds was taken by a young player, Harold Black, whose aggregate of 153 (73 and 80) was two better than that of Arthur Duncan. Harold Black, now a member at Miramar, is the younger brother of J. L. Black, the well-known Wellington player. The winner of the Canterbury Cup at Shirley was E. Prince, of Avondale, Christchurch, a suburban club. Outside Canterbury Mr. Prince is probably unknown, but he has been building up a good reputation for over a year, and his 70 and 78 at Shirley gave him a well-merited win over all the Shirley cracks. We shall surely hear more of Mr. Prince.

I find it difficult to recall the last time Dr. Kenneth Ross was beaten on his own course, yet that is what happened to him during the Easter tournament at Balmacewan. The Otago championship had reached the match-plav stage and Dr. Ross met Mr. Chris. Wight in the second round. Wight beat the doctor by 2 and 1. Dr. Ross' Conqueror. Mr. Wight is a member of the St. t lair Golf Club, Dunedin, and its leading player. He is probably not well known in other parts of the Dominion, but he is Dr. Ross' most formidable opponent in Dunedin. Mr. Wight, like Dr. Ross, hails from the North of Scotland. In the final match Dr. Geoff. Barnet t was victorious and is, very fittingly, Otago champion during the year when ho is also captain of the Otago Golf Club.

The second round of the Otago championship saw Dr. Ross defeated.) The second round of the Auckland championship saw Sloan Morpeth go down before H. B. Lusk. The veteran early established a lead, and held grimly on to it, finishing 1 up at the eighteenth. The champions are sometimes beaten, and there is now quite a group of potential champions in New Zealand. Will Balmacewan provide a new champion in September ? It is certainly heartening to sea players like Harold Black, E. Prince and "C. Wight, coming into prominence; heartening also to see veterans like IT. B. Lusk and, A. D. Duncan playing as well as ever.

The 1928 golf season will be in full swing in Great Britain when the open championship commences on May 7 at Sandwich. The amateur event will begin on May 21, at, Prestwick.