GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20203, 13 March 1929, Page 16

GOLF TOPICS.

ALTERATIONS TO LINKS.

MIDDLEMORE AND GLENDOWIE.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP. The first club in Auckland to open its season this year has been the Auckland Golf Club, which made an exceptionally early start last Saturday, when the usual mixed foursomes match was played. The links have stood up to the dry weather of the past two months very well, and both the greens and fairways have been greatly improved by the recent rain, and are now carrying a good sole of grass. A number of alterations to the greens have been put in hand during the summer, and these will have the effect of improving the second shot, the aim being to make the pin visible and eliminate blind greens, while increased bunkering will demand greater accuracy. The third green, which was always blind for the second shot, haft been moved forward 40vds. to the top of the slope, while the tee has been moved back beside the fourth green.

This will necessitate a carry of about 150 yds. for the second shot and the drive will have to be placed to enable the player to obtain the opening into the green. The fourth green has been bunkered at the right, while a new green has been formed at the eighth hole behind the existing one. This will make the hole 60vds. longer. The twelfth and fourteenth greens have been eliminated, and a new plateau has been built up behind these two, making the holes a little longer and giving the player a full view of both greens for his second shot. These new greens are surrounded by mounds, and bunkers have been cut into the face of the right side mounds. Tho tee at the fourteenth hole has been enlarged and lengthened and the carry bunkers completely re-formed. Shelter Sheds on Course. The other green to be reconstructed is the fifteenth, which has been remodelled and is in, the same position as the old one. Tho approach from the left side lias been closed up with two sandtraps. Other- improvements are the remodelling of the seventeenth and eighteenth carry bunkers, which from mounds have been converted into sand bunkers. A number of shelter sheds for players have been provided at different parts of the course. The grass for the new work will be sown this mouth, and with a good take and favourable weather it is hoped to open the new greens for play about September. The putting green alongside the clubhouse has also been dug up, and will be resown. As the Auckland Club's links are under this reconstruction and temporary greens will be used, the Auckland provincial championship will bo decided at tho Titirangi course this year. This contest was first inaugurated in 1913 by the Auckland Club, and has been played since that date ab Middlemore at tho Easter holidays. This year the Maungakiekie Club offered to hold the championship at Titirangi. This course has been fast and very dry under the summer conditions, but the' recent rains have had a beneficial effect and it is confidently hoped that the course will he in first-class championship order. Most -f the greens have been topdrqssed during tho past 10 days, and an improvement has already been noticed.

All bunkering and construction work surrounding the greens will be completed within the next fortnight and competitors in the championship should find that shots to the green will be rewarded only if accurately placed. Instructions Regarding Handicaps.

With regard to . the provincial championship, a point to be noted is that eptrv forms of intending competitors should follow the instructions of (he New Zealand Golf Association with regard to standard handicaps. The instruction reads as follows:—" All clubs are now to handicap on the new scratch score, and the number of strokes taken off the old bogey is to be added to the handicaps of members."

A number of alterations similar to those at Middlemore are now being carried out at Glendowie. 'I he course was inspected by Mr. C. M. Redhead, the golf architect, who brought down a plan of alterations, which, although it did not affect the general course of play, recommended a number of changes on

and around the greens. During the summer four greens have been redesigned, and this is as far as the plan will be carried out this year. Work is now being carried out on the ninth and tenth greens, which are being entirely re-formed and raised to make the pin visible when playing the second shot. The greens will be heavily bunkered at the rear and at the sides, making accurate approaching imperative. The twelfth and fourteenth holes are also altered in character, the twelfth green having been moved out from the fence about 40yds. This hole will now be about 190 yds. in length. The heaviest work in hand is that at the fourteenth

hole, where Ihe eross-gulley has been filled in with earth to the depth of 12ft., and has been cleaned out for its entire length. The new greens will not be ready for play before the beginning of September, although they are now completely formed except for topdressing. Other improvements to the course include the erection of a number'of shelter sheds at various parts of the links, and the provision of a proper car-park at the first tee. The paddock leading off the road to the boundary fence is being graded and will be surfaced with metal. The area will be ready for use by Easter. A new greenkeeper has been engaged by the club, and he will assume charge of the links this week.