GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 18

GOLF TOPICS.

TOURNEY AT MIDDLEMORE. ENCOURAGING COLLEGE BOYS OPENING AT ONE TREE HILL. As a result of the second round of tho captain's tourney played at Middlcmore on Saturday tlie latge field of entiles has 1 now dwindle'd considerably. However, . the issue is still in the doubtful stage, as such players as Boddrngton, .Rhine], H. B. Lusk, Plurnley, Bainger, A. W. Gillies and Delph are very much to the tore'. After so many surprises already to date it would be tempting fortune to even surmise who the semi-finalists may be. Certainly H. B. Lusk has the most diflVcult proposition off the plus two mark, yet he seems to forge along with/golf that to his opponents must appear inhuman. On Saturday Lusk made amends for an old defeat by giving 11. L. Bees five strokes and a beating. A. W. Gillies and Lusk will now meet in the next round, and judging on Gillies'.exhibition on Saturday the match should prove a very interesting one, ' V. W. Wilson was the unfortunate one to strike Gillies in such a brilliant mood ■ on Saturday. Gillie's was hardly ever off the line 'with his tee shots, and his work round the greens was enough to bewilder " Bobby Jones " himself. From Wilson's point of view he never played better golf, being round in '77, whidi 1 ■with his 5 strokes was equal to a 72, yet he was beaten. Forewarned is to be forearmed, so Lusk and Gillies will know now what to expect of each ether. . Win on Last Green, J. E. Russell was beaten in the playoff by H. Plumley after a good game that went to the last green. Plumley put up a fine exhibition, being round in about 74. Russell has no regrets about his play, and if anything had the better of the luck. Plumley, who was th'e winner of this c competition last year, may well favour his chances again, the way he is playing at present, A. Boddington, a semi-finalist in 1927, has improved his game a, lot this season and won his match/against F. W.» Wako comfortably. Anothet.,consistenfc performer to date is W. S. Ralph, who also won his match .by defeating H. Hanna; which places him a round ahead of the others. Dr. Brown could hardly believe the fact that he had beaten B. G. Hart—he did it so easily. Apparently he had anticipated a strenuous match, as he had every reason to, but as it happened .the game was rather one-sided, Hart being very much off his game.' The match between Colbeck 'and Mackay was a desperate one from start to finish. Dr. Mackay had a slight advantage In length off-the teei, but Colbeck made up for this by clever green work. The game ended by Mackay winning, 1 up. Those who have played with Bruce Elliott lately were inclined to give him a chance in this tourney, but. J. B. Lusk being a more experienced match player, defeated him on Saturday. Opportunities do not come at evt>ry hole, and the few that G. Jacobsen gave Dr. •Abbott the latter did not take, and as a result was beaten on the post. Professor Worley'st two victories to date cannot be passed unnoticed. He did ' well on Saturday to account for C. J. Western/ •• College Tournament, A tournament has been arranged by'the Auckland Golf Club for college boys during their schoql holidays. The .tournament will be played at Middlemore from * May 13 to 16, and the club invites its own junior members still at school and any visiting members of Christ's College, Wanganui and other secondary , schools to take part. I The chief event is a 36 holes medal scratch and handicap, the best eight. gross scores qualifying for the champion-. ship. The run of ill-fortune which lias characterised opening and closing days at , tho One Tree Hill links was broken on Saturday, when the mixed foursomes, postponed from a fortnight earlier, werfe played, It had "been particularly-exasperating on the day originally fixed to see the sun shin- v; ' ing over Otanuhu while rain was pouring .. down at Maung'akiekie. On Saturday, al- ' though the sky threatened at times, uo rain fell, and the afternoon proved a, decided social success. * The field was a notable one, with 192 players participating. The crowd at the first tee appeared more like the gallery for a pair of champions than anything else. It may bo added the stimulus of so many spectators did not inspire all the men—who.liad to take the tec shot at the first—to drive like champions. ' - . Improvement to Links. , The golf was like that usually played on mixed foursomes day. When it was known that Miss Bailey and Morpeth had returned a card of 1 up nobody expected to see it bettered, and it was not. Many players ' who do not usually patronise , „ One Tree Hill were agreeably surprised at the improvement in greens and 'fairways. The prdcess of betterment should continue, for under the enthusiastic oversight of Mr. T. H. Chapman they will be given systematic care and attention that should keep them up to a high standard. By periodical sweeping with canes it is hoped: to dispose of the worm casts which have been a persistent obstacle in putting. With conditions like those of > Saturday, the links will certainly grow in popularity. A start was made at Glcndowie on Saturday with a 36-hole eclectic medal handicap. J. R. Rendell, a junior, with a handicap of 28. handed in a gross scorn of 93, which will be a hard proposition for anyone to heat next Saturday. Among the seniors E. Hutchison also did a very good round of 81, 15 —66. There is a standing invitation to golfers - from the Glendowie Club for any player breaking the present scratch score of the • course, namely, 72. He -.will be the recipient of a box of golf balls; Last year the box of balls was won by Basil Smith, of Akarana, when he did 73 in the open tournament. . .. It has now been definitely agreed bv all the clubs in Auckland, when the respective champions have been found this season, to hold a champion of champions match. This should be particularly interesting, inasmuch as the games will be played on neutral links. GAME OP BADMINTON. INCREASING IN FAVOUR. «t. Badminton, which is a most popular game in England, where the titles date back to- 1899, is finding favour in New Zealand, and if present progress is maintained there can be little doubt that it has a great future in this country. So' far as Auckland is concerned the chief bar to progress is the lack of suitable - playing areas, but, as the game grows in popularity, this is sure to. be overcome. Tennis players are rapidly falling to its charms, tho latest convert being ( E. W. Griffiths. . Organised Badminton really started m Auckland about two years ago and since then has mad© rapid progress. There is . now a. ?Cc\v Zoinkvnd Association with which the various clubs affiliate and chainpionships are hcW in September of each year. Tho secretary of the association is. V. Langguth, Auckland, and holders pf the singles titles at® P. Kelly and Mrsv Hetiey. This year's championship meeting will be held in Auckland. There was a time in .England when ridicule wa; hurled at badminton because one of the implements of 'the game was a slnittle-cock. That has i*w changed and sportsmen of all tvpes iiave taken the game up. Cricketers, lawi tennis players, Association footballers and But;by footballers all compete at tbe rounds of open tournaments and it is r.ealised that, physical fitness is essential if one wishes to achieve success.