GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 15

GOLF TOPICS.

HAMILTON AM) AUCKLAND.

MATCHES AT OTHER CLUBS.

BLACK DEFEATS MORPETH

A team representing the Hamilton Golf Club made its annual visit to Auckland during the -week-end, matches Being played with the Auckland and Mnimnakieirie Clubs. Arriving at Middlcmora early on Saturday morning the visitors set themselves a hard task, being witbr out their two best players, J. L.- Black' and EL Bellingham. The singles had not been in progress long before it was obvious that the Hamilton players wera faced with a hard uphill fight. Dr. Mucky and Tiamarsh were the only Aucklanders whose matches were in doabt at any stage, but both won in the end. The Auckland Club therefore won atlthe singles, but it was thought the visitors would show up better in the fourball matches to follow. However, they had no such luck. A strong southerly wind which swept the links had the visitors well baffled, and they were again all defeated.

In the absence .of Black and BtiUinghara Wynne was matched with Wright. It appears he was a little unfortunate not to make a closer match of it for he wajs playing tb's shots ■with no result owiing to faulty putting. THs was inexcusable as the greens on Saturday were as near perfect as they have becy_ all this season.

W. S. Ralph was aware apparently he was up againist an old campaigner in H. T. Gillies and was not taking any chances judging by his round, which was in the nature of a 73 sind denoted good golf in the wind. Bartleet played sound golf against Guy, and the issue was never in- doubt. Dr. Macky, on the other hand, had a feir anxious moments, for after he won the first three holes in grand style Earknesis turned round and won the next five. The turning point in the match came at the 9th, where Dr. Macky was almost on the green with two excellent shots.

The Rainper-Atkins match may be taken as a duel between a driver and putter. A?,kins was hitting a magnificent tee shot, and if anything Rainger was holing more than his usual number of long putts. It is thus needless to state who woo.

Outstanding Pour-ball 2£atch. Perhaps the most outstanding four-ban match of the day was wnen Gillies anti. Horton joined forces, but even so the opposition was much too strong for them. When an inquiry was made as to buw this match was progressing Gillies replied that "he was four down. 1 ' with emphasis 05 the " he." One may gather from this remark that John Horton was not shouldering his share of the burden.

Members of both teams and several, members of the committee were the • v guests of Sir. M. 2L Louisson at a dinner given at the clubhouse. During tie course of the evening the president took the opportunity to, stress the importance oil fostering inter-club matches. He said he looked to the three leading clubs of the province, namely, Auckland, Maungukiekie and Hamilton, to set the example. Z\Lr. Atkins ably replied on behalf of the visitors- as also did Mr. Ross. JL very pleasant evening was spent. The victory of J. Eeiia-by and B. F. Finn iu the semi-final of "the fcrar-br.li match play competition was the source ' of much interest at Mlddlemare, especially as the winners now- have to play IF. R. Colbeck and A. E. M. Ehind in the final next -Seek. The jfinal promises to he a great match provided, of course. B. S. Finn plays reasonable. golf and does not record another 70 net as he did against Gardner and WorJey. Hamilton v. Tiiirangi- ■ Whether it was the long coarse or (he v -> faster greens at Titirangi that suited tike. I:Hamilton players, they certainly gave .a ■ berrter account of themselves than they did against Middlemore. Wynne, who had to return to Hamilton on Saturday ■ ' -;,j evening, was replaced by J. L. Black. Slack beat Morpeth after a great match, which appears to have inspired the rest of the team, for at the end of the day there was only a difference of, two games ju Titirangi's favour. ' . J. L. Black was in good' form against ' S. Morpeth and thoroughly deserved the victory he obtained at the 17th hole. T. Simpson. C. Fisher and P. Harkness. of > the visiting team, won their matches from, ' E. F. Burns, W. A. Wills and & K Beehan respectively; Perhaps the best-played match of, the day was in the- foursomes, when Black and Gillies defeated Gonlding and Robinson on the last green. Sound golf was played by all four, "but Black was outstanding. Guy and Atkins Hid Fisher and Sutclifre also won their matches at the last. hole. The visit of the Hamilton golf team' is •' dways looked forward to fay Auckland golfers. It is hoped thai arangemeni> will be made next season far the continuation of these inter-club matches. Play at One Tree Bill. A four-ball bogey competition occupied players at the One Tree TTPj course on ! Saturday. This type of event comes as a pleasant relaxation after the mofc strenuous and individual competitions •which fill most of the Bard for the season. It is a relief to have a partner to take m-< the running when the effort to reach the. green goes awry at any particular hole! The "scoring was not remarks Lie, two pairs, H. S. McLaren and W. E. Anderson, and P. Fraser and R. H. Melville tie:ing with cards of three up. For a four hall this must be classed ns only moderate. but a high and often fluctuating wind helped to keep the figures down. Nothing sensational was recorded by any of the four, but Fraser. who played steadily all the way round, had a field day with bis putter. . ' On paper there were several pairs that > should" have displaced the two returning the best cards, but after all success in a four-ball depends lareely on the way the partners fit, in. and tiSat is a factor that cannot be forecasted. \ The Pnpnke" Clnb. Playing al Pttpuke Goldwater and Hunt showed first-class form in tising with Br. de Clive Lowe and Whii.taker in . the four-ball best-halL The score, 3 np. indicates steady golf. De Clive Lowe has not,. of late, had a great deal of golf and his suddei return to form was a. fine eSort. Hunt is improving steadily, while Goldwater. as usual, is always to be found somewhere near the top of • the list. Whittaker's performances have been very consistent and he only required that little extra length in his drives' to improve his ' - game further. L. H. Saunders and L. J. Mtnogne's card of 1 up could have been considerably bettered if slackness on the greens had been eliminated. Three putts on several greens resulted in their more or less ordinary card. H. W. Encwistle continues to be in the limelight, this time by holing in one at the 15th (ampithentre), Needless to say he does not want to repeat the performance in a hurry es a fair assembh* of members witnessed the happening and naturally saw that be did not escape the usual penalty .on returning to the clubhouse. , The Glendowie Club proposes to take , ; advantage of the bank and insunracD hohdav next Monday by holding an open aay tournament. A feature of the programme will be an 18-bole metial handicap. J. - trophy -will also be given for the best, When standing lor Ml iroß shot should be fixed on tae aaa in front of the Srj t-onrc