GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 15

GOLF TOPICS.

AUCKLAND CLUB'S TITLE.

SUCCESS OF E. L. BARTLEET,

CHAMPIONS MEET ON SATURDAY*

In reviewing the championship of tho Auckland Golf Club from the commencement it must bo regarded as the most confusing of its kind for many years. Week by week, ups an downs and unexpected developments were perplexing to those who tried to foresee the result. The illhoalth of H. B. Lusk left R. D. Wright to uphold the Lusk-Wrighf combination which ha» prevailed for over nine years. With tho elimination of Wright in the first round the championship developed a very open aspect. Naturally all eyes turned to W. S. Ralph, H. Plumley, and perhaps R. C. Rainger, who dominated the lower half of the draw.

Next came Plumley's defeat by Dr. Abbott, while the brilliant Dr. Macky upset calculations by lowering Eainger's colours. Playing with that characteristic dash of his he looked like a possible until E. L. Bartleet started to show some of his present form and ended bin career. In the meantime Ralph's chances went up 100 per cent, in everyone's estimation wiien he defeated R. M. George and collected the Hislop Cup, and, if ever Ralph had a chance to win the championship, it was thcu. He was playing magnificent, golf, better perhaps than at any stage of his career, yet against Dr. Abbott he resorted to his old failing -of taking three putts, and, with all the bad luck imaginable, was beaten 1 up. So out of the turmoil tho two survivors were E. L. Bartleet and Dr.-'Abbott. It must have been a great disappointment to Dr. Abbott- not to have played better golf in the final after the strenuous fight he had to reach that stage. Nothing would go right for Abbott on the day, even his drives, which he usually relies upon, being hooked to all sorts of unplayable positions that crippled the rest of his game. Bartleet Inspired. Bartleet, on the other hand, inspired by his ever-growing lead, played really well, as may be judged from the following figures:—3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 2, 5, 5—38 out; 3, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 6—39 in. The only blemishes on his card were the two 6's at the 11th and 18th holes, where he drove out of bounds in both cases. As a result Bartleet led 6 up at the end of the morning round and this presented a pretty hopeless task for Dr. Abbottto overtake the way he was playing. However, he' made a brilliant attempt at recovery iu the second round by winning three out of the first four holes,* and, had he continued to be aggressive and adopted an all or nothing attitude with his second shot at the sth, instead of playing for safety, there may have been a different story to relate. Another win for Abbott at this hole would have been a serious matter to Bartleet.

As it happened tho hole w!ts halved in 5 and marked the halting point of Abbott's . good effort, for Bartleet won the next hole to be 4 up again which practi-r cally assured him of victory. The next few holes developed into a game of give-and-take until Bartleet, with a splendid iron shot at the 13th, settled the issue 6 and 5. .

Bartleet is to be congratulated on becoming the champion of the Auckland Golf Club for the year 1929. It is rather unique that two tennis stars, H. Brinsden and E. L. Bartleet, should be champions at golf the same year, a fact that seems to indicate hpth games demand similar qualities and temperament. It is certainly the case that a good eye and sound judgment, which are essential to the successful tennis player, stand him in good stead when he takes np golf. Champions to Meet.

The champion of champions watch, which takes place over the Middlumore course next Saturday, promises to be a very popular and appropriate conclusion to the golfing season. Naturally the respective golf clubs will be keen to see itheir club champion do well, and, as the list includes champions from. as far afield as Waiuku and Papakura, the event will be watched with the greatest interest. Championship medal play over 36 holes will provide a fitting test for the occasion. The secretary of the New Zealand Golf Association has been advised by the Australian Golf Union that the Australian Open, Amateur and Professional Championships, 1950, will be played on the Metropolitan Golf Club's Links at Onkleigh, Melbourne, commencing on Tuesday, September 9, 1950. ,; ;

Head lifting is not a disease, it is a symptom of disease. No golfer impressed with the necessity of controlling the club will be in danger of lifting his head.—E. Jones.