GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 15

GOLF TOPICS.

TOURNEY AT MIDDLEMORE.

UNUSUAL BREACH OF RULE

H. BRINDSEN IN FINE FORM

Two rounds in the captain's tourney at Middlcmoro have made a gap in Iho big field ol players. Saturday saw the defeat of more than one of the favourites and the defeat of Bell came as a surprise. Robertson did not quito realise what ho really had to contend with, as only those who have played with Bell lately were aware ol his capabilities. . It is to bo recalled that in this tourney last .year Bell was just beaten in tho semi-final by the ultimate winner H. Boddington. 11. B. Wilson, who on his performance the previous Saturday was regarded as another with a very excellent chance, was beaten by 11. L. Recs. Ikes can generally be depended upon in matches of this nature, as he lias proved before to-day. Up to where the match ended Recs was one over fours and finished the round iu 74 which denotes pretty good golf. Nevertheless Wilson should have done better and made more use of his strokes. A. M. Smith was not letting any more of his matches go to the nineteenth after the close call he had with Warwick Wilson the previous Saturday. He beat C. Towle fairly comfortably. Round of 73. Few expected E. L. Bartleet to prevail over R 0. Gardner, considering the littla golf he has had so far this season. However, he played first-class golf and regis- , teted a round ol 73. Dr. Abbott had nothing to spare.when he defeated J. Peacock on the last green, or to put it correctly, Peacock beat himself by laying a stymie. Dr. Abbott had a pretty hard task, foi after going cut in 37 he had the slender lead of 1 op. In playing the 10th, however a rather unusual take occurred. Peacock was faced with a very difficult shot out of the bunker, and remarked as the ball went tearing across the green, that he had to "pick at it." Dr. Abbott's caddie mistook the remark for "pick it up" and caught the ball on the bounce, thus costing his master the hole.

J. E. Russell and T. G. Kissling wero both beaten, two players who had shown improvement in their golf lately. y. ('. Col beck looks as if he will bo dangerous in this tourney. At first ho was a little, at sea with the distances, but is now playing solid golf. It is to be remembered this player did remarkably well nfc the New Zealand championship at Balrnacewan. J. K. Lusk is another to be treated with respect,' as he is steadily improving all tho time, having won both his matches to date by a wide margin. J. McK. Wilson, who is a better match than medal player, scored his second victory on Saturday by eliminating E. A. Dargaville. _ It is a big improvement with matches finishing all square to carry on until a decision is reached, instead of having to play the whole 18 holes again as was the procedure in former years. Unique Competition. Titirangi provided a unique competition in the form of a sealed bogey handicap for its members on Saturday. There was a big field of players and the conditions were all in favour of good golf. It is pleasing to note some of the low-markers taking a hand in handicap events. R. M. George (2) did well to finish 2 up and tie for first prize. | The other player was E. M. Ohlson, who has shown considerable improvement in his game now that he has gained moro confidence wiil. his wooden clubs. A bright rur. o ( 3's for the 14th, 15th and j 16th holes must have added materially to ' his score.

H. Brinsden still continues to play great golf, and on Saturday registered his best round to date, 70, equal to 6 up on the colonel. As he was playing in a four, however, his card was not accepted in the competition. ■

A glance over the actual figures—4, 4, 5. 3, 3, 4, 3, 5* 5—34 out; 4, 4, 4, 5. 3, 4, 3. 4, 5—36 in—reveals that brilliant yet even consistent run of play iliat has proclaimed him a champion at billiards, hockey, tennis, football and cricket, as well as golf. Play at Glendowie.

Thero was nothing outstanding in the play at Glendowie on Saturday, the best card in the Canadian foursome bogey being one of all square, handed in by the two veterans, F. Trice- and T. Russell. Probably the extra practice obtained by these two players during the week proved very helpful, as the continued dry conditions were responsible for the greens being very slippery on Saturday The grass on the two new greens has come away w.ell, but requires rain.

Players are looking forward to the open day on Thursday, -May 22, when it is hoped a fair representation of members from other clubs will be present. Until there is a good deal of rain the greens at the One Tree Hill course will continue to worry the Maungakiekio players who are taking part in the competitions there this year. 1* or a long time now three, four and even five putts have been the order on greens that aro almost as hard as concrete and as smooth, in places, as glass. Last, Saturday's play match, won by D. D. Holland, attracted a large entry, but tlio malcli was really a "tragedy "of putts" for uiost of the players. . The popularity of golf in the country clubs was in evidence at Papakura on Saturday, when over 100 players took part in the opening foursomes.

A straight loft arm maintains a constant length of radius of the arc of the swing and gives the utmost flatness to the lowest section of the swing.—Georgo Duncan.

GRIMMETT S EARLY DAYS.

HIS BATTING AND BOWLING.;

The remarkably fine bowling performance of C. \. Grimmett, wlio look 10 wickets for 57 runs against Yorkshire, has been a topic of conversation in sporting circles in New Zealand during the past day or two. It is interesting to recall tho fact that Grimmett showed outstanding cricket, ability from early boyhood. In 1907 he was a member of the Y.M.C.A. boys' team, and he had associated with him many others who have proved their worth on the playing fields. Anions; them were: 11. M. McGirr and M. Henderson, New Zealand representatives on the last English tour; C. C. Robinson and W. Baker. ex-New Zealand representatives: W. Warne, E. Phillips, 1. Joplin, ex-Wellington representative ; ( . Temperton, llawke's Hay re.presentatne, also E. Roberts. All Black footbal or and ex-Wellington cricketer; E. Loader. U. Parton, ex-Wellington hockey representatives ; L. McGirr/ ex-New Zealand Soccer representative; and E. H oil is, ex-Welhng-tc»ii Soccer representative. The Y.M.C.A. boys of 1007 piayeci 44 g; lines, of which 36 were won Not once during tho season wert lta runs ,n:lc ° against the club, while the, V.M.O.A. team made 100 or more runs 21 times. It blsc got its opponents out for under 20 iuns on 10 occasions. In one match during season the Y.M.C.A. tcarn disnnssed the 11 opponents for ducks. G ' secured both tho batting ! averages, taking 68 wickets during season. _