GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20593, 18 June 1930, Page 15

GOLF TOPICS.

INTER-CLUB CONTEST.

AUCKLAND AT TITIRANGI.

PLAY AT OTHER CLUBS.

The first of this season's inter-club matches between t lie Auckland and Maungakiekie Clubs took place at Tit it rangi on Saturday. The course was in good order, but by no means easy, ana any player to do better than 80 was playing good golf. On handicaps the Auckland side appeared to be the stronger, but, eveiything considered, the two teams were very evenly matched, and to have finished all square on the day was a,very satisfactory decision. , ; Prior to the match it was difficult to find anyone prepared to venture •an opinion one way or tho other. The terraced and sloping greens at Titirangi are bewildering to the newcomer at lirst. On another course a player might be safe in congratulating himself that he has got the strength of the greens, but it would bo a delusion at Titirangi, where each putt requires a fresh calculation to gauijy the numerous borrows.

Tho leading match between H. B. Lusk and H. D. Brinsden drew the only, gallery, comprised mostly of local players anxious to see how their young and pror mising champion fared with the older ana more experienced player. Lusk showed to advantage off the tees and with his wooden shots through the fairways particularly, but it was on and around tho greens that Brinsden proved himself. On no fewer than four occasions he chipped in from outside to hole his putt. —* Brinsden won the first hole, where Lu6k took three putts, and with a nice four at the third, which was. a hard hole on Saturday, was 2 up. Lusk reduced the lead to one down at the 9th. Brinsden, however, was 2 np again at the "Redap/' where Lusk again failed by taking three putts, from which position he did not improve. .

Greatly Improved Player

Brinsden is to be regarded as Auckland's most improved player, and ; his participation in one of the big championship meetings is anxiously looked forward to. He did not compete in the last provincial championship. The. next match was between T. A, Goulding and W. S. Ralph, with Gonlding making the pace most of the -way. It was not until halfway through the second half that Goulding Tesorted to taking three putts on several greens, and this enabled Ralph to even matters, arid with a 3 at the long fifteenth take the lead to eventually win 2 and 1. r Plumley and J. M. Ilockin were deserving of an all square verdict for there was little between them all the way. Plumley certainly had a slight advantage playing to the short fourteenth, but a two by Hockin at this hole squared the match. From here on they finished in even fours. Wright was very much off his game in his match against George, which is to be regretted, as these two are old rivals and have had some sterling matches together. George's great killing shot, -, his mashie from 40yds. to 50vds. out, was working to perfection on Saturday.

Home Side Weakened

W. L. Robinson, who was matched to play E. L. Bstrtleet, was unable to be present on the day, which decidedly weakened the home side. It fell to E. E. Beehan, a twelve handicap man, to tackle Bartleet, which was a pretty tall order, yet he put up a great fight to take the game to the 16th.

When it was seen S. Colbeck and R. McCrystal had bee'n drawn together .it was generally anticipated ' that there wonld be little to choose between them and everything pointed that way at the 10th, where Colbeck stood 1 up. Then McCrystal, with a sudden burst of play, ran away with the next six holes and ended what promised to provide a keenly contested match.

Dr. Abbott strnck A. E. Robinson in ono of his brilliant putting moods, which fairly baffled him from the very first hole. Time and again Abbott was in the winning position but had to be content with a half. A bright spot in Abbott's round was when he nearly holed out in one at the "Redan." His shot, a full brassie, struck the facing in front of the flag, trickled up to the tin. and circled the lip to stop six inches past.

Some Close Matches. With the exception of Jacobsen's big •win over Good and Kissling's fairly substantial victory over R. J. Hamilton, the rest of the matches were all fairly close. H. Leese was lucky to claim a win against A. Gonlding from a two down and four to go positiori, while H. L. R-ees was responsible for a clever " get ont" against E. F. Burns when he had to win the last three holes to square the match. There were slender victories on both sides in many of the matches, but none so close as these two, which could easily have finished in favour of Maungakiekie. Playing at Middlemore on Saturday W. B. Colbeck had another win, which goes to show that this player's improved form lately has come to stay. It was during the week-end that Dr. Macky, disgusted with his driver, decided to play his iron off the fourth tee and with an equally good second with'the same club holed out for a two, three strokes under bogey. A similar incident happened at Titirangi last year when H. A. Randrup holed his tee shot at the first, bogey (4), ..and which tho striker himself very appropriately named a " moa."

Tyler Cup Competition." . ... Tho third round of tho Tyler Cup Was played at Akarana ou Saturday in conjunction with the monthly medal. Although the conditions wero not ideal, some splendid cards were handed in. notably that of F. Hazelden, on a 7 handicap, who returned a gross score of 76. This equals tbe scratch score of the course and incidentally creates a record for the new course. V. L. Baker, 82, 12—70, showed a long overdue return to form, while C., Holloway has another good score to his credit with a net 73. A big entry was received for the Captain's Prize competition, which was commenced at Glendowie on Saturday. This form of competition has always proved popular and if the future, games are going to result in the same even terms as those played on Saturday it would be very difficult at this stage to select the semi-finalists. Conditions were cold, although favourable for golf, and tho greens showed a big improvement. Several matches finished by a close margin of one hole, but C. Hudson had to take J. R. Richardson to the 20th before recording a win. H. G. Thompson took AG. Graham to the same hole. C. Woods did well to defeat C. B. Thomas, 4 and 3, and F. Faram must have been on his game to defoat G. lvissling, 6 and 5. The competition will be continued throughout tho season and much interest, will be centred in the result. Tho sti*ong wind at Pupuke f on Saturday militated considerably against low scoring in the monthly medal, played hj conjunction • with tho Hawes lrophy and the Mingay Cup. M. L. Drower succeeded in registering the lowest net score and indicated that ho is very much improved. His 67 net was excellent .in view of tho conditions. L. J. Minogue certainly was unlucky, for a gross score of 78 deserved a hotter fate ish runner-up.

To attain accuracy decision is essonti, . The ball must always be struck by a mind which Knows what it wants. .T. H. Taylor. . \ beginner's slicing vs mainly doe lo throwing his weight on the ng&t leg as ho hits tho ball—C. J. H. lolkj.