GOLF TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21239, 20 July 1932, Page 17

GOLF TOPICS.

WIN FOR AUCKLAND TEAM.

. J. L. BLACK'S GOOD FORM

TAYLOR BOWL AT TITIRANGI.

Last Saturday the Auckland Club sent a very strong team to play the Hamilton Club on the St. Andrews links, Hamilton. The visitors won comfortably to gain victory in the long Beries of inter-club matches played on the Hamilton course. The links were in wonderful order and the light southerly wind had little or no effect on the play. Although W. S. Ralph'played soundly against J. L. Black, he could not stand up to the last-named's golf. In completing the course in 71 Black missed twoputts of under 2ft., while on several occasions his long putts lipped the hole. Black won the first hole and both ha,d 12ft. putts for three at the second holei, a half resulting in 4. Black missed a 20in. putt for a half in 4 at the third, but took the fourth hole, Ralph missing a 4ft. putt. Black became 2 up when he holed a birdie 3 at the fifth, but was bunkered at the sixth, losing to a 4. He again became 2 up when Ralph missed an oasy putt for a.half at the seventh.

The ninth was perfectly played, both seconds finding the closely-guarded green, Black being"2oft. away and Ralph 3ft. from the pin. Each holed his putt. Black, who was still 2 up, was out in 36 to Ralph's 38. The 10th was correctly played and Black won the 11th in 4 to 5, but again missed an 18in. putt at the 12th, losing to a 4. Continuing to play, perfect golf, the Hamilton player won the 13th in 4 to 5, and clinched the match at the 15th with a 4, winning 4 up and 3. Steel Driver Mastered. Black completed the home journey in 35, his figures being 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4. As evidence of the excellence of his present form, his last six rounds have been 74, 73, 76, 71, 73, 75, He has never played better golf, and has now mastered his steel driver, with which he is obtaining fine length.. He is swinging slowly, waiting for the club-head, and hitting the ball fi'om inside out, obtaining a high flight with t a slight draw. Black's shots from inside 40 yards from the pin are masterly efforts, which invariably come to rest within holing distance. He plays these shots with any iron c.lub and by closing the face runs them along the ground in a manner similar to that advocated by Bobby Jones. This class of shot is playable'at Hamilton, but would be quite ineffective on heavy inland courses.

In the second match I. MacEwan had a great struggle with S. C. Colbeck. This game was all square at the turn, but MacEwan took the lead at the 12th, and the next three holes were halved. Colbeck had a chance to square the game at the 16th, but putted badly and MacEwan, ~ after a safe half at the 17th-,.t00k the 18th in 4 and the match. A. Plumley started off brilliantly against W. Wynne, and was one under par for the first eight holes, ultimately winning on the 16th. R. D. Wright showed some of his old form when he completed the course in 75 to beat B. Cumberworth. John Horton made a great effort at the last hole to square with S. S. Wilson, when his long . putt iust failed to drop in the cup. In the four-ball matches Auckland only lost one game, Black and Colbeck proving too strong for Ralph and MacEwan. Black again dominated the game and returned a fine 73. • , St. Andrews Course. Much discussion has taken place about the open nature of , the greens at the long holes on this course, notably the 2nd, 4th, 15th and 18th. Unquestionably these holes, as played with the modern powerful clubs and ball, are too open and sufficient premium is not placed on the straight shot to the green. A scratch golfer would have little difficulty in obtaining his four from anywhere near the green following a loosely-played second shot. A similar loose shot on a closely bunkered modern course would lie badly trapped. ,

The St. Andrews course was designed by H. T. Gillies. Any 'bunkering of a drastic nature must be avoided, otherwise the peculiar charm of these links will be destroyed. Mr. Gillies took full advantage of the wonderful terrain and the lay-out is equal to that of any other course i/i the colonies. The country offers an abundance of rolling mounds in which to cut any bunkers considered necessary to guard these holes, and they should conform 'to the natural features. A possible solution would be to narrow the fairways approaching these long holes so that a loose shot would find the rough. The new square tees are an example of artificial construction which could easily have been avoided by blending them into the landscape. Taylor Bowl Contest. At Titirangi, H. Brinsden met P. Harrison in the final of the Taylor Bowl, and, playing rights at the top of his form, won 4up and 3. The conditions were ideal, and, if anything, favoured the long handicap man, but although Harrison held his opponent in the long game he was outputted. Brinsden has lengthened his tee shots since his visit to Sydney and his putting se,ems as deadly as ever. Harrison was in receipt of strokes at the 2nd, 3rd, sth, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th holes, so it was obvious that Brinsden had to obtain an early lead to have any chance. * 'irhe first hole was weakly played, Brinsden making his only baa mistake when he put his approach into the bunker, but Harrison failed to hole a 5-footer for the' win. Harrison halved the second with his stroke, but took ithree putts on the third to lose to a good 4. Brinsden in trying for a win in 2 at the fourth over-An. and lost the hole. Harrison again took tliree putts on the fifth, where he had a great chance to become 1 up. Brinsden chipped close to the pin at the sixth and became 2 up at the seventh, where Harrison again required three putts. Excellent Golf. ' The eighth' was halved in fours and Harrison only had to get a five at the ninth to win the hole with his stroke, but after topping his third shot he took three putts, losing to a 5. - Brinsden was out in 38 and 3 up. The 10th hole marked a wonderful spoon shot played by Brinsden off a hanging lie and which finished close to the pin, Harrison halving with his stroke. Brinsden became 4 up at the 11th with a 3. Harrison was playing his long game well and reached the 12th green in 3, Brinsden meanwhile pulling his second shot and playing a fine high mashie on to the green from the rough. He sank a long putt for a. 4 and obtained the half. The 13uh went to Harrison in 5 with the aid of his stroke, and he played a perfect tee shot to within Bft.- of the pin at the short 14th, only to see Brinsden get inside and ( win the hole in 2to 3. Brinsden was now dormy 4 and obtaining a nice 4 to Harrison's 5 at the 15th he won the match 4 and 3. The excellence of Brinsden'e golf can be gauged by the fact that ho was exactly even fours for the 15 holes played and his performance in winning this handicap event off scratch is unique. Har.rison was undoubtedly a overawed in the early stages of the match, this being noticeable on the greens, but he was unlucky to meet Brinsden in such brilliant form.