GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21541, 12 July 1933, Page 17

GOLF TOPICS

LOW SCORING CONDITIONS COMPETITION AT GLENDOWIE PLAY ON VARIOUS LINKS Conditions 011 Saturday Mcro excellent for golf ami with a good light and 110 wind tlio stage was sot for low scoring. The warmer weather has encouraged a late growth of grass with the result that the greens have almost recovered from the effects of the frosty spell. The Glendowio Cluh inaugurated a very int-resting competition in the form of a four-ball knock-out tourney. In the first round tlio games wore, with one exception, closely fought, while three matches went past the home hole before a decision could bo reached.

Although some important club qvents must, of necessity, bo played in pairs tlio obvious fact remains that on crowded links the great bulk of tho members enjoy tho four-ball match. Tho carrying-capacity of a courso over a given number of hours is increased by GO per cent by playing in fours instead of in pairs. Old habits and customs die hard, but if a club accepts an (active membership of 120 players it must also accept tho responsibility of providing playing facilities for this number. It should control tho play, within reasonable limits, so that all members may enjoy their round. Tho Swanson Cup was advanced a further stage at Akarana with few surprises. Greenbank played well and deserves credit for his defeat of Stewart, the Coltman Cup winner, especially as ho was conceding him three strokes. Cashmoro is playing consistently to his new handicap of 10 and should bo Greenbank's strongest opponent in this event. In registering a win in tho flag match Tyler obtained some recompense for his defeat in the final of tho Coltman Cup the previous week.

Ellifle Cup Matches Some eloso panics resulted in the third round of the Klliffo Cup at M.iungukiekie, a notable cfi'ort being that of Rankin, who accounted for Tanner 011 the homo green. Conceding 110 fewer than 12 strokes Rankin found himself three down going to the 14th, but thereafter outplayed his less experienced opponent over tlio testing final holes. Another desperate strugglo was staged by Henton and Coutts, who played off the same mark, the advantage finally resting with the firstnamed at the 19th. With never more than a hole between the pair Coutts lost the match when he duffed his drive to the deciding hole. Macfarlane, who was favourite for the event, met his Waterloo at the hands of Buist, a promising newcomer from the South. Playing off 10 Buist possesses a nice style and should be hard to beat in this competition. With a net score of 69 in the first round of the president's prize at Pupuke Palmer led the field and when he returned the same score on Saturday in the second round, a total of 138, his success was acclaimed. However, another junior in Hume upset all calculations when ho returned a net CG, which added to a 70 in the first round put him two strokes in front. Auckland has never been so rich in promising young players as at present and tho future of the game looks particularly bright. Every club has its group of improving juniors who are a source of worry to handicappers and low markers alike. It is almost impossible to assess accurately tlieir handicap rating on the cards returned as they are definitely on tho up grade. Handicappers would not be unkind were they ,to keep theso young players on a hard mark, thus making it necessary for them to develop their game along sound lines.

Match Record at Otahuhu In winning tho medal at Otahuhu Lovy put up a match record for the course with an excellent G9 gross. This score included an out-of-bounds shot at tho 12th and a six at tho 10th so it can bo seen v that Levy can certainly handle his home course. Titirangi was in great order for the continuation of the liallin Cup. Magson excelled himself against Rogerson, playing scratch golf over the middlo stages to win comfortably. "Williamson put out a promising junior in l)aerc, and Tall is ueat Holdgate after a tight match. Somo brilliant scoring was produced in tho Robson-Coltman match. After starting very badly Coltman took the lead at the 11th, and with a birdie 3 at the 16th became dormy, but not to bo denied Robson notched birdies at the last two holes to square the match. 13oth got fours at tho 19th, but bv superior golf Coltman won at the JOth with a 4. .. Lucas found Ganley difficult to dispose of, and although ho finished 2' "P on bogev to win tho concurrent match, ho accounted for Ganley only on the 17th. Saunders gave another exhibition of caret ill, consistent goll to pioxail ultimately over Croinpton on the iJtli. J. K. Murray was not at his nest against Spinley, while last year s winner, Wilson, was severely trounced by Thompson, who found magic on the greens. Other good cards in the bogey were those of Young, I'isher and .J. Murray, all of whom beat the colonel. M (-Crystal finished square with an excellent 76, and appears to he in particular! v good form at present. With Rrinsde'n, lie should do well in tho national event. , A field of well over a hundred took part in a, four-ball, bogey at Middlemoro, but once again the younger set took tho honours when Rainger, junior, and Gunson combined perfectly to finish 8 up. Two other young players in Jlandysido and Mitchell were next wall a card of 6 up.

George Cup Semi-final In the semi-fiiial of the George Cup, Thomson, oft' 5, beat Andrews, whom he also defeated in the captain's prize, ;i iid now it waits the result oi the ing between Jacobsen and Finn. Thomson is in an enviable position, as ho enjoys a 7 handicap in the final of the captain's prize, in which event ho meets Hurt next Saturday, and concedes four strokes. In the meantime, his rating lias been reduced to .1 on general principles and by virtue of an excellent 7.'} gross registered when he beat Andrews in the George Cup. The more experienced players, in most eases, wore successful in the fouith round of the captain's prize at North Shore. The match between O'Connor iiiul Ilorrocks went to tlio 19th before the first-named was eliminated. Square at the 12th, O'Connor took the l.'ith, hut Horrocks evened with a birdie at the 15th fc and went ahead with his stroke at the ,16th. ■ A birdie 2 at the 17th by O Connor squared, but a dulled dri\o to the 19th cost him the match. Three down at the sth, Thompson won the next four holes from "White and by steady golf clinched matters on the 17th. Roberts was five up on Dcighton at the 12th, but lost three in a row and won a fine match only oil, the 17 th.