GOLF TOPICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 18

GOLF TOPICS

TOWN BEATS COUNTRY IDEAL COURSE CONDITIONS FINE PUTTING BY HOWDEN BY THE HOVER Probably the most popular golf match of the year is tho annual contest between teams representing the town and the country, which is held on St. Andrews links, Hamilton. Apart from tho benefit which players derive from meeting golfers of other clubs, tho match affords members of tho city clubs in particular tho opportunity of playing on a course on which ideal conditions for winter play are found. Hamilton is indeed fortunate in possessing links which keep dry even in wet weather, and to have greens which provide excellent putting surfaces. Generally, tho lay-out is splendid, although tho ninth and the 14th holes are weak compared with the rest. However, the ninth is now being shortened by about 25 yards and tho green remodelled. The 14th is a poor one-shotter, as the hole is blind and it is almost impossible to place the tee-shot close to tho pin. Iho remedy lies in cutting down tho bank by six or seven feet in front of the green, which should be placed slightly further back. When these improvements are carried out the course will provide an excellent test for championship play, and it is hoped that the New Zealand meeting will be held there next year. Howden's Easy Win The town team was weakened by the absence of H. D. Brinsden, R. M. George and W. S. Ralph, while R. Edmonds was uqable to play for the country. C. E. Howden scored tho first win for the country team when he easily defeated 1. MacEwan, the match ending on the 14th green. The Waiuku player treated his opponent to an object lesson in the short game, his chipping and putting being exemplary. Howden will take part in the South Auckland championship, which is to be played at Hamilton, an event he won at Cambridge 25 years ago when he beat C. Kusabs in the final. W. B. Eustace, the Auckland champion of champions, was 3 down to K. Caldwell before the turn was reached, but he played well coming home to win at the 16th. S. E. Carr, of Rotorua, suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of G\ Biss, who played steadily throughout the day. Carr's play is extremely disappointing as he has a sound style and showed considerable promise some years back. J. M. Coltman had an even game with M. D. Carr, while J. H. Young proved much too good for T. R. Bloomfield, who, on the day, could do nothing right. E. L. Bartleet and A. C. Browne defeated the local players, L. V. Bellingham and W. C. Wynne, respectively, to win for the town, but It. S. Alford, of Cambridge, added one to the tally of the country by defeating A M. Goulding. Kidd's Excellent Play Others to obtain wins for the country team were C. E. Sutclifl'e, Hamilton, F. C. Blundell, Te Awamutu, C. Kidd, Paeroa, S. G. Cooper, Alorrinsville, and R. L. Patterson, of Putaruru. The performance of Kidd is worthy of special mention as he played exceilent golf over the inward half to defeat W. A. Cole, of Glendowie. Kidd is a young player with a fine style, and apart from the 14th hole, where he picked up after putting two shots out of bounds, the figures he produced were probably the best of the day. He was out in 42 and his score coming in read:—3.4 4 4 4, 4, 5, 3. Foursomes are not a popular form of competition, but on the few occasions on which they are played the players usually enjoy themselves. Foursomes are a much better test, of skill than the ordinary four-hall match. The country team was successful in onlv two of the foursomes matches, and the final result of 27 games to 9 in favour of the town E"?, s a fair indication of the strength of the teams.

CLUB COMPETITIONS

OTAHUHU CHAMPIONSHIPS Matches in the first round of the club championship at Otahuhu resulted as expected, the reigning champion, \\ .13. Eustace, winning easily from A. I odd, while A. P. Eustace accounted for P. Maughan J. Rogers defaulted to li. J. Levy, but the game between two young players, S. Clark and H Bell, provided an exciting finish. After a very even match the players were squaro at the 18th, and at the next, following two mishits, Bell played his third dead from nearly 200 vards to obtain the half. At the 20th Clark played his second badly and Bell made no mistake to win a hard-fought match. In the intermediate grade It. E. Brown, C. B. Harold, B. Cooper anil J. Bracewell reached the semi-finals. Bracewell having a closo game with H. Saunders, who took the match to the 20th. jn the concurrent medal J. J. Valentino scored a popular win, although one hoped that his handicap would bo much lower by this time, and Herrold, who should go far in the intermediate championship, was the runner-up.

AKARANA MATCHES

GOOD SCORES RETURNED Considering the weather conditions, scoring at Akarana was good, E. Cashmore winning by one stroke from J. Swanson, H. Brown, C. Cammick and P Smith. Swanson is hitting the ball vor.v well at present and his gross round of 79. was a creditable effort. The names of Smith and Cammick have appeared among the leaders in a number of competitions lately, while Broun has reduced his handicap considerably since the commencement of the season. The loading juniors also returned aoocl cards, L. Cnmmings heading the list with a net 72. Ho was followed by L. Wrathall, a limit-handicap player, who handed in a 73. The final for the Coltman Cup was played over 36 holes and, after a match in which there was little between the players, C. Shenkin boat R. Tappenden on the last green.

STABLEFORD BOGEY MATCH

TITIRANGI COMPETITION A total of 36 points is usually quite good enough to win a Stahleford bogey competition, but at Titirangi A. J. Fletcher scored no fewer than 40 points to head'the list. H. G. Thompson also played well, but he finished three points awa.v, while E. G. Tailis was the best of the low-markers At Maungakickio a bogey match was played under difficult conditions, J. Pelham winning with a score of 2 down, C. Jarman and J. S. Kidd tieing for second place. , • .