GOLF

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

GOLF

BY “ALL SQUARE.” The opening of the golf season takes place at Miramar to - day, when the members of the local club will play a mixed foursome handicap. Airs H. D. Bell, who is captain of the Ladies’ Club, lias intimated her intention to present prizes te the winners of the match. Several members of the club have pro. seated lounge chairs for tho furnishing of the. several rooms of the Club House at Miramar. Xn response to the secretary's invitation for framed pictures, Dr Purdy has presented the olul) with a set of interesting photographs in which well known players figure. One of these —tho opening of tlio links at Miramar by the Earl of Glasgow—is of historic interest. .

Several of the younger players have come well to the front lately, and tho committee would do well to see to- their handicaps. The standard of play at Miramar has shown an all-round improvement during the past year, and the club should give a good! acoouut of itself in future competitions. Tho play of tho lady members does not show quite the same amount of improvement. It is strange that our ladyplayers have not, with a few exceptions, improved their play to any appreciable extent. On the English links tho, women are often very long drivers, while their iron play and their putting is also exceptionally good. New Zealand women, apparently, do , not work hard enough at the game. Of course wo are badly in need ora professional teacher; but as wo have not got one, perhaps the gentlemen might lend the ladies a helping hand through the many pitfalls that come in tho way of beginners. A captive ball at home, and tho daily practice of the true swing will work wonders in a few months.

The granting of equal rights to- the lady members of the Wellington Olub seems to have spurred them on to nobler deeds. Already they have scoured seven, new members, and there are others hovering, on. the brink. With Mrs Bell as -captain, and such a capable lion. secretary as Miss Duncan, this side of the Club-is likely to make much pro-

gress. . ; ; The men have also received 1 a considerable accession to their ranks. • It would be well for intending new mem- - hers to hurry - up, because the committee lias power to raise the entrance fee as soon- as the club membership has reached 100, and it is considerably over .that now.

Communications 1 -from.'the other States ami a visit from Mr Carrc-Riddell have enabled the Australian Golf 81ub J authorities to make progress with the , arriuigemonts for the championship meeting to be held at Botany. - The dates have been fixed so as to suit tho Victorian crack players, and Mr P. C. Anderson, the. ex-English champion, who has not yet played for tho Australian championship, has been able to-promise that he will take part. So will Messrs Howden, Riddell and other of the leading Melbourne- goners, and good contingents are expected from South Australia, 1 Queensland, etc. From New Zealand the attendance is expected of Mr Arthur Duncan, the New Zealand champion, Mr Gillies, who won the Australian championship at Bondi, and other leading men: Messrs Duncan and Gillies promised Mr Macneil that if the championship were held in Sydney they would come. No- one is anxious to play on Caulfield again (the bad name of Caulfield is now so general that file R.M.G.C. should really carry out its intentions; of speedily giving it up and •devoting all its attention, to making a first-class course of its now links at Sandringham.) The probable programme for the meeting is as follows;—Commencing Tues- . day, July ,9. Tuesday: Foursomes Championship, two rounds; Wednesday: Bogey Handicap, two rounds; Thursday and Friday: Amateur Championship'of Australia, two rounds per day, score play. Saturday ;' Stroke Handicap, two rounds. All events open to members of any recognised Australasian golf.club. ; Messrs MaCarthur and Macneil, as representatives of-New South Wales fin the Golf Union, wrote proposing that .instead of an unrestricted stroke competition the championship this year should bo decided thus:—“Two qualifying rounds score play; first eight to play knock-out tournament for championship ; second eight to play knock-out tournament, second grade prizes ; third 'eight to play knock-out tournament, third grade prizes.’’ That would undoubtedly have been an improvement, but the Melbourne people pointed out that while much might be said for and something against the plan, they would prefer that it should not be adopted till it had been discussed by tho delegates. This: Mr Macarthur, in tho absence in England of' Mr Macneil, agreed to, and so at the. meeting of the Union to be held in Sydney in the championship week the proposition will he considered in view of the 1902 championships to bo held at Sandringham under the R.M.G.C.’s auspices. Tho Australian G.C. annual meeting is to bo held on March 27, and the committee will be able to show a most satisfactory state of affairs. After expending about £9OO during the year and improving the Jinks rapidly and continuously the club has still a small credit balance, and it has a full membership list, and applicants: as well awaiting vacancies. Further; improvements are to be _ made forthwith in view of the championship meeting. The greens.are all to be lightly top-dressed with black sand and malt combings on top of that, a combination- proved most effective with them, and all the lie-s for the drives are to be top-dressed •with black sand and cow manure mixed. There is a. proposal to abandnon the present 16th hole, and make a new hole acres./the lagoon (a 100 yards iron shot). Hie lagoon would thus bo crossed noth ways, and save the walk between the teeing green as well as abolishing an indifferent hole on tho 16th.