GOLF

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

GOLF

“(By “All Square.”) Mr Arthur Duncan, the New Zealand champion, will be one of our representatives at Sydney in July, and will play for the Amateur Championsnip of Australia. Referring to this fact, my confrere “Bulger/’ of the ‘Australasian,” says:—Mr Gillies, who won the championship in 1809, will also probably be present; consequently New Zealand is very hopeful cf again winning the championship. It is quite possible they may do so, but if they do they will have a tougher fight than last time, as Mr P. C. Anderson informs me that unless something unforseen prevents him, He means to go ever and get into form before going. Other probable Victorians are IM. L. Anderson, L. A. Whyte, -W. J. Carre-Riddeli, and one, if not both, of the Howdens. If these can all get away they, with the Sydney contingent, consisting of McNeil, Simpson, McArthur, Kidd, etc., should make a splendid competition, worth going to see. Of course it would not be complete without the Adelaide champion, Dr Swift. It is to bo hoped that be trill be more fortunate this time, as last time ho get laid up during the competition, with lumbago, if I -remember right. He has never missed a championship sines he took to golf, and I don’t think ho will miss this one. Possibly next year tho competition will be a tournament instead of a stroke competition as at present. It lias been mooted, and is -to be discussed at the coming meeting. There has been 'such a rush of golf aspirants to Miramar this season that the Wellington Club executive has found it advisable to raise the entrance fee to £‘o 5s to prevent overcrowding. Tho improvements which nave been made at the golf house at Miramar recently have made matters very comfortable for the members. The different rooms have been “nicely furnished, and the attendance’of tho wife cf the caretaker is everything that can bo desired. A drive round the club house is now being made, and lawns constructed, and the committee contemplates planting a number of quick-growing trees to enhance the effect. ■

There is a danger, however, that in its anxiety' to make matters comfortable for the ease-lovers, the committee is leaving something to be desired in regard to the links. Some of the through greens are in such a condition that bad lies are as easily discoverable by champions as by novices, and it is felt by some members of t,ho club that more attention might be paid to thorn. In order to enable some of the putting greens along the sea shore to oo put in order two new greens have been made eastward of “The Summit.” These holes lie in rather rotten surfaced country, however, and will not become popular. An improvement in the play of several of the men members of tire Wellington Club is noticeable, and a very good competition team could be selected just now. It would b© interesting if a little later in the season a scries of inter-club competitions could be arranged, say with Wanganui and Manawatu, or both. ‘ The ladies do nob appear to be making so much progress with the game, and we have'no champion looming large amongst the ladies who frequent Miramar links. One sometimes wonders why there is not a larger week-day attendance of the fair sex. The difficulty of getting there seems to he the 'bar. There i.s talk of instituting links atTitahi Bay—an ideal spot for the game. Absence of rain has prevented the Hutt links from being placed in good playable order. 1 * Gclfists there are praying for a shower or two.

Tho local champion, Mr Arthur Duncan, does not seem to have quite caught form yet this season. Sometimes ho has a day or two and plays brilliantly, but his performance as a whole is erratic. Last Saturday he was quite off his game. Is cricket responsible ?