On the Links

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 16

On the Links

Next Wednesday the Hutt ladies wiTL iiold a putting and approaching competition, for which iirs Bridge has (Donated a prixo.

At the Herotaunga links to-dny the ladies Silver Putter competition (medal play) will take place.

Next Saturday the Wellington Cluib -nill Bold a men's foursomes competition, (bogey) for the Eonfurley Clip. Entries close at Tisdall's not later than 5.30 p.m. on (Thursday.

The Wellington Ladies’ Club championship nill take place at Heretaunga om. August 23nd to thith.

How often one finds that water just ahead puts a player off his stroke. Amy one visiting the Hutt links and standing at the “Eaupo” or "Will o’ the Wisp" tees will get a good illustration of this, even the most reliable players often sending their balls for a swim, which, with the now players it is constantly a case of Davy Jones' Looker. Those latter may take heart front the fact that not even the very best players arc infallible. Dor instance, in the Gold Voso tournament at Stoke-Pogis, 11. 11. Hilton, tho amateur champion came to grief at a very short hole. This Was a pitch shot over a stream. Being short his ball fell into tho water. , He recovered his ball, dropped, and again found the water, the hole costing Kim seven. In nine eases out otf ten the trouble is caused by taking the eyo off tho ball too quickly- in the anxiety to see whether it has cleared the danger.

A match was played in Melbourne the other dlay between twelve ladies * and twelve men, the former being allowed half a stroke a hole. It caused keen excitement, and ended all square, each side winning six games. The great feature wtae the irresistible play of Miss Nan Guthrie, who defeated her opponent by no less than 11 holes. The approaching and putting by Miss Guthrie, Who recently 1 won the Cliverdetu Cup, is absolutely faultless.

J. H. Taylor, four times open golf champion, made his appearance recently as an amateur bn the stage t in an attempt, on a miniature putting green at St. George's Hall, to try to overcome by bis skill the "influence ’ that Mr David Devant on , the golf balls. Messrs Maskelyne and Deviant's ■ putting green measures about ten feot by four, and as covered by green baize. Taylor found no difficulty in holedng the ball until Mr Devant put what he called the ■ "foozling touch" on the professional's arm. Then not a ball could be got down. The audience roared with laughter at the champion's amazement, and he enjoyed the fun. as much as they did.

Amateur golfers have been taking; an active part in the third annual, stroke contest —over 3G holes — at Stoke I’ogi.s, for the 250-guinea gold cup given by "Golf Illustrated.” There were 59 actual

"starters,’' including visitors from various parts of the world, and a narrow victory wias scored by Hubert Hams (of Acton, lioudbn), with a score of 145 to H. Taylor (Eichmond) 148. Third man was ■ the young American Charles Errand with 153; whilst Clyde Pearce (Tasmania) was sixth with 156. The latter wias well ahead of his brother, Bruce Pearce, who wlae in., the 21st place, with a score of 163. New Zealand figured 30th, G. Lubbock taking 167 strokes.

The twentieth competition for the Irish amateur championship, played at Portrush, ended in an easy win in the final round for L. 0. Mimu (Ecyal Dublin Oluib) by 7 up and 6 to ploy, over Captain H. Boyd (Portmamock). The heavy rains of a week or two. ego left a good deal of water on some of the links. The '"casual water” rules were constantly required, yet it is surprising how few players really understand them in full. In the course of any competition on a wet day you have. but to stand for a few minutes by a bunker with fsomo casual water in it to hear players (when their ball gets in this water), asking if they can lift out without penalty, nn4 when informed “thJat there must _bo a penalty of one stroke, they are still inj doubt as to where they must drop-, fcbq first ball. Again, when casual wafer:is met with through the green, yon will often see a player standing in water inches deep to play a ball lying on dry ground, as he is blissfully ignorant of HHie fact that the rules provide that when a ball lies, so near to casual water that the water interferes with the player's stance, it may bo treated as if it lay in the water. Again, theme are frequent discussions as to what is meant by "water" in the term "casual water.'' Is it necessary to be of ;sudh a depth that a ; ball /will float in it, or is' it any water which interferes with, the lie of the hall? The answer, of course, clearly is that it is any water which interferes with the lie of the ball or stance erf the player. The open, amateur, and ladies championships of Australia will be held on the Hose Bay Links, Sydney, from. Sep; tembor 15th to 29th. They will be under the direction of the Itoyal Sydney Golf Club. /

An instance of '“the perfect finko" was seem at Mossvale, New South Wales, last week, when J. S. Arnott got the seventh hole, 80 yards, in one.

In the qualifying round jal the Adelaide Golf Club championship a remarkable stroke mis made by W. J. Gunsou, who in the .first round, which he played with H. L. P. Hyland at the long third holed with his brassie. At this hole, after a long drive to the far end of the lie, he played a .pulled brassie, and the ball ran up the slope in a lino with the hole, and then disappeared over the rise. On reaching the green, the ball could not be found. Both players searched in the rough beyond in varin, but on looking into the hole the ball was, much to their surprise, found at the bottom..

Mr F. L. Francis, hon. secretary; of the Gibraltar Club, writing to a" friend in England, describes tho following incident: "I was playing in a three ball match on the Gibraltar course a few days ago, and on the §fonnd green my ball lay close to the hole after an approach of about 60 yards.. One of my opponents, the Eight Hon. Sir Walter Hely-Hintehin-sou, late Goyarnor lof the Cape, ’ was about 45 yards to the right of the green, and the third .player (military secretary to His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar) a similar distance to the left. They each required one stroke for a hole, which was obtained, as both approaches were holed out! This performance is the mere remarkable when it is understood that onr greens are very fast, being made of rolled earth and sand.” A HAERDEESSER’S EXPERIENCE. "I have repeatedly used Chamberlain's Cough Remedy and always depend upon it to give me relief when eufferiiK from colds,” writes Mr A. B. Fry, Hairdresser, Gawler street, Mount Barker, S.A. “Mv first experience with it was when I had a severe attack of bronchitis. it fixed me np in a few doses. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone suffering in a like manner, as it is a thoroughly reliable remedy.” Sold* everywhere. ' _ •