ON THE LINKS

NZ Truth, Issue 868, 15 July 1922, Page 8

ON THE LINKS

WITH THE GOLFERS

BY "SAMMY."

It seems as if the third round m the Open Championship is always a mock for the English wonder Geo. Duncan, and several times it has ruined his chances. . His 81 the other day at Sandwich was similar to his 83 some years ago, and each time he would have been a certain winner otherwise. A look through his performances for the .past ten years shows that his third round is easily his worst. Apparently it is the third round that is the greatest strain m the Open Championship*

. In view of the fact that golf courses are now m course of formation all over the Dominion the following article by the well-known professional Arthur Ham will be read with interest:' Before laying out a course clubs should see that the freehold of the property is acquired or otherwise as soon as Improvements are made up will go the rent, and this may mean notice to quit, which will cause a lot of inconvenience. After the acquisition of the freehold a competent pro. should be engaged to lay out the course. I say pro. advisedly as golf course architects are unknown m this country. On taking up his work the pro. will spend a couple of days walking over the course taking notes of all special features, such as trees, streams, hollows, ridges, and other formations- He will also get advice from some one conversant with the ground to find out where the water lies after a storm. Then he sets to work with pegs about 4ft. high and commencing, on the proposed No. 1 tee he puts m his first peg and maps out his bunkers and greens right up to the 18th hole. He has then got an idea of where the tees and greens are to be. After making a rough plan of these he proceeds to bunker the course. Care should be taken to see that no two greens or bunkers are alike, either m formation or any other way. A walk round with the famous English golf architect, Mr. H. S. Colt, when he is constructing a new course, is something worth . while. The writer spent a fortnight with him once m England and learnt more m that two weeks than m the whole of my career. I once argued the point with him after he had> his pegs m, and all he said was, "Give me a driver and an iron." He, then drove a couple of perfect shots which proved me to be m the wrong-. The gentleman In question' is easily m the first rank of golf architects. There is never an unfair hole or bunker on his courses but correct golf must be played- To be a good golf architect you must be a good player, so that you will understand the weaknesses of players; also' you must be the possessor of a good imagination, especially when laying out a course on flat country. If the ground is flat and 'has a tendency to hold the water the greens should be tile-drained and built up with a layer of cobble stones. Before t'he turf is laid the ground should be dressed with a good load of well-rotted stable manure well treaded and then a light layer of sand. Good soil, which is taken from bunkers should be carefully preserved and added with a layer of manure, and another of sand. A good compost will then be ready when the time comes for top-dressing the greens. Too much reliance should not be placed on chemical manures as greens are like 'human beings — they want careful nursing and feeding. Worms must be got rid of the same as weeds, and wlfen the latter are extracted the hole should be filled with a small pinch of grasa seed. A light dressing of charcdal well raked m with the back of the rake is a good thing. Heavy rolling should only be indulged m at long intervals. Sand is good for top-dress-ing, but it should only b,e put on very lightly so as not to interfere too much with the putting. Always remember two light dressings are better than one heavy one. Stable manure should be spread broadcast on the fairways as it holds the sand and helps to fill up the cups. They should be chain-har-rowed occasionally, and the straw raked off. Putting greens cannot be cut too close, but the heavy rpller must be kept off them and a light wooden one used; also they should be cut different ways each time, as we do not all putt the way the machine runs.

'Portraying Charlie Chaplin as a golfer, the film, lf The Idle Class," which has been placed before the public, should provide much amusement to golfers. The grotesqueness of Chaplin's stance is brought out m bold relief m his tee shots, his grip is a conglomeration of errors, whilst his conception of "rub of the green" is as ridiculous as his wellassumed ignorance of the game m general.

«s- x s :: Ist Golfer: What do ybu generally go around m, old man? 2nd Golfer: About a pint and a half!

The preacher was out on the links and thought a small moral lesson might not be amiss.

"I notice," he remarked mildly, "that the players who get the lowest scores are not those who swtfar."

"Why the hell should they?" snorted the gloomy golfer as he dug up another slice of turf.

What's the trouble m the consulting room?

Somebody threw out that umbrella of. the doctor's that always filtood m his : room.

Why! it was absolutely m tatters. No matter. It's the. one he used to illustrate his style of play to his patients.

Every golfer hopes to make a good start. But he should be on hla guard against expecting too much. It 1b the swing that is the first trouble, and until it becomes free and smooth again the best results are not possible. The player -who has had little practice will come to no harm if he puts his driver away for a round or two and uses a spoon from the tee. It is a shorter club and therefore not fid liable to get out of control. There will, of course, be some slight reduction of length with the spoon, but that is of small account as compared with the : gain from increased accuracy^ Some players may be above this sort of thing, but Cyril Tolley did not hesitate to take his spoon from the tee' even m the final of the amateur championship, when he was fighting desperately against Robert Gardner to prevent the cup going to America. Just one more hint to the player, who is out of practice. Play well within your powers and be prepared to sacrifice length. It will come when the swing is true.

:i :: :> Fore! You people who stay indoors! Go, get your low-heeled shoes and a golfer. Swing a bag of clubs over your shoulder, and come for a tramp. Yes, I know it's absurd chasing that little wMte ball for miles, but think of the quantities of fresh air you are swallowing! Think of the exercise to your arjjns and legs! Come on, can't wait!

The cables of the big matches at Home have several times mentioned the .' winners 'brilliant men up-shots. Hagen, the open champion, won by his shots up to the green. Duncan, m his historic round at St. Andrews— after three rounds of pitching with not much success — adopted' the old run up shot, and after that there was no stopping him. Hole after hole he ran the ball up and holed out, this demonstrating the great value of the run up. There is a great deal of nonsense talked about the all air route as an inflexible principle. J. H. Taylor lost the Open one year by trying to pitch a ball and Btop it on the 17th at St. Andrews. If Mr. Wethered had not persisted In pitching his shot at the last hole he would have won the Open last year. In

these two instances a run up would have saved shots, whereas the pitch bounced across and off the green. There are times when it is best to pitch, and there are times wihen it is best to pitch and run, to play the latter exquisite judgment being needed. Condensed, the following is the rule of run up shots, same stance as mashi©, ball nearer right foot; grip firm with both hands, keep left arm straight until impact; low swing back, keep the club head as close to the ground as possible throughout the swing. Turn the 1 right wrist over slightly at impact, low follow through, feet firm on ground through shot and most weight on left foot.

it s: ss The decision of the Auckland Golf Club to admit boy members is a step m the right direction towards the betterment of the standard of N.Z. golf. Every club should adopt this rule, and allow the young lads a chance of tuition and play on good links. They would not have the privilege if playing, say, after twelve on Saturday, or on Sundays, but with summer play they could get plenty of practice. "Get them young is the motto for golf and with all clubs catering for the younger players even to the extent of promoting matches and tournaments we may m the near future produce players worthy of New Zealand golf. Perhaps the ladies will also follow suit and stick up for their young sex as well;.;

Jas. Watt, the well-known tfrb., writes as follows: "The wonderful 68 Which George Duncan put up at St. Andrews was* mainly due to his brilliant run up shots and magnificent .putting. The' putter *c used was one of ■two light- clubs I shafted m his shop at Tlmperley, Manchester, some.eighteen years ago- They were made for ladies, but he thought they would do for putters,, and they were cut down to suit. Shortly after using one he jumped into fame by defeating Braid and Taylor m, the 'News .of the World' competition, at Hollingwell. His putting that day was phenomenal. He cracked the shaft of one whilst playing a match at Bournemouth against Kitchen, the local pro. who was using a set of mallet-headed clubs against Duncan. With his p-utter Duncan won the match and put up a irecord for the course (79). He then commandeered my one and I took the cracked Bhafted one. It is this light cleek which Duncan has faithfully stuck to and won all his big matches with for years past. I still have the putter he used- at Bournemouth. Kirkwood recognised the duplciate of Duncan's putter when he saw it some time ago. I only wish I could use it as Duncan uses my old one.", , - ,

It x: it Golfers who visit Rotorua will be pleased to hear that the club have bought a simplex machine, and intend to keep the course cut throughqut the summer. This is a good move, and summer, golf on the beautiful Rotorua course will be welcomed by the many golfers who spenfl their holidays there.