JOTTINGS.

NZ Truth, Issue 889, 9 December 1922, Page 10

JOTTINGS.

A reduction m the price of some of the leading brands of golf balls to tho pre-war figure is reported from London. it : : t > At the open championships of America admission -was charged to witness the play. A sum of 15,000 Jollars was taken which must easily be a record. Why the N.Z. Golf Council refuses to . take this step is unknown. Gate money wduld help to pay for the grant the council allows che club on whose course the Open h played over, and thus help the council -o have larger funds m hand to increase the prize-money at the Open. It's got to come. The man who never lies about his ?olf is the weakest ' gink that ever gulled a pair of trousers over his feet, i :: :: s: First Golfer: "Thought you were lever going to turn-up this afternoon." Second Golfer: "It was a jolly near hing, my boy. I tossed tip to see if I •liould take the wife out or come here —and. believe me, it took five spins beCore It came right." Thousands of words have been writ;nn flbout what fine putters the Yanks ire. Arthur Ham says the amateurs .1' N.Z. are better than the Home puto.rs. There are a few small point* hat may be explained just why the vraeric'ans are good on the greens. In he States most of the tournament? re played m summer. To avoid fast, tard greens they are liberally f ooded ».v:h evening and are also cut fairly igh. This means a good sole of grass ■nd each green as near as possible hft same strength. The Americans an then putt boldly: as there is grass 0 grip the ball. Greens such as St. 1 ndrew's are cut almost bare and arc ike a looking-glass, as are many of Uo other seaside courses. The Bri-

tish players playing so often on bare greens have got into the way of stroking the bait to the hole, whereas the oversea players hit the ball. Even though playing on faster greens the Americans did not forget to hit the 'ball and once they got the greens they putted boldly -and controlled the bau whilst the Home nros. were "scratching." Vardon, m a recent article on American putting, says the greens m America are all easier to putt on by the reason of the thicker sole on them. In N.Z. we play most of our golf m winter when the" greens are wet and plenty of grass on them, which makes bold putting necessary. What like are our greens m summer on' a course without water laid on and cut down like a clean shaye — are they easy to putt on? This all goes to say that to have greens "a club must have -water laid on where there is summer play, and also a good hint to greenkeepers to cut a little higher. :: :: :: Golfer, as he holds up a pair of heelless stockings to his wife: "My dear, this is medal day and you haven't replaced the divots ' 'm my* lucky stockings. 1 ' t . , li '■'•■•*■!• !!.■:■> :■■•-- "The rough presents many problemsin golf, 'for there are so many difterent kinds of rough. Some types call* for. slugging and some for almost as much delicacy as putting. But all call for firmness and decision. "If you have a fair lie m the rough and havo quite a distance to go, I advocate a spoon with a round bottom. This type of spoon cuts thispugh quickly and gets the ball up. The spoon is a great club for this work on many occasions and is almost as sure to get the ball out as an irou. "But if you are m doubt, play it safely and- take an iron. The first thing todo'.is to' tako a firmer grip. I don't mean to squeeze the leather off the club, but to be sure you have hold of it. Don't stiffen the -wrists m the back swing as you will need freei •vrist work for the final flick. "It la better to stand just a, little closer to the ball than one ordinarily would and to use morq of an upright swing. You will find on a general average from the rough that a slice will come with wooden , club play."— Jim Barnes. - ' : : : : * : : "There are' golfers who think tney can cure slicing by fuither away from the ball. But they usually fall forward when they do this and hit the ball on tho heel of the club. "You have a better chance to start the club the right way and get jour balance by keeping the weight a little more back on the heels m addressing the ball. If the' weight is forward on the toes you are likely to lean forward and hit from the' outside, instead ."of hitting from the inside."— Grantland Rice.

The X.L. Challenger Golf Ball is the product of the largest 'and oldest makers of rubber-? cored , -balls m the home of golf. For. steadiness of flight, lasting qualities, and shape-keeping properties, this ball is without a peer. No other ball of standard weight and size gives the same satisfying results. Sole N.Zk Agents, E. J. Hyams, Ltd., Wellington.* ) .