GOLF

NZ Truth, Issue 985, 11 October 1924, Page 11

GOLF

Ladies At Auckland

Provincial Championships,

(By "Sammy.")

Rain and wind followed the ladies from Hamilton to Middlemore where they" played the Auckland provincial championships. Mrs. G. Williams was m fine form m the qualifying stages and returned an 81— the best score of the meeting. Mrs. Slack, who held the championship, closely followed with ail 83. '-■ In the second round of the match stage of the championship, Mrs. Williams playing brilliant golf, went out m 38, and easily defeated Miss Cooper. Miss M. Payton, who had won from her sister m the first round, had a great fight against Mrs. Slack. They had met at Hamilton where Miss Payton registered a big' defeat on Mrs. Slack.. Mrs. Slack was , down dormy two, then squared the match on the eighteenth.. She then missed rather a short putt to win on the 19th. At the 20th Miss Payton holed one the width of the green for a half — a really delightful putt. They halved the next and Miss Payton playing a par hole won the 22nd with a four. : Mrs., G. Williams was defeated m the semi-final. Her golf was not so good as the previous day's, her opponent, Miss ; McCormack, playing above her handicap. She won the first with a three, then they halved seven holes. Miss McCormack winning the 9th was two up at the turn. Mrs. Williams then won the two 'following holes and squared the match. Miss McCormack won the 12th and 13th with brilliant threes and held the lead of two holes winning by 2 and 1. She completed the round m S3, a fine score m a match. Miss Payton was right at the top of her form m the final. She held a winning position all the match. Out m 41, she was four up and holing a foot putt for a 2 at the 10th and a four at the next, had the game won, Avinning by 5 and 4. Miss Payton played better golf on her own course than she did at Hamilton and deserved her victory. STYMIES UNFAIR. . To mention stymies to many players at present is probing an open wound. If a Vote of the players m recent tournaments were taken, it is safe to bet stymies would go out of the game. The R. and A. says stymies shall be played but they are unfair. I saw one player recently who had to play four stymies m seven holes. In each case the player was practically dead for a half, if not a win, then a putt circling the hole makes the best of match play —a stymie. All players are not Kirk - woods, y t et even the master of trick shots would have been tested to hole some of the beauties this player had. This player played better golf than his opponent, yet was defeated — by stymies. To play a stymie laid by an opponent is unfair and the question should again be debated. To have to play a. stymie which the player laid himself, is what he deserves and should be played. I think that should be the stymie rule. The only stymies to be played is when a player stymies himself — not when an opponent does so. The Te Arolla Golf Club are contemplating making a new dinks. A fine tract^. of land near the town is being acquired on which an 18 hole course is to be laid down. A good golf course would be an added attraction to the "hot springs town," and the club should get some support - from the Tourist Department. Rotorua golfers are lucky; they play over Government ground. Te Arolia will have to buy — it makes a big difference.

YOUTH WILL. BE SERVED. This has been a young players' year. The Open Champion and the Amateur Champion, E. J. Moss and Leo Quin, are still m the twenties. In the ranks ■of amateurs, G., F. Gunson, H. Dale and Pip "Wright, all players m their 'teens, have proved they are golfers who will soon be disputing the higher honors. In Miss O. Kay the ladies found a wonderful player. This girl golfer of sixteen has a great future m N,ew Zealand golf. In Australia, H. Sinclair, a 21-year-old player, won the Amateur -Championship. He is an advertisement for Municipal Links, as all his golf has been developed on Moore Park. In New Zealand, the young player is handicapped owing to lack of Municipal Links, and they must come to each centre. With the limited young players m New Zealand we must be proud of those few who have done so well this season.' NOTES BY THE WAY. The annual meeting of the Professional Golfers' Association was held m Auckland, and the following were elected office-bearers: Captain, E. J. Moss; committee, J. Galloway, G. Forest, J. Mclntosh; treasurer, J. A. Cle-; ments; secretary, H. 8,. Blair, Shirley Links, Christchurch. Clubs wishing to engage professionals should communicate with the secretary as he is m touch with. pros, wishing engagements . The galleries at the Open meetings were excellent. They studied the players and kept well m order when controlled by stewards. There were two occasions when a smile was created. A player on one > tee requested several ladies to "Please stop talking when I'am drivin--," and he was.amazed to get this reply: "I don't see any horses you are driving." On a green another player, with a similar request, got the disconcerting reply: . "Ah! nervy are you?" He missed the putt. MISS KAY'S STYLE. Several writers, commenting on Miss O. Kay, say her style is unorthodox. Well, all I can say is that they have never seen her play or swing a club. Miss Kay swings her wooden .clubs with a nice three-quarter, straight, left-arm movement,; and follows through beautifully. Her balance is perfect, a slight left-foot movement' and a true- hip pivot. She hits off the right leg and 1 does not come much off the ground with her right foot m the follow through. This gives her the long, high drive. Her irons, she plays with a slight shut face movement, and there is a trace of push shot m them. ' For any one to find fault with her mashie : and putting work is absurd. • Her address to the ball—waggle,' as it ds called —is rather fierce, but it is short and. businesslike. Ido not say she is perfect, but she certainly is'not unorthodox. If every lady m New Zealand could hit a golf ball with as few faults as Miss O. Kay the standard of the game would increase eighty per cent. The only fault I could pick with Miss Kay was m the game m which she was defeated, and it was one which every golfer has a mortal dread of —she kept taking her eye off the ball. This fault got her into the trouble which was her downfall. The golf ..season is nearing an end and so comes the end of "Sammy's" notes for this season. To the golfers who are packing their clubs away for a rest, as I am. doing,/take a tip and give them a good coat of linseed oil.