GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12394, 2 July 1902, Page 3

GOLF.

Mr E. P.. Simpson has won the Amateur Championship'of Now South Wale?,, which carries l with it the Hampden Cup. Particulars to hand of tho first and second rounds played at Botany show that Bogey was fixed 'at 83—the same as last year— and that Mr Simpson then hold a big margin to the good, his total in the two rounds being' five down (two in the first antl three in the seebnd). Mr Macneil was unfortunately unable "to take part in tjtc championship through an injury to liis hand. A golf match was"played on April 2 for the first time on tho historic battlefield of Busaeo, in Portugal, the players being some English visitors staving there. It was at Busaeo that the Duke of Wellington repulsed on .attack of the French on September 27,1810.

In these,days of iron clubs, nearly every stroke means-the displacement'of a email bit of turf, or "divot," as the eolfer calls it (says.a Christchurcl) writer). If the divot is at' once replaced and pressed down with the foot, not much harm is done to the ground; but the thoughtlessness of players is sublethal; it is the;exception, rathor than the rule to see the turf replaced, and it is enough to break the heart of any green committee to see the divots lying all over the place, and gaping holes mutely testifying to the players', lack or consideration. If players who conro!ain of bad "lies" would only remember that nothing is so conditeivo to a bad lie as the non-replacement of the turf, possibly they would exercise a little more care in this dii'pction. I think" a small fine for every proved offer.ee would have a salutary effect., There is another a spent, of 'the question.; This year the New Zealand championship" will be played'on the Shirley links for the first time, and naturally the committee aro anxjous. that the links should be in good' order, and they look for tho loyal support of members to enable thern to attain the end in-view.

• At. the, annual mqot-intr'of the Otago Rolf Club held recently,the following alterations in the rules were .made: —

1. Any member elected during the latterhalf of a clilb yeal- shall 'pay only one-half of the annual subscription.

2. Any member residing at the commencement of any club year iii any part of the colony outside of the provincial district of Otago may continue his membership on payment of a subscription of 10s Gd for sncli club year. If during any. puch year he return 9 to reside in the provincial district ..of Otago lie shall, in addition to the 10s Cd, pay & portion of the ordinary annual subscription proportioned to tho unexpired portion of {lie. club year. , 3. That rule 13 be replaced and tlie following rule substituted for it:—Any member leaving the colony during a club year shall remain liable for the subscription for that year if not previously paid;"but'ha shall not bs liable for any subscription in respect of -any subsequent club year during which he is absent from the colony. On his return to tho colony, if lie wishes to continue a member, he shall pay for the club veaf. in which he returns a portion ;of tho ordinary, subscription pfoportioned to the unexpired portion of such year. • 4. Any member of any Golf Club on the register of the New Zealand Golf Council, having similar rulo to this, who has paid an entrance fee on admission to sueh club, shall, if elected a...m.emb.or...of.this clubi.be. admitted.withput payment of any entrance fee, unless the entrance fee paid bv him to tho iormer club was less than the entrance fee-of this club. In that case 'ho shall pay only tho difference as an entrance • fee.

5. That rule 10 be repealed and-the following rule substituted for'it:—(a) Members may intrWuce friends to the club as visiting players bn'the receipt 'Of a visitor's card 'from tho secretary. (b) If a visitor so introduced is a member of a Golf Clul> on tho register oF Zealand Golf Council having a rule similar to this he shall" not be liable to any payment for the. privileges of the .club for the first fort-night-'lifter admission, After that lie shall 1 be liable for a payment of 5s for each month or fraction of a month during which he remains .1 visiting player, (It. was a recommendation to our. delegates to the council to endeavour to have the 5s per month altered to 10s Gd per month,, as at present.) ' (e) If a visiting player is not a member of a club on the abovementioned register'he shall bo entitled to one day's play free of payment, but after that shall be liable for a payment of 5s for each week or fraction of a nyeck during which ho remains a, visiting player.- (d) The member introducing a visiting player is responsible for all payments for whicli such player becomes liable either to the club or tile-green-keeper.- (0) In tho event- of any visiting player being elected « member of this club,' any payments made -by him under this rule in the club year in which lie -is clccted shall be deducted "from the entrance fco a'nd subscription payable by liim.

Several lecomliioiidations wore made to the incoming committee, among them the following:-'

1. That Hie final for the championship bo two rounds (36 holes) instead of one round,-. tlio two rounds not necessarily to be played on the .same day.

2. Thai there be ..a qualifying round. 3. That thero be -two competitions for driving, approaching, and putting, so as to give junior players an interest'in the competitions.

i. That the championship be held later in the year.