GOLF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20310, 19 January 1928, Page 4

GOLF.

By Divot. HINT FOR THE WEEK. Many golfers, who have never read a book of the rules of golf, go on breaking rules until they come up against some player who has made a thorough study of every department of the game, including rules. He receives a rude awakening when he is pulled up for a breach of a rule which he confesses he has been in the habit of doing from the very early days of his golf. It is not only embarrassing to the ignorant one but also to the checker as generally an argument ensues and this detracts from the enjoyment of the game. Don’t place yourself in the shoes of the ignorant one; get a book of rules and make yourself conversant with the contents. Among those who have recently visited the Otago Golf Club’s course is C. G. Maschwatz, who is one of the reserves for the Australian Kirk-Windeyer team. Mr Maschwatz has been in Dunedin for the past fortnight during which time he has had very little time for golf. He spoke very highly of the course at Maori Hill. He is areompanied by his father, and both father and son enjoy a, good game of golf. Last week-end C. B. Wight and W. Clayton gave the two Australians a couple of rounds at St. Clair links. C. G. Maschwatz (2hcp) played some great golf during the course of the day, and gave every indication that when ho has settled down to serious golf, will be a hard nut to crack. He will take part in the three day’s tournament at Wellington in a fortnight’s time. Give the lawn in front of the house a fortnight or three weeks without a run over with the mower and see what a job it is to cut back the luxurious growth, at this season of the year, on even the smallest patch of grass. Imagine acres of fairways which have not been barbered since before the holidays and you have a rough idea of what, greeted the eye at St. Clair links a week ago. A week’s work has made such a difference and on Saturday many of the fairways were back to their old state again. It will, however, be another week before everything is back to its normal state. The thing which impressed me most on Saturday was the excellence of the greens ; each had a good sole of healthy grass and with a trim up round the edges should be in the best of condition for the first competition in a fortnight's time. The venue for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup match has at last been decided. On Monday the Golf-Council decided on Miramar links as the most suitable for the stem struggle. Everything has been given special attention at Miramar and the fairways and greens are in tip-top order. The programme arranged in connection with the visit of the Australian golfers for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup, which will be played cither at Heretaunga or Miramar (according to weather conditions), came to hand last week and contains the following events: —Thursday, January 26: First and second qualifying rounds of championship; 16 players to qualify. This event is open only to members of the Australian teams and emergency members of those teams and also to any Australian or New Zealand golfer whose club handicap is not m°rc than three. 'Two handicap events will be played, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Each of these events carries a trophy for the winner and runnerup. On Friday morning the first round of the championship (match play) and a bogey handicap will be played and in the afternoon the second round of the championship and late starters in the bogey handicap (including the eight beaten in the first round of the championship). Saturday morning will be taken up with the playing of the semifinal games and a foursome ine tournament will be drawn to a close in the afternoon when the final of the champion* ship will be staged. Entries close with the secretary of the New Zealand Golf Association on Saturday, January 21. &o far as the New Zealand team to take part in the Kirk-Windeyer Cup is concerned the first couple is already chosen— Sloan Morpeth and T. H. Horton. The second couple is to be definitely decided upon at the three days’ tournament, unfortunately, some of the best of our K*Jfers will not take part in this tournament. That the New Zealand team will, nevertheless, be a strong one goes without saying and 1 have faith in the judgment of the selectors of our team. There exists, howevei, a feeling, freely expressed in the north, that our best golfers will not be fullv extended by the visiting Australians. _ inat the New South Wales combination is not so formidable a team as were Wmtton, Russell, Headlam, and Schlapp, who were defeated by the New Zealand four, Duncan, Horton, Ross, and Quin, is admitted. There is, however, a foreboding that if 'nis feeling is allowed to go unchecked i might have a detrimental ? ffe f t j1 on A .J' 1 he players who are picked to defend the title. To take an opponent too cheaply has been the undoing of many a golfer. In my opinion the very best team that is available will be fully extended bv the Australians despite the fact that they will be strange to the conditions. The absence of Leo Quin and several other low handicap golfers will make the task of filling the two vacancies in the New Zealand team a much easier one. Among those .who cannot get away for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup tournament is C. B. Wight, the St. Clair champion. There is every reason to believe that this player, on his present form .would have given a good account of himselt. it, is left to Dr Ross to keep the southern golfers in the limelight and it is hoped that he will again be one of the four to uphold the prestige of New Zealand golf. Dr Ross i s one of those players who soon come to form and the few days ot tournament play, such as he will take part in at the end of the month will be sufli cient to bring out his best golf. At' the head of this column a hint is thrown out to those golfers who have never made themselves acquainted with the rules governing the game. Times without number I have noticed players breaking the rule which provides for a ball driven out ol bounds from tho tee. When it is necessary to play another ball from the tee the ruie says that the exact spot formerly used has to be used again. Many a time have I watched a player put a ball out of bounds from one side of the tee and then walk over to the other side ot the tee to play his next shot. The penalty for using another part of the tee in playing such a shot is loss of the hole in match or bogeyplay and absolute disqualification in stroke plav! Dozens have, in blissful ignorance, incurred disqualification in this way. Another rule which is broken by players in a competition is that which refers to a lost ball. Tho time limit for searching is five minutes and if this is exceeded, and the ball found enables a player to win the competition, be has absolutely no right to claim the prize as he has broken a rule of the game. Towards the end of next month jfhe Highfield links, Timaru. will be a busy spot. It is there that the professionals of the Dominion wilt hold their tournament which will extend over three days. An attractive programme has been arranged by the New Zealand Golf Association and a large gathering is hoped for on the 22nd of next month. Most of tho prominent golfing events, especially those of an international character, are fixed at least six months, and often more, beforehand. The British open championship will take place at Sandwich in May. The American open championship will follow in Juno and this arrangement will enable those who desire to attend_both events to do so easily. Rigidity of any kind throughout a golf stroke is manifestly impossible. a Golfers who have been puzzled by the injunction to keep the left arm as stiff as a coker may derive comfort from the following points by an American golfer, who points out that tho stiffness must of necessity be during only the first part of the swing. “ Stiffen or straighten the left arm, if you will,” he says, 11 in taking the club back with a retiring or backward-sliding, right elbow, but, in the forward swing we should positively relax the left by allowin'* it to bond at the elbow instantaneously after the impact. The importance of this alternate bending of the elbows in the upswing and the forward-swing, respectively. G essential, and for the great majority cl players, no more useful tip could be given. It- is, indeed, a sine qua non, and is put in practice, whether they know it °F nt)tbv every player of class. The advice, to shoot.out both hands in the forward-swing is so common—on Q might say, universal, that it is high time its essential fallacy should be exposed for the general benefit. | Wrong conceptions of the follow-through j are chiefly responsible for the foolish doc- ; trine But the sooner players understand ( that the lino of the follow-through is round the shoulders, or abov o them, and not out towards the hole, that the impact of club upon ball is instantaneous and not continuous. that the left arm must bend at . the elbow in tho forward swing and by no moans bo kept stiff or straight or pushed , forward with the right, the better for their play and pleasure.”