GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 69

GOLF.

NOTES BY BULGER,

The 1909-10 tournament, held under the auspices of the Otago Golf Club, can be counted as one of the most successful which has yet taken place at Bahnacewen. The links were never better, and Green-keeper Ralston deserves great credit for the splendid condition in which he had the course. The standard of play was exceptionally good, and it required a score out of the ordinary to win any of the handicap events. In passing I might mention that the handicapping was splendid; in nearly every instance the matches resulted in a tie, with several others close up. This must have been"' very gratifying to the gentlemen responsible for the adjustments. The weather was on the whole good, the first two days being quite calm, and conducive to good scores. The two last days were inclined to be breezy, and some of the rounds tested- the versatility of the cracks to some extent. There was a very large entry, and Mr D. Crawford carried out his arduous duties in his usual capable manner. He has a remarkable faculty for organising, and everything went along so smoothly that one would imagine the show was running itself. The assembled golfers showed their appreciation at the conclusion of the> meeting by giving this popular gentleman three rousing cheers. There was a fair representation of New Zealand golfers. F. C. Johns came from New Plymouth, and Messrs O'Callaghan and Gillies from Hawera. Napier was represented by C. Kennedy and Wood, and Wanganui by Lewis. Wellington might claim F. W. Mac Lean (ex-Dunedinite). Christchurch sent B. C. Rutherford, W. D. Harman, T. W. Cane, A. W. Reeves, J. A. Gow, and. Allen. Messrs Marshall and Randrup (Timaru), Darling, Roxby, Wilson (Oamaru), Gunthorpe, Stewart, and Grigor (Balelutha), and the usual strong Alexandra contingentMessrs Reilly, Arthur, Murray, O'Kane, Ross, and Dumsday, and O. J. Ronaldson and Laing (Invercargill) and Forbes, Fotheringham, Stock. Brewer, Barron, M'Carthy, Purchas, and Fleming- (St. Clair). The championship went to Ghristchurch by the efforts of Rutherford, who played consistently throughout the meeting. His win was deservedly popular, and although many would have liked to see the Cup remain in Dunedin, few grudged the young Christchurch player his victory. He lias beer a constant visitor to Dunedin tournaments, but hitherto has not displayed even a glimpse of that brilliant form shown on more than one occasion at Shirley. Reeves, of Christchurch, and bur old friend "Jim" Gow played consistently, but without luck, just being beaten,for a. prize on more than one occasion. Cane, runner-up for the second Bogey,- is "to be congratulated on his fine score of 7 up, which would have won nine times out of 10. The Alexandra boys were always well up, and it would have . been gratifying to everyone if they had managed to win a prize. They are real good fellows, and keen on the game, but their time will come. They show marked improvement each visit. Of the local players good form was shown by the family of Smith (4-) as usual. Brasch. was 8 up or Bogey, with a handicap of only four strokes. His actual round was 76. E. H. Lough (6 up on Bogey), Wales, Scolon, Gould, Gale. Park, M'Ewan, J. Fotheringham, and Forbes worthily upheld the honour of the St. Clair Club. The tie between J. H. Gale (Otago) and J. Fotheringham (St. Clair) in the fourth medal handicap at the recent tournament was played off on Saturday afternoon, when Gale won bv 3 strokes. The respective scores were:—Gale, 99—10—89; Fotheringham, 100—8—92. There was a very high wind blowing, which accounted to some extent for the poor scores. The _ Mixed Foursome at the meeting under review resulted in a tie between Mrs Mackie and 1 B. J. Smith and W. D. and Mrs M'Carthy (St. Clair), and on the play off the St. Clair players were victorious. ~ There is every likelihood of another change being made in . the _ conditions governing the open championship. It will be remembered that at Deal last year the play extended over four days, _ two of whijh were devoted to preliminary or qualifying contests, but the scores made in them did not count for the biff event. ,

This was felt to ba a. grievance, as some of the competitors played more brilliantly on the opening than on the closing days. The new proposal is to conduct the qualifying contests on the present lines, with this difference, that a certain number of the players will drop out at the end of each day, leaving • some 60 odd men to take part in the third and concluding day's play. The arrangement means a single round on Wednesday (probably), another round on Thursday, and the third on Friday. It is believed that this' modified scheme will meet with the warm approval of the professionals. There" is no doubt that four rounds are an adequate test of any player's stamina and resource at the medal game, which is admitted to be the severest test to which a golfer can submit himself. The proposal will shorten the meeting by a day, and this is also a decided gain in these strenuous times. The subject will be fully discussed at the next meeting of the delegates who have charge of the championship. The most brilliant score ever made in the annual competition for the Glasgow championship was compiled last month by Mr David Bone, one of the veterans of tb& Glasgow Club. It indicates perfect golf, and for a man of 53 years of age is a really wonderful performance. Although Blackhill, where the contest took place, cannot be considered a high-class course, it calls for straight driving and accurate pitching, and it is just in these departments of the game that Mr Bone excels. His remarkable total of 68 breaks the previous amateur record made by his son, Mr Robert Bone, by two strokes, and equals the professional record established by Jaines Braid in 1901. As Mr Bone's total is not likely to be beaten for many a day it is well worthy of being recorded. Here' it is— Out 434544443—35 In 454244343—33—68 Although Mr Bone was identified with the St Nicholas Club for a number of years, and has been a prominent members of the Glasgow Club since the early eighties, he learned his golf in Edinburgh on the once popular Bruntsfield links, now merely a shadow of its former greatness. For the last 30 years he has played most of his golf in the West, where he has long held a big reputation as a score player. His victories on the links are both numerous and important. For instance, the Tenna.nt Cup, which was presented by the late Sir Charles Tennant in 1880, has been won by him on no fewer than five occasions. The Edward trophy has been in his possession twice. At Bridge-of-Allan, in an open tournament, he broke the record of the course and secured the chief prize, while in an open amateur tournament at Aberdeen he won the second prize. He has figured with distinction in the annual contests for the Evening Times and Evening Telegraph trophies. I must not omit to mention that Mr Bone is the proud father of three sons, all of whom are noted golfers. The fantastic rule prohibiting a threeball match in a medal competition has created much friction and irritation throughout the past season. Over and over again an odd man has arrived at a clubhouse, and ~"n the absence of the officials, whose duty it is to provide a partner, has played with other two competitors, onlly to find to his mortification that all the three are under disqualification. This rule is unworkable, and, will have to be modified, because at scores of courses, every month, odd men turn up, and either have to wait a long time for a partner, or lose an opportunity of. competing for the medal. At places where ballots are made on the arrival of trains, with intervals of an hour or two hours, it is particularly atmoying for a player to have to kick his heels in the clubhouse for either of these periods. It is done, but in the most grudging spirit. Several important clubs in the West of Scotland have contracted out of the rule, and I deliberately advise all other clubs to do the same. It is simply preposterous that a single player should be allowed to play alone, and that a properly-constituted three-ball game should be prohibited. The rule is neither log-ical ftor fair, and it Veates needless worry. Its absurdity is not realised at St. Andrews, for the members of the Royal and Ancient do not ■ indulge in _ monthly medal competitions. No doubt it is desirable that all players should play in couples, but under modern conditions it is not possible to do that without inflicting hardships on players whose in the matter of a medal round arc inco^testible.

Wo seem to bo within, measurable distance of the standardisation of golf clubs. For several centuries golfers have enjoyed the practice of the game without beingtied down, as cricketers are, to the use of a particular shape of implement. Cricket bats do not vary in shape, but there' has always been a variety of 6tyles in golf clubs —well-defined differences, but not departures from principle. Of late, however, novelties have been introduced, more particularly in putters', and these have come under the disapproval of the Rules of Golf Committee. The club con,demnied by the authorities is that madia on the principle of a croquet mallet. I have not tried this particular implement, but it. does net appeal to an© as being well adapted for the purpose of knocking a small ball into a small hole, assuming, of course, that the club is used in the normal manner. The mallet-headed putter, however, is said to be effective when used' with aw upright stroke, a.nd this is the very method! tabooed by the Rules Committee. The mallet club has gained a Bartain degree of popularity in England, but, unitiL the matter has been considered by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, players will be well advised to stick to their usual putter. The trouble with innovations of this sort is that it ie difficult to draw the line. Pass one departure from the recognised style and make, and the door ie opened for the introduction of all 'maimier of abortion®. Even now there are some weird implements masquera'ding as golf clubs, and -what a clubmaker's shop will be like if no restrictions are formulated is too awful to contemplate. Without deviating from the accepte'd principle—a shaft attached to the end of the head'—-there is a fair, amount of scope for the ingenious olubinafcer. A cursory glance round • a golf emporium proves this, but the singular thing is that one rarely finds the novelties in the bag of a first-class golfer. He sticks to those styles which have stood the test of time, amd in this he acts wisely. Ini spite of the popularity of the numerous socket-headed) drivers, not one of them is superior to

the oM-'fas'hicinec! scare cJußf If a strict definition! is to come, then I hope it will be comprehensive enough to include all clubs ccims'tructed on the recognised lines, and restricted enough to exclude all abortions.—Scottish Field. The following were the best cards handed in after yesterday’s play fo'r the Otago Ladies’ Golf Club’s senior gold 'medal:

dross. Hep. Net. Mrs Allen . . 97 9 — 88 Mrs Turtfbu.ll ... 110 : 16—94 Miss Y. Reynolds ... 122 17 — 95 Miss Mill ... 102 6 — 96 Miss M. Law ... 116 18 — 93 Miss Scott ... ... ... 103 5 —103