GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2927, 20 April 1910, Page 65

GOLF.

NOTES BY BULGER. Owing to the inclemency of the weather on Saturday the second round of the Otago Club's championship was postponed until the following Saturday. The draw for the second round is:—B. J. Smith v. J. R. Park; Hunter v. Wyinks; R. J. Smith v. Errol Smith; R. P. Ward v. H. C. Smith. How difficult it is to get golfers to pay reasonable attention to the state of the turf after they have played shots with their iron clubs ! All kinds of expedients are adopted by club committees to draw the attention of members to the importance of replacing the cut-out divots. Notices in prominent type are displayed on the board; they are printed in red ink in the book of rules; they sta.re the players in the face on many of th-3 tee boxes; but all these precautions seem '- *»e unavailing in securing anything lil -sal observance of what is, in

th«. -y player's primary duty. In the rejJ*u<cing of divots much might be done if every player would take the trouble to impress upon his caddie at the outset of a match that he must watch for these flying pieces of turf bitten out by the iron clubhead. The caddie usually , seen in these latter days is but little interested in the game, and is obviously inclined to take a minimum of trouble in the course of a round. There are exceptions, of course, for one frequently meets with a small section of keen caddies who watch the game closely, and who take a personal pride in seeing that th<3 green is not disfigured by * iron play. But as a general practice it is the caddie who has to be watched and to be kept up to his work. The chief responsibility, however, rests with the player himself, and when a divot is cut out he should certainly stand at the spot whence he played the ball and ask the caddie to bring back the piece of turf at once. It should also be his care to see that the piece of turf is well trodden into the hole, especially in soft weather, for unless it be trodden well in it becomes loose when the ground dries, and creates a really worse lie than a soft shallow cup. The exceptionally big nails and cricket spikes on soft greens, the deep heel marks, the broken, ground near the edges of .holes are all irritating miseries needlessly inflicted on players who follow in the footsteps of those who think mainly of their own enjoyment, and nothing at all of that of other members.' Another golfing culprit who needs attention is he who insists upon playing with iron clubs off every tee and throughout the green. —Field. Is a player wtien he agrees to win or to lose a ball on a match with another golfer open, to the charge of gambling? That is a question which was raised in a speech delivered by Professor Ledge, tho Professor of History at Edinbua-gh University, and captain of the Mortonhall Golf Club. He took the view that a ball on the match was not gambling, and he rightfully added that gambling is a danger from which golf hitherto has, on the whole, been free. Every golfer who has turned the subject over in his mind ever so lightly will come to the conclusion that the professor is right. It may be a fine-drawn exercise in metaphysics to seek to create a. distinction between a bet and what popularly passes current for "a gamble." Both involve a stake or a pledge of some kind upon the result of an issue But gambling has a wide and wholly soeculative element composed largely of unknown factors and based on few or no precise facts. The ball on the match is different from this. The player and his opponent in a match enter into no speculative risk, for each knows the scientific acquirements of the other in the mastery of the game, and by arranging handicaps both can start level. In a contest of scientific skill, therefore, the ball on the match between two friends is no> more than a fillip to keep the energies of either side from flagging, to ensure that the game shall be played with sustained keenness throughout, and to give to the victor at the close of the match a little prize which neither enriches him nor makes his friend a whit more poor or more discontented. That is the practical working of the system, and no moral evil can be found to lurk beneath a ris"k so modest.—Field.

In comparison with professional tuition in other sports and pastimes, the services of a skilled professional golfer have always been paid at a low rate. For a lesson lasting an hour the average payment has been half a crown or three shillings, and the same sum is generally paid if the professional plays a round with a member. The majority of golf clubs have usually made it a condition of contract with the professional that he should charge only the 6cbeduled terms. But.after all that may be said in favour of checking rapacity, it has to be recognised that the giving of really useful golf lessons by a professional is not only • scientific undertaking, but it means the imparting to the pupil of the fruits of long years of practical training in the pro me, of close observation., and of study. This consideration is undoubtedly the justification for the step which Braid has taken in sending out a circular to the members of the Walton Heath Club stating that in f uture. his charges' for playing a jound, including caddie, will be 7s 6d. and for teaching gentlemen 5s and for ladies 3s 6d per hour. A Qualified assistant to supplv the same needs of playing and teaching' will be supplied at 2s 6d per hour. No golfer can maintain that the services of Braid at these prices are dear. After all, there is but one Braid, one Taylor, and one V&rdon; and considering: the : illustrious coifing career of each of thiese professionals, and the valuable practical knowledge in the science of the game which they are enabled to impart to pupils and mature golfers, the wonder hitherto has been that the prices fixed for tuition and playing have been kept so loy>~- The 6cale of professional employment' &fl round needs revision in the direction of being sensibly raised, and in being brought into harmony w.ith the marvellous modern spread of the game among all classes. . .-■ .

The monthly medal competition was played off on the St. Clair Links by the St Clair Ladies' Goi l Club .on Tuesday afternoon, when the following cards were Lajndod in:—

For Silver Modal (18 /holes).

LADIES’ GOLF MATCH. WELLINGTON, April 14. A Christchurch ladies’ team paid their first visit to Wellington to-day to play golf, meeting a team from the Wellington Club. The visitors were defeated by one game. Results (Wellington names first in each case): Miss Lucy Brandon 0, Miss Campbell 1; Mrs Freeth 0, Miss Symes 1; Miss Kennedy 0, Miss Moore 1; Miss F. Brandon 0, Mrs Symons 1; Miss N. Brandon 0, Miss Harley 0; Miss Collins 1, Miss Humphreys 0; Miss Pearce 1, Miss Wood 0; Mrs Tweed 1, Mrs Campbell 0; Mrs Turnbull 1, Miss Cowlishaw 0; Miss Simpson 1, Mrs Day 0. Totals: Wellington 5, Christchurch 4. The visitors will play a match against the Miramar ladies to-morrow.

Gross. Hp. Tl. Mns Jackson... ... ... ... 96 17 79 Mrs Gilray s>: .- 107 25 84 Mrs M'Oartby ... ..... «. 95 11 84 Miss Fotherihgham ... 97 7 90 Miss Lethbridge , ... 108 13 95 Miss Taine ...- • ... 119 25 94 Bliss Fynmore .... ... ... 126 25 101 For Brown. Medal (10 holes;. Miss Wyinks ... 72 21 51 Miss C. Jackson... .. 70 13 57 Mrs Dick ... 69 8 61 Mrs Smith ... 66 4 62 Miss Burt ... 67 7 60 Mrs Kahlenberg ... 69 6 63