GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 65

GOLF.

NOTES BY BULGER. A question of more than ordinary interest j (says the Field) has been, referred to us. i A gentleman played his ball in/to a bunker. His first attempt to get it out sent it hard against the fronting bank. What happened to. it after that cannot be stated with absolute certainty, because all parties to the match looked for it in the wrong place. Probably it flew straight up into the air, for it was eventually found in the turned-up sleeve of its owner's coat. He was not conscious at first that it had selected this resting place, and for some time he and his caddie searched for it in, all the likely spots. Eventually he felt something peculiar about his coat sleeve, and on examining it discovered his ball caught in the cuff. He inquires what he ought to have done. As he was playing a. match, the answer is easy. There was nothing he could do, for since his ball had hit him, he lost the hole under Rule 19. But supposing the hero of the advantage had been competing for a medal, what penalty did he incur, and what action was proper for him to take ? The ninth of the special rules for stroke competition says that if a competitor's, ball strike himself, his caddie, or his clubs, the penalty shall be one stroke. Supposing, therefore, that the player of this eccentric ball had reached the bunker from the tee, he must be deemed to "have played this when he discovered his ball in his upturned cuff. We can find nothing in the rules allowing hian to drop his ball as near as possible to the place where it would have lain if it had not 'been caught in his clothing. Therefore, in our opinion., Rule 11 applies. It permits a competitor to lift his ball from an3' place on the course under penalty of two strokes, and tee it behind the place from which it was lifted. We* should dismiss any argument based on the fact that the sleeve of a player's coat is not a place "on the course," and should allow him to tee for two behind the spot where he was standing when the ball lodged in his cuff. This means that the gentleman who has put;his question to us. had he been playing for a medal, would 'have been obliged to teebehind the bunker in which the singular accident occurred, and play his sixth stroke. A report of an even more singular occurrence comes from a green over which an important tourniaiment for ladies was recently held. One of the parties to a match struck from the first teeing ground with satisfactory results. .She then moved aside, and stood rather behind and to the right of the sandbox. Her opponent's drive was badly sliced. The ball hit the sandbox amd bounced off it. That player thought that it had struck, or become entangled in, the skirts of her opponent, and claimed the hole., The opponent denied that the ball bad hit her,. relying on the i evidence of her senses. She had neither j seen nor felt anything. The player of the ball persisting in her assertion, the opponent submitted to be searched. The ball I could not be found, but five minutes passed before the search was completed; whereupon the lady who had struck first from the tee claimed the hole in her turn. Here tha report of the facts, or, supposed facts, ends. The ball was never found, and we do not know which of the parties was adjudged to have won the hole. A skirt must be an inconvenient garment for the golfer on windy days, but its power to protect the wearer from-injury is remarkable. A reforming cricketer once saw a, full brassie shot—one of the first he had hit satisfactorily in his then, brief career as a golferintercepted by an old woman before the ball had touched the ground. He rushed up to discover the extent of the damage done, and to offer apologies, but was vastly relieved when his victim said she had suffered no harm, but "it was lucky for you that it wasn't a bard ball, young manf' This happened in the days of the guttle. The monthly medal competition was played at the St. Glair Links on Saturday. The following are the best cards handed in:— ..

THE OTAGO LADIES' GOLF CLUB. The result of the senior medal competition, played last week, was:—

Mrs Sargood 117 12 The result of the Bogey Match, played on Friday last, was: —

GOLF MATCH AT PEMBROKE. Last Saturday was a day of interest among golfers in Pembroke, it being the occasion of the first match played on the links. The weather was ideal, and the game heartily entered into, competition being keen. The links were in first-olass order, and Messrs Perrow and Russell, with net scores of 94 each, tied' for first place. The tie will be played off on Wednesday. The members all being junior players, the scoring was not as good as could be expected.

RECORD BY BRAID » LONDON. October 15. James Braid did the medal round at Muswell Hill in 69, a record. Harry Vardan (this year's champion) took 77. MANAWATU LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP. PALMERSTON N., October 11. The Manawatu Ladies' Open Golf Championship was commenced to-day at Hokowhitu in fine weather. The Medal Handicap was won by Miss H. Gorrie (Auckland), 97. 17—80. Miss Mason being next, 105, 24—81, and Mrs G. Williams (Masterton) third, 86, 2—84. The following is the result of the first round of the Championship (match play): Mrs Williams beat Miss E. Pieroe, 5 and 3 to play. Miss M'Lean beat Miss Campbell, 3 and 2 to play. Mrs Moore beat Miss R. Gorrie, 1 up. Miss A. Pearce beat Miss Hamlin. 3 and 2 to play. Miss Gousd beat Misa Tweed, 3 and 2 to play.

Miss Wilson beat Miss. Sybil Abraham,; 7 and 5 to play.Miss G. Gorxie beat Miss Wray, 6 and 4 to play. Miss Cooper beat Miss Fisher, 7 and 5 to play. Miss G. Gorrie went out in 36, and did the 14 holes played in 64. Had she gone one she would have probably had second place; as it was her 36 is a links second, and the professional second 37. Miss Sybil Abraham won the driving contest with 188yds Ift, Miss Wray being second with 172yds Ift 6in. In the approach and putt contest Miss E. Pierce won. In the championship to-morrow Miss M'Lean meets Airs Williams, Miss A. Pearce meets Mrs Moore. Miss R. Wilson meets Miss - Gould, and Miss G. Gorrie meets Miss Cooper. October 12. The Manawatu ladies' open goTi championship was continued to-day in wet weather. In the second round of the championship Mrs Williams beat Miss M'Lean, 6 and 5 to play. Miss A. Pearce beat Miss Moore, 6 and 5 to play. Miss Gould beat Miss Wilson, 5 and 3 Miss Gorrie beat Mass Gowper, o and o to play. ' ' The Bogey Match by Mrs L. Seifert (Manawatu), handicap 16, with 3 up; Miss G. Gorrie (Auckland), 6, with 1 up; Mrs Strang (Manawatu), square; and Miss Wray'(Manawatu), 1 down. Miss Wray put in the best card, with 85, and Miss A. Pearce, Miss Gould, and Mrs Williams each returned cards of 87. Miss Pearce's included two penalty strokes through hitting the Hag-stick from within the penalty distance. , _,■' The Four-ball Match was Avon by Mrs M'Crac (14) and Miss Moore (14),. 5 up. Miss G. Gorrie (5) and Miss Humphreys (8) being second with 4 up; Mrs Williams (2) and Miss Abraham (12), 3 up. The semi-finals and final of the championship will be played to-morrow. October 13.

High wind and a driving rain prevailed to-day, when the Manawatu ladies' open golf tournament was concluded. In the semi-finals of the championship Mrs Guy Williams beat Miss Pearce —4, and 3 to play, and Miss Gorrie beat Miss Gould, The final between Mrs Williams and Miss G. Gorrie commenced after lunch, and in spite of the weather both played good golf. The match ended in favour of Mrs Williams by 3 up and 2 to play. The Consolation match was won by Miss Carter and Miss Hamlin, with 81. Miss Humphreys won the putting competition. •'

' Gold Medal. Gross: Hop. Net. w. S. Ferguson 93 16 77 G. Gallaway ..... . 90 12 78 T. H. Glendining ... ... 91 13 78 JDrake ... .„ ... .".. ... 91 Silver Medal. 8 83 J. H. C. Bond 101 27 74 J. L. Hobbs ... ... 99 23 76 W. R. Strang ...... ... 101 23 78

Miss M. Law ... Mrs Oldham Gross. ... 107 ... 124 Hep. Net 20— 87 21 — 103

Miss D. Williams ... . ... ....; 2 up Mrs Butferwcrth .. 4 down Mrs Cohn ... ". ...,•• 4 down Mrs Gil'ray ... ... . .. ... 7 down Miss Law 7 down