GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 65

GOLF.

NOTES Bl BULGER. A team of 12 from the St. Clair Golf Club visited Oamaru on Labour Day, where a pleasant day was spent. The local players were successful in the Foursomes, but t-h. 3 visitors prevailed in the Singles. Combined Foursomes will be played at Balmacewen on Saturday next. This competition was to have been played on Coronation Day, but had to be postponed' indefinitely on account of the inclemency of the weather.

St. Clair Club members hope to be playing on their new course on Saturday, 4th prox. On Monday (Labour Day) beautiful golfing weather prevailed. The Otago Club members competed for the Bruntsfield Medal —the most popular match of the year. It is a great honour to win this medal, as it is an all-day match'decided on the best aggregate gross score for two rounds of 18 holes each. To give the mediocre players an interest in the competition there is a handicap both morning and afternoon. There was a large entry, but though the conditions were almost perfect in every respect, the display of golf cannot be called good. The best rounds were put up uy B. J. Smith (winner), J. R. Park, and H. Salmon. The finish was close. Smith was in first with an aggregate of 162, and was conidered to have an excellent chance, but Park (80), Fisher (81), and Young (82) had all put up good rounds in the morning, and it was expected they would improve on them in the afternoon. Park in particular looked to have a certain tie with Smith, and a possible win, as, coming to the last green, he wanted a 3 for a win and a 4 for a tie; but he put his tee shot into the rushes on the far side of the green, and the hole cost him 5, and thus lost the match, by a stroke. Salmon's 87 in the morning put him out of court; but his 80 in the afternoon was a fine effort, and jf he had putted at all decently would have been well down in the 70's. Basil Smith played two good rounds, and deserves his win. He tied with_Roberts last year, but lost on the plav-off. Following are some of the best cards handed in:—

The morning handicap was won by W. C. MacGregor, with 77 ret (handicap 6), and that of the afternoon by F. J. Du Croz with 70 net (handicap 16).

James Braid ex-open champion, has suffered from some eye trouble lately, and so has not shown much of his old' form. Last month, however, he met the open champion, Harry Vardon, at Tenby. Some of the greens were rather fast and fiery owing' to the drought, and Vardon dropped several strokes in this department. _ He was 2 down at the toirn, but succeeded in squaring the match at the fifteenth hole. The sixteenth was halved, but Braid succeeded in carrying off the next two holes, and thus won by 2 up, the approximate scores being:

On the following day, in a stroke competition, Vardon. beat Braid by one stroke. Vardon went out in 39 and home in 38 —total 77; Braid out 42 in 36—total 78. An English, journal remarks as follows: "When the golf boom began in this country nearly two decades ago, the golfer was considered a very superior person. By common consent he was put on a hieher financial plane than the cricketer. Unfortunately, the tradition as to his, ability to ' pay, pay, pay ' has never been forgotten." In discussing the question of a left-handed championship, Golfing says: "In the professional ranks the left-handed player is wellnigh unknown, but there are several who pride themselves upon their ambi-dcxterity. In fact, I believe that there is an Australian professional who is so equally good with either hand that he has played a round right hand against left, considerable sums being wagered on the result." I think the foregoing will toe news indeed for Auswho would like to know the namo of this golfing marvel. The annual meeting of the Tokomaipro Golf Club was held on Tuesday evening, when there was a fair attendance of members. The annual report showed that the prizes in the approaching and putting competitions wore won by Mrs Hall and Mr J R. Henderson; the monthly medial competition by Mies E. Grey and Mr J. R. Henderson; and the ladies' Bogey competition by Mrs Hall. Three interclub matches -were played during the season, two of which weire won and one lost. The receipts totalled £33 7s 2d, and the expenditure £23 6s 2d, leaving a credit balance of £lO Is on the ordinary account. The following office-bearers were elected:

President, Mr W. W. P. Hall: vice presidents—Messrs J. A. Duthie and J. B. M'Clymont; hon. secretary and treasurer, .Mr J. R. Henderson; committee—Messrs J. Sutherland, R. Robertson, J. W. Petrie, A Hogigans, W. R. Brady; Ladies' Social Committee—Mrs Hall and Mrs Henderson and Misses Reid and Duthie. It was decided to close the 6eason on Saturday, 28th inst. Several new members were elected:.

1st 2nd Round. Round. Tl. B. J. Smith ... . 82 80 — 162 J. R. Park 80 83 — 163 A. H. Fisher ... . 81 82 — 163 W. H. Young ... . 82 81 — 163 H. A. Salmon 87 80 — 167 H. C. Smith ... , 85 84 — 169 C. W. Rattray ... . 86 85 — 171 W. C. MacGregor 83 89 — 172 J. Fotheriiigham 87 86 — 173 J. H. Gale . . ... 88 91 — 179 H. J Gould 90 89 — 179 H. Brasch « ... 94 86 — 180 W. J. Wratt 90 90 — 180

Braid ... ... Out--5 5455444 3—39 Vardon Out--5 5544554 4—41 Braid ... ... In--5 3544543 3—36 Vardon ... In--4 3544444 5—37