GOLF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 58

GOLF.

ST. CLAIR GOLF CLUB. The annual meeting- of the St. Clair Golf Club was held on Friday evening. The attendance was good, nearly 50 members being present; Mr B. R. Stock presided. The annual statement of accounts allowed that the credit balance of £5 6s lOd, with which the year began, had been increased to one of £36 6s 9d when it ended, despite an expenditure of £SO on bunkering the course. The liabilities had been further reduced by the redemption of £35 worth of debentures, and the balance sheet showed an excess of £202 18s 3d of assets over liabilities, although £92 17s 8d had been written off for depreciation. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts, congratulated the club on the financial position. Resignations had reduced the membership from 119 to 96 at the beginning of the year, but this was more than compensated for by the securing of 30 now members, so that the year closed with a membership of 126, comprising eight honorary members, 87 full members, seven country members, 11 members of the Balmacewen Club, three absentee members, and 10 junior members. Tin’s had meant an increase of £B4 from the subscriptions (£324 ss), while green fees had formed an additional source of revenue. The committee had effected considerable improvements in the course, the most notable being the erection of bunkers. Ho suggested that it would be wise to consider the establishing of a reserve fund. The motion was seconded by Mr Bond, and carried. The following office-bearers were elected ;—President, Mr T. K. Sidoy, M.P. ; vice-presidents, Messrs J. C. Marshall and A. L. Isaacs; captain, Mr L. Jardine; deputy-captain, Mr J. L. Hobbs ; committee —Messrs Drake, Forsyth, Hocking, M'Carthy, and Stock; auditor. Mr F. T. Anderson. The following prizes wore presented;— Championship cup and trophy, Mr J. Drake; championship runner-up, Mr L. Jardine; i-unior champion cup and trophy, Mr P. R. Fordham; runner-up, Mr H. D. Butcher; beet gross score qualifying round, Mr D. M. Irvine; best not score qualifying round, Mr E. J. Hocking; best gross score junior qualifying round, Mr E. Wells; best not score junior qualifying round Mr 11. W. Bundle; bogey consolation, Mr Stronach Paterson. A lengthy discussion on handicapping arose on a motion by Mr Bond, who declared that- the system hitherto followed produced many anomalies and some dissatisfaction. Ho moved that Mr Drake be appointed handicapper, and that the limit bo reduced from 27 to 24 strokes. On Mr Drake suggesting that two other members

bo associated with him, Mr Bond concurred, and Messrs Forsyth and Hobbs were appointed to act with Mr Drake as to reduction of the maximum. It was urged that members, particularly those with long handicaps, might greatly assist the committee by handing in cards with greater regularity. On the motion of Mr Isaacs the meeting put on record its high appreciation of the services of Mr Stock as captain, and of Mr Lethbridge as vice-president. VALUE OF GOLF. LONDON, August 25. Mt Lloyd George, in distributing the prizes at the Cricoieth golf tourney, described golf as the greatest discovery of the age fop middle-aged people who were engaged in sedentary pursuits like himself. It was a game, he said, for every season and for people of every age.