GOLF

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 29

GOLF

By

DIVOT.

LUNT FOR THE WEEK. One carelessly played stroke may place a golfer in such a hopeless nosition that he is forced to surrender the hole to his opponent. When looking bacn on a round there are few players who have not regrets that he or she did not take more time or did not irive a certain shot more thought before playing. In my opinion one of the things which retards the progress of many young players arises out of the playing of friendly four-ball games. Your partner pGv« two good <tro>--« s and lies in a position to win the hole. Instead of attempting to beat his next shot you play an indifferent stroke and unknowingly sow tho seed of a weed which bears fruit only too readily. Before it is too late mako up your mind that you will never allow yourself to become careless over a shot. The road to success—do the ultimate winning of championships—will open up before you if you carry this resolution into effect.

No fewer than seven clubs are holding tournaments during the Easter holidays. In Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin golfers will have an opportunity to indulge in a few days of tournament golf. In past years it has been pleasing to see members of country chibs at Balmacewan. links, and in extending a hearty invitation the Otago Chib hopes that even more members will make the trip this Easter. Entry forms for the Otago Golf Chib’s tournament are now ready and will be forwarded to any country members who desire to take part in this year’s fixture. The first round of an eclectic match was played on St. Clair links on Tuesday afternoon. The weather was on its best be haviour and the ' course, particularly the greens, were in perfect order. The junior and senior players were mixed in this competition, the idea being to help along the junior ladies. The best card returned was

owned by Mrs Butcher who completed the round in 85. Th s lady’s handicap was away up in the thirties last season, but steady improvement has kept the handicap committee cutting away a few strokes after each competition; it was lowered to 10 this i sC^2 round of the competition will be p ayed in a week or two At last tho long-talked of standardisetion of New, Zealand golf courses will ba proceeded with. At the last monthly meetsecretary of the New Zealand Golf Council was instructed to collect information from every club with a view to fixing a standard scratch score for each course. Golf is making rapid strides in this country and the date is not far distant when instead of playing against bogev the golfers will be aiming at the par figures of the>r respective courses. When the £ r, 9W P 7 k “iTV* ? eanS that ho] C3 up aar y^3 3bo “ ld be Played in 3, holes up to 445yds in 4 and 600yds in 5. This of the 1 ™ fi 9 SU ty ect to slight allowances’for the configuration of the land in front and behind the green and for the contour of the green itself Each hole should bo measured from the middle of the tee to the middle of the green, following an air line as nearly as possible. • i 1,.»?i r “ e r rr \°i n - tbs a , go a bint appeared at tho head of this column with regard to the hT^o °f S '° f h 3113 S ° that tbere be no confusion if two balls of a similar and number were to finish in or near he same spot It appears that even amonthe best of players this little—but by n« means useless—practice is often neglortcd a, \ ° pen cham Pionship at Prestwick, tion- ta,?n e s a^ r ° Ce ? dln ? in o PP os ite direc* anr? rAk d in the same bunker, « nd neither knew which ball was his. Thei decided the question by tossing for thl better ne This incident demonstrates only too clearly what confusion arises out of p aying an unmarked ball.

The secretary of the Professional Golfers’ Association, H. R. Blair, writes as follows to the secretary of the New Zealand Golf Association with regard to the tournament held . recently: “On behalf of the above assomation I beg to thank the New Zealand Go.f Association for its never failing generosity in providing the prizes for .he lima.ru Professional tournament. I assure you that this tournament was a great success m every way. The weather was all that could be desired the course splendid, and the hospitality which we received from the members of the Timaru Golf Club made us wish we could stay longer. Each year this tournament is better than in the previous jear and I have no hesitation in venturing ho general opinion of the professionals* that the timaru tournament was the best wc have yet held. Certainly tho entry was not as large a s it should have been, but the non appearance of several who did not attend was quite unavoidable.”

Taking a full round sweep with tho mashie produces a high ball with more or less run to it. The shots look pretty a nd when working well obtain excellent results but it_is not always safe. When the duffer attempts to play this shot over a hazard or in a deep bunker, ho often brings the club up tco quickly and the result Is disastrous. The best players in tho game make sure of clearing a hazard by sending the club-head through and extending the arms in front as far as they will o- o with out exaggeration. The loft of tile club attends to the flight of the ball. Usually it is low and comes to a quick ston d 9. parted s °” an,ou,lt of back s P*n imST. CLAIR CLUB. h. TI o- l ann “ d ’ mixed foursome match for the videy Uup was played on the St. Clair and\°r SatUi : da y- .The ideal weather f-nre 3 ur t e lr ’ excellent condition were factors wmeh contributed to the enjoyment of the large field, and the success of this Mr Ul ’T lhe afteill °on Mr and r’ r "ere present in the capacity of host and hostess. In declaims tlie season officially open, Mr Side? congratulated the club on its steady piogress and expressed the hope tlia't this season would bo a bright and prosperous /fi* many years Mr Sidey, as president of the CtUb, has watched the progress and added interest which has been taken iu tlie links, and he expressed a wish that the club would soon see its way clear to complete the negotiations for the purchase of more ground on which to lay uown extra boles, which would bring tha course up to championship length. MrSidcy gavt; the history of the cup which bears his name, and said’ that the standard of golf had always been of a high order. No presentation, however, could be made on Saturday afternoon o n account of two pairs tying for first place. lire Captain .of the club. Air A. C. Hanlon, in replying to Air Sidey, expressed the pleasure of the members of having the president and Airs T. K Sidey with them, and thanked . them for the interest and assistance which they had given in club matters. The leading cards were: Mrs W. Hudson and C. B. Wight, 3 up; Alias Dickson and R. E. Hill, 3 up; Airs Wight - - and W. Clayton, 2 up; Mrs Gamble and H. Stevens, all square; Aliss Kay and J. 11. Templeton, all square; Miss Gore and A. Laing, 1 down; Mrs Burnett and H. Chapman, 1 down.