GOLF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18579, 13 December 1934, Page 14

GOLF

SARAZEN’S EXHIBITION HOUND A WAP UNI IN 09 FENWICK IN GOOD FORM Despite tile weather and course conditions being anything but conducive to a high standard of golf, the exhibition match played on the Awapuni links yesterday by Gene Sarazen, the latnous American golfer, in company with A. J. Shaw, New Zealand professional champion, and two amateur players drawn from the Poverty Bay club membership, the large gallery which followed the match was given an excellent exposition of the game in many of its most important angles. Sarazen, unfamiliar with local conditions, and moreover taking the trouble to demonstrate various shots for t ght corners on tiis way round the links, completed the 18 boles ill 69 strokes, while his partner, Shaw, took 72. The Poverty Bay players, If. Fenwick and J*. Barry, both did well, and the tirstnamrd

was solid in both his driving and in his short game, doing the course in /(>. Prior to the commencement of the match, Saia/.en gave an exhibition of driving, varying his methods from lime to lime and using a score or more of balls in [hr course of the, demonstration, tie showed the crowd of golfing enthusiasts how to get. length without sacrificing control, and on several evasions he nlavcd a deliberate slice into the wind, the bail describing a wide arc and eventually coming to rest in the centre of the fairway. This was in the nature of a trick-shot, certainly, but his method of performing it seemed simple enough to be made effective by the average golfer, with practice, and it was easy to imagine circumstances in which such a stroke might prove most valuable, especially on a course where standing timber represents a hazard. . The real value of the exhibition of driving, however, was in Sarazen’s slowinotion reproduction of bis swing. The slow back-swing, the turn of the club, tho wrist-work and shift of body-weight in the course of the forward swing, were all admirably represented, and the demonstration was given a humorous turn when the noted visitor concluded it with .1 step or two in the exaggerated high-stepping fashion made familiar bv slow-motion movies.

The driving done by Sarazen in wanning up would have been sufficient to tire the average club player, but be went away in the foursomes match and played through a hot round without a sign of fatigue. His driving was superb, and lie was generally on the green in two, his approach shots being remarkably well controlled. Occasionally he varied his style to demonstrate particular shots, and once or twice lie drove off with a ball still wrapped in paper, taking such liberties as this, however, without sacrificing strokes. Shaw gave a good.exhibition also, though he was not particularly sound in his putting. The district player, F. Fenwick, produced excellent form in the course of the match, and was especially good in driving. getting as good or a better length than Sarazen in several cases. Barry was catchy, lint though ho got right astray twice, and had to pick up. he was generally well in the picture. The Poverty Bay pair were beaten 5 and 4, tlie match being followed with undimmed interest to its close hy the large gallery. Sarazen nurv ,-iliaw continued their northward progress to-day. the American having made arrangements to play at

Rotorua and at the Auckland courses before embarking on Tuesday next for his return to the United States.