GOLF NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 16792, 22 July 1911, Page 8

GOLF NOTES

(By “Cleek.”)

Though it may be that all local golfers are not as yet convinced that the purchase of the new ground at Olaiara is altogether to be welcomed, there can be no doubt that after the club lias (irmly established itself in that locality golfers ■will have much to be thankful for. In Invercargill we have been in a sense spoilt, in that we have been able to gel golf within five minutes of our homes and offices, and naturally enough, when it is suggested that we should abandon links so convenient for others some miles out of town we begin to ask ourselves questions. The convenience and other advantages of the town course are cordially admitted. Unquestionably it has been delightful to be able to nut in spare half hours or, a handy ground; and doubtless we shall miss that privilege. But "Cleek” for one and many others share the opinion all these blessings will be more than outweighed by the boon of having a freehold course, whereon the club may do precisely what it pleases to do; where there is admirable golfing turf, where the sandiest of sand bunkers may be made without going off the course for sand; where there are lulls and hollows: where there shall be no fenced greens; and, last and best of all. where the golfer may spend his week-ends as lie has always longed to do. The club professional and other experienced people tell us that an admirable course may be made at Otatara; that the conformation of the oountry and the quality of the soil are peculiarly suited for the purpose. That is very much more than the most enthusiastic of enthusiasts could ever, with any pretence at reasonableness claim for the park reserve. Then, round about the new course there is some delightful bush wherein -the festive week-ender may build himself a shack or a palace or erect a tent. (Already many desirable acres have been secured). Next door, so to speak, Is the Oreti river, wherefrom at that point when the tide suits and the gods are favourable, the angler may entice certain lusty trout. Not far away is the estuary with all Its er advantages (I had better not say ducks); and. In sum, the Golf Club's new location at Otatara has a great many enticing attributes. I am told that debentures are being readily taken up and that there is every prospect of the necessary capital being raised without difficulty. The financial position seems to be entirely sound, and there Is every prospect that the revenue of the club will be sufficient to cover Improvement and up-keep of the links. The club subscription will have to be raised, but few golfers will object to paying say three guineas a year. Mr Handyside writes drawing attention to the fact that the newspaper reports of the Golf Club’s meeting on Tuesday evening gave the attendance as 100, whereas there were forty members present. The report as originally written gave the attendance as “about forty,’’ but unfortunately an instruction referring to another matter was inadvertently applied to the golf meeting with the result that the attendance was overstated. However, the resolution carried at the meeting has been accepted so favourably by members who were not present that It may almost be said that the club Is quite as unanimous as the meeting with regard to the acquisition of the Otatara links. Says the Western Star:—A handicap match was played on Wednesday for n trophy presented by the President (Mr R. B. T. Miller) and resulted in a win for W. J. Robinson the first prize for ladies going to Mrs J. Stevens. Following are the scores:—W. Robinson 62-10-52, Berndtson 6S-12-56, Fraser 71-10-61, Cavell 77-14-63, McKinnon 67-3-64, Alexander 68-3-65, Hunter 66-scr-66, Smythies 85-16-69, Acheson 86-14-72, R. Stevens 90-14-76, Mrs Stevens 114-14-100, Mrs B. B. Berndtson 108-scr, 108.

Details of the final match for the amateur championship played at Prestwick between H. H. Hilton (Hoylake) and E. A.. Lassen (Lytham and St. Anne’s), on 2nd June are to hand. The match was over 36 holes. The greens were tricky and fiery. The golf throughout was patchy, and Hilton as a rule failed in putting, frequently taking three shots on the green. In the first round Hilton was 3 up at the turn, but Lass*n squared the match at the slxteehflM chiefly through his opponent’s bad green work, and took the lead at the next. Hilton won the last In 3 through a good putt, eo the first round finished all square. The approximate figures were:—Hilton, 35,42 —80; Lassen, 44, 3S —82, which was quite below the form of either. In the afternoon Lassen assumed a lead of 2 at the third hole. Hilton squared the match at the seventh. Lassen looked to have the ninth safe, but Hilton laid a chip shot from the rough stone dead, and stymied Lassen, who consequently lost the hole, instead of winning it. Hilton accordingly turned 1 up. He won the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth, and then stood 4 up. Lassen won the fourteenth cleverly. Both played indiffeently to the fifteenth, and Hilton got down in 4, Lassen missing a 12ft putt for a half. Hilton thus won by 4 and 3. Hilton was out In 39 approximately to Lassen’s 40, and took 29 for the remaining 6 holes to his opponent’s 32. This was Hilton’s third victory in the amateur golfing blue ribbon, his previous successes having been achieved in 1900 and 1901. According to all accounts Hilton’s golf, except that in the final was a long way the best of the meeting. His average score for the first 9 holes up to and including the semi-final could not, according to the London Sportsman, have been more than 35. He never took more than 37, and did a 33 against R. \V. Crummack. The New Zealander. H. D. Gillies, now of the Woking Club, who had a walkover in the first round, had a tough tight in the second series with H. C. Ellis, of the Royal West Norfolk, whom he beat at the twentieth hole, and in the same round N. F. Christoe put paid to the account of Schofield in the West Hertfordshire G.C., the Australian winning by 3 and 2. That excellent golf writer “The Colonel.” in the London Sportsman, sums up thus his impressions of the big meeting:—“As a rule one comes away from a golf championship with a fearful and wonderful medley of ideas. So much happens in so short a period that impressions of the meeting chase one another in riotous profusion, and leave the student of the situation wondering what he has forgotten since lie first began to think about the subject. A consideration of last week’s meeting presents less than the usual degree of gymnastics for the mind. The outstanding features were. I think, three In number. They consisted of the brilliant play of Mr 11. H. Hilton, the "Incidents” in the semifinal match between Mr E. A. Lassen md Mr L. B. Stevens, and the appalling heat. It was surely the hottest championship in the history of golf, and the paper which remarked in connection with a certain one-sided game that, “the crowd rapidly melted away” demonstrated that it knew how to say the right thing at the right moment.” The Irish Ladies’ Golf Championship was won on Juno 2nd by Miss Mabel Harrison, the holder. who beat Miss Walker Leigh by 6 up and 4 to play. Harry Vardon (shortly before the open championship, which lie won) accomplished a very fine performance. Playing over the Totteridge links lie went out In 30. but a thunderstorm delayed his return. After the storm lie came home in 36, making ids total GO. “Bogey” for the course is 76.