Golf.

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 9

Golf.

(By "Cteok'

The Invercargill Coif Club opened the season at Otatara on Wednesday in rather bleak and wintry we-ther. but there was nevertheless, a large attendance ot members and friends and the afternoon passed oii very successfully. The cruel item on the programme was the unveiling ot the Club’.? War Honours Board, and at 4 o'clock play was suspended and the members gathered round the President, Mr R. A. Anderson, on the verandah of the Chub House, where the Honours Hoard had been placed temporarily. and covered with the Union .Jack and the New Zealand Mnsign. Before unveiling the tablet Mr Anderson delivered an admirable address. His remarks were brief but full of good matter. He struck a note of seriousness and dignity most appropriate to the occasion. He commented in the first place on the sacnlUes made by those who had given up their pastimes and recreations as well as their serious work in life to join the Colours, cheoriully undertaking all the hardship of active service and knowing full well that they might not again see home and kindred. He then touched upon the line record of service that the manhood oi New Zealand hail in the war. Wherever they had gone, whether on the battlefields of France or in the cities of Britain, they had earned the reputation of good soldiers and gentlemen, and they could have no higher praise. It was a matter of pride to members of the Golf Club that its record would bear favourable comparison with, that oi any other elno or institution. When the war came there were 105 men mi the roll of active members and the Honours Board bore the names of 29. When it was rememlxTcd that the membership of the Golf Club included a considerable number of members well over military age w.'io were not eligible lor service it would be seen that tne proportion of enlistments was very high. Touching upon the general purpo.-e of such memorial caolets a.-- that whicn. the Golf Club was about to place in its Club House Mr Anderson said that, though the oresenfc members of the Club highly prized the tablet it would have a still greater value with those who would come after them. When those who stood around him had departed the Golf (Huh would still be in existence and the Honours Board would slil! be a conspicuous, probably the most conspicuous. decoration of its flub House, and to the next generation the trophy would be a source of oven greater pride than to the present. In a tew brief sentences Mr Anderson th"n [minted out some ot the obligations that the sacrifices mode by those who had borne the brunt of the fighting entailed upon those who had remained at home and upon the whole community. There was a dutv owing not only to the soldiers and their dependents bur, also from every citizen to "Ins fellow eit izens. The dominion's -uldi-Ts had been drawn from even.' class and every section and their heroic satin lice- hud upon ail the solemn duty of doing all that, was possible to make New Zealand a better country to live in, to raise the general standard ot comfort and happiness, and u> a.-sist in the establishment of a sound democracy in which the good things of life, is well as its labours, were fairly shared round. Mr Anderson then paid rhar. a number of those who had gone forth to tight ;t. the rail of duty would never return. They hud played the game on the golf links, they had continued to play it on the b orle-lHd, and in the full Hush and vigour ot manhooo they nad made the sripreme sacrifice. He calk’d upon the gathering to stand for a few minutes in sil-ete-f in memory of the fallen.

After this imbressive interval Mr Anderson expressed the pleasure which members of the club felt in having so many of the soldiers hack with them again and at seeing so many of them present that day. Finally he handed the Board over to tlv club, expressing the confidenri' that it would alwtrvs have the place of nonour in the ( luh House and the hope that before very Ion" the club would have a new and larger ('hi!) House with a room worthy of tne tablet. The president then uncovered, the Honours Board, which is dark stained oak, of simple design and excellent proportions, with the names in gilt letters. Id was much admired by the members. The little ceremony {rave prenfc satisfaction to the members of the Club as a whole, whose interest in the oeeapion was shown by the large attendance, there being ,80 present despite the rain and eold. The arrertgenlents for the opening day were verv complete, and, as usual, the motor car owners willingly co-operated with the officials in making provision for transport. Everybody who wished to go wa.s taken over in comfort, and at the Club House the caretaker hail tires burning in the rooms while Mrs Morris laid the tables for afternoon tea ■very attractively. For the mixed foursomes played over eight holes there was a large entry and 2S pairs competed. Considering the conditions the scores were good. The best gross score was that of Mr and Mrs A. Masters 411, with Miss Henderson and H. .1. Gilmour next with 40. The best net scores were those of Mr and Mrs A. Masters 43 3 —40, and Mrs Mitchell and A. Gilkison 52 —12—40. The ladies divided the halls provided for first and second prizes. Miss Pilcher and C. B. Tapley 40— B—4l, Miss "Wilson and N. C. King 4S —li—42, and Miss Cochrane and J. E. Cuthill 52-10-—l2 were all close up, while the majority of the net scores were under 50. The approaching and putting competition and the fuming competition were interrupted by the heavy driving rain which came on late in the afternoon, but, nevertheless, 10 ladies got through while conditions were still tolerable, Mrs A. B. Haggitt won the approaching and putting competition, holing three balls in 0 strokes. Mrs Mitchell and Miss Stout each took 10 strokes. The putting competition was also won by Mrs Haggitt, who holed four balls in 0 strokes. Of the other competitors no less than four holed the four balls in 10. Had the weather held up these competitions would have been keenly fought out as the ladies were much interested, but .Mrs Haggit.t’s two ft's would have taken some In-ating. Notwithstanding the inclemency <,[ the weather the opening day of the 1020 season was voted a great success and the enthusiasm shown augurs well for the season upon which golfers are now entering. The annual meeting of the Queen's Park Golf Club was held on Tuesday evening. The following office-bearers were elected: — Patron, Has Worship the Mayor (Mr John Stead) ; captain, Mr A. Masters; deputycaptain, Mr T. W. Vickery; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. S. Ayson; committee — Messrs C. E. Yates, G. Henderson, N. E.

King, .1. Burnett, and J. 1., Brown. It was decided t<S make May 5 opening day, when mixed foursomes will he played. There will also be driving competitions for ladies and men at the (dose of the oilier match. The syllabus for the coming season will he compiled at a meeting of the committee on Monday next. It was intended to open on May 12, but as that would clash with the first medal competition at Otatara the Park Committee decided to open on Wednesday next instead. All who wish to take part should notify the captain. Mr A. Masters, promptly, as the time left for arranging the competitions is short enough.

The annual report of the Queen's Park Golf Club mentions that the extension of the course to IS holts is expected to result in an increased membership. The Council had found it necessary to increase the annual subscription to MO/-, but that amount must still he regarded as very low. The matches during the season had been k.et nly contested. G. Henderson won the championship from C. A. 'Masters on the ■ >7rh hole and the finish was a very tine exhibition of golf. The club was indebted u> Mr A. Masters tor six silver me;hi: - .--, to Mr A. L. King for a gold button, and lo Mr \\. Smith for score cards. Return matches were played with Riverton, and it was hoped to repeat them, with matches with Wyndham and Core added. The Radies’ Caster Tournament was a splendid success, Mrs McCarthy (St. Clair l winning the championship, with Mrs Masters as runner-up. The committee recorded their satisfaction with the work of the grernkeeper, Mr Duff, and that of (he pro-fesr-i mil. G. Forrest, for whose continued goes', health friendly wishes were expressed, the report was adopted at the annual meeting on Tuesdav,

[he annual nuelmg of the Riverton Club was hekl last week, the President (Mr A. Ij teiiletf i , in the chair. The report recorded a successful season of matches. The championship matches were keenly eontested. In winning the final round of the ladies’ championship from Miss S-iuihl.-rg, Miss Collins claimed her third championship win. and the champion cup thus becomes her own properly. Miss Stevens the ladies’ B grade championship. The men’s championship was won by Mr Gifferu, whose consistent, good plav throughout the season merited the honour of champion. We have t-o thank Mr Willett, for the very handsome cup presented for this competition. Mr Melvin won the B grade competition, Mr Rhiip living runner up. J lie following were elected office-bearers for the ensuing year: —President, Mr Philo; contain. Mr Instone; secretary, Mr Man.-eil ; treasurer. Mr Scobie; auditor, .Mr Barrett; Committee, Messrs Gifford. Bcrmitsou’ Willett, Barrett, and Buddie. Ihe subscript:on was fixed at. I for men and 19 - lor ladies. Provision will be made out of the increased .subscription !o on ; t a verandah to the golf house. On i lie motion of Dr Gordon, .-ivunded by Mr [ Scobie, a hearty v;,,r of thanks was acj corded, the ladies for providing afternoon J tea. A hearty vote of thanks was a-cord-I ed Ihe property-owners who gave the me of their ground, and the Aparima Bowling (flub for tire use of their ruder. I With the summer coming on (here is much, stir in the golfing world at Home, tor tins year the amateur and open championsnips will be resumed after having (.-mi suspended for five years. The summer is tne match season at Home and the big championships are [.laved in ihe midsum' mcr months. Both championship- have been put under the control of the Rovai and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's riu- year, and the committee has decided to restrict the open championship to 72 professionals and S amateurs to be qualified by preliminary competitions. The championship will he decided as usual by the best- si rose ng. gregate for tour rounds and will be plat .-1 on the course ol the Royal Ginqu- Porrs Club, i heal, on Wednesday. Juno to), and Thursday. July 1. two rounds -a. li da'.-, any tew- io be piayvd o)f on rndav, Jnlv 2. The qualiiying rounds tor the s - open te> amateurs will lie [.laved on June 15 and lt> and there will be enormously l-a-.-n competition tor the honour of playing in ihopen championship. Some of Ew ion-mo-!-players of the United States are almost certain to be competitors. The Amateur Championship will be d--cid.il by match [Jay as usual and will com inence on June -S on rise Nlrtirli-:-b 1 coins-’. Tile only restriction put- upon enm sb Em: each • (intrant must be able to make a u---duration that at some club of which he b a member he is at scratch or bcte-"r and il.ai at. no club does he receive more- than 5 strokes from the player who has the lowest handicap in the dub. The effect, of tub condition b virtually to restrict due championship to scratch and plus men. A feature of the Taranaki men’.- amateur golf championship, played at Easter, was the remarkable performance of Mr David I’rytle in reaching (he final at an age well over 60 years, Mr Pryde fell away in bigame in the thud and was beaten, hut to get to the final he had to dispose of two of i the strongest men in the draw, including :i previous winner of ihe ehampion.-hip, ami he did it. Twenty-three years ago, Mr Pryde was the champion golfer of New Z-"i- I laud; winning tins tide at .~nd in 1597. j Previous to that he hail laid the diamoion- j ship of llie Unit flub, and since (ben lie has attained the same honour in (lie Feilding Club at various times. In ISOS, Id . brother William won iiie New Zealand championship. playing at (’hrbldiurch. With the early history of golf in New Zealand the name of David Pryde must lie intimately associated. Mr Pryde came to New Zealand in ISS.S when goif wa.- hardly known in the country, lie was instrumental in forming the Hurt Golf Club at the same time that the Otago (flub (at Dunedin I came into existence. Tins was about 1890, and the two club 1 - were the first to be formed in New Zealand, with the exception of one which had been formed a good many years - previously in Dunedin and ha I languished to death. After [.laying in tim Halt and the Wellington clubs, Mr Pryde went, to Feililing 16 years ago, and helped, to form a golf chib there. He has lived in that town ever since.