GOLF

Southland Times, Issue 19500, 14 March 1925, Page 15

GOLF

(By

“Cleek.”)

The competition for the Summer Cup at Otatara is now well under way, all matches having been brought up to the third round, in which sixteen men are left. The third round matches should be finished to-day. Local Clubs are now getting ready for their annual meetings and the new season will be formally opened on the Queen’s Park and Otatara courses within the next few weeks. At the last of the summer matches played at Shirley (Christchurch) last Saturday, R. A. Wilson, formerly of the Invercargill Club, was round in 75—the best gross score for the day. It gave him a nett 73, but the match was won by a long handicap man with a card 89—18-—7 l. A correspondent wrote to the golf expert of the London Observer asking him to pick “the world’s twelve best golfers,” a team that might be picked to meet a challenge thrown out from another world.” Here is the list, but the names are not given in any order of merit:— Mr Bobby Jones (American). Hagen (American). Duncan (British). Mitchell (British). Macdonald Smith (American). Bob Cruickshank (Scots-American). Sarazen (American). Barnes (American). Mr Cyril Tolley (British). Mr Roger Wethered (British). Sir Ernest Hclderness (British). Aubrey Boomer (British). This is a selection w’ith which few are likely to agree. It is very doubtful if any amateur but Bobby Jones would find a place in the world's twelve best, and considering ‘the results of the Walker Cup matches since their inception it is not easy to justify the selection of three British amateurs as against one American. The Observer writer excludes Kirkwood, quoting a statement by Alex. Herd that Kirkwood will never win a championship until he alters his style. But Kirkwood tied for sixth place in the British open championship in 1921 (his first attempt), and was fourth in 1923. In addition, he has won open tournaments in U.S.A. by dazzling scores against America’s best. Nor can any of the last six players be given priority to such golfers as Cyril Walker (present open champion of U.SA.), J>eo. Dicgel, or the two Whitcombes in England. Any list purporting to give the world’s twelve best would be open to criticism, but the Observer writer's is particularly vulnerable. The one thing certain is that Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones would head any list —of that there doesn’t seem to be any doubt. Grantland Rice, writing in the New York Tribune, endeavours to moderate the exuberance of some Americans over their golfing successes in 1924. He writes: —“American golf was almost completely triumphant through 1924,” we have read. But after taking stock, was it so triumphant after all % Including America and Great Britain there are six leading championships. On each side they are the open, the amateur and the women’s championship. Out of these six championships—three on each side—only two native-born-Americans hold titles. They are Walter Hagen, British open champion, and Bobby Jones, United States amateur champion. The other four crowns are all worn by golfers who were Britishborn and British taught. Here they are: United States Open—Cyril Walker, English born. United States Women’s—Mrs Dorothy Campbell Hurd, formerly British champion. British Amateur—E. W. Holderness, England. Cyril Walker and Mrs Hurd have both become American citizens. But that doesn’t take away from the fact in an international golfing sense that both were born British subjects and that both got their golfing start abroad. As Miss Dorothy Campbell, of Scotland, the present United States women’s champion, won fame and titles before she ever came to the United

Stateq, the United States hardly claim her golfing ability as its own, for it was never developed here. It belongs to Scotland, where Mrs Hurd was born and where she developed her championship mold. Cyril Walker was grown and a good golfer before he ever left Liverpool. It is rather far reaching for the United States to claim his glory as its own. An American writer asks: “What chance has Bobby Jones of retaining his title of amateur champion of United States America this year and of winning the American open championship?” And he proceeds to answer the question as follows: —No matter how spectacular a golf champion, the odds against him winning a championship ranges from 6 to 1 to 8 to 1. As there are 32 qualifiers in an amateur championship, the odds would be 31 to 1 against any individual if all were of equal skill. As most of those who qualify are first-class and golf is replete with queer and sudden upsets, the odds of 6 to 1 are extremely low. It will be about 6 to 1 against Jones for the amateur and 7 or 8 to 1 against him for the open. The same odds will be against Hagen in the latter event, and these two will likely be the main favourites. There is no game quite like golf to upset the dope with such sudden turns. A few missed putts—a few hard breaks—an unplayable lie —an un-looked-for lack of touch--a hitch in rhythm and timing—and the greates* are but mere human mortals in a flash. Bobby Jones has a better chance to win the amateur championship this year than any other individual. He has as good a chance to win the open as Hagen or any other pro. Possibly a slightly better chance if one is to consider his showing for the last three years. But the odds against him winning either title are at least 3 or 4 to 1. And no other amateur could shoulder odds anywhere close to these figures. THE GOLFER’S PRAYER. (With apologies to “The Fisherman’s Prayer.”) Lord, suffer me to hit a drive That others on the tee May have no good excuse to stand And look with scorn at me. And should I haply top my ball And not get far enough, Grant me that my opponent should Lie badly on the rough. If in a bunker lie, Grant me a decent place. And let me never find my ball Tucked right up in the face. Oh, let my brassie shots be such As mine have rarely been, That is (if possible) within A chip-shot of the green. Let my approach be crisp and neat, And lie as near the pin, That when it is my turn to putt I’m bound to get it in. Give me the power to keep my head Well down and—best of all— Let me control my errant eye And keep it on the ball! Though many strokes I may have played, Though through the rough I’ve trod, Let my opponent be the one That always plays the odd. Oh, suffer me to a score So good that even I, When talking of it at the club, May have no need to lie, And vet to do a hole in one No great desire I’ve got; With whiskv at its present price, I’d really rather not! —W.H.B. in the “Passing Show.” OoO

THE ALL BLACKS

LAST WEEKS IN ENGLAND. TRAINING AT DEAL. A CHATTY LETTER. Writing from Deal on 31st December, N. P. McGregor, the All Blades five-eighth, says:—“Here we are at Deal training for our match against England. Since our match in London on Saturday, the weather has been awful, and we have had much rain each morning at training, and the ground was very muddy and wet. The team picked against England is a very popular choice. There is no difference in the backs as chosen to play against Wales. Deal, which has a population of about 13,000, is an ideal spot for training and rest. We came here to recuperate from the strenuous match play of recent date, and to get plenty of fresh air, and we have come to the right place. Our hotel (Royal) is practically right on the sea. We are being treated well, and should be pretty fit by Saturday. Every morning we have a walk along the seafront before breakfast as an appetiser. Present arrangements are that we fly across to France next Monday. Some are not too keen on going by air, and will cross per steamer. The aeroplane that crashed jn

this route was the identical machine I was in when we had a fly over London the first time we arrived here.

The game against London No. 2 was a most gratifying one to us players, in this respect—it showed that our forwards can play in the mud, and they all played a really great game. The day was very windy and rainy; in fact rain fell all the morning and during most of the match. The ground was in a frightful state. In the first spell we scored 11—3 against a very heavy wind; and considering the team we were opposing, this was great work. The handling of the ball was marvellously good, both ii| respect to our forwards and backs. Though the forwards scored all the tries, most of them resulted from clever gained much ground by taking advantage work on the part of the backs. Cooke was the pick of the rear division. He repeatedly of their mistakes and he always gets on to them like a flash when an opportunity occurs. Nepia, Nicholls and Mill also showed first class form. Nicholls played well, and kicked well, too. He dicl, however, miss converting a try right under the posts, an unusual happening for him. It was his first game since he injured his leg, and he will be all right for England. Mill played one of his best games to date, and remember it was in the mud. He gave Parker a nice try—working the blind side of a scrum near the twenty-five, he dummied his man and raced on the full back where he passed to Parker, who scored. Nepia kicked well but did not have a great deal to do. Once he collared Hamilton-Wicks when the latter looked particularly dangerous—a nice tackle as this player is regarded as one of the finest three-quarter playing in England to-day. Another time he received the ball near half way, on their side of the line, and raced through to their 25 where he passed to Nicholls, to M. Brownlie, who smashed through two players to score his only try. C. Brownlie was in great form, scoring three tries, the reward of good following up. The two brothers had a day out, and were the pick of our forwards, all of whom showed splendid form. We got more than our share of the ball in this game. The ball was in a terrible condition, heavy and slippery, and the critics have never changed their minds about us not being able to play in the mud. Parker played very well at wing forward—he is so fast that he causes havoc by his swift raids on the inside backs of the opposing side, and this is just what is required against England. The London Team comprised men from Oxford and Cambridge who did not belong to a London Club. Gracie, who played stand off half (Ist fiveeighth) is a Scottish international, who is considered to be one of the greatest centre backs that Scotland has produced in recent years. He played fair, but kicked all the time. Brown comes from Ireland, so you can see they had men from everywhere—good luck to them.