GOLF NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23026, 21 October 1936, Page 14

GOLF NOTES

CLUB FIXTURES The final of the intermediate championship between D. F. Lindsay and A. K. Mac Ewan produced an excellent match, as was to be expected. On their scores in the qualifying rounds both these players qualified for the club championship but naturally they elected to compete for the intermediate title. Both probably realized that they would not be eligible much longer for the intermediate grade. In the final they played senior grade golf and a wellcontested match ended in Lindsay’s favour 3 up and 2 to go. The start was not too bright. A five won the first hole for Lindsay, the second was halved in fives and then Mac Ewan was permitted to win Long Tom in six. A good four at the Ridge put Mac Ewan one up, but after halves at the fifth Lindsay’s length got him a four at the sixth to square the match. Both required fours at the Dardanelles, and then Lindsay won both the eighth and the ninth with fives to stand two up. Mac Ewan promptly retaliated with fours at the tenth and eleventh, and followed on with a three at the Pancake to get his nose in front again. A six at the Rushes cost him his lead, and Lindsay won the Schoolhouse in three. Dunn's Road was halved in fives, but at the Nest Mac Ewan put a “birdie” three on the card to square the match. Lindsay was down in a par four at the seventeenth to regain his lead and he held it when the first round finished with a half in fives at the eighteenth. The cards were:— Out Lindsay —5 5755445 5—45 Mac Ewan—6 5 6 4 5 5 4 6 6—47 In Lindsay —5 5 4 5 3 5 4 4 5—40—85 Mac Ewan—4 4 3 6 4 5 3 5 5 —39—86 Lindsay one up. As an opening for the afternoon round regulation fives halved the first hole. Lindsay got his par four at the second all right but it was not good enough, Mac Ewan squaring the match with a “birdie” three. Not to be denied, Lindsay won Long Tom with a par five. Neither left any opening at the fourth and fifth, both holes being halved in fours. At the sixth it was Mac Ewan who got the difficult par four this time and once again the match was square. Fours halved the Dardanelles. The eighth was not well played and a six gave Lindsay a win. The ninth having been halved in fives, both were out in 42 and the match turned for home with Lindsay one up. Mac Ewan squared again with a four at the tenth and as in the morning he carded a four at the eleventh, but this time it was good for a half only. Both were down in threes at the Pancake. Lindsay kept the pressure on with a five at the Rushes and a three at the Schoolhouse and as Mac Ewan slipped a stroke at each hole Lindsay was two up and four to play. Good fours halved Dunn’s Road, and Lindsay never looked like taking more than four at the Nest. Mac Ewan needed five strokes for the hole and that was the match to Lindsay 3 and 2 and the championship. The cards read:— Out Lindsay —5 4 5 4 4 5 4 6 5 —42 Mac Ewan—s 3 6 4 4 4 4 7 5—42 In Lindsay —5 4 3 5 3 4 4 Mac Ewan—4 4 3 6 4 4 5 Going on, Lindsay finished the round in 80 and Mac Ewan in 81. Queen's Park Club. The Queen’s Park Club brought its season to a close last Saturday afternoon, a fair-sized field taking part in a one-club match over 13 holes. Surprisingly good results in approaching and putting were obtained with the one club, in nearly every case some sort of iron having been chosen. The winner in the A grade was W. Poff, whose score for the 13 holes was 62 against a bogey of 49. With three-quarters of his handicap deducted Poff had a net 52. This score saved the officials a lot of bother, as they might have had to sort the winner out from eight others, all of whom had net scores of 55 and tied for second place. The best gross score was 58 by J. S. Lindsay. C. Brew and H. McCulloch both made the good score of 61 in the B grade, but Brew had an advantage of a stroke in the handicaps.

Although the winter season has closed, golf will stil go on and a programme for the summer is being prepared. Summer golf is increasing in popularity each year; more and more country clubs are taking it up and, once having enjoyed playing golf on firm turf and Without wearing heavy shoes and extra clothing to keep the wintry blasts out, they are not likely to give it up in a hurry. An added attraction at Queen’s Park this summer will be the new lay-out, which will be brought into use on Saturday week. Some fine holes have been prepared and the putting greens are already in good order. The monotony of parallel holes will disappear and the new ones will now have more “character” about them. The change-over is being keenly looked forward to.

The Stead Cup tournament conducted by the Queen’s Park Ladies’ Club last week, was well supported by women golfers, but the weather was on its worst behaviour. The winner of the cup, Mrs J. D. Speirs, was clearly the best player in the field and thoroughly deserved her first big success. Miss L. Rice (Wyndham), who was defeated by Mrs Speirs in the semi-final, did not maintain the good form she showed in the qualifying rounds, but her turn is bound to come. There is one point that the committee in charge of the tournament could give more attention to. It was noticeable that

in the draw for the second day’s play no mention was made of those who were to play in the matches. They seemed to be left to make their own arrangements and get through the handicap field as best they could. The match players should have precedence and should be started before the others, and in such a way that they would have no need to go through those engaged in a handicap event. There also seemed to be too many starting places. To have players starting at Nos. 18, 1, 4 and 6 would cause more congestion and “hold-ups” than if only No. 1 and No. 6 tees were used. It should be possible to despatch the field expeditiously from three starting points. N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN TO-MORROW. The New Zealand championship tournaments for both men and women begin to-morrow—the former at New Plymouth and the latter at Balmacewan. The entry for- the New Zealand open and amateur championships is entirely satisfactory, representing adequately the full playing strength of the Dominion.

The field for the ladies’ championship is by no means so good. Of course, Miss Jessie Anderson is not here to defend her title, nor are her colleagues in the British ladies’ team that was in New Zealand last year among the competitors to add interest to the proceedings. A “star” entry like last year’s can only be expected once in a decade. But it is disappointing that Miss O. Kay, Mrs Fullerton-Smith and Miss Helean should have found it impossible or inconvenient to enter. A field without Miss Kay and the former Miss Gaisford can hardly be regarded as a championship field. It is unfortunate, also, that Otago’s best lady, Mrs Dodgshun, should be out of golf for the moment for health reasons. However, there will no doubt be keen and interesting competition. A number of local women have gone to Dunedin for the championship tournament, with a view more to the handicap events than to the championship. Invercargill will be represented at the annual Labour Day tournament at Oamaru—always a good day’s golf. Local golfers will have an unusual interest in the open championship this year. Basil J. Smith jun., professional to the Invercargill Club, will be making his debut as a professional in the open championship. His father is also competing as a professional, and a brother is among the competitors in the amateur ranks.