On the Links

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 966, 8 May 1930, Page 6

On the Links

Notes for Golfers V

By Slow-Back

Auckland Golf Last Saturday was an ideal day for golf—warm and sunny, with hardly a breath of wind. The effect of the recent rain was very noticeable, fairways and greens alike having improved considerably. At Middlemore a start was made with the captain’s prize. Thex'e were 10S entries, besides at least half-a-dozen who had forgotten to enter until too late. Altogether there must have been a record number on the course. The starting sheet was full fiom 11.30 to 3.30, which meant about 120 players. The handicappers must have felt a thrill of satisfaction when at least ten matches went on to the 19th and further, while several others finished on the last green. There were some impressive performances, notably that of R. B. Wilson, who was two over fours when he finished his match at the 12th hole —his handicap is 12. W. T. Bell came into the limelight by means of an impressive round against L. W. Delph. Altogether the form was pretty good, though in some matches nerves were fairly obvious. The captain’s prize will be the chief event for the next six weeks or so, but other matches will be provided for those who fail to survive. Titirangi is in wonderful order just now, which fact must have been very satisfactory to the members, for Major Conway was there at the week-end on his tour of inspection. He has been commissioned by the council to inspect Titirangi and Palmerston North with a view to deciding which course is the more suitable tor the 1930 championships. If Titirangi is selected, there is no doubt that the competitors will find an excellent test of golf. Some pretty good cards came in for the medal, the senior being won by Mr. J. A. Thompson, with 78, 9—69. R. M. Dacre showed that his form was steadily improving by doing 79, 9 —70. Five other seniors were below the scratch score of 75. A net score of 69 also won the junior medal, J. H. Francis being the offender from 13. Three others beat net 75. The course is in such scoring order and running so well that something sensational may be expected. One Tree Hill held a medal competition in two grades. F. Wiseman won the senior with S 7, 12 —75, and in pJie junior there was a tie with net 72.

At Akarana the second round of the Tyler Memorial Cup competition was played. To get one’s name in the paper a net score of 75 or better was necessary. The course was playing well, but even so, it looks as if the handicappers’ attention was called for. Apart from the merit of the scores in the eclectic medal at Glendowie, the most striking feature in the list is the number of players who have made their marks in other branches of sport. W. Laxon was a very solid wing threequarter in his day: F. Trice could run with the best; N. C. Snedden and C. Allcott both attained high honours in the cricket world; and A. E. Sloman was a pillar of United C.C. some years ago. Tennis is x-ecalled by the name of Johns, and H. G. Thomson was a speedy quarternailer. There are probably others, too, among them, but this is not a bad collection from a list of about 30. Otahuhu opened officially on Saturday, and mixed foursomes were the order of the day at both courses. At Otahuhu, Mr. and

Mrs. B. Menzies had a net score of 30 over nine holes, and three other pairs were under 40. A very large gathering at Everslie came from all the neighbouring courses, quite 150 taking part in the mixed foursomes. Miss R. Johns, of Pukekohe, and A. J. Rhind, of Everslie, proved the winners. The medal handicap at Waitemata was won by E. N. Rudge with a card of SO, 16—64. Thirteen other cards were below’ net 75, so that the golf was pretty good—or the handicaps were pretty liberal. Hagen and Kirkwood

Our two eminent visitors have now left Australia for the East, and probably they will return direct from Japan to America. There was, according to one Australian paper, just a chance that they might return via Australia, in which case they would pass through New Zealand, but it appears to be highly improbable. The tour appears to have been a great success. Whether Kirkwood made enough to meet his obligations to Hagen is a matter of guesswork, but probably before they reach home he will have done so. The important part is that Australia has proved that if the great golfers come the gates will be duly provided, and that at a tariff which should make such trips highly profitable. Already we hear rumours of possible visits next summer. Diegel has been mentioned, and also Horton Smith. I make no apology for considering the financial side first, for it is of the greatest importance for our progress that we should see these great players and study them. The philosopher of old saw' to it that his students were convinced of their ignorance before he tried to teach them. We need not go so far in golf, but, if the visit of Hagen has taught us, as well as Australia, that we have far to go to reach the heights, we are far to go to rect condition for improvement. Hagen and Kirkwood demonstrated in no uncertain manner that they were better than Australia’s best —not that they were never beaten, but that their standard was distinctly higher. Hagen’s wonderful consistency, as much as his occasional brilliant bursts, made it clear that his great I’ecord was not the result of accident. Some of us suspected that he must be pretty good, and he is. The wretched accident of the quarantining of the Aorangi robbed New Zealand of a great chance. In Australia the young players are trying out all sorts of ideas gathered from watching Hagen. Wo can only take them on hearsaj r . If, as seems likely, other tours by the world’s great players are undertaken in this direction, we should see t > it that we are included, and that we make such a success of them that there will bo many more. The Provisional Ball I have lately come across several eases of misunderstanding concerning the playing of a provisional ball. It might be worth while to state the position clearly for the benefit of that great majority which x’efuses to study the rules. A provisional ball can be played under the authority of two rules, and of two rules.only, Nos. 22 and 23. The former of these is the lost or unplayable ball rule, and the latter deals with

out of bounds. “In order to save delay, it £L ball has been played to a part of the course where it is likely to be lost or unplayable, or if a player considers that his ball may be out of bounds, he may at once play another ball as provided in the rule, hut, if it be discovered that the first ball is not lost or unplayable or out of bounds, it shall continue in play without penalty.” The Question has been asked how many strokes a player is entitled to play with a provisional ball under these rules. The answer is given in decision 47 of the Rules of Golf Committee: “A player is entitled to continue his play with the provisional ball until he reaches the spot where the first ball is likely to be.” If the first ball is found it should continue in play. The words “in order to save delay ... he may at once plav another ball” do not limit tho number of strokes which may be played with that ball in accordance with the rule. This decision is in accord with the good judgment the Rules cf Golf Committee invariably shows. If the first ball had been sent 200yds and the provisional ball only 50, the object of the rule would be defeated If it was necessary to locate the first ball before playing another shot with the second.

OTAHUHU LADIES’ CLUB Members of the Otahuhu Ladies’ Golf Club will play a handicap medal match on Saturday-, play-ers to choose partners. AKARANA CLUB The Akarana Golf Club will bold a bogey match next Saturday. Partners will be drawn for at the clubhouse. PUPUKE CLUB Following is the draw for tlie bogey handicap for Mr. A. W. Short’s trophy, to be played by members of the Pupuke Golf Club on Saturday:—Goldwater v. Hunt. Mingay v. Bennett, De Clive Lowe v. Chambers, Mills v. Thompson, Gould v. Kingsford, Sheriff v. Close, Johnston v. Lane, Matthews v. Stemson, Robinson v. Ansell, Grimwade v. Davidson, Greville v. Drower, Saunders v. Hopkins, Kingsford, jun., v. Williams, Chisholm v. Sellars, Taylor v. Stephenson, Lush v. Skeet, Brown© v. Norris, Black v. Freakes, McCorkingdale v. Foster, Minogue v. Short. WAITEMATA CLUB Members of the Waitemata Golf Club will play a four-ball best-ball bogey match, senior and junior pairs, on Saturday afternoon. Players will select f heir own partners and opponents.