OUR LADY GOLFERS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 520, 9 October 1915, Page 6

OUR LADY GOLFERS

CHAMPIONS OF CANTERBURY

I once knew a man who said that golf was not a game for ladies. I wanted to know why, and was dryly informed that no feminine vocabulary was equal to the game. But I am afraid that he was a long way off the truth, for, vocabulary or no vocabulary, thousands of women play golf to-day, and very good; golf, too. They havejm equal right with men in the golf clubs, and they give the game the same earnest treatment. In Canterbury, as in other parts of New Zealand, golf has a strong feminine following. Yet, once the idea that a woman could learn to play a good and serious game of golf was laughed to scorn. The reason was not the frivolous one given above, but the idea existed that it was no more -a woman's game than cricket or football, or any other form of sport which we regard as essentially masculine. Now, however, her place in this particular niche is assured, and no one dreams of accusing her of not taking the game seriously. , In this connection I am reminded, parenthetically, of a little story, which probably belongs to the period when women's share in the golf world was a very small one. A gentleman was recounting his exploits on tile links to a lady, and happened to ask her if she knew anything about the game. "Dear me no," said she; adding brightly, "Why, I shouldn't even know how to hold the caddie!" There's been a lot of progress since those days—yes, indeed. As an instance of how golf has progressed in Christchurch, it may be mentioned that seven years ago there was only one flourishing club here—the Christchurch Golf Club. The Hagley Club # had at that time becsn broken up, owing to the exhibition, but the following year it was resuscitated. Next, the Richmond Hill Golf Club was forifted, then New Brighton followed, and finally-Lyttelton formed a club of its own. During last season there were approximately 1000 players 9 in the vicinity of Christchurch, which is really about the largest golfing centre in New Zealand. The golfers of this city are to be congratulated on the convenient way 4h which the various links are situated, each one being within an easy radius of four miles from town, with the exception of the Richmond Hill and Lyttelton links. Canterbury Lady Champions. Coming back to lady golfers, Canterbury can point proudly to a number of clever players who have won distinction on the links, and whose play is watched with admiration by experts. Miss Marjorie Dixon, of "Sylverly," Fendalton, lady champion of the Christchurch Golf Club and the Hagley Club, is undoubtedly one of the best players amongst her sex in New Zealand. This year was the first occasion on which Miss Dixon won the Hagley Championship, although on two previous occasions she was in the

final. Shortly after that achievement she won the Christchurch Championship, a splendid performance, indeed, for such a

young player. During the last season she has shown a good deal of improvement, and played well in,, the Bendigo and Sandringham Tournaments in Australia. Her golfing career looks most promising, and will be watched with interest by all who follow the game. » ( Miss Merle Pollen (Fendalton) is the Hagley ladies' junior champion. |

She commenced golf in 1913, and showed great promise, even in her first season. Her successes this year have been greater, and her winning of the Junior Championship from Miss Prins was a creditable performance, especially, as in the case of

Miss Dixon, she is quite a young player. Mrs W. de Thier is the lady champion of the Richmond Hill Club, Sumner. She commenced playing at Shirley about 1900, and her play stood out from all the other beginners of that season, by reason of its excellent. Great things were expected of her, but, unfortunately, she had a nervous breakdown, and had to abandon golf for the time. However, she took it up again later, and during the season which has just ended was successful in winning the championship of the Richmond Hill Club. She is still a member of the Christchurch Golf Club, and plays at Shirley occasionalb'. There she recently won several handicap matches. Mrs de Thier is easily the best lady player at Richmond Hill. She is a daughter of Mr Peter Trolove, a well-known Christchurch golfer. Miss L. Bean" has accomplished a very difficult thing—the winning of a championship in her first season. She won the Ladies' Championship in connection with the New Brighton Club from Mrs Blakelcy in August last, after an exciting contest, and won four out of the six medal matches held at Hagley during last season. Both she, Miss Dixon, and Miss Pollen are pupils of Mr D. Hood.

Mrs de Thier commenced the game under the tuition of Mr J. A. Clements. , Miss Gertrude Pavftt is the lady champion of the Kaiapoi Club. Golf in Kaiapoi has a fairly strong feminine following, considering;the size of the place. The club has been in existence some six years.

Miss Pavitt' has won the ladies' championship at Kaiapoi for no fewer than four years consecutively, so no one will want to dispute the fact that she is the best lady player there. The first lady champion of the club was Mrs W. Parnham, and since then Miss Pavitt has carried off the honour each time., Last season, instead of accepting the usual championship medal, she gave the money to the Red Cross Fund, and this year it is her intention to do the same. No. More "Golf Widows."

With ladies taking such an active interest in the sport, the picture of the "golf widow," which once ap-

peared in a "History of Golf," is not likely to be repeated these days. The writer drew a pathetic picture of women who were hound to accompany their lords and masters to golfing resorts for the season, and who had to submit to their fathers, husbands, and brothers playing golf the whole day and talking golf,the whole of the evening, while they themselves were hooted off the links with cries of "Fore!" if they ventured to appear there. An illustration of a lady, sitting alone ill a most mournful, neglected, and dejected attitude, was labelled "The Golf

Widow." But to-day the same lady would be oil the links with her husband, enjoying the game as much as he.

It is, good that mattersin the Vorld of sport have evolved so far. Sport means out-of-doors, the open air, and the development of sound and robust physique—all essentially desirable things. Thus golf is doing its

share in the welfare and emancipation of women, and promoting health and vigour and the love of a good, well-played game. We are, therefore, under a greater debt to golf than Ave, perhaps, can readily imagine. S.I.R.