GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 173, 14 August 1909, Page 6

GOLF.

For the fifth year in succession Scotland has beaten England in the amateur international golf contest. The matches were seven to two in favor of the northerners. The sensational defeat of the old champion, John Bale, by Robert Maxwell, will long be remembered (says an English 'exchange), as in a 3u'-ho]e match the great John Hale only succeeded in winning one hole. In the professimial international match at Deal the tables were completely turned, as the j English professionals gained an easy victory. Only two of the Scotsmen— Duncan and Smith—triumphed, and all the others', with the exception of llraid, who divided with Taylor, went down badly, England led in the singles by nine matches to two. Then they played foursomes, with ended even, as the .Scotsmen combined well together. A team selected by the Governor-Gen-eral put up n fine game against the Australian Golf Club at Kensington (says the Australasian). In the singles each team scored exactly the same number of matches and holes, but in the doubles the Vice-Kegal team lost every mutch. A. Galluchcr beat 0. 11. O'Brien by four holes. Captain Gilliat ployed a splendid game against C. L. Mackenzie, whom lie defeated four up. The captain's round was 74, which equalled the record, for the course, and included no fewer than six threes, his card being:—Out—4, 3, 4, 4, !>, 5. 3. 5, 5—38; home—4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 0, 3, 3-3(1. A. E. D'Arcy had a great match with His Excellency Lord Dudley. There was little if anything between them right up to the last green, the Governor-General winning one up. W. C'allan and A. J. McLachlan (A.G.C.) squared, and W. A. Windeycr (A.G.C.) defeated Captain Rome (who plays' a very fair game) on the home green. J. S. Allen (A.G.C.) was two upon Captain Hore Ruthvcn, and E. L. Rutledge (A.G.C.) was six up on Lord Richard N"evill.

The American champion. Jerome D. Travcrs, writing in Golf' Illustrated, says:—On the value of good putting T think we Americans lay more stro--.

than is done in England. When t!i" greens are thoroughly reliable, and one may extract from them results which correspond exactly with the skill displayed in using the putter, it is obvious that good putting must count for a very great deal. It is far better to be able to lay the long approach putts "dead" than to out-drive an opponent by twenty yards. A yard on the green is often of more value than fifty yards off it. As a rule, American greens are smaller than those I have seen here. And as I am told I may expect to see even larger greens in other park, the necessity seems all the greater, to my mind at anv rate, that putting should be cultivated as a special department. On liberal - sized greens T reckon the man .who can make sure of being dead and can hole out the short putts invariably is a match for anyone. In employing the phrase "dead" I do so relatively. Unless a player is very sure of the shorter putts, lie lias no right to consider himself "dead" under any circumstances. And the missing of a very odd putt now anil then does not ra the sense in which I enHoy the word prevent him speaking if his bein" "dead." Most golfers,' say the big hitter off the tee is the man who frightens his opponent. I say that he who consistently ranis down good putts is a more intimidating obstacle than the most powerful driver extant. Where big greens exist, the long run up to the hole is bound to be one of the most telling shots of all.