ON THE LINKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 30 April 1926, Page 3

ON THE LINKS.

(By " Mashie.”) “ Mashie ” will be glad to receive items of interest to golfers for inclusion in this column. These must reach the “Herald” Office not later than Tuesday of each week.

If an ardent golfer were to be asked what, season of the year lie preferred, he would have no hesitation in saying in replying “ The Golf Season.” Of course there are many ardent players who spend all their spare time on the links all through the year, but even these prefer the interest of the weekly match against a wide field to that of the game against an individual opponent. Furthermore, the summer golfer finds himself compelled to adjust his play to real golf conditions. A hardbaked ground which adds many a yard to his drive is a rare occurrence in the winter. Approaches which a few weeks ago lay dead, now hardly find the green. The topped ball is now a real penalty. So one must adjust oneself to these new conditions, which is the reason of the great difference between the scores one can put up in November, and those in June.

An item of news in this week’s paper must have made golfers of the past turn in their graves. Just imagine a green defaced by having white lines drawn upon it! Soon the language of the links —I mean, of course, the technical terms not those heard when a player duffs into the Chasm —will be sullied by that of a Bisley meeting. It is hard to imagine one congratulating one's opponent on an approach by saying “Beautiful Middle,” or remarking in a deprecating tone, “You know, I expected .that shot of mine to be an “inner,” but it got a nasty kick and finished up as an..‘.‘outer.”. What is the game coming to?” And yet something must be done to stem the tide of the American invaders.

Another peculiar feature of this new green play is that points are to be awarded according as to whether one’s approach is a “middle,” an “inner,” or an “outer.” And the highest score wins. This is the strangest thing of all. When this becomes common, gone wil 1 be the days when one strove to break ninety, or perhaps even eighty. We will hear of two players congratulating each other because they had at last done a hundred and fifty. Perhaps some one may some day do a couple of hundred. There seems no limit to the absurdity of this idea. Verily the clock has been turned back with ;a vengeance.

Good scores have been heard of lately. A couple of players, I think one was from Ashburton, and another from Christchurch, finished about seven or eight up on bogey. What are the odds ’ against their handicaps being reduced! .And I hear a whisper of a local player who ,v, successful in holing his tee shot at one of the short holes. I believe that they made their way straight to the nearest bottle department, in fact, one could not see them for smoke. The same feat was accomplished by a Temuka lady player. What a run there would be on the tea-pot that afternoon!

Our committee has gone to some trouble and expense in issuing to all local players a circular containing information of importance to all golfers. Perhaps rule 4 of the Etiquette of Golf could be improved so as to read: —“Players who have holed out-should not try their putts over again, or mark their cards, on . the green when other players are follpwing them.” So many players now take part in our matches that it beicomes somewhat of a' problem to 'get them all round. The consequence is that every player should do his best to speed up , the rate of progress by vacating the , green as soon as possible.

; Another golf rule worth stressing is that one dealing with the replacement of the turf. The president most wisely emphasised this in his speech on the opening day, and I take the liberty of reiterating it here. If a player neglects to observe it, the 'worst one can wish him is that he /may ever find his ball lying in the holo he has left the last time he played there. But, unfortunately, it is always the other follow who is trapped. So now, players of every age and status, please replace that divot next time. If you cannot find it, press clown the ground with the sole of your shoe. It will help to give the next man a better lie, and will also help to preserve our fairways.

Most members are aware (bat a detailed report o£ the course was prepared l'or the consideration of the committee. Some of the suggestions are somewhat impracticable, but we would, I think, all like to see the new bunkers put into position as soon as possible. No one will deny that many of our greens are too easy of access,' and many a ball which deserves a worse fate finishes up near the pin, or at least on the green. In this Way many shots do not get their just deserts. If two men are approaching a green, and one who has topped his ball badly finds that he lies on the green along with his opponent who has played the perfect shot, then the game is not fair. Bunkers scientifically placed would obviate all this. Of course, the expense would be great, but much of the labour could be done by working-bees of the members, and very few members would be found to refuse to join in such a useful work.

This column, to conclude, is conducted for the interest of golfers in South Canterbury. Any contribution will be welcomed, so cuttings of interest, or anything else bearing on the game should be sent along so as to reach the “Herald” Office by Tuesday of each week at the latest.