ON THE LINKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 16

ON THE LINKS

By “DRIVER.” (“Driver” will be pleased to receive notes of interest, local or otherwise, from the golfers of South Canterbury).

The third qualifying round of the Championships will be played at Highfield to-day.

In last Saturday's medal match at Highfield, W. A. Scott was the winner with 78-3-70.

The attraction of the Test match in Christchurch last Saturday probably accounted for the small attendances on the links during the week-end. In the card match played at Gleniti J. Menzies. jnr., was the winner in a small field. His card was 80-9-71.

A New Zealander now resident in Melbourne says he has seen a good deal of Sloan Morpeth on the Commonwealth Golf Club's links. Morpeth is quite happy in his new abode, Where he frequently comes in contact with New Zealanders.

For the trophy presented by Mr F. L. Barker for the senior who reduces the most number of strokes during the season G. R. Innes-Jones and E. G. Kerr are leading, the former having reduced from 14 to 8 and the latter from 15 to 9.

A number of young trees have been planted on the Gleniti links and in time should considerably enhance the beauty of the course, in addition to supply a long felt want in making it more difficult.

In the championships at Highfield this year all matches will be over 36 holes. Highfield are not alone in this move as the New Zealand championship will this year also be decided over two rounds. The scheme is a commendable one and many players will realise that sometimes over 18 holes one does not do justice to oneself. The adoption of the two rounds of match play in all matches will call for more staying-power—one of the biggest factors in any sport.

J. Menzies. jnr’s., gross score of 80 in the card match at Gleniti last Saturday constitutes a course record, the previous best round known being an 81 by G. Forrest, the local profes • sional. Menzies is to be congratulated on reducing his medal handicap

from 9 to 6. It is stated that he would have returned a 78 had he not thrown away two 3 foot putts on the last two greens. In England they now call Jones the “Bradman of golf.” Before the actual play of the Open began, critics were mostly agreed that Jones was "not showing his usual confidence and accuracy,” but there is not much wrong with the man who can reel off 70 and 72 for 36 holes. If he sustained that form, he would equal his St. Andrews record for the chamionship—2Bs.

Bobby Jones’ win in the British open championship makes the seventh in succession by American players. No British player (still resident in England) has ever won an American open championship. Jones . won the British in 1926 a,nd 1927. He did not compete in the following two years, when Walter Hagen won.

In a club competition at Kingston Heath (Melbourne) last week. Norman Russell had left himself a six-footer for a six at the long seventh hole. He putted, missed, and, somewhat nettled, picked his ball up. “Replace for two,” ordered Albert Smith, his opponent. This he did. without bothering to take the pin oiit. "Two more for not removing the pin.” chirped Albert. “That's four penalty strokes, makes a 12.” For a moment Russell’s face was a picture then he grinned broadly, and the joke was thoroughly enjoyed on both sides.

In America there are a few golf courses for women only. No male intruder desecrates the sacred turf, nor of course is there a thing as a locker where medical comforts are kept. An Adamless Eden! Of course it is the selfishness of man that has driven the women to have their own courses. Man, as a rule, wants the course on Saturdays and Sundays—it is his only time in most cases—and at least, in theory, the gentle sex can get out at any other time. Naturally, any women who works during the week joins a club where there are no such restrictions, so all is well. So far as we know, it is only in America that the “ladies only” courses exist, but Australia may soon follow suit. The New South Wales Minister of Lands has given his consent to some Crown land at French’s Forest, Sydney, being used for golf, provided that the Government is not asked to bear any of the cost of preparation. It is proposed to limit the course to women members, on the grounds that women are not sufficiently catered for by other clubs. It will be an interesting experiment. Who is to maintain the course, and whether it is to be under municipal control or private, is not stated; but, if the former, there may be difficulty in so restricting it.

On arrival in Australia, Walter Hagen, greatest golf pro. in the game, promised to look carefully over every