GOLF NOTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19300, 29 September 1932, Page 14

GOLF NOTES

play and players surveyed. (By “Niblick.”) Saturday’s Fixtures. Hignfleld—Closing day (Reveil Cup). Glen-iti—Eclectic match. North End—Open day. The end of the season is in sight, and arrangements are in hand for the closing day of most clubs. Tlmaru v/ill close their season at Highfield on Saturday, while Glen-iti and North End will hold similar functions on October 15th. With the approach of the New Zealand Women’s championship tournament, special efforts have been made to put Highfield in first-class order, and it is expected that by the weekend the links will be in good condition Thirty-six entries have been received for the championship, including the holder of the title, Miss B. Gaisford (Manawatu), Miss Oliver Kay and Mrs H. Dodgshun (Otago), as well as representatives of clubs from as far norm as Auckland and as far south as Invercargill. The perfect shot was played by J. G. Niccol at Highfield the other afternoon, when he had the fortune or the misfortune to hole his tee shot at the Dive. The ball apparently landed in the hole and stayed there, wedged between the pin and the cup. The offender will not be allowed to forget his responsibility to club members.

The action of the visitors who competed for the Norton Francis Cup in presenting a cup to be called the “Visitors Trophy,” to the winners of the teams of markers, was warmly applauded by Shirley members. Members of the Christchurch Club mark for the visitors, and the presentation of a cup to the winning team has given the Shiriby men an added interest to this popular fixture.

H. H. Harris had a popular win in the senior medal at Highfield on Saturday last, when his score of 82-9-73 led the field. N. S. Cramond was second with 81-7-74. S. Mills headed the junior brigade with 91-24-67. An excellent score. A. L. Gee 92-23-69 was second, while D. W. Beswick performed solidly to return 92-22-70. "1716 consolation, which was played in conjunction with the medal, was won by A. L. Gee with net 69.

The “ringer” competition at Highfield produced some good scoring, and H. V. Sharp, who has been a consistent scorer throughout the season, got home by one stroke from D. J. MoBeath and L. G. Cameron, who were 58 net. G. A. Ussher 61, E. A. Scott 62, and D. Moyes 62 were next.

By defeating F. Cave three up in a thirty-six holes match at Glen-iti last week-end, J. Menzies jnr. qualified to meet M. E. Crowley in the final of the Club championship. Menzies completed the morning round in 92 to his opponent’s 95, to begin the final round two up. Cave showed improved form in the afternoon, but was unable to hold Menzies, who covered the next nine holes in 42 to increase his lead to four up. Winning the next two holes. Cave was two down, and although Menzies won the next, Cave was two down with three to play. Menzies got a bogey four at Hilltop to Cave’s six and won the hole, and the match three up. The final between Menzies and Crowley is to be played this week-end.

The handicap reduction trophy presented to the Timaru Club annually by Mr F. L. Barker is eagerly sought after, and this year the winner has been found in G. A. Ussher who has reduced from 11 to 5 during the season. The runners-up were E. G. Kerr jnr. and D. J. Mcßeath, who reduced from 9 to 5 and 10 to 6 respectively. Ussher’s performance is full of merit, his golf throughout the season being very sound. In a year or two Ussher should be in the first flight, and already can be reckoned a good player.

H. V. Sharp got his nose in front in the medal aggregate competition, his score of 211 beating the 212 of I. C. Fraser by one stroke. E. A. Scott 213, D. Moyes 213 and G. A. Ussher 214 were close up.

The foursome knockout competition at Highfield proved an attractive addition to the programme, and D. J. Mcßeath and L. G. Cameron are to be congratulated on winning the final. Their defeat of G. A. Ussher and I. M. Hamilton, who were given an excellent chance of winning, was a meritorious one. Although Ussher and Hamilton were in receipt of three strokes they were unable to hold the winners who settled the game on the sixteenth green, winning three and two.

The Timaru team which competed in the Norton Francis Cup at Shirley last week-end were seventh with 317, being thirteen strokes behind Kaikoura, the winners. Shirley presented a wonderful spectacle with teams from twenty-four clubs from all over Canterbury present. It is probable that it is the most representative gathering of golfers ever held in Canterbury. Arrangements were excellent, and the popular secretary (J. E. Donald) was the recipient of many congratulations on the excellence of the organisation. The first teams were away at 8.30 a.m.. and at 12.50 p.m. the field was clear, a wonderful performance when it is considered that just on two hundred were got away in that time. The visitors were delighted with the hospitality extended to them, and it is certain that those who were fortunate enough to represent their clubs this year will be anxious to do so again next year.

Unpleasant weather conditions prevailed for the final of the Glen-iti ladies’ championship, which was played on Monday. In a thirty-six holes match which did not produce golf of a very high standard, Miss F. Bradley defeated Mrs Ewing, five up and three to play. Miss Bradley took the lead early and, winning the first two holes, increased her advantage to five up at the end of nine. Mrs Ewing showed improved form on the homeward journey and reduced her deficit to two down at the end of the morning round, which she completed in 112 to her opponent’s 109. In the afternoon a strong wind was in evidence and play was affected somewhat. Miss Bradley regained her advantage in the afternoon, with wins at Glen-it, Longfellow and Seaview, to become five up. At the Brow Miss Bradley ran through the green with her third, and her approach was short. Mrs Ewing was on in three, and putting well took the hole in five to six. A good approach saw Mrs Ewing within four feet of the pin at Hilltop, and she won the hole in five to seven, Miss Bradley having visited the bunker. Miss Bradley won back a hole at the next with a good six, and indifferent putting at Brevity saw the hole halved in four. Sunset was Mrs Ewing’s in six to eight, and she turned for home three down. The first nine holes of the round were covered in 56 by Miss Bradley and in 61 by Mrs Ewing. Miss Bradley won the next in five to seven, but Mrs Ewing took Apex in five to six. When Miss Bradley won Pavilion she became four up with six to play, and halves at the next two holes made her dormie four. Both drove well at the Brow and Mrs Ewing reached the green in three.

Miss Bradley was short of the green for three, but her approach found the cup and she took the hole in four to five, and the match five and three.

A consolation match played by the Timaru Ladies’ Club was won by Miss M. O’Callaghan with a net 74, Miss Cotterill tieing for second place with a nett 81. Five players tied for the handicap ringer competition, the playoff being won by Miss M. Tizard. In the play-off, two points were given for a birdie, one for a bogey and half a point for one over bogey. Miss Tizard scored 13 points, Mrs Grant following closely with 12 points. The others in the tie were Miss Pringle, Mrs Kerr and Miss V. Campbell. Members are requested to lend their lockers to competitors in the New Zealand championships. which begin next week, and are asked to have them emptied by Saturday.

From a careful perusal of the list of men with handicaps of 4 and under, it appears that all those who enter for the Amateur Championship with not more than 4 will probably have their entries accepted. As regards the Open, however, it looks as though the only amateurs who wil get in will be those with 1 handicap or less. This information will be a useful guide to golfers who are considering entering writes a northern critic.

So far several Otago players who have expressed the intention of taking part in the National Championships, says “Divot” in the “Otago Daily Times,” include B. V. Wright, K. Ross, E. A. Reed and J. D. Dick. Wright is again playing up to the top of his form, and at a recent week-end he had two consecutive rounds of 69 each. The merit of this feat is enhanced by the tricky nature of several of the greens at Balmacewen. Dr Ross is also playing very well, so there is some chance of an Otago player being among the leaders in the Open and the Amateur. Douglas, the Otago professional, is playing better than ever.

The old champion was talking. “It is not often,” he wailed, “that you’re had to listen to a tale of woe from me. “But,” he continued, “this fellow I played to-day was the ball: 7 limit. Down on the eleventh I hit a beautiful drive off the tee, and he banged a cricket drive along the turf. When I got up to my ball I found that the bit of draw on the shot had just pulled it into the long grass on the edge of the fairway. When shaping up to the ball with my iron, I changed my mind, and decided on a long chance with the brassie in the hope of getting the distance. I got another beautiful shot, which, unfortunately, pushed out just a wee bit to the right into the edge of the long grass on that side, but pin high. Meanwhile, my opponent had topped two more woods, and was still a long way short of the green. Taking my courage in both hands, I thumped into the long grass with the niblick, and what joy! The ball soared up into the air over the guarding bunker and came down plonk with that poached egg effect that we all dream about — and only a mere nine or ten feet from his hole. Then my opponent played his fourth consecutive grubber, and hang me if he didn’t finish up only a matter of inches from the holes, while my ten-footer rimmed the tin and just hung on the lip. And what do you think the fellow said to me as we were walking off? He said, ‘By jove. we were lucky to get fives there!”’—Sydney Referee. Glen-iti Club. On Saturday the Club will hold a four ball match. Partners will be drawn at Club house. Half combined handicaps will be used. Starters will be:Ladies, A. N. Leslie and C. W. Steele; men, B. H. Low and R. Parker.