GOLF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20097, 2 May 1935, Page 7

GOLF

NOTES AND COMMENTS By "Mas hie" All clubs have started the season now, and the standard scratch scores for the various courses are being soundly beaten. There Is no doubt that we can look forward to a steady improvement in the standard of play. The overseas visitors of 1934-35 have shown us what a genuine scratch man can do, have demonstrated their methods, and have left us to work it out for ourselves. Practice, preferably under the eye of an able coach for at least part of the time, is the key to steady improvement and greater enjoyment. A. J. Allport showed fine form to win the Senior Medal at Highfield with a net 67. His 81 gross under Saturday’s conditions was good. We hope for still better returns from him. In the Junior Division A. D. Boyle had a smashing win 88—22—68 and was closely followed by I. Cunningham and C. B. Kerr with net 68’s. Scratch score at Highfield is 72, far too high a figure. There Is no green on the course a scratch golfer would fail to reach in two strokes. 68 or 69 is the true figure.

Gleniti course is in fine order and is constantly being improved. The membership is increasing, and it is hoped that good weather next week-end will see a most successful tournament. J. Menzies senr. and E. Lawrence did well to finish 4 up in a four ball bogey competition.

R. Jones finished 5 up on bogey In fche weekly card match at Highfield, a very good performance indeed. The handicapping committee at Highfield axe having a busy time.

Last week we commented on Vernon Haydon’s views on getting length in driving. Haydon uses an 18oz. driver. Compston, writing on selection of clubs, says: “There was a time when I njyself used to play with a driver weighing 16 ounces, but I quickly dropped that idea. I found that extra weight did not mean anything. In fact, the man who uses heavy clubs is only giving himself extra work to do and tiring himself unnecessarily. At present I use a driver weighing 14 ounces and I think that is heavy enough for anyone.” In short, speed of club-head gets the distance, and Compston is a tall, strong man and hard-hitter enough to satisfy anyone. He sends the c' ibhead through with terrific pace.

Those intending to compete seriously in coming events should realise the importance of training—ordinary physical training as distinct from practising golf. Walking, running, physical jerks, squash, tennis, skipping, with or without massage, with reasonable moderation in foods, solid and liquid, and in smoking, are a help to good scoring at golf. Exercises which aim at strengthening muscles without increasing activity and speed are as bad for golf as for any other sport. Size of muscle has little to do with strength, it is shape and fitness that count—swinging heavy implements, raising bar-bells, lifting heavy weights, etc., are utterly useless.

Too much practice-swinging at home without hitting a ball is apt to make a player “ball shy” on a tee. If only the ball were a dandelion, what drives we would hit! Enquiries from “Baffled” have been received. “How should I putt?” ne says, “can you give any hints in your column that will help me to develop a good style?" “Mashie” putts just as well as and as badly as the average player; but he has seen some steady and reliable putters and gives the following hints in a hope that they may help:— An American golf editor, Kell Greene, years ago declared that after analysis of the putting stroke of almost every good playej, he could find these three things common to all: 1. They struck the ball confidently and cleanly. 2. They kept still while they hit the ball. 3. They looked at the ball while they hit it.

All writers emphasise the value of practising, It gives confidence. Stance is easily disposed of. Be comfortable, never cramped. Keep your eyes over as well as on the ball. Test this by getting someone to drop a coin from between your eyes just before you putt—it should strike the ball. Type of putter—blade or broad-soled, metal or wooden, depends on choice. On most local greens a putting-cleek serves best. Take the club back low with the little and ring fingers of the left hand. Length of back-swing naturally varies with distance of putt. Jones warns players to take a good full back-swing—take as much as you need and no more is sounder advice—at the end of the back-swing a momentary pause, and then an easy flowing, unhurried, unchecked follow through. Remember the days when putts were going right. Vou felt comfortable, confident. You sized up the putt, addressed it, swung and in it went. Try to putt always in that frame of mind. Putt to rhythm, as did Sarazen and McLean. Get the formalities over, borrow length, etc., stand to the ball comfortably: Club in front of ball—l, club behind ball—2. back-swing and

small pause—3, sweeping clean stroke —4. “Miss ’em quick” is good advice, and few really good putters stand like statues over the ball, unable to hit, nor does the line to the hole show clearer when looked at for the third or tenth time.

/.j Australian writer says: “It is amazing how the average golfer fails at putting. He will snatch the club back and then neglect the follow through, to the disrepair of his temper. What he should do is to pause—and to make sure of pausing—at the back of the swing, and not to hurry the club in the forward part of the stroke, and provided he dutifully watches the club make contact with the ball and follows through with a smooth stroke, success is inevitable.”

Joyce Wethered is the best putter "Mashie” has ever seen. Her views, which we may summarise later, are contained hi the book she has written.

Miss B. Rutherford won the Canterbury Championship, defeating Miss M. Beadel in the final. Miss Beadel defeated Miss V. Fleming in the semifinal, playing her accustomed role of giant-killer, for Miss Fleming qualified easily first by medal score; but could not sink deciding putts in the semifinal match. Miss Rutherford gives the ball a hearty bang, plays in a good spirit, and is always a trier. Her wooden clubs weigh about 16oz. TIMARU CLUB The following is the draw for the fourball bogey handicap to be played at Highfield on Saturday:—J. Moyes and Torlesse v. E. A. Scott and Boyle; Crawshaw and Creemer c v. Bruce and Dobie; Walton and Fair v. Marshall and Sutherland; Smith and Purdom v. Ussher and Ussher; Gamble and Nicholas v. Davies and Kingston; Reid and T. W. O. Fox v. Barker and Johnston;; Horwell and W. Allport v. Green and R. Jones; Steven and Ireland v. Mcßeath and H. R. Scott; Baird and Houlihan v. McClelland and Robertson; Innes Jones and Cunningham v. Morris and Hayman; Thomas and Lunan v. Allan and Ledingham; A. C. Martin and N. C. Martin v. Ward and Bridges; Tait and A. J. Allport v. Lynch and Hunter; Knowles and Fearn v. W. J. Foote and Beswick; I. K. Martin and Sinclair v. Forbes and Sullivan; J. M. Kerr and C. B. Kerr v. Holmes and D. Moyes; Irvine and Harris v. Tonkin and Caithness; Mackay and Lawson v. E. G. Kerr and Holdgate; Mitchell and Cameron v. ' Raymond and Raymond. Players | choose their own times and places for starting.

NORTH END CLUB The following will represent North End against Geraldine, at North End on Saturday;— Men: Ayres, Harold, Bradley, Barnard, Clark, Edyvean, Mason, Moyes, Provan, Ross, Tozer, Shillito, Vesty, Washer. Ladies: Mrs Cox, Miss N. Sullivan, Mrs Washer, Mrs Kellett, Mrs Edyvean, Mrs Barnard. TIMARU v. NORTH OTAGO The following will represent the Timaru Golf Club in the match to be played at Oamaru on Monday:— Mackay, E. A. Scott, Houlihan, McBeath, D. Moyes, Gamble, Harris, J. Moyes, Steven, Innes Jones, Bruce, Crawshaw, McClelland, Sullivan, Lynch, H. Coxhead, W, J. Foote, Walton, Green, Torlesse, Irvine, A. C. Martin, Dobier, Cunningham, Beswick, Baird, Tait, Oxford, Forbes and Ireland. Bus leaves golf house, Quarry Road, at 7.30 a.m. TIMARU LADIES’ CLUB The following is the draw for the bogey match to be played to-morrow:— Morning: Mrs Bruce v. Mrs Hunt; Mrs O’Leary v. Miss West. Afternoon: Miss Manchester v. Mrs Coxhead; Miss Pringle v. Mrs Greenfield; Mrs Brady v. Mrs Brewer; Mrs O’Callaghan v. Mrs Hunter; Miss G. Campbell v. Miss May; Miss Horwell v. Mrs Kemshed; Miss Fair v. Miss L. Mac Kay; Mrs Hawkes v. Mrs Priest; Mrs Johnston v. Miss McCallum; Mrs Kerr v. Miss Brewer; Miss Stewart v. Miss Neill; Mrs Grant v. Mrs Blue; Miss McKerchar v. Miss Torlesse; Miss V. Campbell v. Mrs Piddington; Mrs Knowles v. Miss Waddell; Mrs Guy v. Mrs Jowsey; Mrs Kingston v. Mrs Robinson; Mrs Fair v. Miss LeCren; Mrs Skinner v. Miss Faulkner; Mrs Caithness v. Mrs Horwell; Mrs Martin v. Mrs K. S. Brown; Mrs Minifie v. Miss Tait; Miss Davies v. Miss Miller; Mrs J. A. Scott v. Mrs McClelland; Miss A. Campbell a bye. Port Arthur, 1 p.m.: Miss Hunt v. Mrs Innes-Jones; Miss Fox v. Miss Jowsey; Mrs Lamb v. Miss Sinclair. GLEN-ITI CLUB The following is the draw for event No. 1 in the King's Jubilee tournament to be played at the links during the week end: 8.30: N. C. Martin v. O. Joseph and R. G. Slade v. J. C. Kay; J. Menzies jun. v. D. Mullan and P. Sinclair v. W. E. Jones; G. H. Ussher

v. Rex Jones and C. W. Steele v. E. Hobin; Patrick v. B. T. Coburn and D. Menzies v. C. Holmes; J. Menzies sen. v. D. Crosbie and R. Parker v. J. D. McMillan; E. Lawrence v. D. C. Williamson and J. Macdonald v. J. Satterthwaite; J. Healey v. V. Watt and H. Bedford v. L. Collins; H. Baigent v. A. B. Struthers and D. T. Todd v. partner.

Event No. 2: 12.45: J. Mackay and C. S. Bruce v. W. Mantell and I. Cunningham; G. R. Kingston and G. H. Ussher v. J. C. Kay and W. E. Jones; R. G. Slade and G. S. Carmichael v. Rex Jones and N. C. Martin; O. Joseph and J. Satterthwaite v. C. Holmes and D. Moyes; J. Menzies jun. and D. Menzies v. J. Healey and B. Coburn; P. Sinclair and O. Robertson v. D. Crosbie and E. Hobin; C. W. Steele and E. Lawrence v. D. C. Williamson and R. Patrick; J. D. McMillan and W. C. Webb v. J. Menzies sen. and J. Macdonald; L. Collins and D. Todd v. R. Parker and H. Bedford; F. J. O’Halloran and N. D. Mitchell v. R. Needham and partner.

Event No. 3 (Monday): 8.30: N. C. Martin v. G. S. Carmichael and P. Sinclair v. R. G. Slade; C. Steele v. Rex Jones and B. Coburn v. J. C. Kay; O. Joseph v. W. C. Webb and G. 11. Ussher v. W. E. Jones; J. D. McMillan v. D. Menzies and J. Menzies sen. v. C. Holmes; D. Crosbie v. R. Parker and L. Provan v. J. Menzies jun.; E. Hobin v. E. Lawrence and J. Satterthwaite v. J. Macdonald; D. Todd and H. Bedford and H. Baigent v. J. Healey; A. B. Struthers V. L. Collins and W. Stafford v. F. J. O’Halloran.

Event No. 4: Same draw as No. 3 except partners a:e reversed. D. S. Mullan replaces G. S. Carmichael and G. B. Forest replaces W. C. Webb, starting time 12.45. All players in this tournament will start off No. 1 tee. Post entries will be accepted at the Club House. The following is the draw for the first qualifying round (ringer) to be played on Saturday afternoon: — Glen-iti (Mr E. M. Hobin): First division: Kay, J. Menzies jun., Provan, Hobin, Slade, E. J. Thompson, Coburn, Clarke, Johnston, Macintosh, Baigent, Smith, Crosbie, Carmichael, Bedford, Healey. Second division: Jack Collins, Morris, O’Halloran, Mills, Phillips, Warsaw, Martin, F. J. Robertson, J. C. Thompson, Wakefield, Russell, Dale, Mitchell, Morrison, Vance.

Seavie’w (Mr H. L. Warsaw): First division: Joseph, Davies, O. Robertson, J. Menzies sen., Jones, E. Lawrence, Todd, Steele, Parker, Mantell, Satterthwaite, Macdonald, Milliken, Stafford, D. Menzies. Second division: Enting, Paine, R. Hood, Solomon, F. Hood, Glazer, Needham, J. D. Wraight, H. Ward, J. A. Morgan, Lewis, Savidge, Firkin, A. E. Lawrence, McDougall. Players will be started in fours, two members of each division forming a four. Players will be started In the

order as drawn. If any player is not on the tee for starting the next on the list will be given his place, such defaulting player automatically going to the bottom of the draw. The starter will nominate his scorer from his division.

The following is the draw for the singles knock-out competition, the first round to be completed by May 19: — D. Menzies v. J. C. Thompson; J. H. Healey v. W. Vance; S. Glazer v. W. J. Smith; L. Provan v. R. G. Slade; W. E. Jones v. C. W. Steele; G. S. Carmichael v. J. C. Kay; all other players a bye. Second round to be completed by June 2: F. G. Lewis v. H. Mills; D. Crosbie v. E. O. Joseph; O. L. Robertson v. J. Menzies jun.; W. Stafford v. H. Bedford; H. Baigent v. A. Lawrence; J. Macdonald V. D. T. Todd; W. Mantell v. B. T. Cobum; E. Lawrence v. E. M. Hobin; J. D. Wraight v. H. Ward; H. R. Parker v. J. Satterthwaite; J. Menzies sen. v. A. A. Wakefield; H. J. Clarke v. J. Warsaw; L. Collins v. I. Phillips.

The Handicap Committee has made the following reduction In handicap:— Rex Jones 8-6 to 5-4, A. J. Allport 14-11 to 12-9, T. W. Cunningham 19-14 to 18-14, C. B. Kerr 20-15 to 19-14, A. S. Boyle 22-17 to 19-14. AUTUMN FOURSOMES By Telegraph—Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH, May 1. The New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Union’s autumn foursomes reached the semi-finals to-day. The final will be played to-morrow. Results: — Quarter-Finals. Mrs Russell Grace and Mrs Young (Wanganui) giving nine strokes beat Mrs Duff Taylor and Mrs Wilton (New Plymouth) 5 and 4. Mrs Nicholson and Mrs Quilliam (New Plymouth) giving two strokes beat Mrs Rich and Miss Home (New Plymouth) at the 19th. Mrs Waddell and Mrs Fisher (New Plymouth) giving one stroke beat Mrs Curtis and Miss Gavin (New Plymouth) 3 and 1. Miss Currie and Miss Blyth (Wanganui) giving six strokes beat Miss P. Blundell (Wellington) and Miss E. Blundell (New Plymouth) 2 and 1. Semi-Finals. Mrs Russell Grace and Mrs Young giving eight strokes beat Mrs Quilliam and Mrs Nicholson 1 up. Miss Currie and Miss Blyth giving three strokes beat Mrs Waddell and Mrs Fisher 1 up.