STARTER ERRS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20762, 24 June 1937, Page 10

STARTER ERRS

AMATEUR CHAMPION DISQUALIFIED WAS LATE ON TEE Tom McKay, amateur golf champion of New South Wales, was disqualified in the first round of match play of this year's event, on the ground that he appeared on the first tee after the time set down for his match with E. J. Pope, says the Sydney "Referee.”

Later, the Royal Sydney Club committee found it had no power to disqualify a player on that ground, and McKay was permitted to play after all the other competitors had hit off. An examination of the conditions under which the title was played for disclosed no penalty for being late on the tee and that ordinary procedure was followed when it was determined that the pair could play, but would have to go last. The reason for McKay’s lateness was a traffic jam on the harbour bridge. The Ladies’ Golf Union is credited with controlling affairs in better fashion than the men. If the case had been under their jurisdiction there would have been no difficulty. Their conditions provide for disqualification for being late, with, however, reservations. One is being unavoidably held up on the way to .he course. If McKay had been a lady he would have had only to make this explanation to escape drastic penalty. Presumably the Royal Sydney Club committee assumed that the procedure here was similar to that followed in Great Britain. Hagen’s Hobby On one occasion Walter Hagen was disqualified from further participation in a British Open because he was not there to hit off at the appointed time. Hagen had made a hobby of being late for big events and so came to be known s “The late Walter Hagen.” But after that episode he made a practice of being late for exhibition matches only. A much harder case was that of an amateur. He had played a round in the morning, and was assured by the starter that there would be no chance of starting at the appointed time in the afternoon becuase the field was running late. “You will not be able to get off before three o’clock,” the official told him. His proper starting time • s two o'clock. When he came along at three he found the field had got a move on that his partner had gone off with someone else, and that he had been disqualified. And despite Ills protest and Iris explanation, which was not disputed, out he had to go. McKay took no chances in the second round. It is not recorded that he slept at the club-house the previous night, but at anyrate he was on the course bright and early for his clash with Harry Hattersley.