GOLF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16571, 2 November 1921, Page 3

GOLF.

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

(By

“THE CADDIE.”

The official opening of the Brooklands golf course was held last Saturday afternoon. A fine pavilion has been erected, and the links are situated in an ideal situation. Mr W. J. Walter, chairman of the Waimairi County Council, opened the links. In the course of his remarks he said that, though he was not a golfer, he admired the game. He was pleased to know that the residents of Brooklands would have an opportunity of playing the popular game. Mr W. P. Spencer also spoke, and complimented the of the district upon their enterprise in the establishing of the links. Mr G. Witty drove off the first ball from No. 1 tee. The visitors were then entertained at afternoon tea by the members. The Shirley Club will hold their Anniversary Day handicap on December 16. Round New York or any of the big cities membership of many clubs would be outside the means of 60 per cent 01 New Zealand golfers. Club membership means the purchasing of from 500 to 2000 dollars’ worth of club shares (approximately £IOO to £4OO normal rate of exchange), with an annual subscription amounting to anywhere round £75 to £IOO. What colonial would pay £IOO per annum for his golf subscription ? I The above amounts entitle one to membership of the average clubs, all of which are excellently equipped, but there are millionaires’ courses where the membership is limited to 150 with no women. In at leant two courses no women are allowed on the premises, but in each case golf courses for women ; members were quite handy. A lunch that would do credit to the Ritz is available; then a wonderful course, with perhaps a dozen millionaires playing, greets you. Each of the eighteen tees is complete with a stand. I containing Band, water, brush and towel for ball cleaning, and there are probably two or three drinking fountains at intervals in shady corners. At the end of the round a complete change, a lovely shower hath and possibly a drop of the outlaw tl craythur,” then home in a beautiful twin six road ster. Your share of this little club would possibly amount to 5000 dollars (approximately £IOOO normal rate of exchange) for original shares, and anything from 2000 dollars (£4OO normal rate of exchange) per annum upwards as subscription. A contrivance of interest to golfers has been invented by an Australian. The invention, which has been patented, is a machine for playing the game indoors or in confined spaces, such as on shipboard. Constructed of metal and weighing 401 b, it consists cf a golf ball attached to a revolving steel shock-ab-sorbing spiral, working on ball bearings. An indicator moving alone a horizontal slot- in the heavy base shows the length of the drive in feet, the ball being struck as in the ordinarv way out of doors. The ingenious device has already been the source of great interest to golfing enthusiasts. The inventor points out that a game may he played out in entirety bv recording drives as registered on the machine on a map of the course, the putting being carried out 'on a lawn of poekethandkerehief dimensions. LOSS TO BRITISH GOLF. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, September 15. The doubt which has existed as to the future of AY. I. Hunter, the amateur golf champion, has at last been settled. No sooner did he reach America than he announced that he intended to remain in the country a» the representative of an English woollen firm. It is evidently a. strictly business appointment and it would seem that the player has abandoned any ideas lie may have had of becoming a golf professional. At the same time should he eventually make this move there will be 110 occasion foxsurprise. Hunter’s departure is a big loss to British amateur gclf. No sooner have we discovered a real champion than he has left us. That ho will figure very prominently in America is probable. His original purpose in going to tlie other side was to take part in the amateur championship, which is almost due to start at the time of writing, and though he may not win this he will not do himself justice unless hfj does really well. In the meantime several of the leading amateurs, among them R. H. Wethered and C. J. H. Tolley, have been competing for the Jubilee Vase of the Royal and Ancient Club, St Andrews. It is a handicap event and the two players mentioned were on the back mark at plus three. Both survived to the late stages but neither to the end. The final was contested by two middle-aged players, JI. H. de Montmorency, the Eton master and E. Martin Smith The latter, who was in receipt of two strokes, won by two up- and one to play. TOLLEY’S NEW HONOUR. (Special to the Star.”) LONDON, September S. Cyril Tolley, the amateur ex-cham-pion, has just, won tlie Championship and, apart from his victory over “ Chick ” Evans in the match against the Americans at Hoylake it is his one success of note during the season. He is a remarkable golfer in the sense that there has been no first-class golfer who made a habit of perpetrating such inglorious foozles and yet fought on to win. Indeed he is rarely seen nt his best until his own sorry misdeeds have placed him in tho tightest o! corners. Then he rises like a giant, makes the most glorious shots and utterly confounds his'opponent by winning on the last green. As a matte? of fact it has come to be recognised that the man who is two up on Tolley with, five to play must fight for ln& life. In this Welsh Championship the Oxford player—he goes up to the University for his last term this month and therefore with Wethered will he abseni from next year’s inter-Varsity match was as erratic as over. At one time or another in all his matches he whs struggling and appearing to i>e- beaten but as if he enjoyed the thrill he rose gallantly to the occasion and won with a little in hand. Tolley with many of the other leading amateurs has gone up to St Andrews to take part iri the autumn meeting of tho Royal ami

Ancient Club. The latter according to long custom handicap afresh for every event and the backmark is plus tfireo. Tolley has been put on tni» and fq* match play at any rate the burden fe not too heavy • for him to carry. His friend, Roger H. Wethered, has also been rated at plus three. As the petformer of one of the finest feats of an amateur in the championship in tying with Jock Hutchison last June he could scarcely bo given a lower status, but it is very doubtful whether Wethered is such a good match player as Tolley. o,r that rain has refreshed the courses of the south and brought back a suggestion of green to the fairways golf is being played under more enjoyable conditions. The turf, however, is still hard and a good deal more rain is needed. Still it has been a . wonderful season. There has been 4. bigger output of balls than ever before and yet the supply does not ©qua! the demand. This ig a certain sign that still more people have been converted to the game. The competitive season is nearly over, hut provided the winter is not too severe play will go on wittiout a break.