GOLF

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17179, 24 October 1923, Page 2

GOLF

THE ROYAL AND ANTI ENT GAME OF

By

“The Caddie"

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

BY “THE CADDIE.” CHRISTCHURCH CLUB.

Largo entries were received for th Canadian mixed foursome match pi aye at Shirley on Saturday. The prize: were donated by Mr John Montgomery president of the club, and the matcl resulted in a win for Miss K. Bristei and M. Macbeth, who, with a handica;

of four strokes, finished two up ui bogey. Miss Enwriglit and M. C. Keane (handicap 12) were runners-up, being one up on bogev. , Other good card? were:—Mrs Robbie and F. A. Brit tan (handicap 11) all square, Mrs Green and W. P. Anderson (handicap 6) all square, Mrs Donald and W. B. Purchas (handicap 5) all square, and Mrs Early and J. H. Early (handicap 9) all square.

The links were in splendid order foi tho Labour Day handicaps open to al amateurs, which were played on Mon day. A big entry was received. A boge handicap singles, played in the morn ing, resulted in a triple tie. C. A. Seymour (handicap 2), H. W. Macfarlan* (handicap 2) and W.P. Anderson (handicap 4) ail finished 2 up. E. M. Macfarlane (scratch) wa-s next, being 1 up, and on the same mark as Macfarlane were W. T- D. Harman (handicap 4), C. W. Hodson (handicap 2), C. A. Quaine (handicap 5), G. G. Burnes (handicap 7), D. Hoar© (handicap 9), V. W. Russell (handicap 12) and J. O’H. Tobin (handicap 14). In the afternoon a four-ball best ball bogey handicap was decided. Thi3 competition resulted in a win lor J. C. Templar and G. G. Burnes, who finished 8 up. E. M. Macfarlane and Morton were runners-up, finishing 6 up.

A jubilee, men’s foursome will be played next Saturday, for which entries close with tho secretary, Mr Denys Koare, to-morrow. Entrants will select their own Partners, but the opposing pairs will be drawn.

Yet another golfer has joined the steadily-increasing ranks of the “Hole in One” Club. G. G. Burnes, of the Christchurch Club, holed his tee shot at the “Crossways,” the thirteenth hole, at Shirley last week.

The jubilee, foursome match on Saturday will be the last official club match (apart from inter-club fixtures’*

at Shirley until Anniversary Day, December 36, when the customary Anniversary Day handicaps will be played.

The date for the semi-annual contest for the Tuson Cup, between teams -,f golfers from the Christchurch and Wei lington Clubs lias not been decided but it is probable that, at a committee meeting of the Christchurch Club next week a date will be fixed and submitted to the Wellington Club. The Christchurch Club will probably play an inter-club match with Akaroa within the next week or two. NOTES. Sandy Herd has some good advice to give to the ambitious golfer, who, however, makes little or no progress. Balance, he declares is everything in golf. “In taking the club back tighten the right leg, and don’t let it bend until you have hit the ball ; throw t ; he right hand straight after the ball like a piston-rod,” are two of Herd’s injunctions. He is sternly opposed to the theory of “hands leading” as the initial movement of the golf swing. And do nob hurry from the top of the swing. “Wait for the wrists t-o corns into position,” is Herd’s guiding principle. There should be no tightening of the grip at any stage; the wrists must be kept- flexible if power is to be imparted to the shot.

It has been observed in England since the British open championship that the American play r ers are too intense and scientific in their golf. They play games in England on the principle that the more games they play and the less they watch others play, tho better :t is for a nation devoted to sport. The “Westminster Gazette” points out that Americans play golf with mathematical precision and like to run up to the green with diabolical accuracy of distance and direction. “This determinedness to exhaust every device of scientific thought and expedient makes the American dabble in strange clubs,” it says. “They are an inventive race in pleasure as in business, and so we have a club crisis with almost every American invasion. It is the player that counts more than the club. Here the Americans bring a quality which merits unqualified admiration. The Americans keep themselves fit- by regular habits of practice and life ; they resist nerves by the practice of a willpower M. Coue would praise. They play their own game in their own way. and if it is not the fine free careless rapture of most of our cracks it is exactly what we should expect from a land where Prohibition was largely an efficiency gospel.”

ANOTHER GOLFING SECRET.

LADIES’ GOLF NOTES.

INTELLIGENT PRACTICE. Practice—intelligent practice ! It is in this way that the credit of British coll' will be restored (writes George ladd in “Golfing”)- 1 used to pracice before the war, but it did me ittie good. I would go out with a 'oaen balls and play them with an iron r mashie, but- I had no definite purose, beyond of course striking the ball ,ruly. In the meantime I have altered ny methods. Tliere is now an object n every practice shot. If it is an apiroacb. the ball must land on the exact ;pot I have selected, and I play it first \ifch a slight swing in from the left, in the customary British style, and then in the retferse way. I used to he a wretched putter, and never played a round without taking three putts far too often. After „±ho 'Championship at Sandwich I made a Jirm resolve that I would do by utmost to improve my play on the greens. I devoted an hour a day to the study ■nd practice of getting the ball into he hole, and what success I achieved towards the end of the season I attribute to my hard work. For the first time, golf became as easy to me as I can ever hope it to >c. Ino longer dreaded the third putt. In fact, when I arrived within, sav, six yards of the hole, I believed I had a chance of getting down in one. It will be realised how much anxious thought this saved me. and in mentioning that I finished in the first place in four consecutive tournaments, it will be appreciated that the fact is only stated to emphasise my point—that everyone can improve his game by practice. The American has advanced largely as a result of his infinite capacity for taking pains. He has made a far closer study of the game than I am afraid most of us have done, and in my opinion this is the sole reason why he has so quickly and suddently caught us up. Perhaps, too, he tackles the game from a different angle.

(Special to the “Star/’) LONDON, September 6. ! It*is the aim of every golfer to add | a few yards to the length of his shots,' i and the fact that he has succeeded in this has been a big factor in the fincsuccesses achieved by James Oekdenden during the season. Harold Hilton has often said that if the average professional could improve his game two strokes a round he would win the ehampionliip. Ockendpn did not get near the prize at Troon, but he has ini proved his scoring very considerably. Wo have known him to.be a fine player for a year or so, but always he ; has had to strain to keep up with the } long hitters. At the long holes where j a wooden club was needed for the second shot, he would* be a little short whereas the Mitchells and the Rays would be on the green. In these circumstances he often lost- a stroke. Ockenden thus realised that he could never attain front rank unless he could drive a little further, and at t*lie start of the season lie began to experiment. First he made a club with the shaft two inches longer than the one he was accustomed to play with. But this did not answer the purpose. In the first place he could not control it. It went wrong at the top of the swing, the place where nine shots out of ten go wrong. Next he tried a club of average length, but with a stiff shaft. Instantly he attained his purpose. Ho drove further than ever before, and what is more, he kept up the splendid length. So here is another secret of long driving—have a stiff shaft in your club. What the explanation is Ockenden does not pretend to know. All he can say is that he can drive further with his present stiff shafted club than with anv other he has ever used.

The Whangarei Ladies’ Golf Club claims the possession of the youngest golf champion m New Zealand in Atiss Uiive Kay, aged fifteen years, who is a pupil at the Whangarei High School. Miss Kay won the champion&mp of the Ladies’ Club 8 up and 6 to play. At “ Land’s End.” playing on Saturday in the mixed foursome, Mr Atillen Macbeth decided to use his partner’s drive and take the second shot. He played a brassie and landed it nicely on the green, a magnfficent shot. Miss Bristed holed the putt and registered 3 for the hole (bogey 5). Some foursome golfMrs Donald and Mr Purchas also bad a few good holes in the round. Driving to “ Wilson’s ” Mr Purchas got a beauty which his partner planted on the green, two inches from the A o was recorded (bogey o). At the next Mr Purchas found tine top of the green with his second shot, which Mra Donald holed for 3 (bogey 4)- ?.Ir Purchas drove another good one at ; ‘Nor’West” which his partner chipped to

the pin. A 3 (bogey 4) for the bole was recorded. The Ladies’ Club championship of the Eltham Golf Club was won by Miss ! Wilson, who beat Miss Quin 1 4 and 2. In the final of the club championship of the Otane Ladies' Golf Club, Mrs Bruce beat Miss Howard on the eighteenth green. L*. the third round of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club championships Miss Cooper beat Miss Baylev 7 and~6; Miss M- Payton beat Miss L. Outfield, 9 and ' ; Miss M. Macfarlane beat Miss Ridings, 1 up: Miss S. Payton beat Mrs Marshall, 2 up. T7Te championship looks lure a certainty for Miss Muriel Payton once more. The mixed Canadian foursome which was played at Shirley last Saturdav by the Christchurch ’ Golf Club, for prizes presented by Mr and Mrs John Montgomery, drew a very larg- entry. Ideal golfing conditions were experienced and snortlv after twelve o'clock the first quartette, with the attendant caddies, moved from the No. 1 tee. and this continued until 2.45, when the last foursome started- A great many good scores were returned, the winning tonour going to Miss Kathleen Bristed and Mr Millen Macbeth, who returned a card of 2 up on the colonel. Other scores were : Miss Enright and Mr Keane, 1 up; Mrs Robbie and Mr Brittan, ail square: Mrs Green and Mr Anderson, all square ; Mrs Donald and Mr j Purchas, ail square: Mr and Mrs Earlv. ' all square; Miss Dixon and Mr Seymour, 1 down; Miss Harley and Mr Ewan Macfarlane, 1 down; Mrs Kingscote and Mr Templer, I down; Miss Chrystal! and Mr Cropo. 1 down : Miss Gunn and Dr Gunn. 1 down; Miss Wilkin and Mr Morton. 1 down: Mrs Lythgoe and Mr Haverfield, 1 down; Mr and Mrs Oodby, 2 down : Miss M hite-Par.sons and Mr Quane. 2 down ; Miss Cargill and Mr Weston, 2 down : Mrs Symes and Mr Sams. 3 down: Miss Anderson and Mr Bonnington, 4 down. Others playing in the competition were: Mr **nd Miss Read-ng. Mr and Mrs Cyril Stringer. Miss Rita CracroftWilson and Mr Allen Clonston : Mr* , Bristed and Mr George Burns. Mr and j Mrs .Tohn Montgomery, Miss Cargill i and Mr George We.stou. Mr and Mrs I Denys TT^ r „. Mr and Mrs Hewlett. Mr and Miss Nbeline Knight. Mis-* Bonnington and Mr Ronaldson. t ,nd Mrs Best, Miss Cameron Smith and Mr Francis, Mr and Airs Charts Bead" l , Mr and Mrs Cyril Ward. Air and Mrs B. B Wood, Miss Maberley Beadei Air Hodsdon, Mrs Mills and Air Williams.

There was a very large gathering of memoers and them ir»ettcts ihouciay at uuaaeris Jt>ay, cub juytteiton Golf Liao neia ns ** cuosutg or tae season ” ceie orations, onvmg, approaching and patting competitions being he»d, after which air Orton Beadley, the president, presented the prizes of the year to tne successful piayers. The day was gloriously fine and the links were in the pink of conditionMiss Edna AN hite-Parsons was again to the fore, winning the driving competition for ladies with Aliss Al- Cook a close second. The approaching was won by >liS3 Comer with Mrs H- Kippenberger second, and the putting by Miss Preston with >lis3 AV. AVhiteParsons second. Afternoon tea was provided by the Ladies’ Committee and was done full justice to. The followinn ladies received prizes : —Championship cup. Miss Edna White-Parsons: runner-up, H. E. Ayers: L-G-T. silver medal, Mrs H- E. Ayers ; mollthIv L G.TJ. nieda! matches —April, Mrs c E. Brown; 'May, Mrs H. E. Ayers; June. Miss E- White-Parsons; July, Mrs H E Ayers; August, Miss it. W’ -Parsons; September, Miss V.S ; Airs T. Comer’s prize. Airs ±l. j - ~r s. M J Hudson’s prise. Miss £ V liite-Parsons; Mrs A. White-Par-son’s prize, Miss M. Cook; Miss Brads' prize Miss T. Comer: Mrs H. E Aver’J prize, Miss E- White-Parsons; Aiiss Bradley’s prize, Mrs C. E- Brown ; BrowiC, ot prile, P V'Tss T&m'r :' Miss Preston's prize, Miss M •sons- Ransiora cleek. Aliss A' hit- „ ’ „ —.-. J XT- V- AH' Orton Bradley‘s'trophy. Mrs Ayers and I> F J Collett: runner-up. Mrs J Barry and Mr H. F- Avers; Bbmd s Ltd. trophy, Mrs J- Barry.

Tile results of the match are as 10.lows:—Mrs Cow*, lost to 3lr C. A. Masters 4 and 2 : Mrs Jones lost .o Mr tV Smith 3 and 1; Mrs Pott wee r beat. Mr W. M. Marcussen 6 and 4; Mrs Ferguson beat Mr A. M Dougad 3 and 1; Mrs Masters beat Mr L. L Pad got 4 and 2 ; Mm T. M MaodonaW lost to Mr A. Masters -5 ano • - Handy side beat Mr S. G. Wootton 5 and 3; Mrs Tansley beat Mr G. Myers 8 and 6. Miss Pilcher beat Mr M’ Curdy 3 and 1: Miss Campbell bear Air A AY. Aforgan 4 and 2; Miss - . Perrin beat Mr G Crnickshank 3 and !£ • Mrs Haggitt lost to Mr C. ». j M’Xattv 1 down, Mrs Ha KS itt lost to Mr Carr 9 and 7 : Mrs Mackrell beat Mr AV. S. Avson 7 and 5: Airs -A. v.Smith lost to Mr V. J Brooke > down; Miss Onghton beat Mr L. M Spencer 5 and 3; Miss N. Perrm and Mr D. M’Phersou, all square; Mrs Cochrane lost to Mr G Tapper 4 and 2; Mrs Soandrett beat Mr A. 1. Smith 3 and • 1 ; Mrs Garrott lost to Mr ft. V. Todd 5 and 3.

At the Queen’s Park Golf C7ub (Invercargill) last week, the second match for the Arson Challenge Shield was played between tho men and women’s clubs, the women winning by three games. The first Aysou Challenge CMueld rnjLt ch of the season was won by the men's club with one game to thei'r credit. The conditions of the competition are twenty players on each side, match play, the women to receive half » stroke a hole, and two matches to be flayed each season. The ladies nowhold the shield. At Rotorua the October L.G.U. monthly medal and the final round of Mrs Lumsden’s Ringer competition was played last week and was won by Miss Banks with 9o—l&_ 77. The bronze grade was won by Mrs Banks with 109—31—78. The medal handicap round for Mrs Douglas's trophy was won by Miss Banks with a net 71. The closing day of the season of the

Westport Ladies’ Golf Club took plac€ ;asr. week in tb© presence of a large gathering of players and their friends at. the conclusion of which tho prizes of the year were presented to the win ners, which were as follows;—Clul champonship, Mrs J. Bird, Junioi club championship, Miss Phyllis Wilson ; L.G.T7. Coronation Medal, Mrs A A. Wilson; L.G.U Silver Medal, Mr: Bird ; L.G.U. Bronze, Mrs Gotharc and Miss Kaye (equal). Club mate he* —April (Eclectic), Mrs Brocket; Mat (Bogey), Miss Hark ness; June (Ecl-eo tic), Mrs Slee; July (Bisque). Mn Slee : August (Flag), Airs Gothard September (Bogey), Mrs T. Mullan Air Shaw’s prize, Airs Gothard; Mrs Bird's prize. Airs J. Mullan ; Air Watkins, Airs Mullan and Miss O'Brien Ringer match, Mrs Bird : Junior Ringer. Aliss Egan ; Mixed Foursome, Aliss Egans and Mr A. A. Wilson. In the semi-finals of the Ladies’ foursomes at Rauelagh (England), Airs Knight and Airs Afax Page beat Aiisi Fowler and Aliss Rogers, 4 up and 3 Miss Joyce Wetherd and Mrs Ham* bro, after a mast exciting match, beal Mrs Af.’Nair and Airs Hetherington al the 20tli hoi©.