CURRENT OF WIND HAD QUEER EFFECT ON GOLF SHOTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18450, 28 April 1928, Page 7

CURRENT OF WIND HAD QUEER EFFECT ON GOLF SHOTS.

(BY CLAUDE BUTLIN). (Amateur Champion of Mexico)

Last year I was playing in the qualifying round of a Scotch mixed foursome with Mrs Ralph Smith, now woman champion of Mexico. We came to what was then the ninth hole at the Chapultepec Heights Country Club. It was a mashie niblick shot of 110 vards over a lake. Until then we had had several pars and a birdie, so we were going pretty well. I had the first shot off the tee, and hit one I thought would land near the flag. Much to our surprise the bail seemed to pause in the air, and fell into the lake. Mrs Smith took the next, and the same thing happened. We did this four times, making what we thought were perfect shots. Each time the ball went into the lake. On the fifth attempt I placed -the ball within seven feet of the pin, and my partner missing the putt, we took a snappy 19! The only explanation 1 can make is that Mexico City is in a valley surrounded by high mountains, and apparently there was a strong current of wind above us that we could not feel In spite of this mishap we qualified, and next day made the present record for a mixed one ball of 79. Another unusual incident occurred one afternoon. We played twenty-seven holes, starting the second round on the back nine. This enabled us to play the sixteenth hole twice, of course. This is a good par 4, driving over a lake. On each occasion I topped my shot, hit the water, jumped out and made a “birdie.” . When this happens once it is good luck W r hen it happens twice in suecession it is astonishing. (Copyright 1928, in all country by N.A.N.A.)