GOLF AND GUNS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20284, 19 April 1934, Page 5

GOLF AND GUNS.

Armament Necessary at Canberra. CHECK ON THIEVING CROWS. Sydney visitors to the Royal Canberra Golf Club’s annual open tournament recently -were amazed to see a shotgun on the starter’s table when they stepped forward to receive their cards before starting. On the same table was a saucer containing notes and silver, and the first impression was that those who did not pay might be summarily executed. The next impression was that the secretary had armed himself in order to protect the money fer the club. But the real explanation was prevalence of crows. During the early hours of the play three golfers were amazed to see “ screaming drives ” snatched up by crows. That was the reason the shotgun was brought into view. There is an idea in Canberra that the crows are so cunning as to be virtually proof against reprisals. One appeared and cawed defiance at the golfers on the first tee. A New South Wales player, F. Garnett Cox, who, during the >var, gained some renown as a gunner in the artillery, snatched up the gun and commenced to stalk the bird. But the crow, with a last raucous caw. flew away to the Molonglo River. Next time, it is suggested, a former infantryman should be given the task of shooting the crows, which are supposed to laugh at the efforts of the Canberra players to bring them to earth.