GOLF.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18532, 14 July 1922, Page 6

GOLF.

SPRINGVALE CLUB. (By “Golfee Clecke Esq.”) The third monthly Button Competition for both Seniors and Juniors will take place "on the above links to-morrow (Saturday). These competitions are creating keen rivalry amongst both grades, and some excellent games should result. Tenders have been called for additions and alterations to the present golf houses, and the work will be gone on with immediately. When completed the building will fulfill al! present necessary requirements. Several new members have recently been elected, and the membership is increasing daily, testifying to the popularity of the club. The country is rapidly improving, and what the course lacks in length is more than compensated for by ■the sporting nature of the various holes. Several golf courses both in the Dominion, and other parts of the world have advantages in distance, but very few are so ideally situated as Springvale. Having played over the Marquette and Hr/lem Golf Links in Chicago (U.S.AI), both over 6,250 yards, Toron'io course 6,150 yards, St. Catherine’s and Niagara Falls links over 6,000 yards, Memphis Country Club (Tennessee) links, 6,000 yards odd, and also on golf courses in New York City and Penzance (England) “Golfee Cleeke Esq.’’ is of the opinion that with the exception of perhaps Toronto (Canada), for beauty of

situation and ideal country they are not comparable with the Springvale Links.

Many of the individual holes on the above-named courses are exceptionally lengthy, running into 520, 530, 550, and 570 yards, but the country is really fine, the lies invariably good, and the fairways in splendid order. As a consequence, very fine scores are repeatedly registered at these- distances. Golf is such a remarkable game that frequently its intricacies are truly inexplicable. All golfers know how an ordinary player every now and again goes completely off his game without any apparent reason. Yet, this phenomena is almost unaccountable in such golfing giants as Vardon, Mitchell, Taylor, Herd, Kirkwood, Massey, Havers, and Co. Truly the game is neither to the swift nor to the strong, as the following account of a big golf tournament recently held at the Roehampton Club, London, will show. FIRST OF GOLF TOURNAMENTS. The cream of the professional golfers have just had their first test, of the season, and it must be confessed that they did not come very well out of it. It took place at the Roehampion Club, on the outskirts of London, where, in addition to golf, -there are facilities lor lawn tennis, polo and croquet. There were seventy competitors, including the two chief French players, Arnaud Massy and Aubery Boomer, and they played two rounds with a card and Pencil. Then the sixteen men to return the best scores played off in matches. The stroke competition was won by a youth named Percy Alliss, the Welsh champion, and he was immediately followed by Edward Kay. Alliss played finely without doing anything exceptional on a short and easy course. On the other hand, much of the golf was very poor, such men as Varden, J. H. Taylor, Alec Herd, Massy, Boomer, and Havers failing to get a place amongst the first sixteen. George Duncan, too, though he eventually returned scores of 7 5 in each round, had good reason for anxiety, and Abe Mitchell only saved himself at the second attempt with 71. On such a course no professional should take more than 75, but 151 for the two rounds qualified, and the majority of the scores were a good deal higher. There was some improvement when the men got rid of the anxious card and pencil, but Mitchell was knocked out in the first round by a comparatively unknown opponent named S. Rush. One is very afraid of Alitchell. His mind is overflowing with unhappy .memories, and as soon as he begins to play he is nervous and apprehensive that another melancholy misadventure will befall him. Until he can forget the past, I am afraid that he will always be liable to break down badly. Duncan needed to win to make the cup, which went with the first prize of £5O, his own property, and when he reached the final he was fully expected to carry off the “pot.” He beat Ray in the second round, and in the semi-final against the home professional, George Gadd, he played superbly. Indeed, his golf against Gadd. was irresistible. He finished off the match by playing five holes in 14, 2,3, 3,4, 2,

and had it been necessary to go on to the end from the fourteenth hole, he would probably have had a score of 68 and broken the record for the course. Duncan's opponent in the final was Oekeuden, who was beaten in the deciding match a year ago by J. H. Taylor. 'Ockenden seemed to be beaten beyond recovery as early as the seventh hole, where Duncan went completely off his game, and losing six of the last nine boles, he was beaten three and one. The ex-champion's collapse was inexplicable. The shots suddenly began to go off the line and he could neither lay the long putts dead nor hole the short ones. Much as one admired the soundness of Ockenden's golf and his heroic fight out' of a desperate position, it was very clear that he only won through the faults of his opponent.

Golf appears to lend itself to more real right-down humour than any other branch of sport, and some of the anecdotes recorded in connection with the game are capital.

I on a golf links not a thousand I miles from Wanganui a rather un. ' attractive novice was participating in a one club competition. Her first tee shot landed her ball in a “Horrid Sand Bunker." Turning to her partner, she ejaculated—"Oh! How I do wish 1 had a masher." Canny Scot to secretary at Springvale links: "What's the charge for visitors at this club? Secretary: “Half a crown a day, sir.” Scot: “Weel I have to return to Putiki this afternoon to witness a free Maori haka. Gi’e me a saxpance worth, will ye.” A short-sighted old golfer who after six strenuous shots had at last succeeded in dislodging his ball from a heavy lie, was seen to bn searching anxiously along the ground. “I'v’e found most of the divots, sir,” cried the caddie, running back with several large lumps of turf. "Divots! be d—d” cried the infuriated foosler: “It’s my false teeth I'm looking for.” Another keenly fought-out foursome eventuated on the links this week, between the president, vicepresident, and two members of the committee. The climatic conditions were well nigh perfect, and some good golf was played. The quartette made the pace a cracker from the first tee to the eighteenth hole, the varying nature of the game throughout making a very interesting contest. The scores stood all square at the seventeenth, and when the final hole was entered upon the shades of night were falling. The president had the honour, and with a mighty swipe drove a terrific ball in the , semi-darkness well down the fairway. The trio followed, and when the eighteenth green was reached. . it was difficult to detect either the

balls or the players. Th eighteenth | hole was halved, each player scoring I a five, the president just saving the I situation by sinking a long putt from a very difficult angle, thus squaring the match. There was an old golfer who. lived outdoor, Th<b more he played the more he swore, The more he swore the worse he played, So he finally decided he wasn't a. “Braid." ALL YE GOLFER’S HARKEN'. 1. Study the etiquette of Golf. 2. Constantly endeavour to master the game. 3. Learn the rules thoroughly. 4. Remember! “The game ceases to be golf when the rules are broken at pleasure.” SPRINGVALE LADIES' GOLF CLUB. The first round of a tournament is' to be played before 2 2nd instant. The. following is tile draw:—Miss Peattie plays Miss G. Swan; Mrs Stapleton plays Mrs McGruer; Miss Warnock plays Mrs Whiteford; Mrs Fuller plays Miss McArtney; .Mrs Hassell plays Mrs Webster; Miss Bignell plays Miss E. Swan; Mrs

Goss plays Mrs Willi; Miss Trevethick and Mrs Taiboys; Miss Barnett plays Miss Horneman; Miss Inkpen plays Miss Shaw; Miss Gallagher plays Miss Collier; Miss Moore- plays Miss Palmer; Miss Ferens plays Miss Gebbie; Miss Muir plays Mrs Tnohy. WANGANUI LADIES’ GOLF CLUB. The following is the result of the Button Match Medal played on the Belmont Links, on Wednesday, July 12th:— SILVER MEDAL. Mrs Grace Pl—9—B2. Miss Harper 106—20—86. BRONZE MEDAL. Miss Johnson 1 06—23—83. Miss Pearce 113—24—89. Mrs Silk 110—21—89 WANGANUI GOLF CLUB. IMLAY CUP. The following games in the above cup competition must be completed not later than Tuesday next. 18tt< instant:—E H. Poynter v. W. L. Scott; K, Goldingham v E. J. Williams; W. A. Darcy v W'. R. Brown; H. Christie v D. Meldrum; S Handley v H. Zeisler; N. P Williams v. A. D, Woon. Players are requested to note that-handicaps in this competition are limited to 2 4 Games other than the above may be proceeded with at once Likewise, games in the championship may be played forthwith. NEW YORK. July 13. The third section of the golf qualifying round was called off owing to rain.