GOLF.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18787, 22 May 1923, Page 6

GOLF.

BOGEY MATCH AT BELMONT Weather com itions on Saturday afternoon were not conducive to high class golf. The atmosphere was heavy, the ground sodden, and a slight drizzle made things a little more difficult than usual. There were also fewer players, and no doubt the races were too strong a lure. As a result both of the weather conditions and the small number of contestants, the Colonel beat far more than those who beat him. The best score was put up by F. S. £eavcn (5), who finished 5 up on bogey. The following were the best scores: — • Beaven (5). 5 up. Latham (7), 2 up. Bassett (8), E. J. Williams (10). square. Powdrell (4 K, Treadwell (8), Sutherland (10). Rowe (12), Giblin (20), Haszard (25), 1 down. Jack (12), Bourne (15), 2 down. Meldrum (0), 4 down.

THE MIDDLE-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP G. W. HARDEN AND E. J. WILLIAMS. The above had a long outstanding account to settle. It lay between them who should be deemed the champion (unofficial) of the Belmont 12-15 handicap men for the last season. For some reason or other they could never get together until Saturday, when argument was heard. It ended in the man on the land con vincing the man of overdrafts that he had sufficient security to offer whereby he should receive advancement. By 5 up and 4 to play Williams became champion of the "middleweights.” The first seven holes were keenly contested, the score being all square. Then Williams, playing brilliantly, asserted his superiority and won four holes in succession. Harden played with characteristic steadiness, but after winning at Alma lost the next two holes, and the game ended as before mentioned. With three putts on the first green Williams halved in 6. The second was also haved in 7, three putts to each player. Harden, with a nicely played 4, won Exodus. Williams’ iron play was weak. Williams, with 5, evened up at No. 4. At Redan. Harden, with a 4, was 1 up again. Williams found trouble Lilliput was halved in 3, Williams fortunately putting down a short approach from the tussocks. Seven, eight and nine were won by Williams with three fours. Williams two up. He then registered a 6 and 3 at Long Tom and Terawhiti respectively. Four up. Both players were putting well, but by extra length through the green for five successive holes, Williams gained a stroke a hole advantage.

The heights of Alma were stormed in a drizzle and against a slight breeze. Harden sinking in 5, Williams 6. Williams 3 up. Williams again halved with Bogey at 13 and 14, a beautiful drive at French Pass, and all carry, reaching the edge of the green. Williams’ 5 and 4. Thus ended the match. By length in driving, ; and superiority in iron play, the winjier was undoubtedly deserving of the victory. GRIPPING THE PUTTER EXPERIMENTS WITH GRIPS. It is stated by an exchange that General Quill has evolved the following i..ethod of gripping the putter:— "Grasp,” he says, “the club in the fingers of the right hand delicately, yet firmly; cover the fingers of the right hand with the forefinger of the left hand, which then in position will lie on the shaft between ring and middle fingers of the right hand; both thumbs down the shaft; middle finger of right hand practically does not grip. If the foregoing directions are carried out, and this putting grip given a fair trial, I am confident that golfers will find that their performance in the putting green will be more often a pleasure than a pain.” Mr Hilton experimented with the grip and found it eminently sound, as he considered that it ensured a firm, solid the club handle, and precluded the probability of the two hands working against each other, which is probably the secret of ac curate putting.

Again, says Mr Hilton, it serves to keep the left wrist rigid, or in other words, to minimise the probability of a too free turn of the el bow joints, which is responsible for ■o much inaccurate work on the putting greens.

The only difficulty encountered was in arranging- by hands and fingers in this, to me. unaccustomed manner. I found that I had to go into a corner of the green and carefully arrange that forefinger of the left hand in such a position that it would place the middle finger of the right hand more or less out of commission. But I quickly realised that the difficulty mainly arose owing to a habit I have of first taking hold of my putter with the left hand, and then applying the right hand to the

grip. With the principle of General Quill, it is essential that one should take the ‘first’ grip with the right hand, and then dovetail in the fingers of the left hand, in accordance with his instructions.”

FRENCHMAN ON GOLF

“But your game of golf! Oh, yes! I know him. You put on the tunic red, so red as the Ingleesh rosbif underneath done. You strap your sack on bended-head, sticks on the back of a boy twice as small as the bag.“ He scrape a mud puddle to make balance a leetle white ball. He make three bad tries to balance him. then very angry, you call loud, ‘Four!’ Then you what you call address the ball. and. ma foi, your address sometimes is of language to make afraid. You strike, and the ball find himself in the bonkaire. You call loud for the nibelugen stick, and beat the dust till your partner say. ‘Ho, chuckit!’ You say . Buty, my friend, 1 excuse myself to repeat what you say. Ah. my friend, you are a great nation, but your golf game gives me what you Ingleesh call ze hump.”