ON THE BOWLING GREENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 249, 20 October 1937, Page 4

ON THE BOWLING GREENS

SEASON IN FULL SWING

( By

“THE SKIP.”)

Wanganui bowlers enjoyed ideal weather last Saturday to set. the 11137-38 season in full swing, and with the interchange of visits next Saturday clubs will settle down to their respective competitions.

The bowling season is in full swing on all greens except that of Victoria, whose opening takes place on Saturday.

The weather on Saturday was gloriously fine and in consequence there were particularly large attendances of members.

“Opening day’’ is also the day on which the ladies grace the greens by their presence and provide bowlers with especially tasty afternoon tea. From then until the end of the season, except when tournaments are played, bowlers are content with the humble biscuit with the caretaker officiating in the kitchen, occasionally assisted by the thoughtful wife of a member.

The various greens are reported as being particularly keen for so early in the season. More rain during the past few weeks would have been beneficial.

“Visiting day” will be observed on Saturday. While this is suggested by the centre it remains with the various clubs to arrange whose greens will be visited.

Monday, being the Labour Day holiday will no doubt be taken advantage of to run the ever-popular oneday tournaments which give excellent practice to bowlers, enable the new player to become more proficient and in addition assist the clubs’ finances.

Mention of new players prompts me to remind old players of their duty in assisting new players and making their task of becoming proficient as pleasant as possible. Don’t growl if they put down a wrong bias or play so strong as to take your "one and only” shot out. Perhaps you were guilty of such things when you commenced to play. e

Another point.-Don't confuse him bv giving him too many instructions as to how to hold his bowl or take proper green. The simpler the instructions the quicker will he learn.

ranks high among championship golfer; for his sportsmanship. From th end of the second round of the Open tournament he did not experience any sharp reverse of form. Most of thtirr'"’ he seemed to be; improving, patticvLrly in play around the greens, and if ever the necessity, in any golfer of careful and accurate play around the greens was emphasised by a successful competitor, it was uy Silk Sometimes his drives were ah over the course—he discarded his driver on the advice of Murray and used his brassie from the tee almost throughout • the tournament. Anywhere near the green, however, he was wonderfully accurate and his putting success at times was unbelievable. At times, he touched real greatness in his play.

The triumph of the youngsters was exceptional and the performance, in particular, of Arthur Kitto in winning through to the final of the amateur was outstanding. Almost every competitor at the tournament at some time or another expressed dislike of Kitto's swing. His right hand is so far under the shaft that his grip is practically an axeman's. As the style prevents freedom of movement, he has developed a wide sway of the body, made even more apparent by the way he comes right up on to his left toe for the back swing. It is an ugly style, but remarkably effective. Nevertheless, he seems at present to lack the essential fundamental soundness in swing of a golfer who can be expected to kist.

Frank Kitto, his brother, another of the young idea to turn in astonishing performances at the meeting, has a sounder style of play, sounder by orthodox methods, that is. But even he has in his swing original touches which may, or may not, mar his career. Frank at times inclines tOi the grandiloquent in his expressions/ His putter is very heavy in the head.' It is, and has been, a remarkably useful weapon to him and he likes it so much that he informed a couple of pressmen that he wouldn’t sell it for £lOOO.

Other youngsters of promise include the Aucklander, Pax Smith, whose swing is well-grooved and likely to take him a long way. His rather placid temperament also should help him. Then there were Guy Horne, of Wellington, liable to inconsistency but easily one of the promising players of the tournament; J. H. Young, of Auckland, winner of the Plate and making a comeback after the decline from his sensational first performance at Titirangi in 1933; R. H. Glading, the 17-year-old Hamilton boy with the easy swing and record-breaking propensities; i. A. Ewen, of Wellington, sound already and likely to become still sounder; J. R. Hobbs, of Napier, inclined to wildness, but a very long, strong hitter and an excellent prospect; R. G. Holland, not so good’ as last year, but with the golf in him; and F. H. McDonald, of Shandon, who goes quietly round the course in promising style.

There are others as well. But it is notable of most of the youngsters that they have been well taught and that they possess either apparent or potential soundness, the kind of soundness so essential in good class golf. They have the advantage of their predecessors that they have been swinging clubs for several years and that they have developed zest for the game at the best possible age. Maybe they should, as some suggest, be still playing the brawny games of youth. It is certain that from the ranks of the present-day youngsters, golfers of credit to New Zealand will develop and the potential brilliance of the present-day younger stars is as great as and probably greater than in any other period of New Zealand’s golf history.

A striking tribute both to the prowess and popularity of the New Zealand open champion golfer, John Hornabrook, was paid by his clubmates at the Hokowhitu golfhouse on Saturday evening, when the large

tearoom was crowded for the complimentary dinner tendered to Hornabrook by the Manawatu Golf Club. After complimentary reference had been made to Hornabrook's victory and tribute had been paid by the open champion himself to the unfortunate Murray and also to T. H. Horton, who had given him “the most thrilling match I have ever played,” the club’s patron, Mr. L. A. Abrahams, handled the toast of the amateur champion, Bryan Silk, in his best manner. He mentioned that Silk had jto fight an attack of influenza in the I early stages of the tournament, but jhe came smashing through to the 'final in brilliant fashion and pro- 1 ivided a splendid opportunity for the big gallery in the final to see golf las it should be played. It was noteworthy that Hornabrook and Silk had I been boys together at Wanganui Col[legiate School and had always reI mained fast friends. They appeared |to have entered into a conspiracy to retain fhe amateur title between i them. Silk won it in 1934, Hornabrook in 1935 and 1936, and Silk I again in 1937. He did not know just how long this was going on, but suggested, amid great merriment, that if i the open title-holder followed the lead :of the amateur champion and took I unto himself a partner in life he i would be assured of success in the Ifuture.

Every bowler in the Wanganui Centre would be pleased to note that Mr. Alec Crawford had again been appointed president. The keen interest he takes in bowling matters and the smooth manner in which he conducts the Centre business is best known by the delegates who were unanimous in persuading Mr. Crawford to accept office for another year after he had declined nomination. His cheery presence and pawky humour will therefore continue to be a pleasure to ail bowlers, especially at tournaments and other centre functions.

The decision of the Centre to alter the conditions governing the Nixon Cup, Senior and Willis Shield competitions so as to reduce the number of playing Saturdays to the minimum will be welcomed by all. Although Waverley and Marton Clubs are entering this season, it is anticipated that the Wanganui, St. John’s, and Gonville Clubs will only need two Saturdays and the clubs with smaller memberships probably a minimum of five Saturdays to complete the competitions. This will enable every club to devote more time to club competitions and friendly exchange of visits.

The usual Centre fixtures will be played this season. In the case of the Christmas tournament post-section play will be on the “sudden death” principle instead of two lives as formerly.

Bowlers would do well to note that all bowls must now bear the test stamp 1932 or later date, instead of 1928 as last season.

The membership of the two large clubs, Wanganui and St. John’s, will probably be rather bigger than last season.

The Gonville Club's membership has increased to the extent that they must have about the maximum they can cater for. Congratulations to this live club.

Wanganui West Club will henceforth be called Castlecliff. Several of the old members who have stood by the club for so many years have had to resign owing to change of residence and other reasons, but I understand that several new players have joined and a real live committee has been appointed who can be depended on to put the club on a secure footing.

This club and the other beach club, Rapanui, both possess excellent greens —in fact equal to any local greens, if not better —and as both clubs specialise in week-end play at a reasonable rate of subscription all town players who are in the position to do so would be most welcome as week-end or honorary members.

It is expected that eleven countries will be represented in the bowls section of the British Empire Games which are being held at Sydney in February. Already the Australian Bowling* Council, which will conduct the bowls championships, has received official acceptances from .England, Scotland, Wales, Rhodesia, Australia and New Zealand. Ireland will probably also be sending representatives and assurances have been received that accredited bowlers from Canada, South Africa, Fiji and Hong Kong will take part. The championships will be played from February 5 to February 12 and will include singles, pairs and rinks.

There can be a maximum of only seven players from each of the Home countries, each Dominion and each colony, one for the singles, two for the pairs and four for the rinks championships. Fiji and New Zealand will have that number, and so will Australia, which contains six state associations, but Great Britain will have separate representatives from England, Scotland and Wales, and possibly Ireland. Canada, with its nine provinces, and South Africa, with a similarnumber, will have seven bowlers re- . presenting those Dominions, and so 'will Hong Kong. But if the provinces iin Canada and South Africa had not (federated each would have been entitled to compete as a separate entity with seven representatives.

Bowls was first included in the Empire Games held at Hamilton, Ontario, in 1930, and Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland and England were represented. South Africa and England each had seven players, but Canada had only six, and New Zealand and Scotland had four each.

When the Empire Games were held in London in 1934, Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong, Ireland, Rhodesia, Scotland, South Africa and Wales each was represented by seven players. New Zealand had five.