GOLF PERSONALITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 4

GOLF PERSONALITY

C. C. CLEMENTS IN AUCKLAND. WON PROFESSIONAL TITLE FROM A. J. SHAW IN 1936. A new personality will be introduced into Auckland profesional golf in C. C. Clements, who has relinquished his post at the Russley Club, Christchurch, to accept a coaching appointment in this city. Clements is perhaps not a dyed-in-the-wool professional, having performed with distinction as an amateur prior to joining the pro. fessional ranks.

Just after the war he joined up at Palmerston North and represented his club with distinction in home-and-home matches throughout the district. Imlay Saunders, of Wanganui, was one of his chief opponents of those days. Coming north Clements joined up with the old Kohimarama Club—those days of sporting golf o’er hills and dales—and later transferred to ,Titirangi. When E. S. Douglas resigned his post at Maungakiekie and Titirangi, Clements accepted the appointment as professional. Later he left for Christchurch. Consistency rather than brilliancy has been Clements’ forte, and on a number of occasions he has been in the running for the Open, twice finishing third. With Norrie Bell he won the professional foursomes in 1933, but his most noteworthy performance was the defeat of A. J. Shaw at New Plymouth in 1936 in the professional championship—after Shaw had won the Open. The first half of the match over 36 holes was an even struggle, but Clements rose to brilliant heights in the second round. Playing the first nine in 33 he won four holes on end from the sixth and was three up at the turn. Clements was then a winner and he made no mistakes to take the title 3 and 2.

Golf was in Clements’ veins from a small boy, as his elder brother, J. A. Clements, when but a youth had won the Open championship in successive years. This was at Dunedin in 1908 and Auckland (Maungakiekie) in 1909. Even in these days C. C. Clements was something of a counterpart of his brother. A fine stylist with a beautifully even swing, Clements is a distinct acquitions to Auckland golf.