DOMINION’S BEST GOLFERS ARE AT SHIRLEY

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 October 1950, Page 6

DOMINION’S BEST GOLFERS ARE AT SHIRLEY

N.Z. Championships Begin Tomorrow Tomorrow, on the Shirley links at Christchurch, a start will be made with the New Zealand golf championships. Wanganui interest will centre in the performances of B. M. Silk (Wanganui), A. R. Kitto and C. S. Bristol (Castlecliff) and J. F. Collins (Wanganui), who are among ihe 115 amateurs accepted. In all, 144 competitors are in the entry, 115 amateurs and 29 professionals. An interesting addition to the ranks of the competitors this year will be Rana Wagg, who was New Zealand amateur champion in 1931 and 1932. Silk heads the amateurs with a handicap of plus three. Kitto has a plus two handicap and Bristol and Collins are on scratch. Tomorrow the foursomes will be played and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the open championship. Then will come the amateur and professional titles, and the finals will be played tomorrow week. Last year the open championship was won by James Galloway, the Whangarei professional, with a record aggregate of 283. The amateur title-holder is J. P. Holden (New Plymouth) and R. H. Glading (Christchurch) was the professional winner last season. The New Zealand Plate last season was won by P. G. Roberts, the Hutt amateur. The championship tournament last year was played at the Bridge Pa links, Hastings. One of the memories that tournament left was the great match between Glading and James Galloway for the professional! title. Galloway had won the open event and met Glading in the final of the professional. Glading was behind Galloway all the way to the 35th. hole, and then took the lead for the first time, going on to win the title at the 36th. two up. The Shirley links, Christchurch, on which this year’s tournament is to be played, offers quite a test for golfers. I They are on true links country, sandy sub-soil, well-filleed, deep sand bunkers, a cross hazard in the shape of a creek at many holes. It is a good but not severe test under nor-, mal conditions. With the back tees in use, however, and an easterly, north-westerly or southern wind 1 blowing, it can be severe. The greens are excellent. They putt truly, but can be difficult to score on when fast. The newly-cut holes and the fast-running surface can be quite ■ frightening. The following description of the , holes applies to scratch golfers. Some j of the distances may be increased ]

with tees which are in use at the championships: Nft. I (377 yards). Dog-leg lo right. Drive must, be well placed and lo the left; there is a plantation of pines to right, and green is well blinkered. No. 2 (337 yards).— Dog-leg lo left. A long well-placed drive paves the way for a short pitch. No. 3 (Mug’geridgcs), 173 yards.— Straightforward, but by no means easy. No. 4 (Land's End), 515 yards.— Par 5. Many visitors have declared this holo to be in world class; out of bounds all the way on right; undulating fairway leading up to a green, with out of bounds on two sides and a steep rise in front of green; the approach shot can be testing. A beautiful hole in any weather. No. 5 (Farthest North), 424 yards. —A good drive, long and a little to the right, paves the way for a long, accurate iron. No. 6 (Mairehau), 404 yards.— Again a long, straight drive makes things straightforward. No. 7 (Nor’-WeSt), 358 yards.— Improved in recent years. Play a little to right. No. 8 (Terra Nova), 450 yards.— Par 4. Not an easy one. Play a little to right; plenty of trouble here for slight lack of direction and accuracy. There will be many s's carded here. No. 9 (CrosswayS), 152 yards.— Saucer-shaped green. No. 10 (Upshot), 440 yards.— Lengthened and improved. Long drive slightly to left leaves way open for a ion/ accurate second shot; but nothing but the best will get a par 4. No. 11 (O’Rorkes), 398 yards.— Improved of recent years. Not an easy par 4. Best to drive to the left. No .12 (The Pines), 315 yards.— Par 4; but a stroke may be saved with an exceptional drive or second shot. No. 13 (Old Nick), 128 yards.— Scratch players should score par 3 nearly every time. No. 14 (Shirley), 452 yards.—Par 4, bogey 5. Long drive a little to right makes a long, accurate- second shot to green possible. A good hole. No. 15 (Farthest South), 180 yards. —Good golf for a par 3; slopes and bunkers make accuracy essential . No. 16 (Pagoda), 550 yards.— Long hole, straight; a hollow in front of garden and some cavernous bunkers near green make length and accuracy essential. No. 17 (Te Oronga), 337 yards,— A beautiful par 4. Long hitters may reach the creek; but accuracy and some length will make approach safe. No. 18 (Home), 320 yards.—Can be testing with the tension on. Pines to right and left; rise of sandhills straight ahead make it a satisfying test. Par of course 69, standard scratch JO-