GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 1600, 31 May 1924, Page 18 (Supplement)

GOLF.

(By "Niblick.") On Wednesday next a monthly medal round will occupy the attention of members of the Hamilton Ladies' Club at St Andrew's, while the Men's Club will play a similar competition on Saturday. That Dr. K. Ross stands in a class by himself among the members of the Otago Golf Club has once more been proved by the result of the competition for the championship of the club. There is a distinct lack in that club, and. indeed, in Otago, of players of a standard that is well above the average. A prominent member of the Otago Club has expressed the opinion that the general level of golf shown by tlie bf-st dozen or 20 players in that ciub is not equal to that of a score of years ago, even when allowance is made for the presence now of Dr. Ross, who is probably the best exponent of the game the club has ever possessed. The much-debated question in women's golf as to whether Miss Joyce Wethered or Miss Cecil Leitch is the better player received another answer on April t at Northwood, when the two men in a match between Surrey and Middlesex in the women's county championship. Miss Wethered won rather easily by 5 and 3. The J.OOO spectators were mostly all agreed that the putting of Miss Leitdi was very poor indeed, there were times when it was feeble, notably at the sixth hole. The driving was very sure, but it, was in the shots to the green that Miss Wethered gained her advantage, for she had few long putts to play, and only once struck the ball three times <n one green with the iron putter, which, by the way, is much mere popular with the women I than the men. The last occasion the two met was in 1922 in the championship at Sandwich. Then Miss Wethered won, but Miss Leitch had a damaged arm and only recently has fhe recovered from the effects of a torn muscle. A writer on golf says:— "Too sr-auy golfers, especially on mashie pitches or mashie-niblick pitches, make the big mistake of standing 100 far away from the hall. They are likely to do this when they begin to hit the ball in the heel of the club for a socketing shot. "To correct this fault they move further bark. Then as they swing at Hie ball Ihey lean in to it and lie 1 ! or socket'worse than ever. hi all pilch shots 1 believe in standing fairly clnsp to liic ball where Hie. hc;.'d is almost over it and where Ihe elbows can be held in under control.

"As the main point of the golf tlroke is 'from the inside out..' with the elbows under control one can punch Jirmly without standing too far away. This wll helps compactness—and without compactness no one can play steady golf."

Great Britain triumphed over the United Slates in an unofficial soil' match for the world's championship here yesterday (says an Atlanta message of April 6, in tlic Toronto Gloli}). when Arthur Havers, British open champion, defeated Bo! by Jones, youthful United SUit.es open champion, two up and one to play on the course of the Easl Lake Country Club, .lone-" playing on his home course, fought valiantly for the match, but in the llnal holes of the game was unable to overcome the commanding lead which llavirs piled up, duo io .1 cues' crralio start. Playing consistent golf throughout, although slightly out-driven by his opponent, Havers never once was header! after he had taken the lead, .mly qneij during the entire 3G hours did .lon' show a flash of brilliance.. That was on the 28th when by maslerful aoproach and putting he won the hole with a birdie 3 and cu! down havers' lead to three up. lie look the next with, a par three, held his opponent to halves on Ihe next three boles, and I hen made another si rid''' toward victory by winning' the 33rd Breathless, the gallery of more than 700 persons watched him halve the next hole, only to see him lose the oath. .") and -i, when victory would have made the match all square, and

given him a chance for international honours. The match, played most of the time in a drizzle of rain, furnished some of the most spectacular golf ever seen on a local course. Both men made tremendous drives consistently despite the soggy condition of the ground, and displayed remarkable ability in recovering- from bad lies and approaching, Jones was weaker in putting, several times dubbing easy shots which might have won him the match. In golf there is the promise of a mighty effort for supremacy between two lady players, stated a London writer on March I'.i. For almost two years Miss Cecil Leitch has been out of the game. During an American tour she tore a muscle in her right forearm whilst playing a forcing iron shot on hard ground, and the injury compelled her to put away her clubs. In the meantime Miss Joyce Wcthered the sister of the amateur champion, Roger Wcthered, has carried off most of the honours. But Miss Lcitcli's arm is now strong and well, and it is evident that she is to offer a determined challenge this season to regain her old place in the game. Since her first appearance at die age of eighteen. Miss Wcthered has been Miss Leitch's bogie. They met in the English championship in 1920, and, though she was 4 down with nine holes to play, Miss Wcthered won by 2to 1. In the open championship at Sandwich two years ago, Miss Wethercd enjoyed an even greater triumph. Playing golf that had never before been equalled by a woman she overwhelmed her rival by a margin of 9, up and seven to play. Since that match the two women have not met. but Miss Leitch is to oppose her rival at the end of the month. She is the captain of the Middlesex side, and she will play Miss Wethered who is the leader of the Surrey County team. Since she made her debut three years ago, Miss Wethered has set up a remarkable record. She has been beaten three limes by Miss Leitch, bid altogether, though she has taken part in over a hundred important matches, her total defeats number only live. Her other conquerors were Mrs Alan Macßeth in the semi-final of last season's championship and Miss Maud Hunnewell's few weeks ago. The latter match was played on a dreadful day when a bitter east wind destroyed the swing of hardier golfers than Miss Wethered and the result, was not an accurate test of the form of the two players. Her record is Ihe more remarkable for the facl that she has won the English championship during the past four years. But Miss Wethered and Miss Leitch are not to have matters all their own way. As in lawn tennis, there is lo be a formidable American challenger. This is Miss Glcnna Collett, who gained tlio amateur championship laSt year.