GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17412, 26 May 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)

GOLF.

A WEEKLY BUDGET.

NOTES FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS. (By "Niblick.") Local Happenings. Many were called but few were chosen might, perhaps, be said of the gallant souls who started out at St. Andrews last Saturday intent upon accomplishing the medal round of their lives. Not that the weather conditions were unduly bad, though there was a rather troublesome wind, and the sun dazzle was very ba3 at some holes. The ninth, for instance, played havoc with the sheer. The wind was just in the right quarter to do its worst to a slice, whilst the sun at a certain period of the afternoon rendered it practically impossible for the player himself to see what became of his ball. Several would-be medallists gave up the ghost here by reason of losing a ball. One subsequently had his Spalding returned to him, it having been found on the edge of the bank just above the green. It was his second, and had he found it a four might have been recorded, which in his case is so rare that he feels now that Providence has forgotten him. The victor turned up in T. Atkins (whose game is steadily on the- improve, and whose handicap is now down to 9) with a net score of 78. Cleary (10), John Horton (5), and Wake (6) each had a aett 81. M. Macbeth, the Club's scratch man, had not a card in on Saturday, but had a 78 and an 80 for a couple of rounds at the week-end. Fisher, a former 12 handicap man, has been set back to the 10 mark, as the result of recent showings.

W. Bray, who used to play here some years ago but is now stationed at Paeroa, was out on the links at the week-end. He declared it an immense treat to be playing over the St. Andrews Course once more. N. Bell, sr., has taken up golf again after an absence from the game of seven or eight years. Bell was on the 8 mark when an injured hand obliged him to give it best. As yet he is not back to that form, hut has showed marked improvement in the comparatively few rounds he has played so far. One gathers that another prominent figure in bowling circles (who also plays golf during the winter) has an undertaking (with contingencies, to wit three golf balls, attached) that he will get his own handicap down by more strokes than Hell can reduce his by the end of the season. Origin of "Bogey." The following note on the origin of the term "Bogey" is of interest, and is taken from the "Colters' Handbook." The term was used first in 1891, Hugh Rotheram, Coventry, suggesting the idea of what was termed the "ground score" of the Coventry course. The scheme propounded by Rotheram was taken up by the Great Yarmouth Clubs' hon. secretary, Dr. T. Browne, who inaugurated matches for Great Yarmouth on the lines Indicated. About this particular time the popular music hall ditty-, "Rush, hush, here comes the Bogey man," was on everyone's lips, and It must

Major C. Wellman one day when he exclaimed to Dr. Browne, "This ground score of yours is a regular 'Bogey man'." The expression "Bogey" was at once adopted at Great Yarmouth. Dr. * Browne introduced "Bogey" to the United Services Club as a "quiet, modest, and retiring gentleman, uniformly steady, but not over brilliant." "Bogey" was heartily welcomed by the United Services Club, and the hon. secretary, Captain Vidal, impressed with the personality of the newest member, suggested that it was but fitting that he should be given service rank, and he was accordingly given the rank of Colonel, which he still retains. The Royal and Ancient Club did not recognise the term until 1910, when the Rules of Golf Committee framed special rules for Bogey competitions. Someone should now frame an ideal name for "scratch" which will probably replace bogey in the near future.