GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 19 (Supplement)

GOLF.

A WEEKLY BUDGET,

HERE AND THERE HAPPENINGS.

HAMILTON CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

(By “Niblick.”)

The qualifying rounds for the Hamilton 'Club championships were played at St. Andrews last Saturday, sixteen qualifying in each of the three grades. The first rounds of match play in these are down for to-day. The best card returned was that of W. Wynne, 79, with J. L. Black, just back from Australia, in second place with 82.

One understands that one or two players disqualified themselves through wrongful interpretation of the rule regarding a ball which has gone into the drain. A local rule permits a ball to be lifted from the drain and dropped without penally, hut in order that this may be done lawfully the ball must actually be seen to enter the drain. It seems that on Saturday some players assumed that a ball had gone into the drain, though it had not. actually been seen to do so, and dropped and played another. This, of course, put ihem out of court, as the proper procedure to follow was that for lost ball, namely to drop another as near as possible to the spot from which the lost one was played, with loss of stroke and distance —that is if a player’s second shot was lost he would he playing four when lie played iiie dropped hall.

One also understands that several players dropped quite a number of strokes in getting out of the sandpit on the right of the second fairway. It seems, however, that the “ground under repair” notice board was not in place, and, moreover, that some members of the committee were of opinion that the pit was a hazard. In fact, the scribe understands, one member of the committee was himself a sufferer through getting into this abyss. It seems, however, that this pit should not rightfully be a hazard, and one can only commiserate with those who lost strokes there because the notice board was not In place.

Back From Australia.

Members were glad to see J. L. Black, a member of the New Zealand Kirk-Wlndeyer Cup team, and who won his singles game in that contest at Melbourne, out again at St. Andrews on Saturday. Black, who reached home from Australia that, week, reports that the New Zealand team were given a wonderful time on “the other side.” They had only two days | in Sydney, but had games at Ruse Bay and were made welcome and treated splendidly. In Melbourne the Victorian enthusiasts could not do enough for the New Zealanders. A car and chauf--1 feur were placed at their disposal, and every facility accorded them to go ' wherever they wished. Black speaks highly of the many line courses near Melbourne, of which there are five or six within a few miles of one another, and some actually adjoining. They are about 20 miles out from the city, but good electric train services reduce this to about 25 minutes travelling. The courses and greens are magnificent and the club house appointments are on a palalial scale. As might be expected club membership and entrance fees are correspondingly high. [ Black, as a rule, plays in the New | Zealand championship. If he intends j to be at Wanganui in October it is i rather unfortunate for him that the j South Auckland tournament dales clash with those for the big fixture. Black holds the Waikato and South Auckland championships and one does j not quite see how he can lie at St. ! Andrews to defend these titles if lie j means to play at Belmont. Other j players who usually attend the South j Auckland gathering are also likely to j be at Wanganui this year, which will | not tend to help the Hamilton fixture, j

South Auckland Tournamont.

programmes are now out for the South Auckland Golf Tournament to be held at St. Andrews, Hamilton, on October 3, 4 and 5. On the opening day 18 hole medal handicaps will be. played morning and afternoon, and the best sixteen scores (without handicap) in these events qualify for the South Auckland ’ championship, the next best 16 (without handicap) qualifying for -the St. Andrews match. These two events will be continued on the Friday and Saturday, and in addition there will he 18 -holes medal and bogey handicaps on the Friday, and a medal handicap and pairs best hall handicap on the Saturday. The Waikato championship goes to the player, with membership in a South Auckland golf club., who returns the best medal score without handicap in the two rounds of stroke play on the J Tuesday. Entries close -on or before Tuesday, October 1, at 8 p.m.

VICTORIAN GOLFERS.

AND MELBOURNE COURSES. SLOAN MORPETH’S VIEWS. A Melbourne magazine published during the New Zealand team's visit to that capital, contained an article by

Sloan Morpeth in which the following remarks appeared:— One thing about golf in Victoria that has struck us perhaps even more than the excellence of the courses is the wonderful hospitality that has been extended to us by all the clubs in the metropolitan area. They have made us honorary members and extended to us every possible courtesy. You could not wish for any better spirit than we have found on the golf courses of Australia.

Of course, all good golfers—all sportsmen worthy of the name—who find themselves playing in a championship go out to win. They play as keenly and as vigorously as the rules allow; but if they lose they are the first to recognise the superiority on the day of their opponents. That true sporting spirit we have found displayed in Melbourne, and it has been a stimulus and a delight to us. You cannot talk golf for long without coming down to pulling. The .Melbourne putting greens are vastly superior to what wo are accustomed to in New Zealand. They are easier. If you hit the ball correctly on them, allowing for the run of the ground, you will get the right result of a true execution of the stroke. In New Zealand we all survey the ground closely before pulling. It has rather surprised me to find that Australian golfers apparently do not go lo as much trouble in that 'regard as the New Zealanders.