GOLF.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

GOLF.

PLAY AT ST. ANDREWS^ WEEK-END GAMES REVIEWED. COMMENTS BY SARAZEN, The Caplain’s trophy has attracted an entry of 88 players, which is a smaller total than in the past two ■.• ears, and the first- round was played last Saturday under ideal -conditions. Of the i-i who survived the opening round 20 have byes and go into the third round, which, with the 12 winners in the -second round, will -consist of 32 players. The same position applies in the Yice-captain s trophy. Of the -41 matches played last Saturday, two were all square and twentythree went to either the 17th or 18th green. Gellin-gham, Wynne, 'Cradwick, Ferguson, -and Russell were short handicap players who failed in the first round. Edmonds was taken to the last green by E. Wilson, and Sutcliffe also was one up on Shaw. Cumberworth has- already shown that the spell of -several months has not made any -difference in -his play.

Auokland B v. Hamilton.

A strong team was sent down from Middlemore last week-end and was soundly beaten by our own players. The visitors were led by S. H. Abel, a regular visitor several years ago with senior teams, and A. E. M. Rhind, the club’s secretary. They were matched against Atkins and Russell, who are on the same handicap, and each side secured a win by the same margin, the local pair in the afternoon making amends for their defeat in the morning game. The second pair, Brett and Handyside, were each one. stroke lower in handicap than the local players, Love and Pemberton and in this case also each pair secured a w'in by the same number of holes. The next pair, Bruce and Abel, were young players, who had two even matches with our own juniors, iPountney and Radford, the latter winning by one hole in the morning and by three up and one to play in the afternoon. Masters and Alderton could not find the right touch in the morning and were severely beaten by Wood and Shakeshaft, who were in good scoring mood. The situation was reversed, however, in the afternoon. ilorrocks and Upton, against Bindon and ‘King, had two close matches, the visitors losing at the tSth in the morning and the 17th in the afternoon. The most even games of the day were between Henderson and Friedlaudcr and Philips and Taylor, who were all square in the morning and the local men won by one hole in the afternoon. The visitors were very pleased with the conditions, but they soon found that their approaches would not stop and the greens were much faster 'than their own. 'The only approach shot which is effective at Middlemore at present is the one sent right up to the pin as the ball stops where it lands.

Replacing of Divots.

It is very evident that many players on the links are very careless in the matter of replacing divots cut from tiie fairways. it is doubtful if there have ever been so many divots lying about as there were last week end. Apart from the inconvenience caused when a hall comes lo rest in a bole in the fairway, damage is done to the turf, which in many cases leaves a permanent “cup” in the surface. Members can assist by drawing the attention of thoughtless players to this matter.

Comment by Sarazen. The following article from the American ‘Golfer is of interest to golfers in New Zealand. Asked by a representative of that journal if much golf was played in this country, Sarazen replied:— “There is probably more golf played in New Zealand i'han in any other country I know. There are only one million and a half people down there and they all .seem to play, Every town has Its 'course, and what a grand place that island is—why its a sportsman’s dream.” Asked about the turf the famous golfer replied:—“The original fescue and grass which we now have in America came from 'New Zealand. 1 have yet to see anything to compare with (lie -beautiful fairways, especially those of Invercargill. They work a strange plan to keep their courses in good shape. During the summer — golf is a winter game down 111 ere — they lease out Hie course lo' she6p herders. The sheep keep the fairways in condition all summer ami when the winter playing season comes around they arc led away to other pastures.” The latter statements arc not very accurate as regard’s the -courses of the larger clubs, but Sarazen goes on to enthuse over the climate and lie states that New Zealand deserves more tourist trade. He stated that he was definitely returning, if possible, with Tommy Armour. There is no doub.t that such a visit would be popular and would also he a financial success for the visitors and of great benefit to the New Zealand golfers.