GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XII, 16 September 1899, Page 488

GOLF NOTES.

(By

BOGEY.)

On Saturday a handicap match was played by the Auckland Golf Club. Owing to the large number of entries the committee determined to limit the match to fifteen holes, in order to save any congestion in playing the first, second and last holes a second time. As events proved the committee were very wise in this decision, for the Links have never before had so many players on them at one time. I went to the trouble of counting the number of members and visitors who put in an appearance on Saturday afternoon, and I can account for 59. This is no small number to accommodate on any course, but on a fifteen hole course it is bound to cause congestion somewhere. One or two players were growling at the way in which parties playing an irregular course cut in at

some of the holes. I think the committee should endeavour to put down this “cutting in.” Players who have, say, twenty minutes to spare before the train goes are very fond of playing a few odd holes and “cutting in” to the annoyance of those playing a regular round. It is a practice very subversive of the courtesy of the green. The scoring in Saturday’s match was on the whole distinctly good and very even. Mr J. R. Reed furnished a regular surprise (it may be noted,however, by the Handicap ComniiUfc that this is the second time Mr RW|. >

has produced an almost prohibitive score) by returning a nett score of 68. His first nine holes in 41 was a very fine performance, and it is worthy of note that- although a ten handicap man he actually returned the lowest nett score, viz., 76. Mr Grimshaw, playing from scratch, returned a very creditable score of 77. which would be equal to about 92 for the full eighteen holes. Tn consequence of the shortening of the course the usual handicaps were reduced by one-sixth.

The following are a few of the scores returned: — Reed, 76—8—68. Arnold, 89 —15—74. Colbeck, 79—2—77. Grimshaw, 77—scr —77. Turner, 85—7 —78. Caldwell, 84—5—79. Rev. Beatty, 88 — B—Bo.8 —80. Dr. Coates, 94—13—81. Leatham, 86—5 —81. Bamford, 91—9 —82. Dr. Lewis, 96—13—83. Brassey, 89—6—83. Kissling, 91—7—84. Dr. Gordon, 102—17 —85. I have just received the very neat programme issued by the Royal Melbourne Golf Club for their annual meeting, which commences on Tuesday, 26th September. The tournament is ‘ open to any member of a recognised Golf Club of Australasia, and there are the usual number of handicap events. The great event of the meeting is the match for the Amateur Championship of Victoria. This is played for by four rounds of medal play, and is on the same lines as the Australian Championship. I am afraid the programme has arrived too late for any of our men to think of going. There are three events open to ladies, and on Monday,’2nd October, the Ladies’ Championship of Victoria will be played. On Thursday, favoured with one of the finest days of the season, the ladies of the A.L.G.C. held their usual monthly competition against “Colonel Bogey.” The winner for the day proved to be Miss Gillies, with the remarkably fine performance of only one down to “the Colonel.” This is by far the best result yet achieved in these competitions, and there is no doubt the winner - must have been in great form to make such a fine return. The following are the scores handed in:—Miss Gillies, handicap 3, 1 down; Mrs Baldwin, 12, 5; Mrs Wilson, 9,5; Mrs Feel, 3-,-5; Miss A. Bar-

stow, 3,6; Miss Shuttleworth, 3, 6;< Miss Barstow, 5,6; Miss Wilkins, 7,6;; Miss M. Wilkins, 1,7; Mrs Lewis, 5,7; Mrs W. Bloomfield, 1,7; Miss Pierce, 12, 8; Mrs J. H. Reed, 9,8; Miss Fenton, 9,9; Mrs J. Reid, 5, 9. The above returns are a distinct improvement on previous efforts. Had the putting greens not been so heavy, from the rapid growth of the spring grass, even better results might well have been expected. The improvement in the

play of Mrs Wilson has of late been of such a marked character that her handicap has been reduced very considerably. Miss Hezlet, the new champion of Ireland and Great Britain, is (says the “Queen”) a very young player, being barely 17 years of age, but she has had as much practice as most of her older rivals, as she comes of a golfing

family, and has been playing for some six or seven years. Her ability has been for some time very well known, for she has won many of the competitions of her club, the Royal Portrush, and last year secured the silver handicap medal presented by the Ladies’ Golf Union. Miss Hezlet has the advantage of playing in girlish costume, which means a good deal in all outdoor games. At golf experience is supposed to be of more value than youthful lissomness and agility, but the fact that, besides Miss Hezlet, Miss Adair, and Miss Magill are also quite young would seem to confirm the conclusion indicated by the successes of Miss Hoyt, the juvenile American champion. But probably it is not so much to the fact of being young as to having taken first lessons at an early age, when the imitative faculties are in their prime, and the limbs can easily be taught to perform any required movement with ease and freedom that such successes are to be attributed. With advancing years Miss Hezlet should play better and better, and it will not be very surprising if she carries off the Golf Union’s trophies again and again. The Ladies’ Golf Championship of Great Britain for 1899 was held at Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, and there were no less than 78 ladies from all parts of Great Britain competing. Miss Hezlet had a wonderful succession of victories, and carried off almost the whole of the prizes of the meeting, including the coveted championship. ® ® ® HUMOURS AND VAGARIES OF THE

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. AN UNLUCKY SCRATCH. In the final round of the championship Dr. Martin had as his opponent Mr Higginson. The Doctor, who is not generally supposed to be as good a player as Mr H., on finding that the cares of his profession would not allow him to be at the tee punctually to time, scratched to his opponent, but in a friendly match, which was substituted, won very easily. Playing in the second round Mr Higginson beat the Wellington champion, Mr G. Todd. This was the surprise of the meeting. Query? Who wan the unlucky player, Dr. Martin or Mr Todd? A LONG DRIVE. A well-known sportsman, who has only recently taken to the game, had a phenomenal drive of 250 yards at the 16th hole. This so impressed him that he confided to his friends, “If I can drive 250 yards when I have been at the game for three months, when I have played for a year I shall drive one thousand yards.” THIS IS NOT GOLF. The same player on one occasion pulled his ball fully 70 yards from the line of play, and found his ball in rushes. A voice from the swamp was heard to lament, “Oh, my Christmas, this is not golf.” A NASTY KNOCK. McDougal, when playing with McTavish, as his partner in a foursome, had a very remarkable experience when playing the 13 th hole, McTavish foozled his drive, much to the disgust of McDougal, who made an equally bad second. Now, McDougal has cultivated the very awkward habit of going ahead as soon as he has played, and this particular case proved no exception to the rule. But suddenly, swiftly and surely he was brought to a standstill by a sharp stinging sensation on the fleshy part of the leg. Down at his ■ feet there lay a golf ball, whilst at th, tee behind appeared two brother ers.

’ McDougal, who is a bit of a logician, concluded that these two golfers had not studied the etiquette of golf, and decided to give them a lesson by hitting the ball out of bounds. “Confound you,” says McDougal, as he proceeded to accomplish his fell purpose, by a fearful swipe. But temper left the ball untouched. “Dash it,” was heard as our friend took a second terrific swipe, but still that ball remained.

“D-d-d n it,” accompanied a third and even more ferocious hit, and this time McDougal had the satisfaction of seeing the ball move five yards.

Then and not till then did his friend confess that it was he who had played liis third.

Now McDougal was for a moment taken aback, but his natural coolness stood him in good stead, for picking up the ball he astonished his opponents so much by saying, “This is about the spot,” that they actually played out the hole. History, however, does not relate the result, but I fancy that friend McDougal will in future keep well behind, as he was noticed to limp badly for some days A PERFECT THREE, ' 'A foozled drive, a bad second and a third, which rolled itself in the flag and dropped into the hole, was the experience of one lady at the first hole on the Hutt Links. Needless to say she was very proud of the accomplishment. HOLED IN ONE. Mr Perston accomplished this remarkable feat by holing his drive at the sheepyard’s hole; distance 125 yards. , WHISKY. One wet afternon the wants of golfers were well attended to at the 10th hole, which made one wag remark, “A drap of the craytur at the crater.” It is unnecessary to state that this remark was received in silence. ® ® ® WELLINGTON.

The members of the Wellington Golf Club were very sorry to say good-bye to Mr Kyd last Saturday, when he had his revenge on Mr Ken Duncan, who put him out of the championship. The Wellington Golf Club (Ladies) played the Manawatu Golf Club (Ladies) on Monday, on the Miramar Links, when the Wellington players won by seven holes. 4* His Excellency the Governor has had several games on the links during the last week. The Hutt championship will be played on Saturday, when there should be an interesting game between the two Prydes and A. Duncan. There is no doubt that the championship meeting has made many people think that “there is something in golf.” On the reclaimed land in the early hours of the morning several ladies and gentlemen who are thinking of joining the golf club, may be seen practising the “swing.”