GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue IV, 28 July 1900, Page 159

GOLF NOTES.

(By

Bogey.)

The crowning glory of golf fur 1900 has this year fallen to the great professional .1. H. Taylor, who has won the open championship at St. Andrews with what is the finest performance that has yet been seen. Taylor’s average of 771 for 4 rounds of medal play on the difficult St. Andrews course is far ahead in point of merit of any individual record round of the links. When it is considered that after the thousands of times this course has been played by the leading professional and amateur talent of tint generation the record stands at 73 strokes, in the names of W. Auchterlonie and Andrew Kirkaldy, the greatness of Taylor's performance will be fully appreciated. The weather, which was inclement, did not assist him. but his deadly accuracy and the sterling quality of his play in all departments, and especially in his putting. alone gave him victory. His rounds of 79, 77, 78. and 75 speak for themselves. For the third time Taylor is entitled to call himself champion. Harry Vardon, who was second. proved bis merit by a return that would in any other year have placed him at the head of the list, and thus gave a most convincing denial to the assertions of many that after his American tour he would not be found in the front rank. Vardon’s performances have lieen so consistently good for the last two or three years thali his merit is only if anything enhanced by his performance in the championship. James Braid occupies the third place, and his position is one which is quite in keeping with his merits. The amateur division was headed by Mr Maxwell, while Mr Hilton, the amateur champion, from whom great things were expected, lost all chance

of a high position by his first two rounds. The following are some of the chief results: —

J. H. Taylor has for the third time won the open championsh’p, and on the last occasion it was played at St. Andrews, in 1895, he won with an average of SOI. This year, when the course laid off is recognised ns the longest and most diflieult yet laid out for the championship, his average is 4 strokes better than in 1595. If Taylor, as he announced, played with the Maponite Ball, the future success of the new ball s assn ed. Mrs George I’oild, of tile We ling tin Golf ( lub, did a remarkable performance lately in winning a bogey match front two behind scratch without losing a single hole. She won ten holes and lost five, her score showing si, a record lor lhe ladies' course. On Thursday the members of the A.L.G.C. were favoured with beautiful weather for the twelfth and final competition fur Mrs Archie Clark’s prize. Only four leading players competed, and the lowest score returned was Mrs W. Bloomfield’s 56 plus 1 57. Th's gave Mrs Bloomfield her fifth wtn out of the 12 competitions, a very creditable performance, which is rewarded by the first prize falling to her lot. Miss Gillies was second with three wins. ® ® ® WANGANUI. There is considerable activity in the local golfing world, owing to the continued fine weather. The members of the Ladies’ Club are especially energetic. and they are finding that'the extension of their membership has greatly increased the enthusiasm for the game, and brought out many promising players. Miss Cave, who is only in her second season, is on the limit mark, and should be heard of later on. Her play is at present more effective than graceful, but with a littlecoaching she will doubtless soon be heard of in championship matches. A visit from the Palmerston ladies is talked of, and should prove interesting. In Mrs. Still Palmerston has lost a player whose style is beyond reproach. The Wanganui Club sent away twelve men to battle in the return match with Palmerston on July 14th; and a second team of sixteen engages the Maroro (St. John’s Hill) Club on the 21st. As the last encounter between the two clubs resulted in a win for Wanganui by one hole only, the return is being looked forward to with great interest. 1 would call the attention of your members to the annual tournament instituted by the Manawatu (lub, which this year begins on September 4th. This meeting is always capitally managed, and is always quite one of the jolliest fixtures of the golfing season.

The return match between the Manawatu anil Wanganui Golf Clubs, which was played at Palmerston on Saturday, resulted in a win for the Wanganui Club by two holes, after an exciting game. The weather waa tine, except for one heavy shower, but too bleak and boisterous for good scoring. The links were in good order, and the greens carefully attended to. and a great deal has been done to make a naturally inferior country into a good course —one that is not nearly so easy as it looks. Everything was done to promote the pleasure of the visiting team, and the arrangements were in every way complete. 1 be play, on the whole, was somewhat streaky. Harold and Meldrum won comfortably from their opponents, Strang and Perlton. both formidable players. G. tfiundcrs had a capital match with Dr. Wilson, and Fjtzherbert just got ahead of J. S. Wilson. The middle men mostly suffered severe defeats, and but for the capital scores of R. Pynsent. and If. Hole. Wanganui would have lost the match. The Manawatu team was considerably weakened by the non-arri- • val of two good players, W. and T. Strang. The thanks of the visitors are due to the Manawatu Club, and not least to their lady members, for their very kind and hospitable treatment. The following are the full scores:

A. Strung' (Manawatu) 0 v. J. Harold (Wanganui) 5; M. F. I’erston 0 v. D. Meldrum 3; Dr. Wilson 0 v. G. Saunders 0; T. E. Foy 4 v. .1. J). Greig 0; J. S. Wilson 0 v. S. T. Fitzherbert 2; C. y. Monro 6 v. H. B. Watson 0; L. A. Abraham 1 v. G. Marshall 0; Colonel Gorton 3 v. E. B. Heywood 0; E. N. Barrami 5 v. F. I. Jones 0; J. R. McLennan 5 v. 11. A. Lomax 0; 11. Mellsop 0 v. R. B. I‘ynsent 7; R. Cobb 0 v. 11. Hole 9. Totals— Manawatu, 24; .Wanganui, 26. The Manawatu Club's tournament will begin on September 4th. It is proposed to play a match between Wanganui and Manawatu combined, sind Wellington just after the tournament. This match, which will be playJd in Wellington, should prove interesting. THE FOOZLER. ® ® ® CHRISTCHURCH, July 17. Saturday last was an oil' day as regolfing matters here. The monthly bogey match will be played on Hagley I’ark on the 21st inst. I noticed Mr J. C. Wilson on the ground, ami from a. chat with him I learnt that he was gradually recovering his form, which he seems to have lost, while lately in your city. Be put up a. good round of S 3 on Saturday. He spoke most highly of the Greenlane Links, and appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed his visit to your city. The new links at Shirley were visited last week by about a dozen members. and .Mr O’Rorke piloted them round the nine holes which he had laid out for a start. Although the greens had only been ent and rolled once, they were in marvellous condition. and could be played on at onee, but the opening game will probably be delayed for a. fortnight, to allow of the greens being still further improved. About twenty acres of the balance of the land requires to be ploughed up and sown down in grass, and this work is to be put in hand at onee. All the members present were agreed that the right thing had been done in abandoning Rnssley and taking- up the Shirley ground, mid were amazed at. the ease with which almost perfect greens could be got. I have at various times written in terms of praise of the possibilities of the Rnssley ground, and I am still of opinion that if the money were forthcoming- splendid links could be .formed there. But the inaccessibility of the ground was a great drawback, as the road led to nowhere, am! there was not much probability of the suburbs extending in that direction for a long time to come. With regard to Shirley, however, the case is different. If is practically a suburban ground, rhe tram runs past it at short intervals during- the day, and tin* ground requires a minimum of work to put and keep it in order all the year round. This explanation is, I think, necessary. lest your many readers should think' that the C.G.C was chiefly noted for its vacillation. The natural regret felt by those members who were responsible for the laying out of the liussley Links is largely tempered by the reflect ion that, after all. the links served their purpose by attracting members and thereby spreading- a better knowledge and understanding of the game throughout the province. It would not be fitting Io close these remarks without testifying to the energy and determination displayed by Mr O’Rorke in carrying through the acquisition of the Shirley ground in spite of very considerable opposition from influential members of the club. He has now the satisfaction of knowing that the opposition are in perfect accord with him and ticknow ledge the wisdom of the change.

NIBLICK.

J. H. Taylor -w 11. Vardon Z?) st 80 77-5? J. Braid . 82 81 80 J. White .. 80 81 W. Auchterlonie. .. 81 80 8U326 W. Park .. 80 83 Mr R. Maxwell.. .. 81 81 8« 81- 329 Archie Simpson .. 82 82 S3 79—329 Ben Savers . . 81 83 8.’> Alex. Herd .. 81 81—331 A. Kirkcaldy .. 87 KJ Tom Vardon .. 79 84 81—331