GOLF NOTES

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XX, 18 May 1901, Page 923

GOLF NOTES

(By

"Stymie.")

The semi-finals in the men s championship were played <>n Saturday afternoon, when Harry Gillies met J.’ Sykes, and C. E. S. Gillies played A. 11. D. Peel. Sykes started well, taking the first hole in five to his opponent’s six. The two next holes were halved in fives, and Harry Gillies won the fourth. At the turn he was two up. and ultimately won by four up and three to play. 1 have seen both men play a much better game. Part of the match was played in an unpleasant drizzle, with occasional showers, and I always think that this is not conducive to good golf, although, no doubt, the typical golfer would not be prepared to admit that the atmospheric conditions which prevailed on Saturday were sufficient to interfere with anyone's game. Gillies accounted for Peel very easily, winning by eight up and six to play. The winner was very hot, and seemed to have a soul above anything except fours, with an occasional five thrown in. I am inclined to think, however, that Peel was a little inelined to view the event as a foregone conclusion, and, of course, there was not really much doubt about it, but a match is half lost if a player starts playing the other man's reputation. The day must come when the best of golfers has to retire gracefully. Peel has shown great improvement this season, and will, I have no doubt, shake tilings up a little more next year.

The annual general meeting of the Auckland Golf Club will be held on Saturday, 18th May, at the Sports Club, at 8 p.m., when a very satisfactory report and balance-sheet will be presented, Messrs C. E. S. Gillies and -1. 8. Lennox, the secretary and treasurer respectively of the club, are energetic and painstaking officials, and the club is fortunate in having their services.

The Christchurch Golf Club’s monthly medal competition was played on Saturday at the Shirley links. There was a large turn out of members. The following are the principal scores:—Kitto (scratch), gross score 87, nett 87; Sams (handicap 4), 92, 88; W. Cotterill (11), 99, 88; JJ. Wood (5), 96, 91: Gresson (14). 105, 91: W. Harman (4), 96, 92; Burton (8). 101. 93: Orbell (7), 101. 94; Graham (14), 110, 90; Miles (6), 103, 97; Harris (10), 113, 97; V. Harman (6), 104, 98.

Harry Gillies will require to be in better form than he was last Saturday to have a good ehance against his brother Charles. He was driving well, but went to pieces badly now and again on his short approaches.

Sykes plays some beautiful approach shots and also drives well, but he has a slight tendency to slice his drive, which is caused. 1 think, by li\s not allowing his club head to follow the line of intended flight of the ball—in other words, by not following through truly.

The Amateur Championship of Australia Meeting is fixed to take place on the course of the Australian Golf Club at Botany, near Sydney, on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and i3th July, the championship days being the 11th and 12th of July.

1 notice a paragraph which is going the rounds just now is trying to “ring in” King Edward Vll. as a golfer. I hope he is. as the fact would undoubtedly increase the popularity of the game; but I am rather inclined to think that the originatore of the paragraph is going a little on the saying “Once a golfer always a golfer.’*

I commend the following paragraph to the attention of those who are managing the laying-out of the new course nt One Tree Hill. I quite agree with the remarks contained in it: "A word or two on flat greens is timely,” says a Sydney writer, “just now that oluba are getting their liuka

iii order for the coming winter. The ideal of a golf green is not a billiard table, or a bowling green or tennis court. A golf green should follow the natural waves or undulations of the ground there are some admirable greens of this type at Botany - which display variety of level, but absolute smoothness of turf. Of late years there has been a tendency to make perfectly flat greens. Such greens lack the interest of the undulating surfaces to the putter, ami a reaction against them is setting in in Old Country golf. It would be well for our club managers to remember this, and not, as in cases I have heard of lately, order wav\ ground to be made flat, and look only for their tin .test ground for greens.” Robert on has the makings of a really good player, lie g« nerally gets his ball well away, and follows through truly and naturally. 1 venture to predict that his handicap will come down rapidly. A strong movement is on foot in England for the encouragement of “artisan” golf. Ln Scotland golf is the favourite game of the working men. and there are numerous links supported by the municipalities. The new movement aims at getting the English municipalities to make •similar provision. The chief towns in the United States already provide links, and so do some English towns. T really do not see any reason why we should not follow suit. Wanganui already lias a successful municipal Opera House, and tin re is sonic talk of a municipal athletic club, which I have no doubt would be a great success, so why not a municipal golf links. Give us the lead. Wanganui. Speaking* of Wanganui reminds me that I have received from the hon. sec. of the Wanganui Golf Club the programme of the four days’ tourna inent, which that club proposes to hold on the 22nd to 25th i lists. inclusive. The first day will be devoted to four events, a driving and approaching competition (150 yards), score handicap, putting competition, and a Bogey’ handicap. The next day there is another driving and approaching competition, this time of 250 yards, a putting competition, and an IS-hole handicap, medal play. On our late Queen's birthday there is an IS-hole handicap against Bogey. and the club championship, while on the last day it is intended to finish the club championship if possible. Wanganui goiters are thus promised a good four days’ sport. The Auckland Golf Club has made arrangements to obtain the services of a professional. This is a step in the right direction. as there is no doubt that most of our young players are groping in the dark; indeed, it could hardly be otherwise, and once

a wrong style or stroke is acquired it is far harder to discard it and learn the correct method than it would be to acqtiire the proper style and stroke if the embryotic golfer were “caught young” ami properly instructed.

Harold Gillies leaves for England shortly. By the Hine he returns, with the experience which he will no doubt acquire on English links, he will prove a thorn in the side of most of our top-notch er s. Of the three graces of the Auckland golf links 1 think Harold has the best style, and he impresses me as being a player who will Improve rapidly when he is brought into contact with golfers who will bring him on. and moreover he has that greatest of all advantages, youth, on his side.

One of flip most regular attendants on the links is Dr. lx»wis. The genial surgeon gives it as his opinion that golf ia better than physic, and coining from auch an authority tin* public should “take a note*' and lake to golf.