GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXI, 25 May 1901, Page 971

GOLF NOTES.

(By

“Stymie.”)

! The final for the championship of the Auckland Golf Club was played at Green Lane on Saturday, when C. E. S. Gillies met and defeated Harry Gillies by 5 up and 4to play. The match consisted of 30 holes, and was played (particularly the latter portion) in very unpleasant weather. Charles was only 1 up at the end of the first round, but he increased this materially in the afternoon. Harry spoiled a lot of “good things” by bad short approaching. This was his weak point in his match against Sykes, but I expected him to rise to the occasion last Saturday. M. S. Todd is now golf champion of Otago, having defeated J. R. Scott in the final by 3 up and 2 to play. The George Challenge Cup presented to the Auckland Golf Club by Mr B. Thorne George, the popular expresident of the club, is a fine, handsome, upstanding flagon of chaste design. worthy and typical of the donor. It has been won by Mr Leatham, and will be played for every six months. The cup should prove a useful property to the club, as it is provided that an entlunce fee be paid, and the amounts so obtained go towards providing other prizes.

The Auckland Golf Club has been particularly fortunate in the matter of gifts from members. Mr Kirker, in addition to very considerable financial assistance, presented to the club a fine out-door clock.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Golf Club was held at the Sports Chib last Saturday evening, when there was a large attendance of members. The secretary reported that eighteen greens had been laid out and topdressed at the new links, and that there was every prospect of their being in first-class order by the time they are required for play. The professional for the new links yeas engaged by Mr T. J. Brassey, on behalf of the Auckland Golf Club. This should be a sufficient guarantee as to his suitability, as besides being an ardent and capable golfer, Mr Brassey is a keen business man and a good judge of character. Dr. J. Logan Campbell was unanimously elected President of the Club for the ensuing year, and it was decided to leave the christening of the new links with him. It was felt that neither One Tree Hill nor Maungakiekie were suitable names, and, moreover, that it would be a graceful compliment to leave the matter to our Mayor.

Dr. Lewis was unanimously elected captain of the Club, and it would be hard to find anyone to fill the position better than he, either metaphorically or actually. An invitation has been received from the Gisborne players, asking the local men to go down and try their links. The Secretary, in making the communication, said that the Gisborne men did not necessarily want the Auckland top-notchers, and that they would be content with a team of doctors. Rather rough on the profession.

Messrs James Kirker, S. Thorne George, and Matthew Clark have been elected vice-presidents of the Auckland Golf Club.

Mr S. Thorne George must easily hold the record for the quickest chairman in Auckland, and he has one invaluable quality in a chairman—his ruling is never wrong, and when it is once given, points of order, objections, and protests roll up against it and retire even as the breakers when they try their force upon some rocky sea shore. As an umpire or a judge of a horse race he would be hard to beat. When Mr George called “Any other business, gentlemen?” Mr P. A. Vaile rose and said he had a motion to move which he had “evolved entirely out of his own inner consciousness,”

and therefore he had no doubt th« meeting would consider it a good one and pass it unanimously, and it was: “That Mr C. E. S. Gillies be made a life member of the Auckland Golf Club.” Mr Vaile said that he thought that comparatively few golfers knew what they owed to Mr Gillies, and it was only some few who had been intimately associated with him in the rearing of the club, or who had had the experience 'of “holding up the heavy end of the log” in similar organisations who could thoroughly appreciate Mr Gillies’ efforts. The motion was seconded by Mr J. P. Lennox, the bon. treasurer, who no doubt is even now beginning to recognise the accuracy of Mr Vaile’s remarks, and was carried unanimously. It is no doubt gratifying to Mr Gillies to know that his services to the game and the elub are appreciated. The championship cup was presented to the winner. C. E. S. Gillies, by the president. The winner has held it, with the exception of two years, since it has been played for. J. B. Kyd and Burness being the others who have had the honour of having their names inscribed on the handsome trophy. The. Napier Golf Chib has extended its links to eighteen holes, and it is said that when they are completed there will be no better course in the colony. The course is a very good one, and has plenty of natural bunkers.

The Napier ladies apparently take a keen interest in golf judging from the number of trophies provided for ladies* play- The extended links will no doubt give them a good chance to develop their game and become accustomed to the bunkers, and by the end of the season it is anticipated that they will render a very good account of themselves.

I have received from “Lofter” the Napier Golf Chib’s programme up to August 31st. There are a large number of events both in men’s and ladies’ classes, and the Napier golfers will not be able to complain of want of entertainment for a long time to come.

We are prepared to believe that golf stories in the future will be as full of wonderful variety as fish stories (says a London writer. Here is a very good local one which has the merit of being true, although, unfortunately, a few months gone. It occurred when the warm spring rains gently showered the grizzling golfers. He addressed his ball and smote the air severely. Swore he softly to himself, straddled yet again, waggled, and cleft the elusite sphere into pulpy fragments, only to find that he had been assaulting an unoffending, embryotic, mushroom of spherical contour; and worse still had lost two strokes during the operation- I know this is true, and I asked a golfer who it was that did it, but he winked the other eye, and exclaimed, “Hookey Walker,” because he said he must not “give away” club secrets.

Says “Girdler” in the “Weekly Press” (Christchurch): —New brooms sweep clean, and the new committee of the Christchurch Golf Club is trying to follow out this rule. Great improvements have been made in the accommodation for members at Shirley by the Hagley Park hut being added to the one already there, and arrangements have been made with the wife of the greenkeeper, who now occupies the cottage behind the hut, to provide tea and refreshments for the wearied golfer. Such changes and care for the well-being of members are bound in time to popularise the club, and increase the number of members on the active list.

If this is the state of affairs at Shirley I am afraid our Southern friends will get quite a shock when they see the Auckland Golf Club’s arranger ents at One Trie HilL