GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XVII, 26 October 1901, Page 783

GOLF NOTES.

(By

“Stymie.”)

The first round of the match for the “George” Cup was played at Cornwall Park Links last Saturday, over the championship course, medal play. Mr C. E. S. Gillies was in excellent form, and returned the good score of 83 from scratch, which was good enough to entitle him to first place. Mr G. Burness, 92-7-85, was second. Mr G. Burness, 92,7-85, was Jar treasurer of the Club, third, with 114-28-86. Mr Lennox went out very well, but had some hard luck on the return journey, or he would almost certainly have taken first place.

Mr H. Gillies took 95 gross, and Mr Colbeck 100 in the competition for the George Cup; while Mr C. E. S. Gillies took 83. These figures in a measure confirm my opinion that although the results in the championship were otherwise, on present form Mr C. E. S. Gillies should have beaten his brother, and Mr H. T. Gillies should have won his match against Mr Colbeck; but whether it is tennis, golf, or any other game, playing in an important tournament is quite a different affair* to an ordinary game.

The Wellington Golf Club held a “one club-” competition, at Miramar on Wednesday, October 9th, for a prize presented by Mrs Rankin Brown. Miss Gore . was the winner, going round with a mashie in 121 strokes, less handicap 30, total 91. The other scores were: —

Miss. Gillies clearly’ showed that her victory against Mrs Bidwell was no fluke, for in the Wellington-Auck-land match she finished no less than 5 up on her opponent. Miss Gillies

played a very steady game. She was especially good on the green. The Ladies’ Championship will next year be held at Dunedin. The following eards were returned for the October medal competition of the Christchurch Golf Club. Orbell carried off both medals with a score of 89. Orbell, 89 —0—89; W. Harman, 93—2—91; Turnbull, 98—6—92; Wood, 97 —5—92; Treweek, 99—6—93; Miles, 100—6—94; Kitto, 95—0 —95; Cane, 116—16 —100; Graham, 116—14—102. In the final bogey match for this season very few competitors took part, and in no case was anyone able to approach the Colonel's standard. The best scores were: V. Harman, handicap 4, 5 down; W. Harman, handicap 2, 6 down; Kitto, scratch, 7 down.

The delegates to the Golf Council of New Zealand held a meeting during the recent tournament, and it was decided to hold the next men’s championship at Shirley Links, Christchurch.

I am informed that the Auckland Golf Club intend to institute regular monthly competitions on the first Saturday in each month. This should prove a popular move. The Otago Golf Club has been holding these competitions for some time, and they have proved most interesting.

Mr. Spencer Gollan went very near "to adding the Queen Victoria Jubilee vase to the list of his achievements in the sporting world. Playing from 2 he worked his way into the final against Mr. C. Maitland (4), but could not get through, his opponent winning by 5 up and 4 to play. Mr. Gollan had a real “day off,” and his score must have been his worst record for St. Andrew’s.

I clip the following from an American paper. Perhaps some local golfer has a retriever he can train to a similar state of perfection. Such a dog would soon be worth his weight in golf balls.

GOLF BALL RETRIEVER. That one man’s loss is often another man’s gain was impressed on me last night on a journey over the bay from Staten Island. My tittention was attracted by a remarkably intelligent appearing Irish getter, held by an old, grey-bearded man, who was also guarding a small sack. “Yes, he is a fine dog,” he said, as though 1 had asked the question. “Wonderfully intelligent, and will retrieve from water out of deep mud as well as from a smooth lawn. I eall him Links, on account of the special work I have trained him to do. If I let him loose within a mile of a golf ball and say ‘Fetch it’ he will fetch it as sure as sunrise. I have just had him over on the island, where he has been working for two hours, and I have eleven golf balls in my’ little sack here. They are all sorts, but

will likely bring me two or three dollars. A fair evening's work. “Links don't need the light for his work, but depends cm his wonderful nose. We wait until it is too dark for the game and the links are deserted, when we begin operations. He starts on a trot and covers the long grass, rough places, streams and mud holes first, and seldom goes far without finding a ball. When he finds one he brings it to me and starts off again. He thinks it is fine sport, and is as happy as can be when he finds a ball. “He knows all the links around New, York as well as do the players who are on them every day. and he knows where most of the balls are lost on each one of them. Those are always the spots he cleans up first. “When links are guarded too closely for evening work we are up at sunrise, and seldom find any interruption at that time.”

Miss Duncan (cleek).. Mrs Adams (cleek).... Net. Hep. Tl. 110 113 18 14 92 99 Miss Izard (brassy) 120 20 100 Miss Higginson (cleek) 116 15 101 Miss Rose (eleek) 120 18 102 Mass Medley (brassy) 132 30 0.02 Mrs Lees (cleek)...... 130 scr 130