GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XIX, 9 May 1903, Page 1283

GOLF NOTES.

By

Stoney Dead.

The present fortnight is the busiest time of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club. The greatest event of all is the singles championship of the club. The present position is that the final is to be played between Miss Gillies and Miss Lewis on Thursday morning. A elose match is to be expected. Both players are playing well at present, and whoever is on the top of her game on the day will winMiss Gillies has the advantage of greater experience over her opponent. To have come through successfully a match-play competition like the New Zealand ladies championship must necessarily give one a great deal of confidence, which is almost a synonymous term with “nerve,” and nerve is a quality that is of inestimable value in a close finish. Many is the important match won by an inferior player against a superior by his ability to put forth his best endeavour in good shots at the crucial time in a game. Nerve is a quality that varies immensely in different players, probably accountable to each players’ different temperament. Let it be understood that one does not speak of nerve as meaning nervousness. If I were asked for a short definition of nervousness, in reference to games, I should summarise it as “want of nerve.” For instance, a player who in an important match promptly tops his ball for 3 or 4 holes when such topping is not referable to stiffness, is what one would call “nervous,” but perhaps that same player later on in the match may play with astonishing “nerve,” holing every reasonable put under “nervy” conditions, as, for instance, when he has a 2 or 3 yard put on a good green, to win or save the match. He is then wound up, and is capable of beating a much superior opponent who has not got good nerve. Then, again, another player will start off and play magnificent golf (according to his standard of play), and will continue to do so till the end is in sight, and then, heigh-ho! a fuzzle. a topped approach, a half-hit put, and he is hors de combat by want of “nerve.” Some players are credited with nerve merely from their inability to get excited, and by their power of concentration. In some eases, more notably some of the Scotch professionals, they haven’t fjot the amount of intellect necessary to become excited, and play exactly the same game whether playing a championship or giving a stroke a hole. I consider it wrong to call such players of good nerve, just as a man should not be called a brave man who does what woidd be described as a brave act in another man, when he does his act without the slightest sensation of fear, let alone a total inability to reckon up quickly or slowly what the odds are against him. A brave man must know what fear is, and a golf player of good nerve must know what nervousness is.

However, if I let my pen run on on the subject of “nerve,” the “Graphic” will have to publish a “nerve” supplement.

Returning to the ladies’ championship, and the final between Miss Gillies and Miss Lewis, I have already said that the former has the advantage of experience, which necessarily cultivates nerve. The latter, by her extremely good performance at the same championship, has shown that she is a player of good nerve, and that while she is a nervous player, her nervousness will probably disappear with greater experience, and that when she is wound up she will do herself justice. Oh, that we could make our minds a total blank when playing, and only keep our eye on that wee white ba’ which lies so prettily on the grass in front of us.

The first match played in the championship was between Miss Lewis and Miss Morrison. The former proved too

strong for her left-handed opponent, and beat her by a good margin The same afternoon Miss J. Draper beat Miss Buekland by 5 and 4 to play. A much closer game was expected. Miss Buckland is a young player, with a nice clean style, and good swing. It is her first championship, and so probably she did not do herself justice.

On Wednesday Miss Lewis won her tie in the second round, beating Miss M. Richmond by 5 and 4 to play. Through the green the players were fairly level, but Miss Lewis was much superior on the green.

The same afternoon Miss Torrance, who is playing a strong game, put out Miss J. Richmond. Mrs W. Bloomfield beat Miss J. Draper. The former is playing well at present, but is rather uncertain, playing some holes in real good style, and then playing a real bad shot. Miss Gillies beat Miss G. Gorrie after a very hard tussle at the 17th hole. .Miss Gorrie is to be congratulated on making such an extremely good fight with her doughty opponent. The most important match of the tournament played so far took place on Friday, when Miss Gillies beat Mrs W. Bloomfield by 3 up and 2 to play. Miss Gillies was suffering from a bad cold, which one would have expected to have put her off her game. Her medal round shows that it did not have any such uuweleome effect. Miss Gillies ‘ holed the 18 holes in 97, as against Mrs Bloomfield's 98. 97 is the present match record of the ladies’ course held as well by Miss Lewis. Miss Gillies had an unfortunate hole at the Pah hole which cost her 7 as against an easy 4. The first three holes cost Mrs Bloomfield the match, as Miss Gillies won all three. Subsequently this lead was pulled down to 1, but never to all square. 3 up and 15 to play is an enormous handicap between level players.

The semi-final between Miss Lewis and Miss Torrance resulted in a fairly easy win for Miss Lewis.

2V foursome handicap match play tournament is also taking place. The semifinals are to be played on Monday, when Miss Shuttleworth and Miss J. Draper play Mrs Bloomfield and Miss Lewis. The former pair receive 7 strokes, ami a very close match will probably take place. The same afternoon Mrs O’Rorke and Miss Gillies play Miss E. Pierce and Miss Torrance. With the aid of 10 strokes I expect the latter pair to win. As I have already remarked, Miss Torranee in playing a strong game, while Miss E. xierce is one of the most promising of the lady members. The final between the winners of the semi-finals takes place on Wednesday, and I expect to find the long handicap pair, Miss Torrance and Miss E. Pierce, to have still an unbeaten record.

In the earlier rounds of this competition the following matches took place: —Miss D. Stevenson and .Miss M. Cotter, receiving 5 strokes, beat Miss Morrison and Miss C. Draper by 4 and 3; .Mrs Bloomfield and Miss Lewis, giving 13 strokes, beat Mrs Reid and Miss Barstow, by 3 and 2; Miss E. Pierce and Miss Torrance, receiving 8 strokes, beat Miss ,1. Richmond and Miss M. Richmond, by 4 and 2; Miss Shuttleworth and Miss J. Draper, giving 12 strokes, beat Miss Pierce and Miss Fenton, by 6 and 5; Mix Bloomfield and Miss Lewis, giving 18 strokes, beat Miss D. Stevenson and Miss M. Cotter, by 9 and 7; Miss E. Pierce and Miss Torrance, receiving 9 strokes, beat Miss B. Gorrie and Miss G. Gorrie. by 5 and 3; Mrs O’Rorke and Miss Gillies, giving 8 strokes, beat Mrs Colbeek and Mrs Russell, by 4 and 2. On Tuesday a large field is expected for a handicap medal competition. On Thursday morning the final of the championship between Miss Gillies and Miss Lewis, and in the afternoon thj putting, approaching, and driving competitions take place. For these competitions the committee

have made the full •wing conditions:—* Putting: One ball at three distances;

Approaching and putting: One ball at three distances, about 20, 50, and SO yards; Driving: Best average of three balls. Each drive d*u>t carry 50 yards from the tie to count. Haskell Kempshall or any cored ball not allowed. Lady Ranfurly has kindly consented to present the prizes on Friday, May 15th at the Club-house.

The new ladies’ golf jacket is a very smart garment. It is made of a ver*; pretty red cloth cut demi-sa? at the back, and with revers in the front. It Iris ro faring, and perhaps would have been smarter if it had black or white facing?, but it is very chic as it is. I a dies’ who are sufficiently good players to go round the 18 holes in 105 strokes are entitled to wear bright gold butt ms with the Club initials on them. These buttons set off the jacket admirably. Airs W. Bloomfield, Miss Gillies. Miss Lewis. and Miss <;. Gorrie are the only ones who have qualified so far. but 1 expect a numl>er more to be in the •‘button brigade’’ before long.

The new ladie-/ dressing-room is rapidly approaching completion, and ought to be finished in another fortnight.

This has been quite a ladies’ week, as the links have pretty well been given over to them. On Saturday the men played a handicap medal round. There, was not a large attendance owing to the threatening appearance of the weather. Of those who did play the following returns were sent in:—L. E. Mair. 89: W. W. Bruce, 89; < . Heather. 87; W. B. Colbeck. 90: R. A. Carr. 90; J. 11. Hooper. 91: W. H. Heather. 92: C. R. Pollen. 94: 11. Gihillan. jun.. 96: Rev. J. 3’. McWilliam, 96: H. Gillies, 96; W. E. Brace, 97: J. W. Hall. 98: E. Dargavillo. 98: Rev. 0. A. Tisdall. 100: A. B. Robert on, 101: C. Arnold, 115.

The men’s committee have taken into hand the question of the engagement of the professional for coaching and playing. A good deal of dis/itisfaetion has been caused by members being unable to get Hood's services when wanted as other uiemlwrs had engag. il him for some time previous and sometime to come. Probably the following rules will meet the case: — ' 1. No member to engage the professional .on any Saturday for more then one hour, or for more than two hours on .any other day should any other member desire to engaige .him .on lhe same day and hi» lime be fully occupied: notices of same to he given at least on the previous day. _ _ . 2. No member to have more than one engagement on the book at any time. 3. Members desiring to make engagements to note same in a book, which shall 1»e kept on the hon. secretary’s table in the club-room; the professional to take his engagements from this, and to be consulted. if possible, on the matter: the professional shall also enter in this book such times as he m;»y be unable to give tuition by reason of dub-making or other duties. 4. Any member making an engagement to be held responsible for such time (weather permitting), unless the professional fails to keep his engagement. 5. Public holidays to be reserved for playing, and the professional shall not he required to teach on such days: the professional not to play more than one round with any player if other players require Lis services.