GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue V, 1 August 1903, Page 307

GOLF NOTES.

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"Stoney Dead.”)

Perfect weather favoured our golfers last Saturday. It was good to be alive on such a day, and to be on a course with such a panorama as one gets from One Tree Hill. In my experience our links have the most beautiful views of any links I have ever played over, and I have never heard of any links that can be compared with them. The only course that I know that could be compared with them is the St. Briac course in Brittany, some eight miles west of Dinard. This is a nine-hole course, and one plays round a point jutting out into the sea. The average level would be about 200 feet above the sea, and at times one has the sea many feet immediately below. Then each hundred yards or so one comes to a new rock-bound bay, and on the horizon, as well as close to, there are many erag-like isletsBut One Tree Hill has a different class of scenery. It is not pure seascape, but a landscape with just the right amount of seascape to make the picture perfect. What can be more beautiful than the view from the top of the hill looking towards the south? Immediately in front the green fields of the Cornwall Park make a restful foreground. Then come the villas of Onehunga, each surrounded by its own ring of trees, and extending down to the shores of the Manukau. Behind one sees the cones of many extinct volcanoes, starting up like giant mounds from the fertile fields of Mangere and Week’s Island. Further on the Manukau appears again in its arms that run to Papakura and Waiuku, and the faraway hills finish off a perfect picture. On the east side one sees the beautiful Ellerslie racecourse in the foreground, surrounded by the houses of Remuera and Ellerslie. Further away is the St. John’s lake, the only fresh water to be seen from Maungakiekie. Then appear the waters of the Tamaki, with pretty little sand stretches, and homesteads nestling amongst protecting trees. The Waiheke channel separates the mainland from the island of the same name, and from Ponui. Gazing at tliis stretch of water on a perfect afternoon, the sun shining on its unruffled surface, producing the effect of burnished silver, a quaint remembrance has come to me. It recalls the picture of the Holy River in the Promised Land.

But scenery no more makes a golf course than a dress coat makes a dinner. One can do without scenery and a dress coat, and yet have tne best golf course and the best dinner. Such courses as Sandwich, Littlestone, Muirfield (where the amateur championship took place this year), and Prestwick (where the open championship took place), are totally lacking in scenery. I would sooner have a day’s golf at any one of these courses than a week’s golfing at a course where the finest views could be obtained, provided the golf was not good. As to the quality of One Tree Hill as a golf course, I intend to write about that at some future time.

On Saturday the second half of the George Cup was played. Mr Peel, who led on the first day’s play, did not sustain his effort, and only returned a total of 184. The cup now lies between Mr Harry Horton and Mr W. B. Heather. They tied at a net return of 180, and will play off at some future date. The full scores are:—H. Horton, first 18 holes, 122 (handicap 30) —92; second 18 holes, 118—30—88, net score, 180; W. N. Heather, 101—13—88, and 105—13—92, net score, 180; D. MacCormick, 110—25 —9l, and 110—25—91, net score, 182; Dr. Coates, 101—12—89, and 106—12— 94, net score, 183; R. A. Carr, 99 —6 —03, and 97 —6—91, net score, 184; A. Peel, 01— 5—86, and 103 —5 —98, net score,

184; J. S. Rutherford, 115—22—93, and 115—22 —93, net score, 186; J. Burns, 98 —B—9o, and 105—8—97, net score, 187; R. Horton, 112—18—94, and 119—18 — 101—net score, 195; P. Upton, 108—12 — 96, and 112—12—100, net score, 196; L. Mair, 112—16—96, and 117—16—101, net score, 197; E. Dargaville, 112—15—97, and 115—15—100, net score, 197.’ One match took place for the Hanna prize. Dr. Lewis, beat Mr Rhodes in the semi-final by 3 and 2. This leaves Dr. Lewis and Mr W. D. Heather to light out the final. Thus Mr Heather has two important matches to play. If he wins one the handicapping committee will have to pay him some attention. I have very little doubt that shortly we shall see Mr Heather down to the single figures in his handicap, and all would be glad to see him get on to the scratch mark (when he deserves it). If there is a want in our club it is the great difference between .the standard of play in the scratch players and the general run of the members. There are only two or three who own to a handicap between scratch and 12. For the prize presented by Mrs Lewis Mrs W. Bloomfield now leads with a total of 9 up. She is closely followed by Miss Gillies and Miss Ethna Pierce, with returns of 8 up. The best single round score was that of 1 down, by Miss Pierce. Her first day return was not a good one, and so she is still a little behind. But the returns show what a difference eclectic scoring makes. Mrs Bloomfield was not up on bogey either day, and yet her return is 9 up. This rather circumscribes her round for next Thursday, as it means that she has only to try and play at some few holes, as she has already got wins at so many holes, und it does no good to win them a second time. Have you ever taken the trouble to count out your eclectic score for one course? You will be surprised at the results. The best players of the club eclectic score for One-Tree Hill would be about 50 for the 18 holes.

Members are reminded that the local championship commences next Saturday, and the entries close on Wednesday. Players should enter for this event, however hopeless their chances may be. It is such a good training for matches in the future, when we all hope to be champions. The present championship must lie between Mr C. E. S. Gillies, Mr Hooper, Mr Colbeek, and Mr 11. T. Gillies. The event promises some close matches, and will not be the runaway affair it was last year, when the only player in practise was the champion, owing to the event being held so early in the season. While I fancy Mr C. E. S. Gillies is not playing his best, Mr Hooper and Mr Colbeek have improved out of sight, and Mr H. T. Gillies is returning to his old form, so often talked about but so seldom seen.

By the middle of next month our ladies will depart to Wellington to bring back, I trust, the ladies’ chainpionship. Miss Lewis, Mrs. Bloomfield and Miss Gillies have all got first-class chances of winning, and it will not surprise me if two of them are found in the final. If they would only remember that condition is almost more important than practice for a competition like this they would materially improve their chances. When out of condition one’s nerves are nt the worst, and when in such a state success is very unlikely. Condition is only got by a regularity, regular hours, regular meals, regular exercise, and a breather before breakfast in the morning.

I understand some twenty ladies intend to compete at Wellington. When they come back, especially if they bring home the champion, they will all agree that they have never had a better holi-

day. But the three al>ovc-mciitioiied will have to forego much of the gaiety that the humbler player* will enjoy. The New Zealand Amateur golf championship meeting, 1903, will be held at the Waiohike links, Napier, from Wednesday, September 2, to Tuesday, September 8. The meeting will be under the management of the Napier Golf Club. The following is the programme for the championship meeting: Amateur Championship of New Zealand, over IS holes, tinal 36 hole*. Gaine to be scored byholes. Winner will lie considered the winner of the challenge cup. The cup will be handed to the club of which the winner is a member. and will be held by the club until the next championship meeting. Champion-hip of Hawke's Bay (open). Two rounds of IS holes. Medal play, for challenge cup now held by Mr. C. K. S. Gillies, tin- winner on two consecutive occasions or three in all to become the owner of the cup. Open Handicap. Match play v. bogey, 18 holes. Handicap limited to IS strokes. Open Handicap. Medal play, IS holes. Interclub Challenge Vase, presented byMr. E. D. O'Rorke, to be held by winning club till next championship meeting. Teams of four players will represent each club. The aggregate gross score of each team in the open handicap will decide this event. Foursome Bogey Match, over 18 holes. Handicap. For Mr. O'Rorke's interelub vase we ought to be able to put into the field a fairly strong team. At the present time Mr. C. E. S. Gillies. Mr. Hooper. Mr. H. T. Gillies and Hr. Coates intend to go to Napier. If we had our full team, with Mr. Colbeck, I believe our team would be invincible. Possibly Mr. Sykes or Mr. Peel may be our fourth man. but whoever he is the team, with out three plus men, will be very likely winners. The final for the Burnaline Cup, played on the Ashburton links, was won by Mr. D. Woods, who is the present holder; Mr. H. H. Fookc second and Mr. J. S.. Tennant third.