GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVI, 17 October 1903, Page 21

GOLF NOTES.

tßy Stonev Dead.)

On Wednesday, October 8, a very enjoyable At Home was held at th* Golr Chib-house at One-Tree Mill. Both the men’s and the ladies’ clubs combined to make the evening a success. There were no guests invited, as the members of the two clubs are numerous enough to more than fill the main club-room. Mr Sykes, the captain of the men’s club, worked like a Trojan to make the affair a and was heartily congratulated on accomplishing his object. The big club-room looked very well when it was filled with the ladies in their pretty dresses. All round the verandah and on the balcony Chinese lanterns bad been hung. This gave the house a very picturesque effect when looking at it from the main road. Light supper was served in the ladies’ club room. The entertainment was opened by a pianoforte solo by Mrs Dttthie, who also played most of the accompaniments. Then followed songs by Mrs Russell. Miss Buddle, Miss Cotter and Miss Lennox, Messrs Sykes. Watt, MacConnick, and D. Nathan. Perhaps the chorus songs were most enjoyed, as everyone joined in heartily. There is nothing like a good rousing chorus to break down all stiffness and put everyone at his or her ease. An excellent quartette was given by Mrs Mair, Miss Coates. Mr Sykes, and Mr (filfillan. Dr. Lewis was very happy in a recitation entitled “A Golfer’s Jeremiad.’’ The technicalities of this piece appealed to an audience of golfers, aud the men amused themselves by illustrating by way of interruptions by local instances the various types of golfers ponrtrayed in this bit of poetry. The ga-fhering broke up at a convenient hour, and all went home feeling they had enjoyed a very pleasant evening. It is to be hoped that this will not be the last of such pleasant evenings, for there is no reason why it should not be a monthly fixture on full moon nights during the summer, with the variation of a bread and butter dance. It costs nothing, is very little trouble, and gives a great deal of pleasure.

Owing to the fact that the public- are now availing themselves to a far greater extent of the enjoyment of the fresh air and beautiful sceneiy of One-Tree Hill, the committee have decided to alter the course so as not to interfere with the public. The holes that hart been cut out are the Pah and the Ramparts, which are the present 11th and 12th holes on the eottrse. These two holes are the only ones that arc dangerous to the public, and all will agree that 'we are better without them. Apart from con venience, these two holes were bad golfing holes, even for One-Tree Hill course. The 11th was a one-shot hole of a very unfair type. Two men would play two exactly similar shot-, perhaps, pitching within an inch of each other, and one ball would run stoney dead and the other would run over the green or stop short. I have seen one man play a shot with far more power and run than his opponent’s shot, and yet the ball that ought to have run is short of the green, while the other one has rim light over. If the ground could be got into perfect order for some 30 yards short of the hole, tnd the green a good one. the hole would be a good one. but as it was it was a bad one. The 12th was. again, a holo that was a correct one for its type—a drive and a pitch. The tee-shot was an

awkward tcie, and the pitch had to be accurate to make sure of a four, to say nothing of a three. But the trouble with the hole was that it was an impossibility to get the ground in anything like fair condition for playing one’s second. To play a neat pitch from a bad lie is not golf. In place of these

two holes two new- ones are to be formed in the tramway paddock—that is. over the hedge. The fourth hole will remain the same, but from the fourth green one will play up to the corner of the paddock to near where the second green is. probably a drive and an iron. From there one will play to the present fifth hole, probably two full shots. From the present fifth green one will play a long hole, passing to the right of the fourth green, a three-shot hole. From this new green one will play to the present sixth green and play the seventh as liefore. This change i* in the way of a makeshift. but will undoubtedly be an improvement. The fault of the new boles will be that they will be too crowded unless the first new green is placed over the fence and more to the left than is proposed at present. Otherwise the lines for the -three holes will be much too close together.

An amusing incident happened lately on a course not a thousand miles away from Auckland. A member of the club who was very far from being proficient at the game, but was, as is often the case, proportionately keen, proceeded one day to have a round. He had been practising very sedulously at home with a captive ball, and was quite certain he could drive a real good ball. The caddie allotted to him was very new to his work, and was very fearful of doing anything to arouse the anger of his master. Now, it happens that the hero of this story is one of those persons upon whom Nature has played a trick. He suffers from inability to fasten the gaze of both eyes on one spot at one time; in fact, his optics looked at right angles. When he got to the first tee he took out hi- driver, and when in position apostrophised his ball in rhe following manner: “Now. you little , I’ll give you what for.’’ Of course the usual foozle ensued, but when he turned round to change his club his caddie had fled out of sight. His left eye had been on the ball, but his right eye had looked fairly at his caddie, and the boy had fled in mortal terror. By the way. in last week's notes I took a cutting from the "Lancet’’ without mentioning where it came front. It was the paragraph about over-playing golf, or. rather, where the game ends aud the business begins. Last week Hood journeyed down to Waiwera to lay out a golf-course there for the proprietors. He tells me that Ire has laid out six really good holes behind the hotel. As far as I understand it the holes are on the farm land on the same side as the hotel, but further up than the bridge. Nothing satisfactory can be done with the sand stretch on the promontory alongside the hotel, and so the meadow land has been brought into requisition. I am sure the proprietors will never regret spending the small amount of money necessary for six holes, and my belief is that it would be sound business for them to have spent the money necessary for forming a first-class IS hole course. Such a course would prove such a draw to Waiwera that they would be paid back their outlay in one year. WHAKATC GOLF ( LI B. The Whakatu (Hastings) Golf flub held their last meeting of the season on Saturday week, and the matches brought out many players and visitors to the links. Eight ladies competed in the Stroke Handicap. Mrs Perry's card showing 5i> —scr. —.»(>. was the best return. Miss Brathwaite won the Ladies’ Drive and Approach, and Miss Fitzßoy won the Putting Competition. Miss Beatson and Cox. SO—S—Bl, took the first place in the Mixed Foursomes. The Men's Foursome Handicap was won by Messrs Circuitt and King, writes our Napier correspondent.