GOLF

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 April 1911, Page 10

GOLF

This paper has teen appointed the official organ of the Ladies’ Golf ITttfon A'ew Zealand branch. Secretaries of ladies’ golf clubs are invited to fortcard official-notices, handicaps and alterations, results of competitions, and other matters of interest, »• reach the publishing office not later than the Saturday prior to date of publication.

AUCKLAND. CTT NURSERY handicap for plaj’ers A I with handicaps of 13 or under jj -took place last week. The weather Was fine and the links were in good order after the rain. Thirty-eight players took part, and the winner was Mr. lA. M. Ferguson, who went round in DO, less his handicap 19, net score 71. Others who handed in cards were: 8. Hanna, 92 —18 —74; B. S. Finn, 101—24—77; H. 8. Stringer, 91 — 17— Dr. Kinder, 109—30—79; C. T. Nathan, 107 —19—81; M. M. Louisson, 105—21—82; E. W. Gave, 99—10—83; W. W. Bruce, 101—10—85; F. J. vSharland, 100—15—85; J. W. Storey, 104— 18— 80; F. E. de Guerrier, 107 —20—87; H. Allen, 104—10—88; H. Wade, 108— 20—88; Dr. Purchase, 107—18—89; Dr. Parkes, 109 —20—89; J. B. Macfarlahe, 105—15—90; G, Pierce, 109—18—91; C. Gardiner, 115—24—91; L. W. Alexander, 107—10—92; H. A. Milnes, 109—17—92; P. N. Kingswell, 108—15—93; T. D. Ball. 108—13—95; E. MacCormick, 120— 24—90; Rev. Malden, 117—20—97; N. P. Wyatt, 115—18—97; Dr. D. Ferguson, 139—30—109. Members are reminded that the Captain v. Treasurer teams match is the fixture set down for Saturday next. Those who wish to take part should send their names into the Secretary, Mr. S. Ruddock, before noon on Friday. Partners will be drawn. Waitemata. The above Club had glorious weather for 'their opening day, and the function was a great success. A large number of players took part in the mixed foursomes 'which resulted in a very popular win for Dr. and Mrs. Guineas with a net score of 48 for nine holes. Miss Bray and Mr. Dimant were second, net score 50. Afternoon tea was served in the new Club house, which has just bee® completed. The Okoroire Tournament The Okoroire Easter Golf Tournament quite kept up its high reputation, both for golf and fun. The weather was rather mixed, but on the whole good. The Auckland golfers managed to secure most of the prizes, and some good rounds were done at various times. Among the prizewinners were, Mr. Felix Kelly, who took premier honours by winning the Okoroire Cup and the first prize for driving; Mr. W. W. Bruce took two prizes; Miss Upton and Miss Cotter tied for the gold medal; Miss Upton and Mr. McOominick won the first mixed foursomes, and Mr. and Mrs. Kingswell won the second; Miss Stevenson won the approaching and putting after tieing twice with Miss Jessie Reid, who gained second place; Miss Stevenson also won the one club match for the second year. WELLINGTON. The Taranaki Pv. L. D. Kidstone, champion of the Miramar Club, was only defeated by J. V. Saunders, of Wanganui for the Tara-

naki championship, at Easter, by a small margin, and Wellington players—the Miramar Club members especially—will sympathise with this sterling and consistent golfer in his defeat. Heretaunga. Amongst the many visitors to the Heretaunga links during the Easter holidays was Mr. D. Pryde, of Feilding, a famous golfer in the last decade, who, with Messrs. A. Dunean and T. Crosse, has been asked by the Council of the N.Z. Golf Association to report on the suitability of the Wanganui links for the championship at the beginning of September. Mr. A. Dunean, owing to pressure of business, is unable to -make the trip, but Messrs. Crosse ami Pryde intend making their tour of inspection on 25th April. Afterwards they will submit a full report to the Council of the N.Z.G.A. Mr. J. Carne Bidwill, who is a prominent member of the Wairarapa and Wellington Golf Clubs, and who is familiar with most of the leading courses in the Dominion was a visitor to Wanganui, and played several rounds on the links during the recent holidays. He is, I understand, to be asked by the Council to furnish an indepedent report on the links. Wellington Club. There will probably be a record attendance at the annual meeting of the Wellington Golf Club, to be held at the beginning of May.' Messrs. A. S. Biss and F. A. Kebbell are up for election as secretary, and as both have held the position on former occasions, with success, there is likely to be a keen fight. Mr. Biss has more recent records, both as secretary and captain, to his credit, whilst Mr. Kebbell did good work in the days gone by when the club had its headquarters at Miramar. On Handicapping. By CHALLENGER. One of the best known English contributors to golf literature defines a handicapper as one whose duty it is to act impartially, who tries to do so, but never succeeds. Is it any wonder that the unfortunate handicapper never succeeds. Even in New Zealand a moderate sized dub would ha ve, say 00 playing members and it is the duty of the handicapper, if he would perform his task well and faithfully, to make himself acquainted with the average form of those 00 players, before he assesses their handicap for the monthly competitions. He could hardly claim to be able to ascertain this average form under two rounds, or 120 rounds to go through the club. If he laid himself out to assiduously carry out this programme he could hardly do it under six months, by ,which time the- season would have come to an end.

Clearly the foregoing method is an absurdity, and .as a matter of fact no handicapper tries to ascertain the form of players in that way. More often he handicaps his immediate acquaintances and those he is in the habit of playing with from the knowledge lie actually gains of their play. With the rest of the club he takes no liberties, and they usually find themselves on a mark which though flattering leaves them little chance of bringing about a boil over.

It is surely worth while considering whether it would not work out better to allow every player to declare his own statis. .Everyone has a good idea of what score he can do on his own course, when on bis game, and as honoui is a fundamental principle with all golfers, no one would be likely to make a false declaration, and if he. did so his competition scores would find him out, and hold him up to scorn. Under such a system as this a player’s handicap would be brought down from

month to month as he improved, but at the same time ho would not be so penalised for a win that the subsequent competitions were of no further interest to him.

1 see that the Golf Council are moving in the matter of standardising handicaps. It is to- be hoped that this project will be pushed along vigorously. The want of something of the sort is brought home to us when we see an Otago player wtio receives two, easily beating a North Island man whose «ub assess him at plus 4, and doing this on the plus man’s own links. Evidently the Council proposes taking the best men of the Dominion, probably Duncan, Lusk, Wood and Burns as scratch, and workirg up from that point. It is to be hoped that there will be no suggestion of establishing a plus grade.

The Plus grade has only gained a footing through the vanity of those players who preferred to appear as 0 men when they were really in receipt of 10 from the bona fide scratch player who was plated on the plus 4 mark. Any attempt to standardise handicaps most of necessity entail the standardisation of courses and this will be a step in the right direction. In America courses are standardised strictly on distances. The Ladies’ Golf Union standardise, using distance as the main factor, but taking

into account, the position of vross bunkers, which though objectionable except within 1(H) yards of the tee, cannot always be avoided.