On the Golf Links

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 22, 29 May 1912, Page 8

On the Golf Links

This paper has been appointed the o fficial organ of the Ladies’ Golf Union, A'eic Zealand brunch. Secretaries of ladies’ golf clubs are incited to forward official notices, handicaps and alterations, results of compo titions and other matters of interest, to reach the publishing office not later than the Saturday prior to the date of publication.

AUCKLAND. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Handicaps. Try HE question of handicaps crops up every time golfers meet. It has I been recognised for some time now that the easy going fashion most elute have of adjusting handicaps is far from satisfactory. The usual method seems to be for some member of committee to be the handicapper for the season. Someone is placed on the back mark, perhaps scratch, or, if the handicapper has exalted ideas, plus something, the next few names are arranged according to merit, and the rest are put in anyhow. The next step is after the first match. The unfortunate winner, if a long handicap man, has his handicap reduced to an alarming extent, and his chances for the next few months are poor. It seems to me that a general system for New Zealand could easily be arranged. Perhaps on the same lines as the Ladies’ Golf Union. At present Wellington's scratch player is plus 6, Christchurch plus 5, Napier plus 2, and Auckland scratch. These men are probably about on the correct marks, but after you leave the back men the trouble arrives. I know from observation and from personal experience when travelling that Auckland players handicapped at from three to eight strokes from scratch have practically no chance of holding their own with players on the same marks in Southern elubs. I think a determined effort should be made at the next New Zealand Council meeting to have this matter put on a proper footing. Standard of Play. The handicap matter naturally leads to the question of the standard of play in Auckland. Tire Auckland Club is the largest in New Zealand as regards men only, and it seems to me their golf is the . weakest. We have never managed to win the O'Rorke Vase, and for some years our best performance individually was having a representative in the final of the Amateur Championship. Players seem keen, and practise at every opportunity, yet we don’t seem to have anyone .coming on to back up Burns and Colbeck. Is it that the teaching is not satisfactory? I think it is time the committee of the Auckland Golf Club went into the matter seriously and endeavoured to find some method to improve our standing as players. Etiquette is a very weak point with members of the Auckland Club. When players lose a ball they seem to think that it is a crime to let anyone pass. It does not appear to strike them that the whole course is being blocked by their selfish methods. I hope players will soon learn to insist on their rights, and go through on such occasions. The player that cuts out divots at each shot, ami forgets to replace them, is also a great trial. For the sake of the course all players should insist on their partners repairing the damage at once. Touring Team. Matters are well forward in connection w.th the trip to Cambridge on June Ist and 3rd. At least twelve will be going from Auckland, probably bv the 4.15 train from town. An effort is going to be mile to have this train stopped at Mangere. which will be a great convenience, as it will allow the tourists to have a game before leaving. I understand that the Cambridge Club is getting together a strong South Auckland team, so our players will need to be at their best on the tricky but exceedingly interesting Cambridge course. Work at Middlr.nore is going on apace. Several tees are I ring altered each week for the purpose of trying the holes from different position*, preparatory to laying down permanent tees. The grass on the

newly sown greens is making a splendid show, and if conditions remain as favourable as at present at least two of the greens will be ready for use in July. Captain’s Prise. Several of the ties of last Saturday have been played off and good games resulted. Burns and L’pton had another good fight. Burns, who went round in 80 in a high wind, was a little too good and won 4 up and 2, though Lipton pushed him hard right to the end. In the B grade Bruee, with the aid of a stymie and a missed short putt, put Towle out on the 18th green. The other ties produced good games. The next round or two look like producing good games, as quite a number of the players are practising hard and putting up good scores. Since last Saturday Colbeck has registered 79 and 78, while Burns has got 79 and 80. These players look like providing the winner of the A grade. Putting Competition. The continuous match still provides plenty of amusement. I hear that some fortunate player has a card showing 22 for the 12 holes, which will about win this month’s match. One player managed to get three ones in the first five holes, but, alas, a brace of three caused the card to be destroyed. It Seems Hard. A player in Melbourne found dlmself disqualified in a very peculiar manner a week or two back. Playing in a qualifying round of the club’s championship he got into the rough. After a search he found a ball, and with a good shot got well out. On coming up to the ball he discovered it was not his. So goimr back to the place he had lost his ball he discovered another, and onee more playin® a good shot got well out. Alas, on closer examination this one was found to be a stranger also, and having played two strokes with a ball not his own he was out. It seems hard, but the rule appears to be quite clear on the point. Saturday’s Matches. The second round of the captain’s prize was played on Saturday. The course was in very good order." Several of the tees having been altered with a view to testing the holes from a different point, added a new interest to the game, in the A grade Hanna had a runaway win from Nettleton, the latter being down from the start. Bums seems to be going to get more games out of this tournament than the other competitors. Playing McCormick he started well, and played the first nine holes in good style; but after this he started giving his opponent chances which he availed himself of, and a good game ended all square. Colbeck was rather too good for Sharland, and won 4 up and 3. Sharland who is a very prominent player d : d not do as well as was expected in the game. Miller and Dargaville was a good game most of the way, but Dargaville was always a little ahead, and won 4 up and 2. The B grade matches brought along another lot of good games. Kinder an! Finn had a very close game, finishing on the last green, Finn being two down. Carr and Kingswell also went to the last green before deciding the winner— Carr, 1 up. Fairclough, who is playing well at present, was too good for last year's winner, Bruee, winning 3 up and ]. Fairclough on present form is well in the running for the final. Allen, who is another fancy for the final, had a good struggle with Cane, and managed to w.n 2 and ]. It was anyone’s game up to the 17th green. Dawson, George and Richmond all had fairly easy wins. A medal handicap was also played for the benefit of those not in the Captain’s prize. H. B. laisk returned the best gross score, 80 from scratch, but be was only fourth. Towle, with 97, 20—77.

was the winner, with Fairclough 98, 20 —7B and Carr 95, 17—78 equal second. Lusk had a great chance as he went out in 38, but a succession of missed putts on the way home made the inward total