On the Golf Links

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 23, 5 June 1912, Page 9

On the Golf Links

This paper has been appointed the o fficial organ of the Ladies’ Golf Union, New Zealand branch.

Secretaries of ladies’ golf chibs arc 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, Cambridge Trip. T|f HE South Auckland Association II I has got together a good A team to meet the Auckland Club tourists, and a clbse match is expected. As the matches are being played on King’s Birthday, I will not be able to give any account of the games till text week. The Auckland team, consisting of W. B. Colbeek, A. N. Howden, Dr. Bamford, J. B. Lusk, F. 3. fc'harland, P. Lawrence. H. G. Stringer, R. Miller, J. L. R. Bloomfield, E. Cave, S. Carr, Dr. Fairclough, J. B. Macfarlane, and G. Pierce, left Auckland on Saturday, most of them travelling in the 4.15 train, after having a game at Middlemore. 1 have little doubt that some of the team will find the Cambridge course pretty tricky, especially the 4th and 6th holes. The 4th hole, or “the bluff,” as it is called, has caused many a good card to be destroyed, and the Willows, or 6th hole, has nearly as bad a reputation. Loeal knowledge is a great help on a course like Cambridge, but being only nine holes, I look to our men to learn the fine points quickly. There was no fixture on the match card for Saturday, owing to so many going away. During the week one mateh in the A grade of the captain’s prize was played, Colbeek meeting H. Horton. The first few holes gave promise of a very close finish, but after the round was half over Colbeek went steadily ahead, and ran out a winner, 5 up and 3. Colbeek is very consistent at present, and though his handicap is now only 1, I look for him to win a mateh or two very shortly. His round against Horton was approximately 80. He did not play out the third, and was 75 for the other seventeen holes. Burns and MaeCormiek play off their tie oir Monday morning, and should furnish a elose game. The touring team could have been strengthened if these two players had been able to travel. Oval Shafts and Grips. A new shaft for brassey, or driver, is to be placed on the market at Home, and will no doubt drift out to these parts. The shaft I have seen described is said to give another 20 or 30 yards on to the length of the drive. The oval shaft, or angle shaft, as the introducer ealls it, is made with the flat side of the oval, not quite square to the ball, the top edge being turned away from it as it were. The idea is that when the club is being swung edge forward it retains its full stiffness, while when the flat side faces the line of swinging it ibceomes whippy and springy, and the oval is so arranged that, in conjunction with the natural turning of the wrists, the club is kept stiff until it is just com ing on to the ball, when its full whip comes in, and so, it is claimed, the extra 20 yards is gained. Another shaft has been introduced, which is almost triangular to fit the natural formation of the hands when closed, and it is also provided with a sunk place to take the left thumb. This should be of great assistance to those players that cannot manage the overlapping grip with any degree of ease or comfort. There are also two new balls just ready to be put on the market, which the makers and those who have tried samples, declare will fly further than any ball yet introduced. It seems to me the troubles of the course architect are'only just beginning. The Handicapper. When a long handicap man wins a match, the handicap manager is reviled by all tut the hieky winner. I wonder how local handicappers would feel if they had the experience that befell the Essendon (Melbourne) handicapper a week or two back. In the first medal of the season, three players tied for first place with net scores of 62. Two bad handicaps of 26, and the other player one for 27.

Permanent Course at Middlemore. During Fast week a number of the holes at Middlemore were measured, and in the course of a few days, when the actual lengths have been decided on, the new tees will be put in hand. During this planting season, I think the committee should see about putting in a few plantations as bunkers. Going to the fifth and sixth holes would be a good place to start. A few trees at the back of the first and 17th greens would also be a good plan, as a background is needed at both these holes. The green at the tenth hole has been repaired, and will be ready for use in a few weeks. The temporary green at the tenth is very rough, and it will be a pleasure to get away from it. Hand and Eye. Norman Brookes, the famous tennis player, is also a finished performer at the golf links. In the Royal Melbourne Club Championship he has secured the substantial lead of six strokes at the end of the second round, and, barring a bad relapse, should be the winner. His rounds were 79 and 84. The 79 is the only one less than eighty in the two rounds played, while the <B4 was played under trying weather conditions. Auckland Golf Club. The weather spoiled the golf on Saturday at the Middlemore links, though a well-contested game was fought out between W. B. Colbeek and E. A. Dargaville in the semi-final of the A grade of the Captain s Prize tourney, the former winning by two up and one to -play. Dargaville started well by winning the first two holes in fours to Colbeek's fives. The third was halved, and the fourth was Colbeck’s in a beautifullyplayed 4, reducing Dargavine’s lead to one up. The fifth and sixth were halved, and Dargaville recovered his lead of two-up by winning the seventh in 3. Colbeek, however, made matters all square at the turn by winning the eighth and ninth in fives, Dargaville duffing his mashie at the latter when in a good position. Colbeck took the lead for the homeward journey with a 3 to Dargaville’s 4, The 11th was halved, and Dargaville made the game all square at the 12th with a four, but Colbeek was oire up again at the 13th. The 14th was halved in wellplayed fours. Going to the 15th the players were heavily handicapped by the weather, and Colbeek won in five, making him 2 up and 3 to go. Colbeek drove well to edge of 16th green, and DargaviHe, finding the creek the match appeared over, but he recovered with clever mashie and holing out with next the hole was halved in 3. This made Colbeek dormy two and by notching the 17*h in five to his opponent’s six he won his way into the final round of the tourney. A bogey competition also played was won by Colbeek, with Dargaville second, very few of the small field completing the round. During the week W. B. Colbeek beat li. Horton five up and three, and R. O. Gardner beat I. Storey two up in the captain’s prize tourney. The continuous putting competition for May was won by E. A. Dargaville, witfi a score of 22 for the 12 holes. Other cards returned were: —W. B. Colbeek 23, H. T. Gillies 23, H. D. Bamford 24, D. MaeCormick 24, E. Horton 24, F. J. Sharia nd 25. This competition is becoming so popular that the committee are considering making the periods fortnightly for the future. Waitemata v. Maungakiekie. A match between the Waitemata and Maungakiekle Golf Clubs was played, on •Saturday, when, despite the heavy rain, the games were enjoyed, and some good golf was provided. The A teams of the two clubs played on the One-tree Hill links, where each club won five games, the B teams meeting on the Waitemata links, where each chib also won five games, so the match ended all square. The results of the various games were as foL'ow, Waitemata players being mentioned first:— A Teams (at One-tree Hill). — Penman lost to Burns, 3 up and 2 to play; Kempthorne lost to MaeCormiek, 4 up and 3 to play; Johns beat Kirker, 4 up and 3 to play; Hensen beat Ilarke, 5 up and 3 to play; Balgarnfe lost to C. F. Gardener. 3 up ami 2 to play; Sutton lost to Wynyard. 4 up ami 3 to play; Norton beat Morpeth, 5 up and 3 to play; Mickle beat Dudley, 9 up and 7 to play; Jeffries lost to R. O. Gardner, 3 up and 2 to play; Kai!codex beat Kidhigs, 5 up and 4 to play. B Teams <at W*aitemsta>. —McNeill Jost to Reid, Fotherfngham lost to Chennellß, Hobbs lost to Thacker, Rush bent De Sfenr, Cousins lost to Ward. Dimant bent Taylor, R. Macky beot Cooke. R. Marky lost to Grant. Simmonds beat Parkes, Hadjow beat Peacock.

The return match will be played ou August 3.

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) Tuson Cup. Christchurch once more holds the Tuson Cup. The match was played at Bhirley on Saturday week, each club being represented by teams of eight, and Christchurch wuii decisively by 8 games to 4. Wellington was represented by a strong side, consisting of A. D. S. Durnau, A. J. Abbott, R. L. D. Kidston, M. W. Horton, K. D. Duncan, J. B. McEwan, C. St. G. Gore, and L. C. Hales. The Christchurch team consisted of B. B. Wood. H. E. Wright, B. C. Rutherford, J. Forbes, W. T. D. Harman, R. Trolove, S. K. Sleigh. H. R. Brittan. Previous matches have been confined to singles, but on this occasion four-ball matches were added. The results of the matches were as follow, the Christchurch players being placed first; — Four-Ball Match.—Wood and Wright 1, beat Duncan and Abbott 0; Rutherford and Forbes 1, beat Kidston and Horton 0; Harman and Trolove >, all square with K. Duncan and McEwan p. Sleigh and Brittan 0. lost to Gore and Hales 1. Christchunh 21. Wellington ij.

Singles.—Wood J, v. Duncan Wright 1, v. Abbott 0; Rutherford I, v. Kidston 0; Forbes |, v. Horton J; Harman 0, v. K. Duncan 1; Trolove v. McEwan 4; Sleigh 1, v. Gore 0; Brittan 1, v. Hales 0. Christchurch 54, Wellington 2s. Totals: ' Christchurch 8, Wellington 4. Although so decisive a victory was rather unexpected, still local players generally expected Christchurch to win. Besides the knowledge of the course, in which the local men have an advantage, the fact of the visiting team having to travel is another factor of importance. Christchurch is also well off for sound players near the scratch mark, more so, perhaps, than any other club in New Zealand. Wellington were without Bidwell, but Christchurch were also without Lusk, otherwise the teams were very representative. The next match will be played at Wellington in October Perhaps naturally, each club has won the cup twice on its own links and lost twice on the foreign links. The difference between the sandy Shirley and the more or less clayey Wellington easily accounts for the fact. A good shot in sandy country is often no good on heavy turf, and vice versa.

The match which created most interest was that between Wood and Duncan. It was not disappointing in one respect but was so in others. Then* was seldom much between the players, but the scores were very poor for such players. Neither Wood nor Duncan should be over 80 at Shirley, but both players were in the eighties. Dunean failed chiefly on the greens .where he is usually deadly, and Wood was weak in the short approach, a very unusual thing for him. The green** •were excellent, but the top-dressing fairways were very heavy, and allowed of no run on the balls. Duncan made one noteworthy recovery. At Landjs End he topped his see* ond, hit his third into a bunker, got out in 4, ou the green (a diflicult one to approach in 5), and holed in 6. Wood, overrunning, lost the hole. The matches between Sleight and Gore, and Trolove and McEwan were very dost* as was the finish of the match between Forbes and Horton. Forbes held the lead all the way, but Horton eaine with a rush at the end and squared a game that was apparently lost. Wright played probably the best golf for Christchurch, and his win from Abbott was the result. The steady Rutherford was too steady for Kidston, and Brittan excelled himself. The closest game in the four ball was that between Harman and Trolove, and K. Duncan and McEwan. There was never more than one hole between the sides, and when the 17th had been halved •in 3 the game was square. Trolove here holed out in 3 with his mashie, but McEwan equalised by sinking a 12ft putt for the half. Rutherford and Forbex (€) accounted for Kidston and Horton by 6 and 5, a big difference in a four-

hall. Wood and Wright beat Duncan and Abbott by 4 and 2, Abbott being rather off hi* game. Gore and-Hales got Wellington’s only win in the fourdiall by beating Sleigh and Brittan by one up after a very close and exciting game. Improvement to the Links. The ground which was top-dressed some weeks ago is now recovering, but is hardly playable, yet. The original grass is coming through in most places, and the young grass can be *een in favourable situations. Some weeks must elapse before the treated ground will l>e tit for play. For the present we tee up. The turf from the old 1 Sth. green is being used to make the new 18th green on the other side of the <lubhou>e. The original site will be occupied by the 18th hole putting green so generously donated by Mr. Peter Wood. The green* in the new paddock have also been top-dressed Xiid should be ready for use before long. Timaru. The fir.*t round in the Bowe (up competition has been played. Tire be.*t scores were as follow: Mrs. Cox and Barker, 93. I— Mi*s B. Hay and Wright. 97. 3— 94, Miss I.iesler and F. J.iesler. 105. ll— 94; Miss Barkas and Revell, 109, 15—94: Miss Armstrong and Seymour. 101. 6—95; Mr*. Costello and Perry. 105, S—9? ; Miss Wright and Gressov \B, scratch—9B; Mrs. Allen and Rein 11. 12—99.