AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2, 10 July 1912, Page 8

AUCKLAND.

(Special Cino Championship. THE qualifying rounds for the Auckland Club Championship are fixed for August 3rd and lOth, and 'the first round of match play for the 31st August. It will not be possible to play >the match to a conclusion, as the players concerned in the final will probably be off 'to Wellington to take part in the New Zealand meeting, opening on the 16th September. Auckland Club matches have a way of lingering on for a long time before the winner is arrived a't. The Captain’s Prise this season is a good example. The semi final rounds in both grades were played some weeks ago, but it was not 'till Wednesday last that the B grade final was played, and it looks as if the A grade will be put off for a week or two longer. South Auckland Team's Visit. On Saturday, the South Auckland team pays a return visit to the Auckland Club. As far as is known ait present, the team ithat was suec-ssful against Auckland last month will lie on hand to do battle for the Sou h. It is possible 'that there will be one or two extra men brought along; if so, one or two Auckland players who did not go to Cambridge will have to be chosen. I understand that all the players who went to Cambridge are available for the game, and will represent the Auckland Club. It is proposed to play four-ball matches in the morning and singles after lumh, to save congestion on the links during the afternoon. Labo-tr Day Match. ■I understand that Mr. Downes, late of Okoroire. has presented a handsome trophy to the Club, to be competed for as the Committee may direct. The Committee have decided that the match shall take the form of a 36-ho)e medal handicap on Labour Day (early in October), players to choose their < n partners. I think this match should . : ract a good field, and will lie unique, . i that, with the exception of the championship final, the Club never plays a match for more than 18 holes. All-day Matches. In Sydney, allday games are quite numerous, and give players good practice for the strenuous times they have at the big tournaments. In a recent match for the Concord Cup. E. L. Apperley, the Sydney champion, put up a very high-cl.i-s perf. rinam-e, doing 79 and 73 —1.52, which gaze him an easy win. The afternoon round of 73 is easily a record for the course, the previous best being 75. by D. <». Scalar, the Manly professional, while the best amateur score was 77 by Apperley. A Great Driver. Ed. Kay, the new Open Champion of England, is credited with being the longest driver in England at present. Playing Va-rdon, at Oxhey, a new course near Imndon, Ray’s drives were prodigious. Vardon, who is a very long driver, was outdistanced consistently. At the second lode, Ray drove over 300 yards, and at the twelfth 489 yards, he was comfortably on the green in two, and holed the putt. Ray was round in 73 to Varden’s 77, and won 4 up and 2. Ray is said to use a driver with a steel face, and it certainly seems 'to be very effective. Strange Golf. The Monte Carlo golf course, just opened, looks like being t' e record course •f the world. It ia aitua ! about 2500 ft •bove sea level, and a 1 a part of it has been blasted out tho hillside. '£30,000 has been spent • . it up to date, *ad eora it to follow. *ue of the holes

is a strange affair. It is 294 yards, but is only a mashie shot. 'lUe explanation is that the rock all the way to the hole is very hard. The slope is gentle, and the ball runs on and on. The great trouble is to play the mashie shot with such moderation as to make it stop within 290 yards. Amand Massey, tire famous French professional, took his driver to play this hole for the first time, but was fortunately stopped by an official.

“ Golf Illustrated'’ Ladies’ Gold Cup.

This match, which was played shortly before the English Ladies’ Championship, may be considered to have given Colonials a slight idea as do how ladies’ golf in Australasia compares with the English standard. The match was played at Hanger Hill, which always a difficult course from the back tees, -was more so owing to the long spell of dry- weather just before the event was decided. Tire scores were high. Miss C. Leitch, the winner, doing 85 and 90—175, was clsely followed by Miss Barry, with 91 and 85—176. In looking for the comparison of play mentioned, we have to go a little lower on the list to where Miss Nancy Parbury (Royal ■Sydney), 92 and 91 —185, appears. This score placed Miss Parbury seventh in the large field that competed. Quite a number of wellknown international players were below Miss Parbury, so though perhaps it is rash to draw conclusions from one match (even if a very searching one), we may feel justified in saying that our leading ladies are very little inferior to the Home players. Mixed Foursomes.

The Middlemore links recovered remarkably well from the overnight soaking, ami the greens played really well. Mixed foursomes were played, and the afternoon's golf was thoroughly enjoyed by some fifty couples. The winners of the competitions were Miss Dwthie and P. Hanna with a net score of 83, and the best round of the day was pul up by Mr. and Mrs. I>. Hay with 96 gross. Following are the particulars of the best cards returned:—

Miss Duthie and P. Hanna, 106—23—53; Miss Thorpe and P. Long, Mie—lB—B4; T" le ai 'd J. L. R. Bloomfield, 102 — I'—Bs; Mr. and Mrs. D. Hay, 96—10 —86; Miss Alison and VV. A. Fain-lough 106 —17 —SSL Miss G. Gorrie and P. Upton, 98—

Miss Cameron and W. W. Prime, 117— 25— Miss P. Gorrie and .1.- Millar, 113— 21-92; Miss Payton and D. Kirker, 107— 13—94; Miss M. Reed and G. Pearce 120— 26— Miss .1. Draper ami H. Tonks’ 11’ — Slttr?' M ' SS al, d J. Evans’ 127— Maungakiekie.

sta ? e of tlle Maimgaklekle Golf < lull s captain’s prize tourney was reached on Saturday. The results were as follow: —A. B. Webster beat G. I. Tavlor t U -£ : o' G - '*°oke beat M. Morpeth, 1 up; J. 17. Saunders beat W. Grace, 4 np ami 2 to play: .1. A. Peacock beat E. Hickson, 2 up and.l; G. D. Thacker beat M. Ward, 4 up and 2; A. M. Ferguson beat C. Hav. fl up and 3; R. O. Gardner beat 1> F Reid snp and 4. • • »

The qualifying round for the capta n’s match will be played on Wednesday, 10th July. The following is the draw:—Mips Metcalfe plays Mrs Eyn«h; Miss Crowther plays Miss Scott; Mrs Ridings plays Miss Murray; Mrs Bail pHlys Miss Gordon; Mi s M. Walker plays Miss N. MaeCormick; Miss Btee!e plays Mrs Robertson: Mrs Hardy plays Miss Barstow; Miss Ridings piavs Miss P. Metcalfe; Miss M. MaeCormick plays Miss Holmes; Miss I. Walker plays Miss A. W 11 won; Miss Gutteridge plays Miss Taylor. Waiteraata.

Tho Wsitemntn Golf club's third monthly medal (bogey play) was competed for on Saturday on the Waltemata links. The best cards returned were:—A. EX Hobbs and J>. Jefferlis, all square; R. Pbilson and W. F. Warren, 1 down; A. Clouston and A. Johns, 2 down.

Entries for the club championship and B grade handicap will close on Wednesday.