LADIES' GOLF

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1256, 14 May 1914, Page 22

LADIES' GOLF

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE NEW ZEALAND LADIES’ GOLF UNION.

The Auckland Ladies’ Club played its monthly medal handicap competition on May sth. In the senior grade the best cards handed in were: —Miss V. Duthie, 110—24—86; Miss M. Alison, 103 —15 —88; Miss M. Payton, 113 —24 —89. In the junior grade the best cards were: —Miss N. Crowther, 113 — 25 —88; Mrs. McCormick, 123 —32 —91; Mrs. Briffault, 130 —37 —93.

The Auckland Ladies’ Club played the second round of the match for the Hope Lewis Rose-bowl at Middlemore. The following are the results: Miss E. Barstow beat Miss E. Young. 1 up; Miss M. Frater beat Miss Cooper, 1 up; Miss M. Towle beat Mrs MacCormick, 5 and 4; Miss M. Paton beat Mrs. D. Hay, 4 and 3; Miss R. Gorrie beat Miss S. Henderson, 1 up; Miss M. Allison beat Miss J. Niccol, 6 and 5; Miss M. Cameron beat Miss C. Thorpe, 2 and 1.

At the Maungakiekie Ladies’ Club’s (Auckland) monthly medal handicap the following were the best cards sent in: —Miss M. Ridings, 107 —34 — 73; Mrs. Owen, 118—37 —81; Miss C. Scott, 116—33—83; Miss K. MacCormick, 112 —27 —85; Miss Macklow, 113 —26—87.

The Te Aroha (Auckland) golf season was officially opened on May 2nd, but the weather was showery. There was a large number of visitors and new members present. The games were keenly contested, with the following results: —Miss Clayton and A. J. Burrows, 69 —14—55; Miss Fawcett and S. Currie, 63 —7 —56; Mrs. McGlashan and W. Maingay, 71—10—61.

According to the printed programme of the Waiwetu (Wellington) Golf Club, the principal events to be played on the Hutt Park Links in 1914 are: May 16, Ladies’ Button (stroke); May 23, Mr. Palmer’s prize (18 holes stroke); May 30, Men’s Button (Bogey); June 13, Ladies’ Button (Bogy); June 27, Men’s Button (stroke); July 11, Ladies’ Button (stroke); July 18, Captain’s Prize (mixed foursome); July 25, Men’s Button (Bogey); August 1, Atkins Cup Competition starts; August 15, Ladies’ Button (Bogey); August 29, Men’s Button and first round of Men’s Championship (stroke); September 5, second round of Men’s Championship: September 12, Ladies’ Button and first round of Ladies’ Championship (stroke); September 19, second round of Ladies’ Championship ; September 26, Men’s Button (Bogy); October 17, Final Continuous Bogy.

At a recent committee meeting of the Waiwetu Golf Club, Wellington, the roll was examined, and, after eliminating all doubtful members, it was anticipated that the club could safely reckon revenue from 60 men and 40 ladies. The question of charging an .entrance fee, in view of the large membership, was discussed, but was eventually deferred for the present. Arrangements were made for lockers to be installed in the Club House for the benefit of men and also for ladies, should they desire them.

There was a goodly muster of enthusiasts at the Heretaunga Links, Wellington, when the first monthly contest for the ladies’ gold medal contest was played. The weather was perfect for outdoor sport, and a very enjoyable time was spent. In the senior division, Mrs. Lees was the successful competitor with a score of 82 net. Other scores were: —Miss L. Brandon 84, Miss Wheeler 85, Miss Stafford 87, Miss McLean 89, Miss E. Stafford 90, Mrs. Peacock 95. Mrs. Fitzherbert won the junior division with 79 net. The scores of other competitors were as follows: —Mrs. Webster 83, Miss Bristow 91, Mrs. Marchbanks 93, Miss Dalziell 99.

The Gisborne Club has arranged its new course for this year’s play, and its par will probably be 82.

A feature of the recent play on the Hutt Golf Club’s course was the fine scoring and consistent golf of one or two of the lady players, Mrs. J. P. Murphy having done several scores between 81 and 85, while Mrs. J. H. Wagg recently broke 80 in a four-ball match. The bunkers on this club’s course are being completed one by one, adding to the difficulties and the pleasure of the course.

An improved look is to be noted in the Otaki golf course. The fairway has been put into better condition but the greens and approaches need a good deal of attention before anything like low scoring can be depended upon. It certainly seems a pity that this ideal seaside golf course is not better developed. If it were taken over by the New Zealand Council and properly laid out for a championship course it could probably be made the equal of anything in the world, as the heathery turf and the sand close to the surface makes it almost perfect for winter golf. Natural bunkers exist everywhere in the nature of hills and sand ridges and holes, of any desired length, could be laid out so as to call for the most accurate play with every club in the golfer’s kit. The Otaki Club itself, with quite a small membership, has done wonders in providing so enjoyable a course and such a comfortable golf-house.

The Manawatu Ladies’ Golf Club’s monthly bogey ..match was played on May Ist. The results were as follows:—A Grade —Mrs. A. Seifert 18, 3 down; Mrs. Innes 18, 7 down. B Grade —Mrs. Millton 23, 8 down; Miss G‘. Moore 27, 8 down. Juniors —Mrs. Holmes 3, 10 down.

The Wanganui Links were officially opened with mixed foursomes. Miss Glasgow and Mr. Imlay Saunders were the winners, with the score of one down. The president, Mrs. D’Arcy, provided tea. A match between president’s and captain’s teams was played, and was won ’ by the latter by 6 to 3. Amongst the ladies present on the Links were: —Mesdames Dymock, Fairburn, Clay, D’Arcy, Glasgow, Te wesley, Hogg, Howarth, Cooper, Babbage, Wilkin and Davis, Misses Glasgow, Nixon, Lambert, Cowper, Collier (2), Christie, Jackson, Brettargb, Dymock, Hogg, Milne, Brown, Wilford, Hawkins, Harper, Bates, Stevenson, Burr, Nolan (Gisborne), Alexander, Mrs. Von Haast, Mrs. Orton, Mrs. Lomax, Mrs. Vennel (Oamaru), Mrs. John Anderson and others.

At the annual meeting of the Wanganui Ladies’ Golf Club, the following officers were elected: —President, Mrs. D’Arcy; captain, Miss H. Cowper; treasurer, Mrs. Izard; secretary, Miss Glasgow; assistant secretary, Miss Harper; committee, the Misses Darley, A. Cowper, Brettargb and Burr.

At the New Plymouth Golf Links twenty-three players competed in the bogey match for a prize presented by Miss Rundle, Miss Bewley winning with the good score of 2 down. The best six scores were: —Miss Bewley, 13 handicap, 2 down; Mrs. Penn, 30, 5 down; Mrs. Paton, 11, 6 down; Miss A. Read, 18, 8 down; Miss Stephenson, 8, 9 down; Mrs. Hutton, 11, 9 down.

At the opening session of the Pahiatua Golf Club there was a good gathering in spite of the rain. Miss Smith, daughter of the president, gave a splendid drive from the first tee as an opening shot. Miss Hughes and Mr. Miller and Miss Oxley and Mr. Stevenson handed in the best cards for the afternoon’s play. Amongst those present were: Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. H. Miller, Mrs. W. Miller, Mrs. McSherry, Mrs. Sheckleton, Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Dawson, Mrs. Hewitt, Mrs. Bolton, Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. P. Tulloch, Mrs. C. Crewe, Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Marshall; Misses

Smith, J. Miller, Allen, Warren (2), Hughes (2), Robinson, Sheckleton, Marshall (2), Meridith, Mexted, Grut, Oxley, Davis, Miller, Lloyd, Thomas; Messrs. Smith, Marshall, Miller (3), Stevenson, Grant, Hill, Sheckleton, Tulloch, Hewitt, and Thomson.

The Marton Golf Club has been registered as a private company .

The fairway of the Hawera Links is improved out of all knowledge comparing it with the beginning of the season, say two weeks before Easter, and now is becoming quite good. Ther are, however, places which by general opinion will need to be cleared, notably at the fourth short hole, which should be cleared more round the green and in the fairway, and at the sixth at the drive off. The carry there is pretty severe when the wind is against the player. Already some records have been made on the course. A two at the first hole and a three at the sixth, made by one of the players, will take some beating.

The monthly bogey match played by the Hagley Park Club, Christchurch, resulted in Miss Cotton and Miss R. Harris tieing in the senior division, each being 4 down. In the junior division Miss Andrews and Miss Chapman tied, each being 7 down.

A bogey match for ladies of the Richmond Hill Club (Christchurch) resulted as follows: —Miss L. Martin 4 up, Miss L. Harley all square, Miss Simpson 2 down, Mrs. F. Robinson 3 down, Miss Reid 1 down, Miss Pender 4 down, Miss Gibson 4 down.

Mrs. E. A. Denham, of Ashburton, won the first ladies’ golf competition on the local links this season. It was a keenly-contested game.

A large number of members attended the opening of the Greymouth Golf Club on the Omoto Links. Considering the wet weather, the grounds were in fair order. A mixed foursome of 14 holes, was played, the best card returned being Miss Kettle and Matheson—all square. Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies.

The Timaru Ladies’ Club played the first bogey match of the season on May Ist. The results are as follows: —Seniors —Miss N. Wright (hep. 5) 5 down, Miss B. Hay (8) 6, Mrs. Cox (12) 6, Miss Budd (17) 7, Mrs. Kerr (18) 7, Mrs. Allen (14) 9. Juniors — Miss M. Hay (23) 5 down, Mrs. de Lambert (2) 8, Mrs. Neville (19) 8, Miss Kempthorne (22) 8, Miss D. Winter (28) 8, Mrs. McCaskill (19) 9. Miss N. Wright and Miss M. Hay will play off for the tie.

The following is the result of the Bogey Match played by the St. Clair Ladies’ Golf Club (Otago) on April 28th: —Mrs. Sargood, 2 down; Miss N. Glendining, 4 down; Miss Nixson, 6 down.

It has been proposed in Wellington that a portion of the Town Belt should be reserved as a public golf ground. The City Reserves Committee has the matter under consideration, and has set up a sub-committee consisting of Councillors Buddle, Luckie, and McKenzie to report regarding the suitability of the ground lying between the Fever Hospital and Mother Mary Aubert’s Home, at Island Bay, for golfing purposes. The sub-committee intends to obtain the opinions of golf clubs on the point, and will go over the ground with a view to preparing a report for presentation.

It is probable that not many ladies will agree with the English player George Duncan’s opinion that the ladies’ championship ought to be decided by strokes, over 54 holes. Duncan considers that this would provide a better test and not such a great physical strain as the match play tournament,

Miss Dodd and Miss Ravenscroft, who have been some months in America, are returning to England in time to take part in the English Open Championship.

4 tJ * ♦ A. R. Lempriere, the amateur champion of Australia, leaves for England this month. If possible, he may put in an appearance as a spectator at the open championship at Prestwick in June, but will be too late for the amateur championship at Sandwich, which commences on May 18.

When the South Herts course was very wet owing to the rain, Harry Vardon played a double of excellent rounds. In the 36 holes he had no fewer than four 2’s.

Golfers, and the followers of many other sports and pastimes, will regret to hear of the death of Mr. Gordon Robertson, the husband of the first lady golf professional. Mr. Gordon Robertson, who was a brother-in-law of the late Mr. Stuart Anderson, the Royal Portrush secretary, won the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers’ gold medal in 1895.

The golf hotel is going to play an important part in the future of the Riviera. Catering for golfers has had much to do with the development of Hyeres and Costebelle. The golf hotel at Sospel is now beginning to attract the golfer pure and simple, and the booking for May are heavy. In addition, there is the projected £40,000 hotel at the Cagnes-Nice course.

The new method of calculating scores for handicapping has made a considerable difference in the status of English players. Last year 37 players held the honour of being at scratch, this year there are only ten — Mrs. Cramsie, Mrs. A. Ross (better known as golfers under their maiden name of Hezlett), Mrs. Cuthell (nee Adair), Miss M. Dodd, Miss E. Grant Suttie, Miss F. M. Harrison, Mrs Hurd, Miss C. Leitch, Miss G. Ravenscroft, Miss F. Teacher. In future claims to the position of scratch are to be reconsidered every year, and players not maintaining their form are to put back a point.

A peculiar incident is reported from the Failsworth Golf Links, England. Whilst a police sergeant was walking along a footpath which crosses the course he was amazed to find a Dunlop “V” ball alight on his head, fortunately without injury, the ball having been driven clean through his helmet. Mr. F. Lee, of Manchester, the player who surprised the sergeant, stated that he had driven the ball from the seventeenth tee, and it had travelled about 130 yards before being stopped. Helmet and ball are now on exhibition at the local club’s headquarters.

In taking stock of the diverse styles of swing adopted by different players, and noting how unreliable the average long handicap golfer is, says a writer in an exchange, one is led to the conclusion that the most common fault is that so many players start the club on the beginning of the upward swing, accompanied simultaneously with, the bending forward and inwards of the left knee. Generally the result of this action is that the body does not feel “wound up” to deliver the return stroke freely with the arms, the shoulders get into the shot far too soon, the body takes its weight off the right leg too soon, the hands get in front of the club-head, and the ball is either foundered or sliced, owing to the hands being drawn in and across the body instead of having followed the club-head out towards the hole. The swinging of a golf club is primarily the function of the arms. Therfore, the shoulders, left knee, and heel should only be moved in the upward swing at the call of the arms, while the top of the head should be kept as motionless as possible.