GOLF

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1260, 11 June 1914, Page 23

GOLF

Auckland Club. The links at Middlemore are playing very well at present, and those who decried the expensive drainage rcheme initiated last season can now see their mistake. After the heaviest storm the water gets quickly away, even from the pot bunkers, and that most annoying business of having to probe about in a miniature iake for your ball is unknown here. The grass is rather close, due no doubt to the cold bleak weather prevailing, and playing into the wind one often found the ball partly buried, but with a day or two of warm sun the turf will be nerfect. The comprehensive bunkering now being completed will help to make this one of the best inland courses in the Dominion, and with careful attention to greens and plenty of rolb’ng through the fairways the date of the New Zealand championship meeting should see everything in rare trim. One word about the greens. I think in this cold season the mowers should be set to cut the grass a little longer, so as to afford the roots some protection, otherwise —as has been already experienced—the finer grass gradually dies out and leaves the strong rough grass, quite unsuitable, in itself, to the purpose. On Wednesday a 36 hole bogey competition was played for a trophy presentea by Mr. A. M. Myers. The high gale and bursts of heavy rain militated against good golf, and, on the day, the “colonel” was in an unassailable position, the best score being a card of five down each round, ten down for the day, the winner being A. R. Gorrie.

During the week a team went to Cambridge to play the annual fixture, Auckland v. South Auckland. It was found difficult to get a representative team, and the dozen eventually going did not feel very confident of success, but despite the weather conditions and lack of local knowledge the Aucklanders played splendidly and managed to come through the day with a win by the narrow margin of nine matches to eight. Sharland played a great game against Arthur Gillies and won easily. When on his game Sharland produces almost faultless golf, and were he able to put his strokes together better would be hard to beat anywhere. P. Upton found Harry Gillies too good for him, and had to accept defeat to the extent of 6 and 5, while Hickson also had to surrender to J. Banks, 3 and 2, but only after a splendid game. Banks winning the first two holes, and from then on just managed to keep ahead. The other singles produced some interesting games, and South Auckland led 6 to 5 at the luncheon adjournment. In the afternoon four-ball matches were plaved, and here Auckland won four matches to two. The game Sharland and Upton v. H. Gillies and J. Banks provided some of the best golf seen on the Cambridge links, the best ball of the Aucklanders being 75. Sharland again excelled, and ably supported by the solid play of his partner, they held the upper hand throughout. In the second match Hickson struck his best form, and going out in 42 made his side 3 up at the turn, and they maintained their advantage to the end. By missing an easy putt at a critical stap-e of the game, Stringer’s side lost their match, one down. All. these matches were very keenly contested. I think a good even four-nall-best-ball match makes the most enjoyable game of all, as there is always the feeling that one can “go” for things if need be and still have another “chance”--in the shape of one’s partner. Following are the results of these matches, Auckland team being mentioned first:—Singles: Sharland beat A. Gillies, 8 up and 7; Upton lost to H. Gillies, 5 and 5; Hickson lost to J. Banks, 3 and 2: C. P. Hay beat Nicoll, 2 and 1; Binney lost to Dunbar, 3 and 1; Stringer lost to Wells, 2 and 1; Foote beat Winter, 2 and 1; D. Hay beat N. Banks, 6 and 4; S. A. Carr lost to C. Kusabs, 7 and 5; Finn beat Fraser, 2 and 1; Henderson lost to Mcßride, 3 and 2. Four-ball: Sharland and Upton beat Gillies and J. Banks, 5 and 4; Hickson and Hay beat Nicoll and Dunbar, 2 and 1; Binney and Foote beat Wells and Winter, 2 and 1; Stringer and D. Hay lost to N. Banks and Kusabs, 1 up; Carr and Finn beat Fraser and Mcßride, 2 up; Henderson and A. Gillies lost to W. Hunter and Nelson, 1 up.;

On Saturday, at Middlemore, the Captain’s Prize tourney was continued, but only very few matches were played, the races no doubt being too strong an attraction. The weather was perfect, a dull grey day with just enough westerly wind to make a player serious. Only three matches were played in the A grade. A. M. Clark had a good win from R. O. Gardner in the second round by 6 and 5, and D. MacCormick was too good for H. Horton, 4 and 3, while H. Hanna defeated H. D. Bamford on the 17th after a well contested game. In the B grade the following matches were played in the second and third rounds: —Second round: W. Gorrie beat E. MacCormick, 3 and 2; B. Dawson beat S. A Carr, 4 and 3; C. Dawson beat A. Kinder, 5 and 4; P. N. Kingswell beat H. Henderson, 5 and 4; A. Martin beat J. B. Macfarlane, 3 and 1; F. Duthie beat W. Fairclough, 2 and 1. Third round: R. P. Towle beat R. A. Frater, 4 and 3; A. Peel beat C. Mahoney, 3 and 2. * * $ # Maungakiekie Club. At Maungakiekie on Saturday the third round of the Kingswell Annual Shield was played, the conditions for this trophy being the best two bogey cards in three rounds. Following are the beat cards handed in:—<N. P. Green 1 down, G. E. L. Aiderton 2 down, L. Chennells 2 down, L. E. Wood 3 down. N. P. Green had a previous round of 1 down and G. E. L. Aiderton one of all square, so these players tie with each 2 down. The play-off will take place at the first opportunity. In the play-off for the seventh and eighth places in the qualifying round of the Captain’s Prize, N. P. Green, with 1 down, and G. E. L. Aiderton, with 4 down, secured the positions. The Green Committee should lose no time in attending to the approaches as assiduous rolling is badly needed, and the greens also showed signs of wear, but otherwise the course played well. A putting green has been laid out at the back of the club house, and next season will be ready for use of members. Waitemata Club. The Waitemata Golf Club played its second monthly medal match on Saturday afternoon. The course was in first-class order, and there were good entries, the winner being W. F. Warren with a score of 86 —11 —75. Other cards returned were: —A. E. Hobbs, 91 —13 —78; A. H. Blackburne, 96—18—78; A. M. Pickford, 100—20— 80; D. Jeffries, 93 —12 —81; A. W. Clark, 99—18—81. Next Saturday the annual competition for the Ferry Cup (at present held by W. F. Warren) will be played over 18 holes, medal play. Hamilton Tournament. The Winter Show Golf Tourney, held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, on the new St. Andrew links, at Hamilton, proved very successful. This course promises to be one of the finest in the province, the country being a series of terraces, abounding in natural hazards. Over 40 players competed, and chief interest was centred in the 36 hole medal contest for a handsome gold challenge cup, presented by the Winter Show Association, the winner turning up in N. R. Jacobsen. Scores were as follows: — N. R. Jacobsen (handicap 28), forenoon, gross 103, net 75; afternoon, gross 116, net 88, total 163; J. Banks (5), 90 —85, 84 —79, 164; A. J. Shepherd (17), 97—80, 101—84, 164; B. S. Finn (20), 107—87, 104—84, 171; H. T. Gillies (4), 92—88, 88—84, 172; W. Seifert (5), 90—85, 93—88, 173; C. F. Bond (6), 93—87, 93—87, 174; S. Dunbar (8), 96—88, 94—86, 174. The other competitors did not play out. The preliminary events of the first days resulted as follows: —Bogey Handicap—Thursday: E. Cavanagh 1, J. Banks 2. Friday: W. Seifert 1, Captain Garland 2. Medal Handicap--Thursday: D. Hay 1, B. S. Finn 2. Friday: J W. Madill 1, D. Hay 2. 4- He * * Thames. The golf match Thames versus Waihi was played at Parawai on June 3rd. Weather conditions were not very favourable, nevertheless the links were in very fair order. The match resulted in a win for Waihi Club, winning 12 games, whilst Thames won 6 games, and two games all square. The following are detailed results, Waihi players being mentioned first in each instance: —<S. Morpeth 1 v. Chambers 0, T. Morpeth and Joyce all square, Noakes and N. Morpeth all square, Cullen 0 v. Metson 1, Jackson 1 v. Clendon 0, Wilson 1 v. Montgomerie 0, Bishop 1 v. Daldy 0, Me-

Robie 1 v. Baker 0, Ingles 1 v. Macmorran 0, Hawke 1 v. Rudman 0, H. D. Morpeth 0 v. Harden 1, Robbie 1 v. Price 0, Cranwell 1 v. C. E. Armstrong 0. » * * Napier. At the Hastings links the followingmen’s matches were played on June 3rd: —Stroke Handicap: E. P. Baker (14) 77 net, H. Symonds (9) 80, M. Fenwicke (10) 80, A. Rainbow (10) 80, F. A. Cameron (15) 81. Four-ball Bogey Match —Best cards: Symonds and Kiely 1 up; M. and C. Fenwicke, all square. A handicap bogey match was played on the Waiohiki links, Napier, on June 3rd, and was won by Mr. C. H. Gould with a net score of 2 down, Mr. R. L. M ; . Kitto being runner-up with 5 down. * * * * Dunedin. The annual foursome competition of the Otago Golf Club was played on the Balmacewen links on May 30th, and resulted in a win for C. W. Rattray and H. D. Stronach, with a score of 1 down. The best scores were as follows: —C. W. Rattray and H. D. Stronach (3), 1 down; H. H. Hutchison and J. Hutchison (10), 2 down; B. J. Smith and E. D. Lewis (3), 4 down; J. H. Gale and T. G. Young (4), 5 down; C. R. Sargood and C. G. White (4), 5 down; A. Todd and J. H. C. Bond (5), 5 down; P. A. Young and R. B. Williams (9), 5 down; J. R. Don and D. Haggitt (13), 5 down. A match took place on June sth between the Otago and Christchurch Clubs at the Balmacewen links. The following were the results, the Christchurch names being placed first: — Rutherford v. Sargood, 2—o: Sleigh v. Stronach, 0 —8; Brittain v. Basil Smith, 0—1; Hewlett v. Rattray, 0 — 2; Wright v. Ross, o—6;0 —6; Humphreys v. Barnett, 2 —o; Wood v. Park, 1—0; Macfarlane v. H. Smith, 0—0; totals, Christchurch 5, Otago 17. The Irish professional championship was won by C. Rope (305), while O’Hara tied for second place with 313. NS # * * The Scotch professional championship resulted in a win for David Watt (299), Willie Watt being second with 301. KNOCKING THE BALL AWAY. In a friendly match one thinks nothing of knocking an opponent’s ball away from the hole when the result is obvious, but in “serious” golf it is well to remember that the practice may have unpleasant results. Not long ago the Rules of Golf Committee had the following question put to them from a club so far away as the Straits Settlement:—B had played four strokes, and his ball lay on the lip of the hole. A had played three. A plays, hits B’s ball, and holes out, but with the same stroke, and while B’s ball is moving, intentionally knocks it away with his club. Did A win, halve or lose the hole? The Rules Committee say that A lost the hole. This seems harsh. A holed out in four, and if B’s ball had dropped into the hole after being hit by A’s. B could at the most only have got a half. But Rule 32 provides that a player may only knock away his opponent’s ball, claiming the hole if holing at “the like,” and the half if holing at “the odd,” provided the player’s ball does not strike the opponent’s ball and set it in motion. The decision, therefore, was given, like that mentioned above, under Rule 18. A was held to have stopped B’s ball, and thus to have lost the hole. SLICING. Harry Vardon, writing on common faults, says that slicing is the most unprofitable vice in the game. A crooked shot that goes a considerable distance is not wholly awful; there is a silver lining to the cloud, to which the player draws attention by remarking to his opponent.—“lt went a deuce of a long way, anyhow.” The worst of the sliced ball is that it seldom travels very far. As a rule it is caused by swaying the body to the right during the upward swing (that is to say, not turning at the hips), or by perpetrating at the top of the swing, when the hips have screwed up properly, the common error of beginning to unwind at the hips before starting the club on its return journey. Assuming that the golfer knows how to swing, this premature movement of the body is nearly always the cause of slicing. It results in the arms being thrown forward, whereupon the face of the instrument cuts across the ball and produces the slice. The remedy is to determine that the club-head shall always lead and tp aim at the beginning of the downward swing at a point slightly behind the player.