LADIES' GOLF

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1322, 26 August 1915, Page 33

LADIES' GOLF

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE NEW ZEALAND LADIES’ GOLF UNION.

NOTICE TO COBKBSFONDENTS

" The secretaries and correspondents of Golf Clubs are advised to forward accounts of matches, personal notes, etc., not later in future than Tuesday of each week. Red Cross Competitions. Any sums collected through the Red Cross Fund competitions and forwarded to the Secretary of the New Zealand Golf Union, will be duly acknowledged week by week in this column. Red Cross Competitions.

Previously acknowledged, £l6l 13s. 6d.; Cambridge, £2 Bs.; Miramar, £4 155.; Hutt, £1; St. Clair, 155.; Invercargill, £1; total, £l7l 11s. 6d. A second instalment of £75 has been handed over to the Department of Internal Affairs, making a total of £l5O paid over to date. It is assigned to the N.Z. Red Cross Society for the purpose of supplying help and comforts to our men at the base hospitals at the front.

Neill Frase'r Memorial. The Neill Fraser Memorial Fund has already reached a sum of about £ISOO, and it is pretty certain that the object in view—that is, the equipment of a complete hospital unit of ;200 beds in Serbia —will be attained. A suggestion has been made that the lady golfers in New Zealand should provide one bed, and a circular has been sent to all clubs affiliated to the N.Z. Ladies’ Golf Union asking them either to hold a club competition with an entry fee in aid of the fund, or to make a direct contribution. No doubt the response will be as satisfactory as that given to the Red Cross movement, for which ladies’ clubs have already subscribed £l7O. The helping of Serbia, war-ravaged and decimated by disease, is a worthy object for charitable effort, and the commemoration of a fine woman’s self-sacrifice in the service of that country will surely appeal to all. .** * * Auckland. The members of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club played the Red Cross monthly medal handicap at Middlemore on August 13th, which resulted in a tie between Miss W. Cotter, 96—13—83, and Miss M. Payton, 98—15—83. Other good cards returned were: Miss K. Clark, 108—25—85; Miss P. Gorrie, 108—22—86; Miss M. Alison, 98—11—87; Miss K. Holmes, 104—15—89. * * * • "Hamilton. The members of the Hamilton Ladies’ Golf Club played the semifinal of the ladies’ championship on the 14th of August. Miss Cussen beat Miss Wilkinson, 4 and 3; Mrs. Stewart beat Mrs. Douglas, 3 and 1. Miss

McLean won the Nursery handicap. Two flag matches were played on Wednesday, Miss Wilkinson winning Miss J. Furze’s trophy for the seniors. Miss Chitty won the junior flag match and Mrs. Douglas’ trophy. The members seem to enjoy the flag matches very much, and both times there have been more players than usual on Wednesday. * ♦ ♦ ♦ New Plymouth. On August 10th, at Waiwakaiho, the ladies played a medal round in aid of the Red Cross Fund. There were 20 entries. The following are the results: —Mrs. Flower, 122 —40 —82; Mrs Penn, 114 —29—85; Miss Brewster, 93 —6 —B7; Miss Thomson, 123—31 —92; Miss P. Crooke, 129 —37 —92; Miss Read, 114 —21 —93. In conjunction with the above the second round of an eclectic match was played. In the seniors Miss M. Free returned the good score of 95 —25 —70, whilst in the juniors Miss W. Bradbury won with 79 net. * * ♦ ♦ Dannevirke. For some weeks past members of the local club have been afforded the opportunity of taking lessons in the game from a professional coach. Mr. Norrie Bell, late of the Miramar Club. That his tuition is proving beneficial is demonstrated by the very marked improvement shown in the play of those who have taken advantage of his lessons. Mr. Bell recently took part in an exhibition match on the club’s links at Tamaki, playing the best ball of Messrs. E. Knight and N. Russell, but the handicap proved too' stiff a one, the pair winning by 4 up and 2 to play. The game was followed by a number of interested spectators, who signified their appreciation by making a collection, which resulted in the Wounded Soldiers Fund benefiting to the extent of £ll7s. At a subsequent date Mr. Bell played another round, when he put up the very fine score of 80, or only two worse than bogey. If possible another exhibition match will be arranged before his departure, when all interested in the game should make a point of being present; The Red Cross medal match for July was won by Mrs. Baddeley, 105 —25— 80, Miss B. Knight being second. 105 —l7—Bß. The Red Cross medal match for August was won bv Mrs. Prichard. 123—31—92: Miss Hartgill second, 118—14—104. * * * * Christchurch. The members of f he New Brighton Ladies’ Club plaved a match for a trophy presented by Miss Rowe. The results were:—Miss Richardson. 97— 21 —76: Miss Hopkins. 95—16 —79; Miss Corsbie. 121 —40—81.

The following is the result of the qualifying round of the championship:

Mrs. Blakely, 94 —16 —78: Miss Richardson, 95 —17 —78; Miss Steeds, 118 —40 —78; Miss Bean, 100 —18—82; Miss Rowe, 105 —17 —88; Miss Hopkins, 105 —15 —90; Miss de Veaux, 130 —40 —90; Miss Edmonds, 125 —30 —95. In the second round of the Kaiapoi Golf Club’s combined championship the results were as follows:—S. Rinaldi and Mrs. Templeton beat W. J. Reeves and Miss Lynskey; G‘, Templeton and Mrs. Evans beat G. Miller and Mrs. Pavitt; J. Kissling and Mrs. Butcher beat J. Martin and Miss A. Hiatt. * * * * Tlmaru. The following is the result of the bogey match played on. July 13th: — Miss Wright (handicap 1), 3 up; Miss Budd (12). 6 down; Miss Matheson (18). 7 down. The best scores for the Red Cross medal, played on Tuesday, August 3rd, were: Mrs. McCaskill, 103 —23—80; Mrs. Matheson, 105 —23—82: Miss Winter, 100—18—82; Miss Budd, 98 —16 —82. The junior medal was won by Miss Evans. The senior championship was won this year by Miss N. Wright. Mrs. O’Callaghan being runner up. Miss Knubley won the junior championship, with Mrs. Baxter runner-up. *■* * * A number of matches, in which many of the foremost lady golfers were to take part, took place at Ranelagh recently for the benefit of the British Red Cross Society. Amongst those who entered were Miss Cecil Leitch, Miss Ravenscroft. Miss E. Grant Suttie. and Miss Mav Leitch. *'# * * The latest; patent for the putting green is a cork or rubber facing to give greater control of the ball in screwing and reduce its tendency to iumn off from the club. * * * ♦ Recent articles in “Golfing” upon the possibilities of golf as a profession for women are to have an interesting sequel. A famous golf school in the States is anxious to secure four lady instructors from Home, and “Golfing” says the positions are advantageous and desirable. * * * ♦ The snorts section of the PanamaPacific Exposition at San Francisco has so far proved a failure, and on the polo and golf tournaments it is reported that there has been a loss of £B4OO.

It is with their iron clubs that most feminine golfers fall short, and for' two reasons. One is that they take, far too much swing with a cleek. iron and mashie. with the result that a great deal of the required accuracy is lost. The other reason is that they do not rely sufficiently on that last little flick with the wrists which

makes the iron play of the male expert so delightful to' watch. It may be argued Tliat the average woman’s wrists are not strong enough to put the same snap into an approach; but even supposing this to be the case players with handicaps between eighteen and six could take several strokes off their average score by thinking out carefully how they can achieve getting near the hole every time on their approach. It is useless trusting to luck to make a successful approach shot now and again without knowing exactly how one did it. The importance of taking out half a dozen balls and practising certain shots over and over again until one thoroughly understands how each shot should feel cannot be too strongly insisted upon. Just in the same way that a pianist can make a faulty bar of music perfect by repeated effort, so can a golfer learn to' put an approach shot nine times out of ten just where she wants it to be, and it is the tenth time which makes the fascination of the game. Anyone standing beside a putting green while a ladies’ tournament is in progress will observe that three-fourths of the competitors take their mashies right round their shoulders and press shots that would have been far more accurate had half a wing been taken with an iron. In the same way a forced shot, with an iron is often played when an easy one with a cleek or driving mashie would have been much more effectual. Many players have an objection to taking a longer club than one which their opponent has just used from the same distance and will follow suit, although they know they cannot possibly achieve the required length. This is an absured form of vanity, as there is nothing to be ashamed of in using a cleek or spoon where your more muscular opponent has taken a mashie.

W. B. Simpson, one of the most popular golf professionals in New Zealand, has lately been receiving more than his share of misfortune. His reputation as a clfb-maker is known throughout the Dominion. ,He was retained by the Miramar Golf Club in Wellington, . but suffered so greatly through' trouble with his foot that his frequent visits to hospital have made it impossible for him to keep his engagements as a professionals He made a splendid recovery some time ago, and being a single man, felt it his duty to offer Ms services for the front. He handed in his name, but apparently the weakness left in his foot resulted in his having to undergo another examination before being accepted. Unfortunately, the examination proved that the trouble had not altogether left him, and it is feared now that it is jtst possible he may have to have his foot amputated.