GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 18

GOLF.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. BELMONT COURSE DESCRIBEE NEED FOR STRAIGHT HITTING. In order that readers may be able to follow the descriptions of the various contests that will be taking place during the next fortnight in connection with the New Zealand championship tourney, a short description of the fine links of the Wanganui Club at Belmont will doubtless not be out of place. Holes 1, 2, 3, 14, 15, 10, 17 and 18 are on the flat, and the remainder are in the hill country. This latter is just the sort for golf, but the holes on the flat are also quite good. The longest hole is the eleventh (Long Tom, about 480 yds), but the long hitters can get home in two here. All the others under ordinary conditions are readily reached in two shots:— •Hole No. 1 (about 410 yds): The tee is just in front of the clubhouse. This is a good two-shotter, though a badlysliced drive may end up on a road or a pulled one in a big bunkei No. 2 (about 350 yds;: A good drive puts a player within mashie distance of the green, but the second shot is nearly always a blind one over a ridge. There will be more fives than fours here. No. 3 (about 270yds—the "Dress Circle"): This is a drive and a pitch into a green in a hollow on the ridge; quite all right if the drive is a good one. No. 4 (about 370 yds): A pulled drive gets into a lot of trouble here in bracken and tussock; an accurate second is required, as there is an out-of-bounds area to the right, and a deep drop on the left. No. 5 (about 100 yds): A good shot with a No. 3 iron, but it is fatal to be short or to the left. No. 6 (about 400 yds): The drive is over a ridge, and a pulled shot will find no end of trouble in the marim grass; the land slopes down to the green, and an iron can easily get home with the second. No. 7 (about 430 yds): This calls for a very accurate second, and there is plenty of marim on the left of the green and the fairway. No. 8 (about 370 yd "Quarries"): A very fine hole. The tee shot is over an old quarry on to a flat below, and then the second has to be played over a knoll on to a green at a still lower level. Hole No. 9 (about 3ooyds—"Land's End"): A good drive and a mashie. On the left is the boundary fence, and there is a fatal tendency to pull a ball out of bounds. •No. 10 (about 170 yds): A good crack with No. 1 or 2 iron; a slice here is fatal. No. 11 (about 480yds—"Long Tom"): A drive goes over a ridge down a slope, and the second has to be hit up on to a sort of platform half-way up another ridge. This usually requires three shots at least, but some of the longer hitters will get home in two under favourable conditions. No. 12 (about 145 yds): A nice mashie shot; it is fatal to go through. No. 13 (about 380 yds): The' tee shot has to carry a ridge about 100 yds away, but usually gets a good run. A pull, however, will probably end up in a gorse bush. No. 14 (about 435yds—the "Encampment") : We are now out of the hill country back on to the flat. An out-of-bounds fence runs down on the left to catch the pulls. The tee is high up, and one can get a lot of distance with the drive, but it is easy to under-club for the second shot. No. 15 (about 210yds—"French Pass"): This is played right down the fence line, and the'slightest pull and the ball is out of bounds; has caused the downfall of many a good player. No. 10 (about :390yds—"Bunkers Hill"): The tee shot here is very difficult, as the ball has to be sent over a spur of the ridge, and unless well placed, it is very, hard to get home in two.' This is a hard four. ' No. 17 (about 400 yds): A good, straightforward two-shotter with a well, guarded green. : No. 18 (about 400 yds): This is sliglitly : dog-legged, the best place for the. drive; being a bit to the right. The green is, well guarded, and makes an excellent' finishing hole. * i The par for the course is 75, and the course record is 09, marking the only time in the 20 years! history of. the links that a player lias gone round.in under 70. '