ON THE GOLF LINKS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 June 1948, Page 7

ON THE GOLF LINKS

S. C. Franklin Wins Bogey Match Favoured with ideal weather, some 40 members of the Levin Golf Club played their second bogey match of the season on Saturday last. Scoring generaily was on a lower scale than in the previous round, which was played under almost summer-like conditions, Put thi's does not take any credit from the round of the ultimate winner, S. C. Franklin, the lowest handicapped player in the field, who finished all square with '.'Colonei Bogey." Runner-up was J. C. Fullarton, the club secr.etary, who played his best round to date to finish only one down. Twelve players only handed in cards, their r-espective scores being as follows: — S. C. Franklin ari square, J. E. Fullarton one down, C. D. Melville two down, W.j S. Ogier three down, H. Black three down, H. Murray three down, O. C. Lagor three 'down, T. J. Coutie four down,' F. E. Langelan six down, B. J. Eagar six down, D. H. Tomlinson seven and J. Todd seven. Next Saturday's Fixture Although three medal rounds have been played this season, the most important to date wul eventuate on Saturday next, when the fourth will be played in conjunction with the first qualifying roun'd for the club championShlps. With the advent of several newcomers to the local club, competition for qualifying purposes in all grades will be extra keen, and only tnose whose form :s a'oove the average will be found entering the selected entrants for play in the &enior and junior championship. 'ihe draw for play will commence between 12.45 and 1.15 p.m. Top Dog Trophies After having survived eighteen chalienge's in handicap fourball play for these trophies, S. F. Atkms and J. A. C. King had lo acknowledge 'defeat at the hands nf O. C. Lagor and A. E. Hastedt "oy a marg.n of four and three. The new holders played excellent goif, both combining well, and they should prove staunch opposition to the numerous contenders, the first being B. L. Eager and S. C. Franklin, two players who are always weil to the fore in ah club fixtures. Karakamea and D.C.L. Cups The entry list for play in tnese cup fixtures is almost finalised, and those players who still inten'd conipeting are asked to enter their names on the lists in the ' cluonou'se to enaJole the finaiising of the drawr ' / , Handicaps . . BCfore commencmg play'.in their next club fixture, the followlng players are to note alterations ' tc their handicaps : T. J. Coutie 18> to 16, J. S. Tomiinson 19 to 18, A. E. Hastedt 14 to 12 and G. BarclayH2 to 18. Club Notes Congratulations are to be .extended to the club captain, S. C. Franklin, .for his meritorious win in the; Oogey match 011 Saturaay arternoon xast. The course was in good playing order despite aimo'sG continuous rain during the week, aithougli the greens were variable and evefy shot had to be played truly for gooa scoring. To finish square was no mean effoft. Acting as runner-up, Ted Fullarton played a game more in keeping with his form, anu similar eitorts should prove him a hard man to hold off in future match play. The eiuD committee has expended a considerable amount of time, labour and- expense to improve playing amenities on the iinks, an'a with the greenkeeper endeavouring to fully assist, but a little . carelessness by some club member or members has almost nullified theix efi'orts. As all playing members know, only two gates have to be opened and shut during the course of a round, these being axongside the cow paddock, adjoining the 10th and 17th greens. One gate was left open and the inmate oi . the paddock took fuli advantage of her liberty, roaming round on two of the new greens being prepared for play later in the season. With the conditions that have prevailed over the last month, the greenkeeper has had an unenviable time keeping the temporary and new greens in average order, and his eli'orts 011 almost unworkable days on end are surely worth more than this carelessness.

One pleasing feature of play to date has been the consistent attendance of. many of thq club's order members and even though the majority are now part holding their own in competitive play, their .presence is heartening to the club. (Although being outdriven and iacklng the foree of other day's with their iron play these older members are always hard to dispose of when handicap play .commences, and any success that comes their way is always weli acclaimed. As their names seldom appear among the successful competitors, opportunity is taken to record appreclation of their services to the club. Touical Tips The swing: The shorter the swing the greater the accuraey. This applies to the u'se of both ircn and wocden clubs. First swing the club head. If you swing the club head sinoothly, you' also pivot, you lock your wrists at the top, a proper shifting of weight takes place and your head does not pop aup as there i's ' little tension in actual swinging. There is no sudden tightening, no quick hitting, no lunging and no over exertion. Judging the distance: Perhaps the biggest mistake occurs when a player does not have a good i'dea of what distance his cluns are capable' of reaching with the average shots, especially with the many assortcd iron sizes. One good way

is to learn the power of your clubs, thus keeping a careful check on the distance required m practlce. Rather than just shootlng haphazardly at the pin with any club, the piayer should be careful not to over estimate the distance each club can odta-n. The distances to go by fare average, not that length that tan be obtained through pressing. This applies especially to an iron shot. In case of doubt always use the heavier iron, as the stroke will then be more ' natural an'd less likely to go wrong. On putting: One point that should be remembered is to keep the head directly over the ball. If this is done, the putt can be lined up more accurately . than in any other way. The incorrect way to11 line a putt is to stand er.ect and look at the ball on a slant or angle in contradiction to the line to the hole.