GOLF SCORES SUFFER

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1948, Page 7

GOLF SCORES SUFFER

iDifficnlt Conditions On Levin Links I For the first time in many seasons, and definiteiy for the first occaSion since the Levin Golf Club , moved to the "Cheslyn Rise" links , 18 months ago, all the 61 players faiicd to score below a gross 80 on Saturday afternoon last. t Conditions for play were well nigh perfect, an almost entire absence of wind, good fairways and everything pertainmg to good scoring was in evidence at the commcncement of piay, but only eight players were able to record nett scores below par. The oniy cause ifor the poor scoring may have been the general condition of the greens, which throughout were very ti'icky for putting on, an entirexy different proposition from the previous weekend. The approaches to the greens were very sticky and those players who consistently used the run-up shots were in a quandary as to which. club could be used most beneficially. The greens were very much heavier than usual. despite the ideal conditions prevaliing, and those players who were usmg the fuli pitch shot definiteiy gained an advantage. As this shot ;will be in evidence until well into the spring, when conditions are considerably easier, the following use of the club, preferably a No. 8 or 9 iron, may be of interest. Using the pitch shot correctly, a tpiayer must have a definite knowledge of the green on which he 'intends to use these clubs. It is . useless to try and pitch on a green | which is faster than some of its jfellows, because naturally the tail 'will not hoid. On such occasions 1 the player should use the pitch and run shot. Under normal winter conditions, when the greens are hoiaing, as over last weekend. the player should be advised to use the pitch shot at every opportunity. To play, the pitch correctly, the club preferred should be gripped shorter than normally, because a shorter grip gives greater controi, which is mcst important. The feet are placed close togather, slightlv open, allowing the player . to cut his* shot, thereby obtaimng j the amount of "stop" required. The club is taken back with a firm . left arm and the full cock of the . wrists, bringing it to a position labove the height of the piayer's right hip. The right eibow is clcse to the side and pointing to tne ground. * On the downward movement the left arm is played firmly into the shot. Great use sheuld b? |made of the cocked wrists aird a i firm left wrist at impact, for this jstops any tendency for the rignt ihand rolling, there'cy puiLing u hook into the shot and giving run to the ball. The weight must be evenly distributed throughout as in all iron shots. Ccnstant practice witli whatever I'deep bladed iron is prefen'ed is ■ essential, for such a delicate shot may prove to be a real match winner when its use is constantiy needed. Last Weekend's Headliners Although it is some considerable time since he last appeared as ■ a winner of a competition, D. H. Tomlinson came to light in no uncertain manner last Saturday when he won the medal round piayed in conjuncticn with the second round of the Nichoison Cup. Under the tricky conditions, which provea disastrous for many of his fellow jmembers, the winner made light of ithe existing hazards and his sucjcess will no doubt prove a well deServed stimulant for all his future club engagements. Acting as runners-up in recording figures below the 70 mark were G. Barclay, W. S. Ogier and D. J. Sweetzer, all of whom play off the middle mark in fixtures. The .former player has recently had his- • handicap increased, but if Satur-, 'day's round is any in'dication he| .should once again be among the. ! lower figure players of the club. i In clear third place, W. S. Ogier, 1 ;the popular club treasurer, played | golf of which he is certainly capjable and all members wiil wish him 1 continued success in future engageIments. To D. J. Sweetzer, the fourth j member to score below 70 nett, goes : another pleasing perf ormance of improved play. He is also capable of upsetting many aspiring com- ; petition winners, for he has already proved his worth in acting in the .season's competitions earlier as I runner-up in a Stableford. Top Dog Trophies ; Despite an advantage of strokes, .the chalienging pair, T. J. Coutie [and J. Corry, were unable to depose 'the holders, B. J. Eagar and S. C. Franklin, in play for these trophies i during last weekend. I Conditions were somewhat diffi-1 cult, as the tees were very slippery, making^ footholds insecure, , while at periods steady rain fell, jmaking the greens sticky. The holders proved better mudlafks, i