GOLF

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 24

GOLF

»V "CMfnNdT" THE STEEL SHAFT

USE AUTHORISED

sro radical departure

The decision of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club to permit the use of steel-shaded clubs is entirely logical, aud was bound to come. The decision, however, has been long delayed, for in the United States the use of such clubs has been permitted for some years, and they have been used in the national open and amateur championships. On the other hand, the English ruling body has withstood pressure brought to bear in the past, and has refused to allow such clubs to be used in. any competitions organised by clubs in the United Kingdom, as well as all the Dominions and colonies. The only British possessions where steel-shafted clubs have been used up to the present havo been Canada, which followed the United States rule, and Lima and Jamaica, where the tropical climate is injurious to hickory shafts. The rules of golf devoted to the form and make of clubs states: "The Eules of Golf Committee intimates that it will not sanction any substantial departure from the traditional and accepted form and make of golf clubs, which, in its opinion, consist of a plain shaft and a head which does not contain any mechanical contrivance, such as springs; it also regards as illegal the use of such clubs as those of the mal-let-headed type, or such clubs as have the neck so bent as to produce a similar effect." Tiio steel shaft is an. American innovation, but in reality is no "substantial departure from the traditional and accepted form and make of golf clubs." Its uso will be welcomed by British manufacturers. They have to import hickory, but steel shafts can be made out of British steel, which has no equal in the world. British manufacturers have already been making steel-shaft-ed elubs\for export to the States, hence they will be quite ready to cope with any extra demand. Another important factor in xavour of steel, if golfers demand it, is thfe possibility of a substantial reduction in the price of clubs. The average English golfer, however, is conservative, and it may be some time before he'looks with much favour upon the steel shaft. The vast majority of golfers would resent any radical change in clubs or balls being forced on them, but the new ruling allows them the option of sticking to hickory if they so desire. It is a debatable point whether steel has much advantage, if any, over good hickory. The substitution of steel for hickory, according to experts, makes no difference as far as the quality of shots is concerned Steel, nevertheless, is an excellent substitute, especially in tropical climates, which axe injurious to wood. As far as New Zealand is concerned, steel shafts have hitherto been seen, but rarely. They have not been ÜBed in tournament and club events as they have been banned by the rules. But a few players have used them experimentally, and have expressed a favourable opinion on their merits. Before next season begins local dealers anticipate being able to secure stocks f steelshafted clubs, and the opinion is expressed that they will sell fairly readily, especially if the price can be kept down. One Wellington dealer states that he is sending to England a big order for them on favourable terms. Probably by the time the best Dominion championships are played steel shafts will be in fairly wide use. Those who took upon themselves the responsibility of making the change in rules were the members of the Bules of Golf Committeo of the Eoyal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which committee comprises the following members: Captain Angus V. Hambro (chairman), Baron Francois de Bellet, Messrs. W. Norman Boase, C. K. Hutchison, H. B. Sharp, J. Stuart Paton, John Ball, A. C. M. Croome, H. E. Taylor, K. H. de Montmorency, B. H. Wethered, J. Frederick Byers, and Lieutenant-Colonel P. G M Skene. Holiday Tournaments. Holiday tournaments have been arranged by a number of clubs, and those who wish to spend Christmas or the New Tear golfing are well catered for. Miramar -will be having a three nays' tournament beginning on Ist January. The Miramar open amateur championship will be confined to the thirty-two entrants with the lowest handicaps. Games will be match play over 18 holes, with a final over 36 holes. Other competitors besides the tnirty-two championship entrants will be divid' into groups of sixteen, according to handicaps. Competition amongst them will be match jay on handicap over eighteen holej. A further group will be formed of the sixteen eliminated in the first round of the championship. To the winner and runner-up in each group will be presented a trophy. Bogey handicaps and four-ball bogey handicaps complete the programme. Entries close on 24th December. Those- journeying to Christchurch tor the holidays will find a Christm s nu^ at Shirley, the dates being 20th, 27th, and 2Sth December, entries closing on 18th . December. The programme is as follows:—Thursday— 9 a.m.: Bogey handicap. Afternoon: Jiour-ball bogey handicap. Friday— 9 a.m.: Christchurch Amateur Championship consisting of two rounds of stroke play for th, B, E. M'Dougall Challenge Oup. A stroke handicap will be played m conjunction with each championship round. 10.30 a.m.: Ladies' Christmas handicap, consisting of twentyfour holes of stroke play on handicap. Saturday-9 a . m . : Bo handicap. Afternoon.- Canadian foursome bogey handicap. The Christehureh Amateur Championship was first played in 1924 when it was won by E. M. Macfarlane, who has won it each year since with the exception of 1926, when C A Seymour was the winner. On An versary Day, 16th December, the Anniversary Day handicaps -.vill be played -at Shirley, and are open to all amateur golfers. A stroke handicap will be played in the morning and a four-ball bogey handicap in the afternoon. In conjunction with the stroke handicap the Eandolph Cup will be played. This cu;> is open to all amateur goffers members of any Canterbury club affiliated with the New Zealand Golf Association. Entries close on 11th December. The Avondalc Club has announced that the Isew Year tournament it proposed to hold on tho Avondale course on Ist and 2nd January has been cancelled on account of the improvement work ■which will bo it full swing at that time not permitting the course being available for tournament pla^s,