GOLF

Evening Star, Issue 22459, 2 October 1936, Page 5

GOLF

[By Slice.]

A mixed Canadian bogey foursome was the event contested by the Bellcknowes Club last Saturday. It resulted in W. Wilkinson and Aliss Robinson leaking no race ot it when they returned a card of 6 up to score a popular win. Two pairs, J. Cartwright and Mrs Cartwright, and L. Rennet and Miss Hurt, tied for second, the former winning on the toss of a coin. Ihe last stages of the “ knock-out ” competition have dragged a little of late, hnt one match in the-semi-final-was played between 11.I 1 . Haigb and F. Kennedy, when the latter wrote “ finis ” to Frank’s aspirations for the M'Millan Cup tins year. The other semi-finalists, A, Hinclle and R. Jones, are to meet this week-end. One match was also played in the semi-final of the Ladies’ Cliib championship, when Miss M'l.eod kept up her winning sequence by defeating Mrs Campbell. She will now meet m the final the winner of the Miss Orr-Miss Wilkinson encounter. A trophy presented by Mrs Wilkinson to the mid-week club was played for last Thursday, Mrs S. M’Causland being the winner. To-mor-row the men’s club will play a fourball bogey handicap, for which a draw has been" made, and further post entries will be received. Bruntsfield Medal. The first round of the Bruntsfield medal was, played at the Otago Club las': Saturday. This competition is one of the most important of the season, and the medal is held for a year by the player .with the best gross scoi\» over 36 holes. This year the first round was postponed on two occasions. The best scon of the day was handed in by A. G. Sime, who had a fine 74, Nex A best was K. Ross with 76. This ronne included a 7 at Tipperary—in fact, his homeward run started off with 3,7, 3. The next-best scorer was W. B. Lusk, a University student, with 77. Lush had 8 at Tipperary; so the rest of his round must have been made up by good play. J. H. M'Dougall and J. Dayies were the only other players to break 80, each having 78, while W. G. Wight, S. E. Field, and D. A. Ferguson each had 80. Some of the low markers failed somewhat unaccountably, B. M. Hay and J. A. Scouler taking 81. Scouler started his round with a steady 8. J. A. Dunning and A. Gibbs each holed 82. A handicap event was played concurrently with the Bruntsfield Medal, and resulted in a. tie between players in W. B. Lusk 77—5—72, J. Davies 78—6—72, and D. A. Ferguson 80—8—72. Country Clubs’ Tournament, The country clubs’ tournament was played at the Otago links last week-end, and was a most popular fixture, no fewer than 13 clubs taking part. A bogey handicap was played in the morning, and A. L. Allan, of Balclntha, won with a ‘score of 1 down. In the afternoon the teams took the field, and Taieri again won the cup presented by Air H. Brasch last year. The winning team was W. J. Goughian, E. M. Lake, M. Wilson, and B. Cotterill, with a gross score of 313. This score was six strokes ahead of the next team, Balclntha scoring 319. The nextbest scons were handed in by Maniototo (Ranfnrly), Cromwell, and Waikouaiti respectively. Importance of Stance. , Henry Picard, who .is ranked as tlie best long iron player in the United States, is of the opinion that most players do not pay sufficient attention to the position of the ball in relation to the stance. He plays the hall almost in a line with the left heel with the number one and two irons. He then brings the ball back about an inch for each succeeding number of irons, until with the seven, eight, and nine clubs the ball is played from near the right heel. With the long irons he keeps his feet parallel to the line of flight, with the toes pointing slightly outward. This square stance with the toes pointing out at about a 30deg angle gives flexibility to ankle and foot action, which is so vital in playing shots correctly. The cocking action which takes place during the back swing is exactly that which would raise the club from the address position, vertically over the right shoulder, using the hands and wris J ; alone. By performing this movement you can get a very good picture of how your hands ought to look at the top of the swing. This is at least half the battle, but it is not all. After reaching a good position at the top the problem is to retain the full angle of wrist cock during the early stages of the down swing. The temptation to spend it too soon is groat, especially when the player is anxious to hit as hard as he can. Yet there is nothing more disastrous than any effort to throw the club with the hands from the top of the swing. According to Gene Sarazen, the right hand plays the most important role in the golf swing. Most leading players, including Hagen and Jones, contend that the left 1 land controls the swing, but Sarazen maintains that tlio left hand is important only because it enables the right hand to hit the ball properly. . The grip of the left hand was most important, and four knuckles should be showing. “ Take the club straight back the ball Hollowing the line of intended flight. Do not take it back on the inside of that line,” he says. He also assorts that the club lace should always be kept open—“looking at the ball ” —on tlio upswing, fff" believes that most of the trouble with even good players comes from shutting tho face of the club on the back swing. JAMES'S SEASON FINE PERFORMANCE Ihronghout tlio season just closed in England K. C. James, the former Wellington and New Zealand representative who, like C. S. Dempster, has been playing in county cricket, has performed conspicuously as a wicketkeeper. He has given Northamptonshire fine service behind tlio sticks, and no secret is made of the fact that lie impressed those who were looking for talent for England’s team. How- ! ever, neither Janies nor Dempster j (who, of course, greatly impressed, ns lias been indicated from time to time) was qualified to play for England (savs the ‘ Sports Post ’). Ken James s excellent wicket-keeping

lias not been the only feature of his play. As a batsman James lias done well. In Northamptonshire’'* engagements ho had 40 innings for a total of 756 runs. His highest score was 88, and lie was not out on six occasions, returning an average of 22.23. dames finished up in third plneo on Northamptonshire’s hatting list.