THE GOLF GROUND.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 112, 8 November 1895, Page 2

THE GOLF GROUND.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE* STAR. Sir, —l cannot let Mr Cooper's letter pass over without a few comments on it. First, he says that in practising polo ponies they purposely avoided tbe links. Now, considering that most of the practising has been done all over the second and third holes, as anyone can see for themselves by the hoof marks, I don't understand this sentence. It has simply been more by luck than good management that the two greens on the top of the first hill are not now riddled with holes. Mr Cooper himself told me that he did not know there were two ereens up there at ail, though a flag was token off one of tbe greens for a goal pust, and the flag on the other green was knocked down by a polo pony. Mr Cooper may have been ignorant himself, but others certainly were not of this fact. I don't, of course, know who may have ridden over the greens themselves, but immediately between the greens there is a perfect network of holes. lam aware, also, that a number of persons exercise horses over Mr Lethbridge's property, but anyone can see that the majority of the marks are made by ponies. I should suggest that the practising and exercising in future be done to the right of the greens, where there is plenty of room, and will not intefere with golf play at all. The Polo Club would have made no end of a fuss if the Golf members were to cut up their ground. There was indeed, some time back, a letter in the Star about this very thing. Again, Mr Cooper acknowledges that he was asked by me the first day they were practising on the ground, if they would mind not riding immediately between the holes as the ponies cut the ground up so. In conclusion I would just remark that several persons said to me they thought my first letter was not strong enough, and indeed went so far as to suggest that the Polo Club ought to make the damage good. However, the holes, as Mr Cooper says, will soon fill up a^ain, and I think it better to let the matter blow over. Only we all hope the Polo Club will be more careful in the future. I am, etc., C. H. Coote. Wavertree, November 7th, 1895.