Golf.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 82, 23 April 1937, Page 8

Golf.

"Stymie.")

FERRIER'S STYLE Adoption of Thicker Shafts N0TES AND C0MMENTS

(By

As the result of his visit Home last year, J. Ferrier, the leading Australian. amateur, has changed his methods of play somewhat. He has adopted the othicker shafts favoured hy the Amfericans, and as used hy Sarazen when on his tour of New Zealand. Ferrier has also hrought hoth his hands more over the shaft than f ormerly and favours the overlapping grip. His ohservations of smaller and more lightly built players hitting as long a ball as he himself did with all the punch he could put into it convinced hjim that it was not altogether the "punch" that was necessary in the wooden shots. He has doveloped his wooden clubs shots on the lines of accurate swinging and timing, which gives him equal length, and better control.' He noticed that the American players were better swingers than the British, and has followed their style of play in gripping and swinging. For iron play he considers that the "punch." or crispness must be put into the shot, especially the short ones, to produce the necessary bite to hold the greens. Provisional Ball— Rules 22 (2), 23 (2). It is apparent that some players atre in donbt as to what a "provisional" ball is and when it may be played. They should refer to Rules 22 and 23. When a ball has been hit that may finish its flight out of bounds or in an unplayable lie, a ' 'provisional" ball may be played from the same spot as the original and continue in play until it is determined whether the first ball is playable. Should the latter be playable the scoring done with the provisional ball is ignored and play is coiltinued with the original ball. In the case of a lost ball seareh must be made for the full time (five minutes) before play can be continued with the provisional ball, but a player can immediately decide whether his first, if found, is " unplayable,' > and then continue on with the provisional ball subjeet, of course, to the allotted penalty. The player himself is the only judge of whether or not his ball is "playable" or "unplayable." A "provisional" ball can only be played before going forward to the location of the first call. Should a player lose a ball or declare it unplayable, and then go back and play a second ,that seccmd ball is not a "provisional" ball, but is then the ball in play and must be continued with until holed out, even if the original ball is found subsequent to the second being played. Hastings Club Notes. The Thursday round for the captain 's trophy and medal match produced spme good scores, no less than three players, R. Cashmore, F. Cole and D. H. Newbigin, handing in cards of 67 net. N. Wilson, 69, G. Murfitt, L. Vesty and H. J. Longstaff, 7, were next in order on the list. Thp honours, however, rest with H. J. Longstaff (2), who recorded a gross 72, one below the s.s. of the course. His card was compiled as follows: — Out.— 4, 5, 5, 3, 3, 5, 5, 4, 3—37. In.— 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4r- 35—72 — 2 equals 70 net. He secured birdies at the 1st, 8th„ 17th, and 18th holes, but was one over par at the 3rd, 6th and 13th, all the rest being par. This player is displaying excellent and consistent form just now, and the rumour that he is likely to soon forsake Hastings for other parts is very much perturbing his eTub matea, who would like to see him settled permanently in this distict. His card in the Stableford match on -Saturday was also a fine one, as he went out in 33 and home in 40, a 73 gross, including five birdies. His Stableford score was 36 plus 2 equals 38, which was easily first in the A grade. A. D. Murphy headed the B grade list with 26 plus 12 equals 38, a fine effort for this player, who only commenced playing golf two seasons ago. He has steadily reduced his handieap, and before long should be figuring in the A grade. Golfer's Plaintiff Notei.. It is frequently the misfortune of golfers to find that in home circles as little credence is given to their own accounts of their exploits as is accorded the self-expressed tales of fishermen. Illustrative of this point is the following plaintiff note received by the StarSun; — "Can yon tell me the clate in your paper npon which an article appeared recording my prowess with the clubs. I want to show it to my children in the hope that it will rmpress them and cause them to listen to my golfing feats with due deference instead of amused tolerance. They seem to consider that my records are restricted to the nineteenth hole."