Golf WIND AND SLOPES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 129, 17 June 1937, Page 15

Golf WIND AND SLOPES

f ' Stymie. ' *)

Some Advice on How to Meet Them HASTINGS ACTIVITIES

(By

The average player unconsclously always appears to hit harder into a stiff wind, or cross-wincl. in an effort to make up some oi the distance that he thinks the wind will take from the shot. In playing against the wind he is inclined to swmg more qnickly than usual, whereas this is just the time when. it pays to concentrate on smooth ewinging and accurate hitting. The secret of all shots during wind is to keep the weight against the breeze. If you are playing into the wiind, keep a little more weight on the left foot than usual with the bands slightly in advance of the ball. This will bring the club on to tbe ball with the face slightly shut and prevcnt the. ball soaring too high. When playing with the wind behind you keep the ball well forward opposite the left foot and the weight. back on the right foot. This will assist in getting the ball up into the air. At the same time the hands should be slightly behind the line to the elub-head. With a cross wind, left to right, ltecp the weight back. on the heels and take up a square stance with the ball midway between the feet. Should the wind be froni right to left, tho weight should be forward slightly on the toes, adopting a more open stance than usual with the ball nearer the left foot and swing a little more upright to hold tke ball up to the wind. In no easq should the swing be hurried. Sloping Lies. Bloping lies also present problems foc the beginner or inexperienced 5 player, who is apt to choose the wrong shot Tor the circumstan'ces, With the ball lying on an up slope, the weight should be on the right foot — the lqwer foot-^-aud the stance adapted to the slope to allow oi' a normal swing with the club just skimming the turf. lt ds also advisable to take a club with a straighter face than for a normal lie lor the same distance, as tho-tendency 13 to hit the ball up into the air. . In playing off a hanging lie — i.e., one tbat slopes toward the green — adopt a more open stance with the ball nearly opposite the left hqel, choosing a more lofted club to get the ball up. Thea weight should now be more on tbe left foot to incline the body to the down slope. Swing naturally, allowing the club-head to follow( the slope of the turf, and make aii allowance for the ball drifting to the right. There will bound to be a loss of distance in this shot which cannot be overcome and any foreing in an attempt to get extra distance will court disaster. Playing off a side slope with the ball above or below you, remember to "hit the hill." That is. if the ball is abovo you, aim to the right of the true line to allow for the tendeney to pull. If the ball is below you tho tendeney will be to slice, eo aim to tho left to cornuteract, Another thing to remember is to keep your weight against the slope, the eame as in cross winds, sitting baek on your heels if tbe ball is below you; more on your toes if the lie is above you. With the ball above you adopt an open stance, weight well forward, with a grip shortencd to meet tho circumstances. Hastings Club. Tho Hastings Club's event for a four-ball bogey when again there was a tie for first place, necessit%ting a countback to decide the places. ' C. RomaineWright and II. G. Harvey, with the good score of 6 up, were placed first and J. L. Patereon and R. Yesty, 6 up, second, Other good cards handed in were 5 up by J. B. Fletcher and H. Blackmore and 4 up by J. F. Jones and W. J. White. Saturday's Play. A bogey match was competed in by the* Saturday men, the wiuner of tho A grade turuing up in T, Garrod (2), who handed in a card of 3 up. This was a fine effort off his short handicap, the medal equdvalent being 72, one below the S.S. of tho course. His eard icad a's follows: — Out : J55345543 — 3S lu : luL'lloSi-— o 1 72 I. Elliott (7) also returned a card of 3 up. but was counted back iuto second place. lie also played below his handicap and had haril luck in striking Garrod at his best. Scores of all square were returned by H. J. Longstaff andW. J. White to tio for third place. ' In tlie B grade, C. B. Wilkinson, on the lini'it, gained tho judge's deeision, with J. Rcdward, I up, a close second, while the consi'stont A. D. Murpliy fi'lled tho third place with an all square record. Week-end Play. The programme for thc woolc cnd was a four-ball best-ball 8t.ableford matcli which was productive of some good scoring. H. J. Longstaff and H. H. Edwards, 3SJ, gained pride of place by a narrow margin from T. Garrod and C. Vidal, 38. Two pairs tied for tho third position with 36 cach — namely, E. Murley and G. R. Wright, and H. A. Pennin and D. H. Grieve. •