GOLF

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1928, Page 2

GOLF

VISIT FROM HAGEN FALLS

THROUGH

IMPORTANT CHANGES PENDING

AUCKLAND, Nov. 5

“It i£ regrettable that golfers in this country and in Australia have missed'the opportunity of seeing the famous American professional, 'll alter Hagen.” said the Australian player. J. Kirdwood, who is a passenger to .Sydney by the Aorangi. “Hagen,” Kirkwood says, “tried to arrange it, but apparently could come to no definite understanding with the governing bodies in New Zealand and Australia. It

was a pity. Had it been possible we would have- toured together, and to see Hagen in action would have been an experience which golfers in this part of the world will possibly never have again.”

It is probable that there will he one or two important changes in golf play, he declares. Steel shafts for wooden clubs must eventually come. At present Oo per cent, of the players in America use them They are not barred even in tournaments there, although it i> not permissible to use them yet in Great Jjritain. In 19J0 a lighter and bigger Lull is to ho thoroughly tried out. It is thought t hatplayers get too much length with their drives; ami to prevent this a new type oi' ball will probably be introduced.

There is. according to Kirkwood, a lot of enntrofersy as to who is the

world's greatest golfer, .Hobby Jones or Walter Hagen. Bobby .Jones, he says, is a master of the game, hut in other respects Walter Hagen can well he called the “King of Gull.” It is really not possible to compare them on the same lines, for an amateur game does not hold the same strain as .it. imposes on a professional who depends upon it for his living. Incidentally Hagen is very much misunderstood. He is really a thorough sportsman. Kirkwood intends returning to America after a lew weeks spent in A ustralia.