GOLF BOOMING

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1929, Page 2

GOLF BOOMING

GAAIE IN AUSTRALIA

IMPRESSIONS OF MR SLOAN

MORPETH

AUCKLAND, Sept, 10

Golf in Australia is of a higher standard than in New Zealand in the opinion of Air Sloan Morpeth, who l-.as been playing in the Victorian and South Australian championships, and in the matches between the Dominion and the Commonwealth for the Kirk-AVindeyer Cup.

“AVhat impressed me most,” said Mr Morpeth, who returned by the Makura from Sydney this morning, “was the excellence of the courses themselves and the wonderful sportsmanship of Australian golfers.” Of the Kirk-AVindeyer Cup matches Air Alorpeth has little to say. “The New Zealand team on the day we played New South AVales,” he commented, “produced golf which was well up to its average best form. The Australian critics declared it was equal to anything seen in Australia. The matches, I am sure, have a good effect on golf, and bring players in Australia and New Zealand closer together. For the New Zealand team the last competition was indeed an education.” A. J. Shaw and J. M’lntosh, the New Zealand professionals who visited the Commonwealth, were unfortunate in not being able to play up to their best form in their matches, but Air Alorpeth is satisfied that they are as good as any Australian professionals. with the exception of Rufus Stewart, of Adelaide. The success of Air Alorpeth himself in championship matches provides a comparison between the standards of the leading players in the two countries. He was beaten in the Australian open championship, was runnerup to Ryan in the Australian amateur championship. In the second round for the Australian amateur title he met Ivo AVhitton (who won the. Axistrplian'open), and the match tin the rij,” as “the. greatest championship match ever seen in Australia.,'.'After',. being five down with fourteen holes to go, Alorpeth gradually; overhauled the Australian, until, with oply four holes to go, tl> e match was all square. ’ At the 580 yards seventeenth bole, Alorpeth obtained a most brilliant four, and took the lead for the first time. He had only to hijilve the home .hole to win. However, AYhitton, in his last ditch, played the hole very well and pluckily, • and /won it to square matters once more. So they had to go out again, arid ,it took, six .holes befqre a decision could be arrived at. Five hundred highly-excited ‘ people followed the play, which, 'despite.'the protracted 'and gruelling ’ finish, was of the finest description. The extra holes were halved in par figures except the third. At the fifth AVhitton looked to have- the match in hand, but he missed a four-footer, and on it went, The next hole, the sixth, and the fortysecond of the match, saw AVhitton hunkered, and although he recovered brilliantly’, and had a lioleable putt for one inore half he just missed, Alorpeth, with another par figure won the hole, a.nd with it one of the most exciting and protracted matches ever seen.” ,

Municipal golf links in Australia are reported by Mr Morpeth to be doing well. Nearly evcrv city of any size has its course, and hundreds of players use it, only a small fee being charged. “Golf in Australia is booming,’.? was his final observation.