GOLF NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 5

GOLF NOTES

LINKS IN A FOREST. PINEHURST COURSE DIFFICULT. (By “Bunker.”) ’ In a recent nation-wide plebiscite by the United States Professional Golfers’ Association, whereby the leading professionals were asked to name the best ten courses in tho United States, Pinehurst was on the list of every professional. Situated in rolling country, and cut out of a pine forest, it has scenic beauty, and is one of the most interesting courses I have seen, writes J. Ferrier, the Australian open and amateur champion. There are three 18-hole' courses at the Pinehurst Country "Club, the No. 2 course being used for championships. Tho other two, while excellent tests, are not regarded as being in the cham pionship class, as they are shorter and cater for the handicap players. The No. 2 course measures 6879 yards and has a par of 72—36 for each nine holes. There are four par three holes and four par five holes. Built many years ago by a thoughtful architect, the course has been gradually modernised, with only the slightest of alterations. Like the famous Gleneagles (Scotland) course, which is privately owned and operated by a railway company, Pinehurst and its courses are part of a gigantic pleasure resort operated by private investors. Each year in March it conducts the North and South open championship pn the No. 2 course, with 5000 dollars in prize money for the professionals. Like other great courses, Pinehurst has three complete sets of tees, short, middle and back tees. It is 6246, 6597, and 6879 yards respectively from these tees to the greens. According to the climatic conditions the tees are changed. Like most American courses, accuracy is also essential at Pinehurst. Once out of position, the player’s troubles commence, for the next shot is always a problem;

Weekly Competitions. Next Saturday the May. stroke handicap will be played by the members of the Manawatu Club, and during the week-end the first qualifying round and May medal will bo played by the Palmerston North Club members. P. G. F. Smith’s Form. During recent weeks P. G. F. Smith, the former New Zealand amateur champion and North Island champion, has been showing excellent form. In a four-ball match with S. Booth, as a partner against N., A. McMahon and C. Burke, the Auckland representative cricketers, Smith had a round of 73, which is par for the Akarana course. Smith and Booth now contest the semi-final of the event! It would not be surprising if Smith reproduces the form he displayed at Balmacewan, when he won the. New Zealand amateur championship in 1938. Age Championships. Golfers over the age of 45 years are anxious to hold a championship among themselves, states recent advice received from Sydney. Their claim is that with the modern development in the popularity of golf, they have little hope of competing with the younger men. The idea of playing among themselves makes an additional appeal. In the United States, such competitions attract many players, and are most popular. It is thought that similar ■etents in New South Wales would prove equally attractive. The State has a Senior Golfing Society for players 55 years and over. This society holds championships annually, and frequently handicap events, dividing the players into age groups. The Playing of Shots. Thq nation is being roused to take an interest in physical fitness. There is no better form of exercise to last a man through his life than that offered on 1 the golf course, but it should be a pleasure, and not hard work as some make it. It is difficult to understand why a . man will carry a large bag full of clubs and not know • how to use them. A few hours with a goqd professional will give him that knowledge. With iron clubs, the player must" hit the ball a descending blow; he takes turf; that is to say, he does not dig big chunks out of the fairway, but squeezes the ball between the club face and the turf. The ball is placed nearer the right heel for iron shots. The wood is level- with the left heel, so that with the irons the ball will bo a few inches to the right with each iron, starting with the No. 2; the No. 7 will be played with the ball in line with the right heel. When approaching the hole, use a half swing and the shot will be easier to make. Unique Golf Match. Two international golf champions of the past generation recently took up the challenge of more youthful recordbreakers of the present day. and halved a unique four-ball match in 73’s at Kandy Lodge (England) in aid of the Red Cross. The participants were the 33-year-old open champion, Henry Cotton, and the 42-vear-old international A. Havers, both Englishborn, against the 70-year-old J. Braid, who was .five times open champion, and the 72-year-old A. Herd, open champion in 1902, both doughty Scots. It was a gutta-percha- ball vers'us

rubber-core ball match. The “youngsters” had the handicap of the oldfashioned “gutty,” and the veterans the advantage of the modern rubbercore. The match, which also was one of: Scotland versus England and age versus youth, was level pegging most of the way. Braid and Herd were twice 2 up, and their opponents had the lead once. The “youngsters” found the gutty more difficult- to control, although occasionally it travelled further and kept a better line on the greens. Individual scores were: Havers, 76; Braid, Herd, 77; and Cotton, 78.