OTAGO GOLF CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 36

OTAGO GOLF CLUB.

NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT.

-H. C SMITH WINS THE CHAMPION-

The annual Now Year golf tournament, held under the auspices of the Otago Golf Club, was commenced on Balmacewen Links yesterday afternoon under the most favourable weather corfßitions. The opening event of the tournament was a"' Colonel " Bogey Handicap, in which there were a large number of competitors. The Championship rounds commence this afternoon, and, as the entries for the Championship and ite con-tempc-ianeaaia handicap events constitute a. record for the fixture, some very fine play is expected. The Balmacewen Links, which nave the reputation of being the best in the Dominion, have never bsen in better playing condition, and the visitors, on yesterday's •experience, speak of them in the highest terms of -praise. The teeing and putting greens are exceptionally well prepared, whilst •the main lines of the regular course have been so kept as to afford opportunities for the very best play that the competitors are capable of. Yesterday afternoon the conditions were perfect. During the major porI tion of the time of play there was little or ! -no bright sunshine, and there was a complete i absence of wind. Add to this an ideal course, I and Balmacewen presented a golfer's paradise. The entries this year constitute a record for the tournament, the . totaf of 85 being nine ahead of that for last year. The ranks of the local players contribute about «45 of the total, the remaining 40 being attracted from Hawera, Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Oanaara, Invercargill, Alexandra, Clyde, and Balclutha, whilst, in addition, theTe is one representative from Australia. I/ast year the biggest number of entries (69) was recorded for the Bogey Handicap, but this year 81 c6mpetitors have entered for two events.