TRIUMPHANT YOUTH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 663, 16 October 1933, Page 6

TRIUMPHANT YOUTH

(Specially Written for the -"Post.")

Titirangi lessons A TR AN SFORMATI ON WROUGHT OVER HALF A CENTURY THE CHAMPIONSH'IPS

The open and amateur championship tournament of 1933, held at Titirangi will pass down as one of the most interesfcing and exciting events in the golfing history of New Zealand. A new era has d'awned and a new factor introduced — /Youth. To point this statement, it is necessary to recall history. Half a century ago, there was but one golf course south of the Tweed, .that of Black-' heath. Here stout; scarlet coated, brass buttoned and somewhat choleric old gentlemen carried on the game of golf with deadly seriousness. In the face of much free caustic cockney comment by small and derisive crities, they upheld the highest' traditions of the Royal and Ancient game. Old Eashioned Courtesy There was much old fashioncd courtesy displayed by members .of this early established club. "May I play, Sir," always preceded a shot from a position wh'ere an opponent had not a clear view of the proceedings. An opponent was always addressed as "sir." Youthful membership was severely discoumged and many clubs only admitted sons of members — the feminine element had yet to arrive. The crust of time was an essential in golf in 1880. For two decades this age had exiisted and young pl'ayer, s were in a minority; cricket, football and tennis were open to them. The invasion by youth of the golfing arena did not set in to any serious extent until the end of the century In 1890, the Royal Melbourne came into being — the first club in Austral'ia. Since then, after a brief period, of hesitation, golf courses sprang up all over Britain and her dominions. They multiplied to an amazing extent — an extent that is modern history. •Youth Miarches On Until 1900 youth suffered under an inferiority complex. Juvenile golfing precocity was not looked upon.with' favour by the Club Elders. Times have changed and now in golf as in all other walks of lif e youth marches triumphantly into its own. Golf occupies the premier position in the world of sport. It is a religion to some, a science to others and an absorbing intriguing puzzle to all. It is a sport of infinite complexities. In almast every news sheet in the Dominion the Titirangi tournament events bave been extensively featured and all without exception have headlined golfing "surprises." Wlhen the facts are analysed, however, it would have been surprising if no "surprises" had occurred. A vast army of young golfers are thronging into the lists. They1 suffer from no inferiority. complex, no traditional inhibition — a hearty laugh is now often heard on the links. Famil•iar with clubs almost from the cradle •and inspired or bored with parental ' recitals of prowess on the greens and througih the fairways they start on a golfing career and cricket, football and tennis are relegated to the sh'ades Tbaories Shattered This season, many golfing idols, many golfing theories have been shattered. The splendid Arthur Duncan, I king of Dominion golfers, goes down before 'the tide of youth, gallant in defeat. It is improbahle that such a. record as his will ever again he recorded. Manifold changes are taking place. Where one outstanding' figure •appeared in club play, now ten are rivals for the highest honour. The skill and temperament, the co-ordina-tion of hand, eye and brain are still the same factors to success but added to . this the early grounding in the essentials of style has given youth its opportunity. It has been said — and that not too wisely — that "golfers .like horses run in all shap.s." May be it looks so, but no freak siylist will survive the acid test of ycars. The perfect rythmic swing, poise of mind and body alike will take and keep in the forefront of the game. The semi-final of the open amateur between H. A. Black and J. H. Young, a, 16-year-old boy, was a golfing epic. To have qualified was a feat but to' attain the dignity of a semi-finalist amid such a list of golfing tal. nt is unprecedented. The strain of big golf is, above all, mental and only those of elastic fibre survive. Players known to he capahle of superhgolf, under stress, miss twelve inch putts and duff approaches that would ensure victory. The sub-conscious mind that defeats the efforts of the •hand and eye defies control. No golfer can explain why he fails, -but all his critics can! It is the joy and privilege of the onlooker, the exponent of good, mediocre or bad golf to tell exactly what caused that failure. The incursion of nerve shoclc-proof youth, will widen the scope of observers' activities and add to the interest of the game. The relative positions of the principal exponents of match play in big golf over a period of years is not unworthy of study, for in it will prob'ahly be found a key to many problems that affilict the habitual golfer. *