GOLF

Southland Times, Issue 21091, 24 May 1930, Page 18

GOLF

(By

“Cleek.”)

LEADING FIXTURES.

May 23— Scotland v. Ireland, Amateur International at St. Andrews. May 26 etc.— Amateur Championship at St. Andrews. May 29— Ladies’ Open Meeting at St. George’s Hill. June 14— English Amateurs v. Professionals at Blundellsands. June 16—17.— Open.Championship Qualifying Rounds, at Hoylake and Wallasey. June 18—20. — Open Championship at Hoylake. July 10 etc.— American Open Championat Carnoustie. August 25—England v. Scotland, Boys’ International match, at Fulwell. September 10—12.— Girls’ Championship at Stoke Poges. September 22 etc. — American Amateur Championship at Merion Cricket Club, Philadelphia.

America retains Walker Cup. Never looked like losing from word “go.” Ladies’ flag match at Otatara next Thursday.

Four-ball bogey match, A and B grade partners on the Park to-day.

American golfers far too good for Englishmen. It remained for the British ladies to save the situation.

Miss Diana Fishwick, the winner of the English ladies’ championship, was not considered good enough to gain a place in the ladies’ international match with America at Formby ten days before. The second round of the match for the captain’s prize was played by the members of the Invercargill Ladies’ Club at Otatara on Tuesday. This was won by Miss Lawrence, with a card marked 112-36-76. Mrs Israel and Mrs Palmer were runners-up, each being 81 net. On Thursday afternoon the first round of a bogey eclectic match was played by the ladies at Otatara. Miss Henderson, two down, was the winner of this round, then followed Mrs McCarthy, four down, and Miss Lawrence, five-down. A member of the Invercargill Ladies’ Golf Club deserving of mention is Miss Lawrence. On Tuesday last in a stroke handicap she reduced her handicap by one stroke, while two days later in a bogey eclectic match knocked two more strokes off.

The bogey match played by the Park ladies on Monday resulted in a win for Mrs Hamilton, who finished one up. Mrs Fordyce all-square, was next. The Scott Cup round was won by Mrs McCreary, who returned an 80 net. Miss King and Mrs Peters tied in the C grade competition. It is stated that, following an application of arsenate of lead, the greens at Otatara were allowed to come away more than usual and in consequence presented a somewhat “hairy” surface on Saturday, when a bogey match was staged. This may account, to some extent, for the scores not being up to the usual standard. Further evidence of, the increasing popularity of the informal talks on golf rules and etiquette was given on Tuesday evening, when about 32 members, double the number present at the first meeting, assembled at the Queen’s Park club-house to hear an address by Mr AV. G. Tait, the president of the club. Several points were dealt with by Mr Tait and on the conclusion of the meeting it was voted on all sides a complete success. A further talk will be given in about ten day’s time and it is prophesied that the new club-room will not be large enough to accommodate all those present. One senior player, of low handicap mark, expressed the opinion that he would not have missed the lecture for worlds and that he would make a point of being present on the next occasion. The result of two second-round matches in the St. Clair Club championship resulted as follows: —J. A. Scouler beat F. Drake 1 up. H. A. Gamble beat J. E. Matheson 2 and 1. The semi-finals will be played today, when C. B. Wight will meet J. A. Scouler and W. Clayton will meet H. A. Gamble, the Junior Cup final being between R. H. Rawlinson and H. S. Ross.

A. J. Shaw, the Waiohiki professional and professional champion of New Zealand, turned bn some dazzling golf recently on the Waiohiki course, and made a new record for the course with a 65. His card read: — 0ut—334344344—32. 1n—454334334—33. Total 65.

Great interest will be taken in the qualifying rounds of the Invercargill Golf Club’s championship to-day. Probably never before has the junior championship aroused so much enthusiasm. In addition to several players who have bordered on the A grade line for some time there are a number of members who have worked their way up from the limit mark to within two or three strokes of senior rank since the opening of the current season. Of course to-day and next Saturday the strain will be on and, as usual, it'will take its toll, but it is safe to say that competition among the juniors will be of the keenest and the fortunate eight will have to fight for their places. According to cabled reports, neither Abe Mitchell nor the American, Leo Diegel, was in good form during the first round of the 36-hole challenge match on Saturday at Moor Park. However, there was another tale to tell after lunch and both were playing up to their true form. With the match all square excitement must have been intense especially when Mitchell was on the green with his tee shot at the short 18th. Diegel was through the green, 35 feet past the pin, but found the cup with his run-up. Mitchell had a putt for a half and missed, and the £5OO went to Diegel. In view of the circumstances as reviewed, it seems that luck was with the American. However a win was due to him as, partnered by Horton Smith at Manchester recently, he met a sever defeat at the hands of Mitchell and Archie Compston, who finished seven up in an 18-hole match. The venue of the Dominion championships has not yet been decided, but Titirangi and Palmerston North are both said to be on the cards. The Palmerston North leading course has been made into a very fine test of golf, but, according to Aucklanders and to many others who have seen it, Titirangi is now the finest course in New Zealand. That was certainly the opinion of some of the Australian visitors. Titirangi has the turf, length,/'and natural contours to make it ideal, and it has, according to reports, been worked up into a very fine condition, while’ the bunkering is efficient New Zealand is experiencing an invasion of steel shafted clubs, and they are beginning to appear in bags here and there, says a northern paper. The player with a graded set of wooden shafted sticks, especially as they are modern enough to be rustless, will think twice about changing over, because the expense of a new set is considerable, but a mixed set would be likely to spoil one’s game altogether, as the clubs have a different feel. Those who have them like them. The weight is much more in the head than is the case of a wooden club of the same weight on the scales. Heads do not become loose, and the shafts are stiffer than the wood. The greatest theoretical advantage is in the lack of torsion on impact, either with the ball, or the ground, but perhaps this is largely theoretical after all. The momentum of the club head is unlikely to be affected by impact with ball off the tee sufficiently to cause torsion even with the wooden shaft, and if it does there must be a certain amount of recovery during the follow through. Playing brassie shots from a pooor lie, or the true iron shot taking turf, is where the test would apply more aptly. Before steel shafts were thought of these shots were played very well with the wooden ones, and taking turf did not seem to alter the direction of the, shot except to make it fly truer. If there is a gain in the steel shaft it must be in the extra length to'be obtained when impact is stiffened up by the absence of torsion in the shaft. Gener ally it is admitted that there is a trifling increase in length with the steel shaft, about on a par with the difference between a full brassie and driver shot off the tee, but not always obtained to the full unless the ball is very truly and sweetly hit. Better balanced, giving a trifle more length, and practically indestructible, the new clubs will-probably displace wood altogether in

time. Whether niblick, mashie, and iron shafts will stand the hard jarring work as well as wood remains to be seen, but, as with other novelties, improvement will be continuous until they .are as near perfection as may be. Every year, moreover, it will be easier for steel shafts to hold their own, because the good wooden shaft with which to compare them already a thing of the past. The kiln dried hickory of to-day is certainly no match for gradually improving steel.

AUSTRALIAN GOLFERS

SKETCHES BY JAMES A. MANGAN

REPLY TO HANCOCK’S CRITICISM

Last week in “Cleek’s” column appeared a criticism by A. A. Hancock of /he NewZealand representatives in the Kirk-Win-deyer Cup matches, in the course of which he appeared to be a little severe on E. M. Macfarlane. James A. Mangan, the Invercargill representative in the Canterburyamateur championship, who came in contact with all the visiting Australian golfers, has supplied some very- interesting thumbnail sketches of the players and takes the opportunity of saying a few words in defence of the Shirley player. Mangan has added a few comments on the players in general and altogether he has supplied an article that will be read eagerly by all golfers.

As I think that the Victorians were better players than the N.S. Welshmen, he writes, I will deal with them first. M. J. (Tiger) Ryan. Ryan the present Amateur champion of Australia, has only been playing serious competition golf for about five years. Although he learned the game as a boy he gave it up temporarily in favour of cricket, at which he achieved great success. He is a powerful player, stands well away from the ball, and plays nearly all shots with slight draw, especially long irons. Complete mastery of all clubs and plays pull or fade at will. He belongs to Kingston Heath Club, Melbourne (6700yds) which length suits a player of his power. At Shirley there was only one hole which he could not get with a drive and mashie or iron.

A. A. (Bob) Hancock, Plus I. A real stylist, the prettiest amateur I have seen and considered by some the most stylish in Australia. Stands very upright, weight well back on the heels, slow even swing, free turn away with a noticeable hit out at the ball which results in a perfect follow through and finishing with the arms well up, beautifully balanced at the completion of the shot and gives one the impression that he is all the time playing well within himself. Not a long hitter but a very accurate graceful player. Was unable to manage the greens at Shirley, and was unfortunate enough to meet Black and also Colbeck when both these players were putting miraculously. Probably this accounts for his remarks describing the New Zealanders as wonderful putters. The Victorians did not putt well in the K. W. Cup matches; both Bulte and Hancock missed at three feet and less, many, times.

I can scarcely agree with Hancock’s criticism of E. M. Macfarlane’s play. /Although Macfarlane’s style does not impress one, he has a great variety of shots and is just as deadly with a running iron shot to the green as he is with a mashie niblick pitch. I have some authority for this assertion as I was fortunate enough to have a dozen or more games with the Shirley crack prior to and after the cup matches. He varies his play according to conditions, and studies all shots very carefully, both in friendly and serious matches, sometimes teeing the ball on a high rubber tee and other times off a low wooden one. Always carries two putters and in one of his recent matches at Shirley changed from one to the other with excellent results. Macfarlane’s eyesight is not good and on strange courses he has great difficulty in gauging the distances. AVere it not for this defect, I think he would be next to Horton, the finest player we have in New Zealand. On and around the green he had no equals at Shirley. His wood shots are long average about the same as Horton’s and rarely off the line. His shots through the green are deadly accurate. Fred Bulte. This is the youngster of the team and is a sound attractive player. For his size and weight he hits a long ball, employing a flat-stiffish swing. I was appointed to referee his game with Dr Ross in the cup singles. A quick player, rather excitable, and considered one of the coming players of Australia. Dr Ross has great admiration for Bulte and considers he will go a long way in big golf. ' „ Alex Russell. Alex Russell, the genial captain, the best putter of the Victorians. A player,with great experience, free easy style, gives one the impression that some of his shots are play - ed carelessly and is fascinating to watch. A golf architect by profession and an ideal captain. Keith Ross. Ross was the fifth man of the team but. was not impressive. NEW SOUTH -WALES,. Harry Hattersley. This is the Manly crack. He came with a great reputation fresh from exhibition games in Australia with Hagen and Kirkwood. The former considers he- is among the four longest drivers in the world, and he certainly gave a wonderful exhibition of long hitting at Shirley. Feet close together, and hands low in to the body, slightly crouched. He swings quickly and hits hard, with tremendous hip and shoulder action. The ball has a low flight and is the ideal tee shot at all time. Like many prodigious hitters his short game is not of the soundest, but all round he is a great player, with a wonderful match playing temperament, all the time smiling and chatting to himself both between and while he is playing a shot. A stockily built boy with very long arms, which some say assist him greatly in the attaining such great length. Altogether a delightfully modest chap, who was the idol of all at Shirley. Dr R. K. (Bob) Lee Brown.

A brilliant player at times, but who was having difficulties with his game at Christchurch. Upright in address, exceedingly slow back swing, in direct contrast to Hattersley. Considered one of the longest hitters in Australia, but not at his best in N.Z. Stan Keane. Another young player with orthodox methods from tee to green. Upright in address, takes a long time to hit the ball, caused by a twitching of the fingers of the right hand, which can be plainly seen by the spectators. Immediately this twitching stops he quickly swings at the ball. Plays a beautiful high iron to the green. W. (Bill) Dobson). This player has often been to N.Z. and plays for Concord Club, Sydney. He has been playing sound golf for years, and played steadily and consistently at Shirley. He also adopts a very’ upright position at address. Dr. P. Syd. Jones. Jones, the captain, plays at Kensington, Sydney, and is probably the most prominent figure in Australian golf_ to-dav. The outstanding feature of his play’ is his putting. He uses a putter (his own patent) with a long shaft set straight into the centre of a square ebony head. Upright in address almost erect, feet together, ball close to right foot, quickly taps the ball into 'the hole. General Comments. The thing that impressed me most about the writers was their youth, especially the N.S.W. players, who have a great future and will be’ eligible to play for their State for many vears to come. Also their similarity of styles, nearly all adopting the upright close to the ball position, and using compact small headed deep faced wooden clubs. None of the Victorians used the big headed biilger type of wooden club, so common in N.Z. Steel shafts were not much in evidence. Hattersley has tried and discarded them. Ryan carries one or two steel shafted irons. The balls used by all Australians were Spalding P.C.A., and Spalding Par. The P.C.A. product is just new and unknown in'N.Z. In the cup matches the N. S. Wales players wore regulation light blue pullovers with

stockings to match and the effect was very fine indeed. Out of the twp teams there were six nonsmokers and four total abstainers.