On the Links

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 808, 31 October 1929, Page 13

On the Links

u i i j. Notes for Golfers V % . tu"*

By

SLOW-BACK.

Auckland Golf i This week has seen the last open tournament of the season. Advantage is taken of Labour Lay by the Maungaki' kie club to stage an annual tournament, but unfohtunately the call of labour interferes with the field on the third day. Still the tournament just over was a great success in every way. The weather was fine, except for an hour or so on Monday morning, but on Saturday there was rather an awkward wind from the north, which cost competitors some strokes. The course was in beautiful order—better, I think, than I have seen it before. The fairways are well clothed with grass, and the greens true and of easy pace. Thanks to the rain, the run is not now excessive, and it is quite possible to stop a ball on the greens. There is, unfortunately, a good deal of coarse growth on the greens, but that is a common condition in Auckland, and after being cut the greens play well enough. JSteady use of ammonium sulphate, or some similar fertiliser, will an time cure this condition, but it is a slow job. There was a good entry of about 70 for the principal event, and several more for part of the programme. All the Auckland clubs were represented, and Waiuku provided quite a number. I There was at least one from Wliangarei. The principal event was the Titi- ! rangi Cup, which is decided by two rounds ot medal play, the best 3 C net scores playing off by handicap match play. The Hislop Cup is given for the best gross score in the two rounds. The gross scores were nothing wonderful considering the prevailing conditions, but the north wind makes one or two holes very awkward, particularly the Revan. W. S. Ralph had rounds of 81 and 78 and was five strokes better than R. L. Wright with 80 and 84. Ralph played steadily, but had one or two bad holes, and Wright’s rather erratic driving cost him several strokes. The field was good enough for more than three players to beat 80, but if the back-markers did not shine, the rather liberally handicapped rank and file had some good net scores. It took JSU net to qualify for the Cup match play, which means that 16 players were equal to or better than the scratch score for two successive rounds. The survivors for the Cup final were: X. McLean 15 and A. B. Joplin 11, and a close game resulted in Joplin winning at the 17th green by 2 and 1. As is not unusual in a final, the golf was a bit scratchy. McLean had his chance at the 17th when Joplin popped liis fourth into a bunker, but McLean promptly followed suit and took three to get out. The non-qualifiers were divided into six groups for match play, and a 7th was made tip from those who lost in the first round of the Cup. The idea is a good one. We don’t get nearly enough match play. The custom of put- j ting on bogeys and medals on all pos- \ siblo occasions is not a good one. There were some good performances in the handicaps. J. Murray 8 and A. IL Magson 9, each returned cards of J up against bogey, and T. Colliding 6 one of 2 up, but L. Norton 15 produced one of 5 up on Tuesday morning. In the medal handicaps J. Ilosking 80, 19—70 and H. M. Kogerson 84, 15—69 had the best cards. Rogerson also won one of the groups, as did W. J. Thompson, so that for once the club officials shared the spoils. A very useful combination in R. O. Gardner 4 and i\ W. ('ireenbank 12 made no race of the four-ball by returning a card of 8 up. The final of the junior championship was the only event of importance at Middlemore, though a good many turned out to enjoy the course at its very best. A. L. Stedman and F>. fill lot t fought out the final over 36 holes, and there was never much in it either way. Elliott's long driving sometimes got him into awkward places, while Stedman steadily plodded up the middle with an iron club. They reached the 36tli hole all square, and at the 37th Elliott had the misfortune of hooking his drive into* long grass, where it was lost. Though weak approaching by Stedman looked like giving Elliott a chance, it was not to be, and a 5 to Stedman settled the match. There was nothing of outstanding importance at the other clubs, which are now on the verge of closing down, but I noticed a 67 net at Pupuke. * * • Separation of Championships For some years it has been more or less seriously suggested that the time has come to separate the amateur and open championships. It is quite obvious that the time will come some day, and the question is whether that time has arrived. The test is largely one of numbers. So long as the two events are combined, all amateurs desiring to play in the amateur championships must play also in the open, which is, indeed, the qualifying test. The council quite rightly accepts all professional entries for the open, and this leaves room normally for about 60 amateurs as numbers stand now. When prol'esni( n tla lumber or 60, and the number of first-class amateurs increases in proportion, the open will have to be played on three days.instead of two. Even as it is. the meeting takes nine days counting Sunday, and it is not everyone who can easily spare the time. The chief advantage in combining the two events is that some of our younger amateur players get experience in first-class professional company.

If a separation were made, the open might bo combined with the extra professional meeting played usually in the autumn. The principal events would be the open, professional, and professional foursomes championships. Only the best of the amateurs would enter, and the time of play for them would be two days. The amateur might take one of many forms. Two qualifying rounds on one day—or two if numbers made it necessary—and the best 32 play off by match play over 36 holes. Or possibly the first two rounds might be over 2 8 holes as at present. It might be played purely by match play with no qualifying rounds. Suppose there were 80 entries, it would take seven rounds.

The semi-finals and finals might be over 36 holes and the rest over 18— not that one would mind the whole thing being over 18 holes. A day could be allotted for the foursomes, and the meeting could be compressed into a week. Personally I should like to see the thing tried. Championship Dates The custom of allowing the club holding the championship meeting to fix the dates for the time at which the club officials consider their course at its best has not always worked well. Of late years it has frequently happened that the end of September or the beginning of October has been chosen. At least one club and many individuals have complained that this time is the most inconvenient that could have been fixed upon. Bank and office balances, farmers getting busy, scarcity of caddies, and extremely doubtful weather are some of the objections. The council at its last meeting discussed the matter, and the opinion was expressed that the end of October was the best time. It is quite true that in some respects the end of October is better than the end of September. First there is a much better chance of good weather; secondly, it is a more convenient time for most people, except perhaps farmers, to take a holiday. The caddy difficulty remains, but there is a much greater objection. Ln New Zealand, golf is for the most part a winter game, played when courses are more or less soft. The holes have been laid out for these conditions, and the bunkering is in keeping. By the end of October most country courses have closed down, and, except on sandy courses, the run of the ball lias become excessive. A hole of 400yds., amply long enough when the ground was reasonably soft, is now done with a drive and mashie. In fact summer conditions have arrived. Though summer golf is pleasant enough, it is not so good a test of ability as that played when the approach can be controlled, and when the holes are not mado ridiculous by drives running 100 yards. Wo have never made any secret of our belief that the first week in September is the best time for the meeting. Long experience and statistics show that the weather is usually satisfactory—one can’t hope for perfect weather for a week or more in spring; school holidays mean an ample supply of caddies; the farming interest is not yet busy; but, above all, the conditions are those of the season’s play. The old cry that courses art: not at their best is largely nonsense—they used to be all right when the meetings were regularly held at that time. This isn’t Canada, where the ice has to be got out of the ground. Women's Provincial Tournament The men may still claim to be the hardier sex and to despise physical discomfort, but nowadays the claim would not go undisputed. It seems to be fated that the Auckland women's provincial championship should always be played under weather conditions which would try the patience and endurance of the hardiest golfers, and last week’s tournament was no exception. Wednesday and Thursday were very vile days. On Wednesday a north-easter brought heavy driving rain, and on Thursday the wind went to the fcJ.E., and added biting cold to the entertainment. The cheerful and efficient way the women tackled the problem was beyond praise. So far from being daunted, most of them seemed to revel in the conditions, and produced golf which under the circumstances was full of merit. The scoring in the qualifying rounds on Tuesday was very ordinary, though apart from a fair breeze the conditions were very favourable. The thick sole of grass might have been expected to trouble the Titirangi competitors, but, curiously enough, they did better than the Middlemore members. Mrs. PL L. Wilson easily topped the list, and the steadiness of her golf was first-class. The match play brought into the semi-finals Mrs. R. L. Wilson (Titirangi), Miss M. Guy (Palmerston North), Miss E. Culling (Middlemore), and Miss D. Clirystall (Christchurch), a thoroughly wellscattered representation. Mrs. Wilson was too steady for Miss Guy, but Miss Culling had a desperate battle with Miss Chrystall (last year’s New Zealand champion)—a battle that ended by medium of a long putt to Miss Culling on the last green. Conditions for the final on Fri tay were excellent —a tribute to liie organisation of the Auckland Club officials. Miss Culling started off like a champion and was 3 up at the 6th. A 2 to Mrs. Wilson at the 7th reduced the lead, but a splendid 3 at the 11th by Miss Culling restored it. Two missed putts by Nlrs. Wilson at the 14th and 15tli gave the match to Miss Culling by 4 and 3. Miss Culling had a considerable advantage off the tee, there being a little cut on Mrs. Wilson’s drives which lost distance for her. On the green, too, Miss Culling was a shade the better. The golf was very good indeed, especially for a final. Lespite difficulties caused by the weather, the meeting was conducted with that efficiency which we nowadays habitually expect in women’s tournaments. AUCKLAND LADIES' CLUB The best scores returned in the medal competition played by members of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club at Middlemore were as follow:—Mrs. Robertson. S 9, 11—78; Mrs. Rutherford, 91. 12—79; Miss If. Cut field, 95. 16—79; Miss I.- Ruddock. 10S, 29—79; Mrs. Marshall, 91, 11—SO; Mrs. Buttle, 91, 11—SO. The draw for the monthly medal competition to be played on Tuesday next is as follows:—Miss Noakes v. M iss L. Cut field; Miss Ridings v. Miss Hamlin; Miss Lever v. Mrs. Cox; Miss L. Robertson V. Mrs. S. Ilanna; Mrs. Abbott v. Mrs. Wilson; Mrs. Wright v. Mrs. Murphy; Miss E. Wilson v. Mrs. Marshall; Miss Orr v. Miss H. Cutfield: Miss Buddie v. Mrs. Rainger: Mrs. Endean v. Mrs. Robertson; Miss Moginie v. Mrs. Rutherford; Mrs. Buttle v. Miss McGovern; Mrs. Hughes v. Miss Upton; Miss T. Bavly v. Mrs. Craven; Miss 1). Rainger v. Miss M acfarlane: Miss Culling v. Mrs. Ferguson: Mrs. Green v. Miss MacCormick; Miss M. Maefarlam v. Mrs. H. Hanna; Miss Walkley v. Mrs. E. Friedlander; Mrs. Wvide-Brown v. Mrs. Macindoe; Miss Henderson v. Mrs. Morris; Miss C. Martin v. Miss Jackson; Miss Coutts v. Mrs. Finn; Mrs. Fra ter v. Mrs. Martin; Mra Trice v. Miss Reid; Mrs. Jefferson v. Miss R. Roberton; Miss Egerton V. Nil’s. Boddington: Nlrs. Miller v. Miss C. Rainger: Miss C. Bayly v. Mrs. Carr; Miss E. Mahoney v. another. AKARANA LADIES’ CLUB Following is the draw for the Canadian foursomes to be played by members of the Akarana I.adies’ Golf Club tomorrow, ladles' closing day, play commencing at 10.30 a. in.:—Mrs. Gilmore and Miss Dalton v. Misses Fearnley and F. Feet* Mrs. Coy and Mrs. Fearnley v. Misses Smith and Longdill: Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Caughey v. Misses M. Feet and K. Miller; Misses Darrach and Cox v Misses Connett and Jones; Mrs. England and Miss Young v. Mrs. Preston and Miss Hodge; Mrs. Young and Miss Ballantyne \* Airs Coppard and Mrs. Budge; Mrs. Halford and Mrs. Zahara V. Miss Birch and Miss Kerr-Taylor; Mrs. Masefield ?nd Miss Todd v. Mrs. Darrach and Mrs. Blakey. Post entries will be received.