A GOLFER ABROAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 13

A GOLFER ABROAD

GENTLE AMERICAN ON N.Z. COURSES LIKED SHIRLEY LINKS “To see ’oorsel’s as itliers see us,” is not always a pleasant prospect or is it necessarily an accurate guide, but in the case of some candid opinions on New Zealand golf courses by an American, Dr. H. J. Morlan, there is an underlying vein of good fellowship which robs his lingering hankering for the billiards-table greens of his own country of some of its force. The worthy doctor starts off with the brisk statement that good steamer service, and the best and fastest narrowgauge railway in the world —equal to most standard gauge roads —will convey you in comfort to all of the places of interest for a very reasonable fee, by the purchase of a “circular ticket.” lie was crowded out in Invercargill by a wool-buyers’ gathering, and slept in a bathroom, but next day had the pleasure of playing on the southernmost course in the world at Otatara, which is “very inviting.” At Dunedin, “as Scotch as it sounds, and a lovely little modern city, the golf course (what about the others?) is perched high up on a hill where the wind has a chance to do its worst as it sweeps across from thousands of miles of ocean-blown travel, and invigorates one.” He found Christchurch delightful, with “the best golf course on the islands. The Christchurch Golf Club (Shirley) was a most delectable surprise after putting on some of the greens elsewhere. This is undoubtedly the best course on the islands in the summer time, but the course at Hamilton is a close second for supremacy in winter. Golf is a year-round proposition in this country.” A WINDY CITY “Wellington is a busy commercial centre with two golf courses, but, like the rest of New Zealand, is a very windy city. The standing joke that one may always tell a Wellingtonian by the grab at his hat when he turns a corner is, however, as greatly exaggerated as Chicago’s reputation for playful murders. Miramar is the best course adjacent to Wellington, but not the most pictLiresque. In fact, Miramar comes very near being a real golf course, and with its wind-swept fairways, one is reminded very forcibly of some of Scotland’s links. Mr. ’Aplin took me out to Miramar as his guest, and showed me every courtesy until the seventeenth green, then he put me down and kept me there. But as I am well accustomed to that sort of thing, it never ruins my day. A good brush with a stellar opponent is one of the joys of life, in whatever game one plays.” Someone has obliged the doctor with a stirring picture of a sandstorm at Miramar, with •Jhe flax sticks lying over at an angle of forty-five. This is entitled ‘'Miramar course at Wellington, New Zealand, the windiest course in the South Sfceas.”

JSkimming lightly over Rotorua and Maddlemore courses, Dr. Morlan characterises Middlemore as “the best Auckland example, though not as good as many other courses in the Islands.”

Gloly a month here, he found so many o their things in the sporting line to take up his time, that after all his opinions on the golf courses are necessarily* sketchy. “The western coast of the South Island provides mountains over 12,000 ft high, but has no golf courses; I will return later for the hunting ancHfishing.” Perhaps he will then find cotnrses of a sort. New Zealand, however, captivated him. “At times there is sen insatiable, compelling inclination to do it all over again immediately. Tlrt> provinces are ahead of the Mother Country in most matters of home and commercial life, but it will take another century for Old England to find it out—and then it will be doubted. The colonists are alert, and not so meticulous, they use the tugs more than the brffcchin’, and they are going somewhere <sJI the time, industriously and industrially. They have brains and ability, and it hey are making use of them as was intended.”

C. G. Macartney was in tip-top form in a recent match in Sydney, scoring 147 runs in 78 minutes. * * * Gates for Shield Matches Mr. J. IT. Watts (treasurer) presented the; gate receipts for these two matches at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening. They are as follow:

These gates will just about cover the total'expenses for the matches. « * * Another Match Mooted At the meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening, an informal suggestion was made that Wellington be invited to send a team to Auckland to play an extra match toward the close of the season. If sjuch a fixture could be arranged, it would do something to supplement Auckland’s funds. The season is such a heavy one, however, that Wellington might find difficult to get a strong team to travel.

Past Defeat Avenged Auckland’s win yesterday against Can ter bury did something to .make amends Cor the defeat the home side suffered at Eden Park this time two years ago. After a neck and neck struggle, during which the result was in doubt right up till the last, Canterbury carried the day by only 11 runs. The finish to the Wellington-Canterbury game at the Basin Reserve this season was almost as close, Wellington winning by 19 runs. * * * Auckland Leading At this stage of the season Auckland is leading the provinces for the Plunket Shield for the 1929-30 season, as indicated by the following table: _ . P- BPt. 4Pt. OPt. 2Pt. Pts. A P l ovir \? e _ Win Win Loss Loss Auckland ..2 l l 0 0 12 Wellington ..1 l o 0 0 8 Canterbury . 2 0 0 1 1 9 Otago .... 1 0 0 10 0 Wellington, it will be seen, has Played only one match, against Auckland s two. * # * Next Plunket Shield Game The next Plunket Shield game this season is Otago versus Wellington at iJunedm, commencing on January 31. Much interest is bound to be taken in this fixture, as its result may have a big bearing on the final award of the shield. Auckland travels to play Wellington at Wellington toward the end of i ebruary. * * * Beale's Team Returning t! » e , completion of Its match t j} e Ashburton County today, Mr L. c. Beale's Auckland touring cricket team will return to Auckland, arriving here late on Thursday evening. The side has not met the success which has attended it in past years, but several members of the team have created big impressions everywhere they have gone. Among them are Lawrie and Vivian. The latter, who has played for the Mount Albert Grammar School for softie seasons past, and captained the first eleven last year, was chiefly noted as a bat when he went away, but he has had little success in that department, and made up for it by reaping a harvest of wickets. The First Test The first test, England v. New Zealand, commences at Christchurch on

Otago. Canterbury. First day .. £28 12 0 £50 1 0 Second day 104 19 0 85 5 0 Third day .. 63 10 0 83 5 0 £197 1 0 £218 11 0