On The Links

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1038, 31 July 1930, Page 6

On The Links

B*

“SLOWBACK"

Auckland Golf Though Saturday was quite a good day for golf, most of the courses were very thinly peopled, the regular players being at Eden Park to swell the record crowd. The day is far distant when a golf match will draw a crowd of 45,000 —indeed, it is just as well, because the game would be impossible with a gallery of half the number. Some of the faithful ones turned out and played, but all formal matches were off. A few fortunate ones got a round in during the morning and then went to football. A bogey scramble at Middlemore attracted only some 15 entries, and the inevitable V. E. J. "Wells won it with a card of all square. This makes his third in about three weeks. On Friday last those of the English football team who were not playing in the Test had a run on the King’s College ground and afterward lunched at the Aliddlemore Clubhouse. In the afternoon nine or ten of them had a garpe and, if anything of delicacy and finesse was lacking in their form, they made up for it with vigour. The club was fortunately able to see something more of them before they went away. F. D. Prentice hits a fine shot, but is short of form. He plays from a 10 handicap. G. R. Beamish is said to be the best of them (about 4), and judgUr' >om his physique he should be o smite them. J. AIcK. Hodgson p like a class golfer, his mashio approach at the eighth being worthy of Hagen or Bobby Jones. From 140 yards ho banged it high into a strong head wind, and it dropped like a stone practically dead. It was a great pleasure to be able to see something of the visitors. Afost of the club programmes have been disarranged to some extent by the two football Saturdays, but it was worth it. National Handicaps A_nd so National Handicaps are dead. The council lias decided—and very wisely, too —that there is no further need for them, as all elubs are now handicapping from a standard scratch score. The National Handicaps were a bit of a joke. The original argument was that Arthur Duncan would need a handicap of 2 from the British amateur champion and, as his handicap at Ileretaunga was plus 3, all our handicaps were 5 too low on this reckoning. The result was that players sent in their club handicaps and the council duly added 5 and sent out the certificates. I believe there were a few adjustments made, but very few. The only National Handicaps that would be any good would be given by independent authority, ignoring to some extent the club handicaps. Suppose Arthur Duncan were ranked as scratch, then the handicaps of such players as Dr. Ross, E. Af. Alacfarlane, T. IT. Horton, A. E. Ekstedt and J. L. Black—just to name a few—could be assessed from their known performances on other courses besides their own, and then others could be handicapped from them. But, as the council says, there is no longer need for National Handicaps, as clubs are now handicapping from the standard scratch score. Since the Issue of definite instructions a few weeks ago, it is possible that most of them are—it is to be hoped so. The council may, however, rest quite assured that before the instructions were issued most clubs were not. It is not more than three months ago that a member of the Handicapping Committee of a big club, on whoso course championships are held, wrote to "Golf Illustrated” to inquire if there was any system of handicapping. Then the other day a member of the Handicapping Committee of a big Southern metropolitan

club told us that he didn’t believe in the B.S.S. handicapping system, and that his club had a method of their own. No doubt they will refuse to sign the declaration that they are using the system, and, if so, it will be instructive to see if their entries are accepted. Then again, many clubs profess to bo using the system, but the liandicappers know better than the system. I was told in one case that they were not reducing any handicaps until the players had beaten the scratch score several times. The members of that club must havo had a good time at outside tournaments, but how their entries •for the Newi Zealand meeting will fare it is hard to say. No doubt all will come right in time, but obstinacy and stupidity are keeping that time back.

Professionals in the Open The New Zealand Golf Council has announced that the entries for the Open Championship at Palmerston will be limited to 68 amateurs and 20 professionals. Originally the number of amateurs was 64, but it has been increased by four. The point we would like to make is that it is doubtful policy to exclude any bona fide professional.x It is true that in Britain and America there are qualifying rounds, but seeing that there are probably not more than 30 professionals in New Zealand, qualifying rounds would seem to be unnecessary. One is quite ready to admit that probably some of the professionals are below the standard of a 4 or 5 handicap amateur —and probably no higher handicap will get

in at Manawatu. We would, however, be quite glad to bet —if only betting were not naughty—that on professional would finish in the last 10. The point is that what is just fun for most of the amateurs is deadly earnest for the professional. It is at this meeting he has his only chance—or almost so—of playing with and watching the good players. No professional in a city club would be likely to have his entry refused, and this provision hits only the young professional and the country professional. It is very much in the interests of golf that every opportunity should be given to the young professional to play competition golf in good company—look at young Fuller’s performance last year. It is a matter of perfect indifference from the game’s point of view whether 40 or 60 amateurs take part, but personally I should never reject a professional entry, while we are in our present stage of development. Nor is there any need. Even suppose we do not have daylight saving, at the end of October a far bigger field than 88 can be successfully handled. Supposing that 15 couples can be dispatched to the hour —and with a hole such as the first at Palmerston there is no difficulty in that—a field of 100 can be got off between 8 a.m. and 11.20 a.m. Allowing three hours for the round —a liberal allowance —and 40 minutes for Inuch,, the last couple would leave for its second round at 3 p.m.. and if it couldn’t finish before dark it would be arrested for loitering. I hope the council will think again. t The Road Hole The peculiar qualities of St. Andrews havo been the joy of many and the despair of almost as many more. The best golf course in the world, say some Not a course at all, say others. Joshua Crane, an American theorist of note, ranks it twelfth among British courses The Itoad Hole has been the subject of more encominums and of more abuse than possibly any other hole in the world. It is No. 17 on the old course and is 467 yards in length. The main features are three in number: a corner of the stationmaster’s garden has to be carried on the direct line; a bunker is at the left-hand front corner of the green; and a road runs alongside the right-hand side of the green. There !are two ways in: a heroic drive over the corner of the garden will give a straight shot in: a long drive well to the left will give a shot for the green going in behind the bunker. On tho ; | first route the danger is in the drive i I On the second the difficulty is getting l into the narrow green from the side

without over-running into the road. ' Under normal summer conditions it ; would be impossible to pitch in and stop, unless from a very short distance. In front of the green are undulations which would make a pitched' approach very dangerous and the orilv shot would be a run-up—a shot aj which St. Andrews players usually excel. J. H. Taylor used to complain of this approach, but finally he gav«up trying to pitch and did better. In medal play most players are content to place their balls in the front of the green and trust to an accurate run-up for the 4. In Bobby Jones's famous score of 285 in 1927, he had only one 4 in the four rounds at this hole, and at most holes of similar length he is putting for a 3. MONTHLY MEDAL MATCH! I

AUCKLAND LADIES’ CLUB Following is the draw for the monthly medal to be played next Tuesday by members of the Auckland Ladies’ Golf Club:—Miss Macfarlane v. Mrs. Robertson, Miss Upton v. Mrs. Wilson, Miss Wilson v. Miss Moginie, Miss Hamlin v. Miss Mahoney, Miss McGovern v. Mrs. Craven, Miss L. Cutfield v. Mrs. Wright, Miss 11. Cutfield v. Miss M. Macfarlane. Mrs. Green v. Miss Bayly, Mrs. Hughes v. Miss MacCormick, Mrs. Buttle v. Mrs. Hodges. Mrs. Ferguson v. Miss Culling. Mrs. Rutherford v. Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Abbott v. Mrs. Ralnger, Miss Noakes v. Miss Orr, Mrs. Boddington v. Mrs Ralph, Miss Coutts v. Miss Nevill. Miss Asser v. Mrs. Morris, Miss Jackson v Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Friedlander v. Mrs Towle, Miss L. Roberton v. Miss Ballantyne, Mrs. Martin v. Miss Walkley. Mrs. Croft v. Mrs. Frater, Miss Cousins v. Mrs. Campbell, Miss R. Roberton v. Mrs. Nevill, Mrs. Carr v Miss Rainger, Miss Egerton v. Miss C. Bayly, Miss Reid v Mrs. Gorrie. Mrs. Finn v. Mrs. Trice. Miss' Clark v. Mrs. Grant, Miss Graham v Miss S. Mahoney, Miss Porter v. Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Jefferson v. Mrs. Miller. AKARANA CLUB The fourth round of the Tyler Mem- ] orial Cup, and a monthly button match 1

will be played by members ot the Akarana Golf Club on Saturday. Players may choose their own partners. Entries for the championships close next \\ea-, nesday. AKARANA LADIES’ CLUB Following is the draw for the L.G.U. j monthly medal match to be played on • Saturday bv members of the Akarana , Ladies’ Golf Club:—Mrs. Sutton v Miss ■ Webber. Miss Lawson v. Miss JenKs, Miss Griffen v. Miss I. Beacon, Miss Roberts v. Miss Dallihg, Miss Tyler- ( Davies v Miss A. Beacon, Miss Feaxnley V. Miss Joyce, Miss Cousins v. Miss , Knott, Miss Wynyard v. Miss Longvill. Miss Connett v. Miss Smith. C grade. | Miss Barton v. Miss Simons. Miss Neville j v. Misss Farrow. Miss Hoe v Miss Broadley, Miss Walmsley v. another. MAUNGAKIEKIE LADIES* CLUB Following is the result of the bogey handicap match played by members of j the Maungakiekie Ladies* Golf Club at One Tree Hill yesterday:—First division (1-24): Mrs. Ferguson (21), 2 up: Miss McGowan (23), 2 up; Miss K. Horton <lo>. j 1 up; Mrs. O’Leary (13), 1 up; Mrs. Spin- i ley (24), 1 up; Mrs, Banister (9), all j square. Second division: (25-36): Miss A. Palmer (36>. 3 up; Mrs. Ramsay (25). all square; Mrs. Napier (33). all square; j Miss M. Bailey (25), 1 down; Miss Lowrie (26), 1 down. Following are the results of the cham- ; pionship matches;— Seniors.—Second round: Mrs. Ilosking ■ beat Mrs. Johnston, 2 up; Mrs. O’Leary • beat Miss Grierson, 5 and 4: Miss K. Horton beat Mrs. Paterson, 6 and 5; Mrs. i Banister beat Mrs. Swann. 6 and 5. Semi- ; final: Mrs. Hosking beat Mrs. O’Leary, 4 ; and 2; Miss Horton beat Mrs. Banister, b , and 4. Junior.—Second round: Miss Miller beat j Miss CarnacUan. 2 up; Mi's. Spinley beat Miss Schnauer, 3 and 2; Miss Stewart beat • Mrs. G. A. Hardley, 1 up; Miss G. Parr beat Mrs. Taylor, 2 and 1. Semi-final: ‘ Miss Miller beat Mrs. Spinley. 5 and 4: Miss Parr beat Miss B. Stewart. * and * The final of the championship w ill * eminence at one o’clock this afternoon. A ! four-ball best-ball medal match will com- . 1 raence at nine o'clock this morning.