GOLF

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 318, 3 June 1911, Page 7

GOLF

THE ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP. By Cable—Press Association —Cipvripht. London, June 1. In the sixth round of the golf championship Gordon Lockhart beat Bruce Pearce 4 up and 3 to play. In the semifinal Hilton beat Lockhart. The fallowing will represent the Ngamotu Golf Club in their match with Stratford to be played on the Ngamotu links on Monday:—W. C. Weston, C. H. Weston, A. H. Steeds, F. S. Johns, C. H. Burgess, E. Bary, J. Paton, A. Bewley. Play will commence at 11 a.m. Braid and Taylor were recently asked to appear on the vaudeville A prominent, theatrical manager, the patentee of a species of "home golf," which lie viewed as the best thing of its kind ever invented, had everything cut and dried. The engagement was awaiting them, and they were to give exhibitions on the stage. They, however, declined the tempting offer. As the New Zealand championships are to take place at Wanganui a description of the course will prove of in- j tcrest. The holes aro as follows:—1. Belmont, 388 yds, bogey 5; 2. Dress Circle (6), 510 yds; 3, Exodus (4), 254 yds; 4, Ridge (5), 350 yds; 5. Redan (4), 178 yds; 0, Lilliput (3), 121 yds; 7, Quarry (4V.), 31.5 yds; 8, Land's End (4%), 208vds; 0, Slope (4), 178 yds; 10, Lo'ng Tom (0), 548 yds; ll.Terawhiti (3>/ 2 ), 101 yds; 12. Alma (s) r 37oyds; 13,, Encampment (5), 414 yds; 14, French' Pass (4), 205 yds; 15, V.Bunker's: Hill (4>/ 2 ), 298 yds; 'lfl|Cabbage Tree (a), 311 yds; 17, Balgownie (5), 357 yds; 18, Home (5), 310 yds. Total for the 18 holes, 5581 yds. Bogey

A four-ball foursome on the Shirley links at Christchurch the other day must have been a very interesting game to watch. It was between Messrs. B. B. Wood and Arthur Duncan, the two crack amateurs, and D. Sou tar, the Sydney professional, arid J. A. Clements, the Christchurch professional. With such at work play was, of a very high standard, the contest being very keenly fought out. The amateurs were in great form, and they succeeded in defeating their redoubtable opponents by three up. The score sheet is worth looking into, for it is one to make the ordinary player sigh with envy. It was as follows: No. 1, amateurs 4, professionals 4; No. 2, 4-4; No. 3, 4-5; No. 4, 4-4; N«. 5, 5-5; No. 4-6; No. 7, 4-3; No. 8, 5-5; No. 0, 3-4; No. 10, 4-4; No. 11, 4-5; No. 12, 5-4; No. 13, 4-4; No. 14, 5-4; No. 15, 3-4; No. 10, 3-3; No. 17, 4-4; No. 18, 3-4; totals, amateurs 72, professionals 76.

There is such a thing as individuality in golf, and, contrary to general belief, hard and fast rules cannot be laid dewn as to swinging. A new player adopting what is called the correct style has much more chance of success than the man using a style of his own. A rigid adherence to conventional precepts is likely to be of very little service (says the Field). One notices that very few of the best-known players of the day are very strict in observance of them. Mr. John Ball, for instance, holds his right palm round and under the shaft; as does Mr. N. F.' Hunter. Vardon swings his body perceptibly back from the ball; Mr. Maxwell makes a most pronounced and unorthodox use of the right shonl-' der; Mr. Horaee Hutchinson benrs his right knee to an extent highly unconventional. Very few leading professionals have the "follow through," beloved of novices, or seem to think a dogmatic adherence to the "slow back" theory an article of faith.

The coining visit to New Zealand of Harry Vardon, England's crack golf player, is an event of more than passing interest, and •olonial golfists have to thank the enterprise of the Sydney Sun for the visit. Vardon has won the English open cllampionship on several occasions, and he and Braid and Taylor have come to be known as "the triumvirate." Between them they have taken pretty well every championship of recent years, it, being largely a question as to which of the three happened to be most on his game on the particular occasion. Young players who will be looking for wrinkles, will be interested to learn that Vardon is a graceful player, with a style that has been described as "classic," and for that reason he is probably the best model that could be secured for the instruction and entertainment of golfers. Writes an authority: "Just as Stoddart's batting was once spoke* of as 'the champagne of cricket,' Vardon's play may be spoken of as 'the champagne of golf.' For the purposes of a trip such as that which is contemplated he represents probably the best selection that could have been made. It is true that Braid is for the moment the open champion, but he may not hold the title in two or three months' time. And Vardon may."