GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 270, 11 May 1912, Page 6

GOLF.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. To-day the first round of the Ngamotu trophy will be played. The conditions for this match provide that two rounds of 18 holes each shall be played, the four lowest nett scores in each round to qualify, leaving eight to play off the final by stroke play on Saturday week. Members arc to be complimented on the improved form already .shown by many of them, and there is no doubt that the standard of play generally is much higher than that usually found so early in the season. On last Saturday's play the following players reduced their handicap:—,T. Paton from 4 to 3, E. S. Baylev from 11 to .'I, and J. Johnston from 17 to 10. TARAHUA CLUB. The greens on the Tarahua links are improving, and the approaches are a big improvement on those of last year. Players are developing form, and many are in hopes of putting up some fairly good tallies before the season is much older. A special programme has been arranged for Monday, June 3 (King's Birthday). In the morning a men's | bogey match will be played, while the afternoon will be taken up with a mixed foursomes. Entries must be handed in by May 25, and will have to be accompanied by two cards from each played, showing two rounds of 18 holes each. THIS SEASON'S PROGRAMME. The following is the programme of matches to be played this season by the Tarahua Club:—May 11, Ladies' foursomes (buttons); 10, men's medal match (St. George's Cross); 18, Men's Bogey Match; '23, ladder matches; 25, men's medal match (St. George's Cross); June i 0, men's bogey match; 8, ladies' handicap singles (button); 13, men's handicap I singles (St. George's Cross); 15, mixed! foursomes; 20, men's medal match; 22, ladder matches; 29, men's medal match (St. George's Cross); July 4, men's bogey 1 match; 0, men's bogey match; 11, ladder matches; 13, ladies'handicap singles (Mr. Drew's trophy); 20, men's medal match (St. George's Cross); 27, men's ladder matches; August 1, men's medal match (St. George's Cross); 3, men's bogey! match; 10, ladies' bogey match (Mr. Drew's trophy); 17, mixed foursomes;!

22, men's bogey match; 24, qualifying J round for championship; 29, qualifying round for championship; 31, men's medal,' match (St. George's Cross); September 5, men's medal match (St. George's Cross); ; 7, first round for club championship; 14, ladies' handicap singles (button); 21, men's medal match (St. George's Cross). The club has also decided upon the following local rules:—(l) All roads are hazards; (2), all ground between tee and j road at No. 0 hole is a hazard; (3) a ball driven from the "Pines" tee and falling under the far fence may be dropped j five yards back without penalty; (4) a ball driven from "Cantlop" tee, and falling under either fence, may be dropped five yards back without penalty, except in the case of a ball passing the far fence, when it may be dropped in the I cricketing paddock, but not nearer tha 1 hole; (5) a ball played into the gully i may be teed for the loss of one stroke in. either medal or bole play.

JOTTINGS. One of the first things a new golfer should do is to make himself thoroughlyconversant with the rules of the game and also those relating to hazards. In stroke competitions, members should remember that when playing from within 20 yards of the hole, the flag should be removed before playing the stroke, as a penalty of two strokes is incurred should the ball strike the flag stick; and also that when both balls are on the putting green it is advisable for the player whose ball is nearer the hole to hole out first, as in the event of the player's ball strik-, ing the other ball a penalty of one stroked is incurred by the player. ' ! The other day in a bogey competition (says "Jock" in the Sydney Referee) a player, after approaching right on to the top of the hole, walked up to his ball and gently tapped it into the hole with the shaft end of his club, and his card for this hole was marked square with bogey. There was no chance whatever of missing the putt, as the ball lay right on the tin, but the question at once occurred to the writer, as a spetcator, as to whether tho player did not actually lose the hole. Rule 5 clearly says that the ball must be fairly struck at with the "head" of the club, not pushed, scraped nor spooned (the penalty for a breach of this rule being the loss of the hole). As the player struck at the ball with the "shaft" of the club it would seem that a breach of the rule had been committed. If the, player had "accidentlly" dropped his' club and the shaft had struck the ball and caused it to move, the penalty would have been one stroke.