GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 295, 22 May 1915, Page 7

GOLF.

ITEMS FROM NEAR AND FAR. Matches to be played at New Plymouth to-day are: New Plymouth Club, St. Andrew's Cross and junior aggregate competition; Witiora Club, pairs best ball bogey; no match at Xaranua. On tlie Xarakuti Club's links on Thursday afternoon un eclectic match was played, the best scores rcturncu being: it. Kennei) 49—20—29; 11. Cannell 45 12—33; Ji. Parker 5-1—20—34. Tlie points scored to date for the Standisii Cup at YVaiwakaiho are:—W. C. Weston 3, K. Bain 3, F. S. Johns i, A. Bewley 2, I>. Hutchen 1 and J. Austin 1. In connection with St. Andrew's Cross matches played by the New Plymouth Club there is an aggregate prize for juniors, and juniors are reminded that it is necessary to put in four cards done on St. Andrew's Cross days in order to qualify for the aggregate prize. The New Plymouth Club will play a match against Witiora at Waiwakaiho next Thursday, and those members of tlie .New Plymouth Club who will he able to play in the match are requested to send their names to Mr. A. Bewley by Monday night. Three other inter-club--matches have been arranged by the Xew Plymouth Club as follows: —June 3 v. llawcra, at llawera; June 17 v. Inglewood, at Inglewood; June 24, v. 'Stratford, at New Plymouth.

A local golfer writes:—"The New Plymouth Club is showing a commendable spirit in giving a portion of the entrance fees for matches to the Belgian Fund and the Red Cross Fund, but I think if you made a suggestion that the money collected during the next week or two should go to the New Zealand Hospital Ship Fund it would meet with the approval of all golfers. All the local—in fact, all the Taranaki —clubs might contribute." Taranaki golf clubs should not hesitate to adopt this suggestion, and let them start to-day, for more' money for our wounded soldiers is wanted, and wanted urgently. Many of us who are still playing golf cannot go to the war for various reasons, and the very least we can do is to assist in alleviating sull'er'mgs of the New Zealanders who are lighting for us. Golfers should not he behind, for there are many Taranaki golfers lighting in tlie Dardanelles.

There is still divided opinion in New Zealand on the question of continuing golf during the war, but a definite lead lias been given by tlie Auckland club. Auckland lias decided to abandon interclub matches, but will continue club matches, requesting the Press, nowever, not to report matches. To abandon inter-club matches is, we think, a wise move, and one which should be made' generally. Golfers .can get good golf and healthy exercise oh their own links without travelling, about the country upending money which could be much better employed by one or other of the war funds. There is ample excuse for continuing to play golf. Those who cannot go to the war are not going to benefit anyone by losing their recreation, and those who will be going to the war in later reinforcements will benefit by the exercise which golf gives them, but both these ends will be served without inter-club matches. As to the nonpublicity of golf news in the Press, we feel there can be no golfers who have not an honest reason for ignoring the country's call, and therefore there is no reason why, (igurately speaking, they should keep to the back streets with their collars turned up, and their caps pulled over their faces.

The results of the inter-club match between 'the Witiora Club and Tnglcwood, played on the Witiora, links on Thursday afternoon, are as follows (Witiora players mentioned first): —S. J. Smith beat 11. Thomson, G up and 5; J. S. Pa ton beat A. Johnson 3 up and 2; ,1, ,S. S. Medlev beat A. Surrev, 7 up and fi; A. S. TTasell beat J. Billiard 0 up and C>; T, Ballot lost to Marshall, 2 down; W. IT. Broome beat, C. O'Carroll, 2up and 1; J. W. Haslam beat J. Sutherland, 2 up and 1; A. K. Smart and Darlow, all square; A. Humphries beat <!. Sutherland, 1 up; 0. Bayly beat P. O'Carroll, 15 up and 4.

Auckland has now four golf courses. The new nine-hole course at Takapuna was formally opened recently, when mixed foursomes were played. Mr. and Mrs. Stringer acted as hosts for the afternoon, and the 20 or DO members who attended spent a most enjoyable afternoon. The greens, considering that Hie grass was only sown down last year, were in very fair order. The grass has' come away nicely, and the fairways should soon be in first-class order. Although only nine holes are available at present, they are for the most part very sporting. F. fj. Hood offered two clubs to the pair handing in the best card, and these were won bv Afrs. Drv,land and Mr. Hunter, who did the nine holes i„ 53—1-I—3o.