GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1920, Page 3

GOLF.

NEW, PLYMOUTH CLUB. IMPROVING THE COURSE. New Plymouth and Napier have the two best golf courses in New Zealand, and when suggested improvements arc carried out at Waiwakaiho during the nest few years, the Mew Plymouth links will be the best in the Dominion. This is the opinion of ,T. H. Kirkwond, Ihe open champion of Australasia, who has just completed a tour of the principal golf links in New Zealand. Yesterday morning Kirkwond, who has had two full Mays' play at Waiwakaiho, visited the links with some members or the committee, and gave many helpful suggestions by which the course could be improved. His proposals are somewhat drastic, but while trey open up many interesting possibilities they preserve the best features which exist to-day. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to a good course has been the fifth hole, and Kirkwond has no hesitation in condemning l llls. With this opinion in support of many others which lave been given hy visiting golfers. Hie club should have no hesitation in placing this matter on its. list of most Urgent works, and something should be done before the next Easter tournament. Tlio success of Kirkwood's general proposals depend almost entirely on the new country near the seashore, and as the work of transforming this area. Into suitable golfing country will take two or three years, no time should he lost hy the committee in drawing up their scheme, and deciding on the work to be proceeded with. The changes suggested hy Kirkwood do not represent a year's work, Put probably foiu-' years' work, and in the meantime It is Interesting to look at what he suggests. His plan is on these lines-: The first hole should stand, hut 2, 3 and 1 are dropped, ana the second hole is played from near tie first green and the objective is the Sth green. A drive would bring the player near the present fourth green, and the second shot would carry the pond to the Bth green.

The present. r,th is dropped, and tl-e ,3rd is taken m the same direction, but on the left of , le hill. ,he green being on the southern face of the hill near the swamp The oth stands, but the 7th and Sth are dropped, and we are now brought to the bottom of tl-e property in four holes. The new sth should go to the present 9th green, skirting the hill, the too being near the present flth green. For the 6th a new nole is provided at the top of the hill the T'u'l ,V?, m ' KOM 10th r,lon K *>"> top "the lull, the new Sth i, the present ' "' e | ne,t i "" is «>e Present 12tli. Then three holes are to ho found i„ the "new country" on the sandhills.

or TI JL'";\ 5 'M 1 ' iS '!'"" br " Usl,t (0 ne " ««e ice ° the 3lh, and twelve Holes havine; bee,, payed, .he present 13tl, v.il, a> S o be ,he new altered h 1 ° S " m "''' "'* SUBRes, « 1 ' »" atered 1„ ndvanens the tee and shlfttaß the Erce n further back towards the brink U, 'M'" at /" e """• 0f tl,e «■<"«»"■ Tl ; »>.». the IS ,„ wm urtv: d s r«"o the present 1811, eree,, In a direct line As will readily be seen a «roat de,l „f work and e,pe,„e is entailed, imt tlat Kirf woods sujrcestlnns will „rodue ß distlnet ™- nrorements cannot be doubted.