GOLF NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1939, Page 4

GOLF NOTES

OPINION ABOUT PRESENT BALL RETENTION FAVOURED IN U.S.A. ALTERATION TO RULE LIMITING NUMBER OF CLUBS. Players in 48 States were asked their opinion as to whether the present golf ball should be retained, states an article in “Golf” and 88 per cent of them voted for the retention of the present ball.

The article goes on to state that there have been several protests in the past seasons about the tremendous distances obtained from the modern ball; and lately many proclaim that the present ball has destroyed the geography and strategy of what were once interesting holes and courses. It cannot be denied that the present ball has contributed to transforming many courses into drive and pitch layouts, for low handicap players. Golf was not designed to be purely a drive and pitch game. Those who favour the shorter flighted ball argue that the modern ball has robbed players of the opportunity to play varied shots with different clubs. Certainly under present conditions it should not be necessary for short handicap players to carry even the 14 clubs now permitted under the new St Andrews rule. An alternative is to build longer courses, but there the advocates of the shorter flight ball will come up against the great majority of golfers who are in the double-figure handicap class. The argument is likely to last a considerable time before (if ever) it is finally settled. The 38 per cent of enthusiasts who voted for the retention of the present ball expressed different views on the subject; but the majority expressed the opinion that shortening of the ball or the lengthening of the courses would not be agreeable to them. If the golf associations agree on a certain standard ball 'that will suit the average player a great difficulty will be overcome; but the average player does not want a ball that will make it necessary for any drastic changes in the lay-out of his course. A communication was received at the last meeting of the New Zealand Golf Association from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews advising that a meeting,of that club held on May 2 the rules of golf were altered in the direction of limiting the number of clubs to be used or to be carried during a refund to 14. The full text of the alteration in the rules will be advised to clubs.

New Zealand Centennial golf tour- | naments will be held on the following dates:—Titirangi Golf Club's links (Auckland), open championship, Oct. 23 and 24; Christchurch Golf Club’s links (Christchurch), open championship, November 2 and 3; Miramar Golf Club’s links (Wellington), New Zealand open, amateur, professions’ and foursomes championships, November 9 to 17.

RIVERSIDE CLUB COMMENT ON RECENT PLAY. (By “Long Drive.”) During the weekend a bogey round was played by the members of the Riverside Golf Club and many good cards were handed in. During the past few weeks many players have had their handicaps reduced. C. Anderson is improving his game this season. On Saturday he played to his handicap, 91-22-G9, and finished 2 down on bogey. With a card of 80-9-71, R. Baker put up quite good scoring, considering that he had two strokes over par on three of the long holes. J. C. Bell is playing very well now. On Saturday he completed the course in 69 off the stick, his card for the second 9 holes reading 3-4-4-3-5-4-2-3-3 —3l. The first nine holes were F. Candy’s downfall on Saturday. He took two ■over bogey on the second and third holes but a birdie 3 on the seventh was good shooting. J. B. Carruthers has been playing good golf and on Saturday he returned a card of four below par. Included in his score were sixes at the 7th, 11th and 12th holes. C. Chapman is playing better golf now, returning a net 68 and finishing 1 down in the bogey competition. The "Bank” seems to be this player’s downfall.

A player who has at last come on to his game is H. Clarkson, who won the junior bogey round on Saturday. There is no doubt that he is a real trier and has now had his handicap reduced. F. Dwyer played a good round, although not good enough to win. His net medal round was 73. The “Donga” proved this player’s downfall. W. Rew, Jnr., is putting in some good cards this season. He returned a net 70 on Saturday. Back in the ranks after being away for two or three weeks, C. Leigh is playing more steadily. On Saturday he returned a net 71. G. Murdoch has now earned a reduction in his handicap by returning a net 68. This member can certainly play a good spoon shot from the fairway. S. Onion is another left hander. He has lately been troubled with a slice. When he can overcome this he should earn a new handicap. A player who is improving with every round is W. Petty, his card on Saturday being 72 net. A 7 at “Barr’s” was not too good for this player. F. Pool returned a net 68 on Saturday and has had his handicap reduced again.

S. Pye, a beginner to the game, did an even 100. This player mistimed several of his tee shots and when trying to make it up with his next shot would often come to grief. Playing a much better round this week, G. Rushton returned a net 72, a very good performance. With more experience he will be able to direct the ball better on the long holes. B. Summers had a great score for the first nine holesc, recording birdie 3’s at the first, fifth and ninth holes and finishing all square in the bogey competition. J. Wakelin has now had his handicap reduced to 18. Returning a net 69 is good scoring for a player who has been away from the game for two years. The winner of the intermediate

championship last year, V. Jones, is playing consistently this year. On Saturday he went out in 45 and returned in 40, the seventh and eighth holes being his downfall going out.

MAHUNGA CLUB REDUCTIONS IN HANDICAPS. . (By “Par.”) Mahunga Club players are making steady progress. W. Eoyce, by returning a net 72, still continues to play nicely around his handicap. C. Sandbek found the going rather hard on Saturday, but turned on good sound golf against Bideford. He is a player who should be earning a reduction in handicap. ' By recording a net 70 on Saturday R. Lendrum maintained his steady form. W. Johansen, with a net 71, played to his handicap for the first time this season. With three birdies on his card he should soon be returning some excellent cards. Playing his usual steady game, L. M. Roach has no difficulty in playing around his handicap. L. J. Thompson, with his handicap now at 14, played nicely to it to record a net 71. A newcomer to the club, V. Biss, recorded a sound 70 net off the limit mark. J. W. Dove now has net cards of 70, 71 and 72 and if he is able to maintain his present form a reduction in handicap should not be far away. Even after earning a reduction in handicap last week, Jack Sievers continues to beat the handicapper by returning a net 69. No doubt a further reduction will be his lot.

J. W. N. Hosking played well to his reduced handicap to record a net 70. Another player who played under his new handicap to return a net 68 was A. H. Ward. A further reduction should be his penalty. S. L. Richards is a player who has only just come on to his game, as he demonstrated on Saturday with a net 67. It is to be hoped that he will maintain this improved form. V. E. Burridge played a game out of the box on Saturday to return a net 65. He has been a consistent player around par and is to be congratulated on his good performance. By returning a net 67 on his new handicap, R. B. McPherson is entitled to a further handicap reduction.