GOLF NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 17 (Supplement)

GOLF NOTES.

HAMILTON LADIES' CLUB. DOUGLAS CUP COMPETITION. The first round of the handicap match play for the Douglas Gup competition was played on Wednesday under perfect weather conditions with the links in excellent order. Five of the games were taken to the 18th green for a decision, but there were no ties. Mrs J. McNicol, in beating Mrs L. Day, 2-up, justified her position of top of the qualifying list the previous Wednesday. Mrs Day was playing well, but 16 strokes were too many to give Mrs McNicol, who was driving a very long ball and playing very consistently. Mrs F. Mander, in beating Miss V. Cann 6-4, did the round in 79. Miss M. Eyre had a close game with Mrs G. Smith, finishing 1up. Both players were on the same mark. Mrs L. Pettit also had a close game. She was giving away 18 strokes to Mrs F. M. Taylor, who took her to the 18th green, Mrs Pettit winning, 1up. The Huntly players, Mrs D. E. Hart and Mrs E. V. Daldy, had good wins. The senior players were evidently on their game, Miss M. Wilkinson, Mrs Mander, Mrs Bennett, Mrs Batt and Mrs Rawlings all won their matches. Mrs Isdale, Mrs Russell and Mrs O’Connor also had wins. A bogey scramble for players not in the Douglas Gup competition was responsible for some good scores. The club’s captain, Mrs G. W. Gower, won the senior division, with 3 down. In the junior division Mrs R. Kemp and Mrs C. N. Jewell tied with 2 down. They also tied over the last nine holes, but Mrs Kemp won on a recount over 12 holes.

Mrs Kemp’s score of 94 was a reducing one and she has the honour of being the first player to reduce her handicap on the new scratch score of 7L Miss A. Hooker was 3 down and her score of 101 was 2 strokes better than her previous best. New Scratch Score. Many were the comments, both adverse and otherwise when it became known on Wednesday that the scratch score of the course was reduced from 74 to 71 by the S.S. Committee of the Ladies’ Golf Union. As all clubs in New Zealand have had their scratch score revised there is nothing to be done about it but to submit to the inevitable and carry on. If the New Zealand courses are to be brought into line with overseas scratch scores, it is going to be very much better for the long hitter but very hard for the mediocre player and a tragedy for those who have been very near to a handicap. Probably, in the long run, it will be a blessing to a beginner, because, instead of trailing round the course struggling for a handicap she will be obliged to learn first how to use her clubs and consequently a better standard of golf will result. The scratch score is decided from the lengths of the holes taken in conjunction with the total length of the course, the configuration and nature of the ground and local conditions. The scratch score is given for the course as a whole. The standard par represents the number of strokes in which it is assumed possible for an ordinary scratch player to reach the 18 greens plus 36 putts and is based on spring and autumn conditions of weather with fairways and greens in good order and without wind. The yardage at St. Andrews is some 400 yards shorter than it should be, worked out on the basis from which the Ladies’ Golf Union fix the par of a hole. It would be a simple matter to lengthen the course by playing off more men’s tees, but whether it is advisable to do this or accept the 71 scratch score, on the course as it is, is a difficult problem. In altering the scratch score to 71, it will not affect the handicaps this season. They will remain as they are but any further reduction must be on a 71 basis. The handicaps will not be revised till the end of December.