GOLFING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3551, 15 June 1912, Page 10

GOLFING.

THE HANDICAP TOURNAMENT. THE DRAW. (By “Niblick.”) The Handicap Tournament of the Poverty Bay Golf Club commences on the local links this afternoon-. A number of interesting games will eventuate an the first round, and some tough struggles should take place this afternoon. The following is the draw:—A DIVISION. E. Adair (8), a bye. R. U. Burke (10), a, bye. W. F. J. Anderson (10) v- F. W. Nolan (13). J. H. Bull (3) v F. H. W. Traill (scr.) N. Bull (scr.) v- J. Barns-Graham (scr.) G. N. Dodgsliun (scr) v. R. WilLoc'k (6). C A. Fenwick (5) v. W. B. Willock (13)W. Gibson (6) v. J. B. Broadliurst (9). J. Howie (4) v. A. Baku (scr). P. H. Hamilton (12) v. W. R- Barker (4). W. H. Irvine (6) v. E. M. Hutoliinson (6). B. C. Jeffreys (12) v- G B. Smith (12). E. Johnson (13) v. L. T. Brown (8). P. Keiha (scr) V. G. W. Willock (scr). S -M. Palmer (1) v. W. A. O’Meara (12). G. Grant (14) v. F. F. Morgan (13). B DIVISION. Brewster (10), a- bye. Maelaurin (10), a bye A. R, Watson (10) v.' G. Kells (4). H. Simson (scr) v. F. E. Gaddum (DSpills bury (10) v. C. Morgan! (3). F. Traill (10) y. Brook (10). H. Bennett (scr) v. Murray- (scr). De Lautour (10) v. H. Rees (10). A. L. Muir (10) v. P. O’Meara (7). Schiermeng (10) v. George (1). I. B. Smith (10) v. Balfour (10). Milford (6) v. Wells (10). Burnard (10) v. Preston (10). Moore (scr) v. Andrew (2). Mander (10), a bye. A. S- Wachsmann (10), a bye.

Any players wishing to compete in the Tournament, whose name does not appear in the draw, may do so if they wish, as games will be arranged for them;.

The liandicappors have done their work well, and the man who- wins through will have to do some toughbattling before walking off with the trophies.

A STRONG CAME.

ANOTHER KIND OF BOGEY

The following letter, which appeared in a recent issue of the “River Plate Review,” requires no comment: Dear Sir, —Feeling certain that you and your golfing readers will he much interested (as were the specta-

tors) in a rather decent round I had j at San Andrea a few weeks ago—decent from an amateur point of view I mean, as I do not doubt but .that there aVe many members who- have gone round in fewer strokes—l send you the following short account, notes for which I took on the spot. This I may remark caused me to take' certain amount at almost each hole. Several players who were apparently following us at the begining seemed also toi be interested at my round (or one round perhaps I should say), as each time I took out my notes at the hole they waved their clubs. They also’ called to me, but I could hot catch their words- On a-onther occasion when I had taken two strokes, any my partner argued I had had three (he was, however, counting one where I never moved the ball), one of'those players behind called “four,” but they were quite wrong and this time I took no notice of them. At San Andres, as you probably know, they have a funny arrangement, a sort of wooden slide, for putting balls into. Well, as others use it, I did the same. There were -two balls in it wrapped in blue paper, and as mine was in red paper, I put it between the two, although I had first to take several others out to do this, and the effect was quite all right. After a few people had played off, my partner and I were asked to start, although I felt certain that several gentlemen had been there before I was. Although I am told I have a nice some on© spoke while I was about to play, and my ball somehow went into a pond quite near. This is termed in golf “going casually into water,” so I had my hall brought back by a boy who had a boat in the water, the boy having the cheek to ask me for 10 centavos for doing so. He must have thought I was quite a newcomer. This 1 , even with the argument with- the boy, did not take long, yet two players had started off meantime. They had not gone far, however, when I was again ready to play, and this time I did better, and my ball actually passed one of the gentlemen who had just played, who seemed quite astonished, probably thinking my first stroke my real form. However, even this second drive was for me nothing great. By the time my partner had got started—he was quite a time in doing so—the previous players had gone away from the first hole, so wc had it to ourselves. My partner had accidentally missed the pond I have mentioned, and his ball went on the short grass near the flag. Mine was in a little embankment, but with a few tries I got it over and was soon in the hole, having done it in 6, not of course counting the one in the water- My partner had already put his in, but did not wait for me and was already at the next tee. (This was not etiquette on his part, I am aware, but I said nothing). My next stroke was a curious one, as owing to the bad light I misjudged it and it went away to the off, quite near to the hole I had just been in. The ground there is of course nice, and I got in a splendid shot with an iron club, and it would have been even better, but I took the ball too low, and with it some earth. This is called “ a rub on the green,” I suppose. I got this second hole in 11 and the third in 9, and after that did even better, as my partner stopped playing then, saying he would derive much more enjoyment from watching me than from playing himself. H© had called 5 amid 4 for the last two holes, but I had not been watching. I of course agreed with him, although going round by oneself rather puts one off his game. Don’t you think so? For the rest of tho round we of course went much quicker, as there was no waiting for one’s partner. I had several B’s and 9’s, one or two I did not count, and near the finish I had three 2’s. It was funny that each time I got- a two I though I had lost my hall, but although’ I cguM have sworn it went Unto the grass near where my partner was standing, he said he thought he knew where it was, and each time he found it all -right, almost in the holes. There were' long drives each time, the best I had had. When I forgot to count, I asked my boy how many strokes I had had, but he could (root tell me; be said he had not been many years at school.- These boys are very useless considering the number of times they have been round the links- For example, on one oocasion when I bad reached to about 25 yards from the hole (I had played my eleventh stroke), I asked the boy, to test him, which club I should use, and would you credit it, he handed mo the driver with the brass plate on the bottom. At the second last tee I hit well, and the ball went, although not far, a tremendous height-, and even my partner, who as you have guessed is [ ■■’■at an enthusastic golfer, said that I ' v the hole had been in heaven I should ; ; bably have done it in 2. It was really, however, not so high as this would infer. The last hole, which is across a lake, was one of the two's I have casually mentioned, and I must have driven right across it, althoughI did not think I had. My partner, however, said ho would go ahead and find it for me, and he’did. It was almjost leaning) against the flag. When I got round my partner had gone, but I found him in the clubhouse, and as I entered I heard him say to some others, “That’s him.” He had probably been telling them of my last drive, as they were smiling, but although lie probably meant well, I think lie might have kept quiet, as I have heard that one should nurse hig handicap, and I intend writing shortly to the Comittee for one (a- handicap, not a nurse). By the way, how grumpy some gen-

tlem.cn are oni the golf course, who are at other times quit© rational. When I Was about 4 or 5 holes from the finish I saw I was making Tip on two gentlemen, and I did manage to pass them just when -they wore at the second last hole, and they were quite nasty about it, used some very impolite language, and said I might have been the Ladies’ Championship coming along (whatever they meant by that). - Another funny thing is the rules put up on the club verandah. I read them all- before I started, and although I forgot some I also remembered a few, but when I meaitioncd them to my partner, ho said never to mind them, as they would not only put me off my game, and that it was only a- joke on the committee’s part. That is all right, but it is a little misleading to a stranger.

Hoping this letter may be of assistance to intending beginners-