GOLF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3705, 14 December 1912, Page 9

GOLF.

(By “Niblick.”)

On Putting. Putting always looks so easy to those non-golfing visitors, who watch us vainly struggling to coax a little ball into the hole from a distance oi two or three feet, that we are not surprised to hear many of them remark, when following a big match, “Oh, I’m sure I could do better than that myself!” And doubtless, if we gave one of them a putter, and told him to go and try, he would make us look very “small” by holing those terrible two-yard putts six times out of seven. The truth of the matter is that, being convinced that it is impossible to miss such an easy thing, he holes out time after time. Let that man become a golfer, however, and ho will soon lose his confidence, and' learn to dread even the shortest of putts, as no player of repute has been fortunate enough to escape those trying days when all confidence was lost, and the shortest of putts, refused to go 'into the hole. The different methods and stance for putting would fill a column. Some players adopt the position of a runneu in a 100yds sprint, whilst others hold their club right clown on the socket, plat# their

: Jogs as far apart as they can stretch i them; others insist upon keeping their right arm on their thigh. Some put all their weight forward on to their left log, whilst other's have the weight on the right foot, and so on, ad infinitum. Above all, however, tho main thing seems to .be to cultivate a good fellow-thought. Many players hesitate too long over their putts, and this is especially noticeable with amateurs. Professions at play, you will note that he carefully scrutinises the lino of the hole, and after he lias satisfied himself as to the lie of tho green and the nature of the turf over which tne ball lias to travel, he loses no unnecessary time in sending the ball on its jpurney to the hole by a firm and confident stroke.- One can nearly always putt “badly” with any.club, but on our “red letter” days we can putt well with “anything.” It is necessary to use a putter to become a first-class exponent on the greens. It is interesting to watch caddies at | the famous courses putting with any old club. In many cases they play with nothing else except an old iron, and play well, too; probably their outfit consists of an old club, discarded by some player, who found no use' for it, and yet they can play wonderful shots of all kinds with it, and it is from their ranks that most of our great professionals have sprung. tSome of our medical gentlemen might set their minds to concocting and' patenting some little tabloids of “Confidence” for golfers. There is a fortune in it!

Ray’s Advice to Beginner-s. Edward Ray, open golf champion, has given some advice to beginners. Let every novice (be says) place himself in the hands of a. practical man,, both as regards the selection of his clubs and for a course of lessons. Adopt the interlocking grip; that is, let tho little finger of the right hand overlap the forefinger of the,left. The right thumb is not to be kept straight down the shaft, but a little on the ball side of the club. Adopt the “open” stance, with the right foot about six inches in advance, and place the ball in a 1 ino with the left heel. Keep your eye on the ball. Never over-swing; the hands should not he allowed to vise above the shoulder :• the club will go back ter its correct distance by reason of tho wrist action. Don’t press, swing easily, and be content .for ' a while with short straight drives. Keep the body from swaying, and remember that the arms do tho work. Keep your head down and eye fixed on the ball, and this will prevent the body going back with the club. Stand a little closer to the ball with a eleek than when using tour hrnssie. With all iron shots follow through well,, and grip tightly. ' Do not keep the arms too far out from the body; rather should the right elbow be brushing against the side. Dont use your mnshie for nnv shot of over 120 yards. In using vour niblick, use brute force, grip tiuht. and trust to Providence. Ray also says: Don’t make an idiot of vourself by taking part in matches before you have acquired some little skill.