GOLF

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 191, 2 August 1930, Page 10

GOLF

(By

“Putter”)

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE.

The scoring in the qualifying rounds of the Napier Club championships was very mediocre. Taking a glance over tho scores, one is forced to the conclusion that the majority of the players failed to give of their best. H. G. Davies and W. M. Satterthwaite were the only two competitors to return cards in the seventies. Davies is playing exceptionally well at the present, and he did splendidly to head the list of qualifiers. He can always be relied upon to play a steady game, and he usually keeps the best of them busy. The matches leading up to the finals should prove most interesting. “Bricky” Budd should again carry off the honours, but there are several contenders for the title, notably F, O. Fryer, H. G. Davies and E. O. Smith, anv one of whom might upset calculations. “Bricky’’ Budd. G. Saunders. H. G. Davies and J. B. Wilson are left in to fight for the Hastings Club championship. Budd will meet Saunders, and Davies meets Wilson. These matches should provide some good golf, and by tho time they eventuate the course should be in first class order. Morpeth in Form. In securing for their club the services of Sloan Morpeth, the Commonwealth Golf Club of Victoria took from New Zealand one of the finest types, on and off tho links, that the game in this country ever produced He has recently defeated some of Victoria’s most outstanding players in Ivo Whitton, M. Ryan, and H. Hancock. Morpeth has the ability to annex nny title that is going in Australia. Tho club is rightly proud of Morpeth’s deeds in play, and there is no doubt that apart from his secretarial duties, he is a great asset to the club. He plays number one for the Commonwealth Club in pennant golf, and so far this season he has not suffered defeat.

Money In Qolf. Macdonald Smith is to sever his connections with the Lakeville Club, California. The “Golf Monthly” states: “It has been current that Horton Smith would replace the Scotsman. Mac. Smith has a contract with Lakeville that does not expire until the end of the present year. The club and Smith had discussed future relationship beginning with next January, but were linable to come to an agreement. You see.’ said the Lakeville official, ‘Smith was willing to sign a new contract for three years at a salary of 10,000 dollars a year. He is getting 6000 dollars now. We couldn't see the boost, and we have about decided that our next professional will he a man who will stay around the club more than has been the case with Smith. As regards Horton Smith, there had been some talk of that, but nothing definite has been done thus far.” Boy Prodigy. Harry Williams, who has just celebrated his loth birthday, has had a phenomenal run of successes in this year's pennant golf in Victoria. Ho plays No. 5 for the Commonwealth Club, and his record is four wins, out of five matches. Playing against N. E. Lockhart recently.(both are left handers) bis card read 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 4—36. 4 3454354 5-37. Total 73. and on a championship course at that.

• • * Cricket Stroke Similar to Golf.

Cricketers and golfers are fairly well agreed that the successful playing of either game depends upon abstention from the other. There is much evidence to show that this opinion is erroneous, and probably it would be found that the correct stroke in cricket is similar in all respects.to the correct stroke in golf. This view is borne out by Don Bradman’s methods, especially when driving, for at the end of the stroke his bat is hanging down the middle of his back (comments an Australian writer). At any rate Bradman's, 252 did not preclude his playing fine golf not out against Surrey a month ago next day, as the following cutting from the “Manchester Guardian” proves“ Those who believe that good cricketers do not make good golfers would have been surprised had they seen Don Bradman, the Australian batsman, at Shirley Park Golf Club, pear East Croydon, last Sunday. He had battled all the previous day against Surrey at tho Oval for 252 not out. He went home to bed a very tired young man that night, but next morning he was up betimes to keep an appointment with an Australian friend at Shirley Park. There was quite a gallery to watch Bradman drive off at the first tee, for the news that be was there soon spread. During the round, played under unfavourable conditions. Bradman produced a succession of astonishing drives, and the spectators who saw him take an ‘8 man’ to the Inst green found it Imrd to believe that Bradman was then playing only his twelfth game of golf and bis second game in the last throe months. ‘I enjoved that game,’ said Bradman later. ‘Golf takes your mind off other things.’ "