ENG-1960 — Page 340

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SPORT AND RECREATION

the community. The courts are built to international standards and have seats for 104 spectators.

Golf enjoyed one of its most successful seasons and is con- tinually attracting new players, but as in so many other countries where the game is played there are not enough facilities to satisfy everybody, and long waiting lists to join clubs are inevitable. There is little doubt that visits by some of the world's leading players have given a great fillip to the game, and the Hong Kong Open Championship, which was sponsored by the South China Morning Post Ltd as recently as 1959, is now well and truly on the golfing map. In 1960 it was won by the Australian professional, Peter Thomson, who holds the distinction of having won the British Open Championship on four occasions. Thomson delighted a vast gallery with a fine round of 63 on the New Course, breaking the previous record by five strokes. Runner-up was another Australian, Kel Nagle, who, later in the year, was to win the Centenary British Open Championship at St Andrew's. Apart from several other leading Australian professionals, the field included golfers from Spain, the Philippines, Taiwan and Korea. Even larger tournaments are hoped for in the future, particularly now that a Far East Golf Circuit has been established, embracing Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong, with the possible future addi- tion of Kuala Lumpur.

Sporting activities during the summer were somewhat over- shadowed by the Olympic Games in Rome, but it was disappoint- ing that athletic standards in the Colony did not warrant sending any track or field representatives to take part in that great sporting event. The Hong Kong contingent was a small one consisting of one swimmer and three marksmen.

Yachting and rowing both have a prominent place in the sporting calendar, and like water-skiing and underwater swimming are more popular than ever.

The main support for boxing still comes from the Services and many excellent tournaments took place during the year. The Hong Kong Amateur Boxing Association is trying to encourage civilian participation by running events from time to time for novices.

Lawn bowls remains by far the most widely played summer game, and there is great rivalry between all divisions of the Hong