New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
HONOR AMONG GOLFERS.
NO FOUNDATION FOR THE PEssIMIsrIc
REMARKS OF AN ENGLISH WRITER.

REMARKS OF AN ENGLISH WRITER.
A writer in The 81. Jamess Budget not long
ago. in speaking OF the rapid spread OF solf' IN
dulges in singing criticism Of the scoring
methods OF English players. II Is commonly ac-
cepted belief that the majority Of golfers are in
capable OF cheating but this writer expresses the
deliberate conviction that faith In their honor ana
honesty has no substantial foundation in fact such
n wholesale arraisnment Of goliing morals shouo
not be allowed to pass unchallenged. There may
be who take advantage Of the peculiar oppor-
tunities afforded by the to cheat but TO s'ig-
Matte the whole class with such unequvocal Ian
guage Is unjust. to say the least
The cheating question Is one that Affects vital
point OF golf There is. perhaps. ro sport where
circumstances are favorable 10 dishonesty. Tho
wide distance which frequently separates the play
ers. the mpossiollity OF keeping tally on one an.
others strokes and the with which rules
may be forgotten. all contribute to aid the mar
whose methods not above reproach. But 70 say
that because detection is difficult player will
cheat is putting low estimate on his honor.
II must be remembered that when two players
set out for match each Is supposed to count his
partners strokes. and the cards are usually made
up after hong out each green. When man
has reached the point where a four or five repre-
sents his total for the longest holes 1t is not
a difficult matter TO keep them In mind II Is
where beginners and buffers are playing that
trouble arises. They absorbed in playing
their -four more" the expert is In getting down
in the like" and when eight or ten strokes must
be remembered and counted there Is frequent
chance for mistake.
In large majority OF errors that might
be regarded as intentional are In reality due TO
nothing culpable than ignorance OF the rules.
1t Is surprising considering the short time that
gof has been in vogue here that players should be
unfamiliar with al; the regulations governing the
game. Even the codifcrs themselves none
too close in their recent revision of the old st. An
drew's rules. and when the various penalties and
privileges in both match and medal play
called it is . wonder that sometimes 60
wrong. AS illustration of this instance
which occurred IN OF the big open tournaments
last season is brought to mind. A bali which had
been driven onto roadway bordering the
links was tossed back onto the course by specta-
tor. and the player. believing the accident rub
OF the green" played 1t from where it lay instead
or from the road as he should have done. AS the
result proved his score won the prize. but when
the occurrence was brought to the attention OF the
members OF the Greens Committee they. Of course,
disqualified him and gave the prize to the man
making the next best This was no doubt a
thoroughly innocent violation OF the rules Such
examples might be multiplied almost without num-
Der. and yet there would be few willing to impute
a sinister motive back Of them.
In large open tournament where sixty or sew
ca,y players are taking rart. there are always
do not apply them correctly to the special ext
that such men deliberately cheated and still TO an
outsider the facts might easily bear that nterpre.
considerable trouble to tournament committees. Il
is not right TO the other competitors that one
enabled make the winning score should carry
off the prize. and yet the committee cannot know.
unless the members make him pass an examina-
ton. whether he IS familiar with the tenets Of tho
start OFF together and ii one commits an error the
other may be none the wiser.
cheats There s are me1 in spor, W Who Wit
bear watching; and golf Is no execution 10 The rule:
can. in the act of addressing IT, give himself good
bunker and screened from the view of Others )" no
one save himself knows how many strokes he
takes 10 get out. Such a thing as missing the ball
altogether ~ not unknown. even to skilled players
and such a mishap may be conveniently forgotten
when counting up strokes.
The habit Of betting balls on the outcome Of q
match. which Is becoming more and more Gus;
mducement TO laxty In such matters. but that any
majority of mon would cheat for petty trife like
one great source Of safety is the opennsss with
naments. II any one Is tempted 10 tinker with tho
figures on his card he will think twice before hav-
may be scrutinzed by his companions mans
ability Is too well known by others for HIM 10 run
cards aS no Scked box S e asO va
only by the Tournament Committee. but reform
tagcs OF the new system are too evident 10 need
comment.
caused much dissatisfaction In open tournaments.
The custom, now in vogue is for a player desiring
secretary the allowance he receives IN matches at
his homo links Upon this basis the Handicap
Committee makes up the various ratings. In the
case OF an unknown player the committee Is forced
necessarily TO rely upon the handicap thus sub
mitted. for the members know nothing about him
except that contained In the secretarys report.
man may belong to several clubs. and be rated
differently at each. and in these circumstances he
Is usually inclined 20 .nter from the one giving
him the largest handicap Again. II Is not uncom-
mon for a club 10 handicap It's players rather high.
In order that they have the benent OF this fact
when competing at other links. No two courses
are alike, and a scratch man at one may be Vastly
superior to q scratch man at another As each
used as n basis for handcapping others at the
same links the disadvantages resulting when tns
apparent II has been suggested that competltors
be required disclose all The clubs OF which snsx
are members and their rating at cach ana tnetS
"a considerable merit in the Idea IL Is admttS3
that the handcapping Is the weakest teautue s 10
the omen tournament season. and II Ii not unnAeX
that some action will be taken looking toWsS~
IL reform.