New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-02
GOLF.
NEW RULES READY FOR THIS SEASONS
PLAY
ST. ANDREWS CODE. WITH ITS AMERICAN INTER
PRETATIoNs. MADE PUBIIc-soME
OF THE CHANGES

Advance proofs Of the new St. Andrews golf
rules. together with their interpretations by the
United States GCIf Association. received yes
terday at the office OF the secretary, Robert B.
Kerr. There may be further changes before the
rules are officially Endorsed. but in essential feat
ures they are practically complete. Last October
the 81. Andrews Golf Club Of Scotland. TO which
was Entrusted the work Of revising the time hon
ored code in force English links adopted a new
set of regulations, and the constitution of the
United States Golf Association provides that the
rules in force here shall be those of the ST. An
drews Club American golfers had no alterna tive
but 70 accept the work Of that body.
With the idea Of simplifying them for use In this
country q committee was appointed weeks
ago, consisting OF Lawrence Curtis, Of Boston; c.
b Macdonald, OF Chicago and a. NJ. Goats Of
Newport, 10 add the American interpretations
Simplihcation, however does not seem 10 have been
accomplished The new code. with its American
rulings, has apparently been rendered more cum
oersome. and II viii be some time before il will be
thoroughly understood among the general run Of
players Mr.. Curtis presented 10 the delegates at
the annual meeting Wednesday evening the reg
suit OF his work, and soon it can be prepared
in book form the association viii issue to the
various associate and allied clubs
Il will be possible only a few OF the essen
tial changes Perhaps the most important has TO
do with that much veNed question, turf in
hazard. Heretofore q player has been permitted
70 ground his club turf in a hazard, but the
new interpretations omit this provision, and the
only liberty allowed is 10 touch the grass lightly
way the new rule runs. with its American explana-
ton:
When ball lies IN or touches gu hazard netting
rC1,rh ne gronnd nor shall awning he rnIcheS
moved before the player strikes the ball.
pace his feet firmly on the ground for the purpose
q addressing the ball % in addressing the ball
L.-- whin. or other growing substance. the side
s4cle may De touched (s) steps or pIanks placed
q
II q bah be moved in doing il may be replaced
NJ hout penalty; a. any loose impedments may be
Ts.a9yed from the putting green: % the player
~ the loss OF the hole. Ruling Of the United States
the hole; medal play. two strokes.
Another important change is the omission OF the
Tule which provided that ball stuck fast in wet
ground sand might be taken out and replaced
loosely in the hole which IL had made. Hereafter
no such liberty will be allowed Rule II specifies
that q ball lying in a flag hole hole made
by the greenskeeper may be lifted and dropped
without penalty possible to the place
where il lay, but not nearer the hole. According
10 Interpretation Of the committee las near as
possible within club length. AS to the
matter Of casual water on the fair green or in a
hazard the committee has made lengthy provision
covering all possible contingencies. The rule, with
the committees explanation, is as follows;
# ball lie or be lost in water. the player may
drop a ball. under penalty Of one stroke. But II
green 5ali may he dropped without penalty %
hazard, in casual water in
hazard. ball may be dropped behind the hazard,
under penalty Of one stroke; 80 in casual water on
d putting green bail may be placed by hand pc
hind the water. without penalty. Ruling OF the
United States Golf Association; Penalty. in match
play. stroke, in medal play, one stroke. A
bali lifted from a recognized water hazard may be
dropped under penalty OF one stroke even II the
hazard be dry the time II the water in rec
ognized water hazard overflow its usual pounda-
ries the overlooked portion Of the course shat! be
considered part Of the hazard. and not as casual
ball lie be lost in casual water in
q hazard, a ball may be dropped without penalty,
behind the water, but IN the hazard, keeping the
spot where il entered the water in line TO the hole
As whole, the committee has done its work
with c3mmerdabie zeal The special rules of medal
play have also received attention at its hands. but
the changes are few and unimportant. The So
called etiquette OF golf interpreted by the as
socia tio remains unchang ed except that the pro-
vision is added that a single player has no stand
ing. and must always give way before properly
constituted match.