Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-28

HrVtd ktttN W. 49,
sport--what May Disaunhfy n
PIayer--Grounding Club 1" I"
Bunker.
In the finas Mt st. Anne's Links,
I.ytham, last week, James Braid beat
]. II. Taylor by three up and Two To
play.
A golf manufacturer stated recently
| that during the month OF May he sola
80 600 clubs. No better proof could DO
vented IF the ever-growing popularity
OF the sport.
why Ia It so many OF our local
players continue to ground their clubs
in a bunker? Surely 1t is not through
ignorance OF the rule. Violation of
this rule. or In fact touching or NOV
ing anything means the loss oil the
hole
The disqualification or Miss Genevleye
Hecker In the long driving competl-
ton Of the Essex County Club, for US
ing bue of the new balls OF greater
resiliency than those In common use, Is
attn causing much discussion In golf
ing circles. A prominent golfer said
recently on the subject: THAT tho
committee was distinctly wrong In Its
decision. there is no doubt, as at the
present stage Of the game there Is no
hard and fast rule determining the size
Of the ball or the material II Is 10 be
made OF. Il is perfectly within the
rights of the player TO use marble, or
a tennis ball, II he thinks he could
MAY any better with It; though 1t
Han ON A. a IA n
Ike action to play with a ball that was
not for sale In The open market.
This matter will probably revive the
discussion of the necessity for the
United states Golf Association adopt
ing a standard ball as is the case In
lawn tennis, base ball. polo, foot ball.
etc.
Much has been written and said ct
various times about the rule applying
to disseminating play during a medal
competition, but the subject seems to
he still unsettled. Golf and Lawn
Tennis has the following to say on the
matter editorially In its current issue:
"a rule which is giving the Rules
Committee OF Great Britain great
deal of trouble Just at present is that
OF utttOutinuluk HftAS Uhh iAF .
competition. Two decisions which have
recently been made on this question
seem to fatty contradict each other.
In the first, the committee decided that
in stroke competition a player Is
allowed to discontinue play, and enter
the clubhouse for me purpose of chang
ing his clothes, obtaining refreshments,
or for any other purpose. provided he
IL l.,,r hA
allows the next couple to pass him, the
penalty is disqualification. In the
second. the committee decided that
PLAYER who discovered at the first hole
that he had left his putter In the club
house. and went back 10 find IT. being
absent about eight minutes, was dis
qualified, on the presumption that he
had lost his place on the green, and
allowed me next couple to pass him.
There Is no doubt that the true
spirit of the rule is 70 prevent any
player from gaining any advantage
over his fellow competitors, but as II
now stands II can be abused in several
different ways. If the players happen
TO be the last to start, and there Is
not a very large field, or IL the con-
test be at eighteen holes, there is moth
ing to stop the iast coupie ifoin lhAihS
as much rest or refreshment, or doing
anything that they wish during the
time they are playing their round,
which is obviously unfair to the play
ers who have started earlier in the day.
and are compelled to keep their places
on the green. That man should be
disqualified for leaving his putter In
the clubhouse and going back to fetch
it seems drawing the point rather fine,
as he could certainly gain no material
advantage by going back to get it.
AS the matter now STANDS, there Is no
end to the queries that may be raised
in regard to this decision. and 1t is
to be hoped that the Rules Committee