The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
new CODE FOR GOLF
Revised Set of Rules for
Links to Be Formulated.
BRITTON FAVoRs THE PLAN
Chevy Chase Golfer Relieves That
Better Rules should BE Drawn Up
Member National Executive Com
mIttee to Try TO Pat Plan Through.


Siias II. Strawn. Chicago member of the
| executive committee of the United States
/ Golf Association and prominent in the af-
/ fairs of the Midlothian Country Club, has
/ started for Europe for an extended trip,
during which he may visit historic ST An
/ drew's links in Scotland. But 1t is in the
/ possibility Of the national golf official
meeting the leaders of golf in Great
Britain that the entire golf world Of the
United States is most interested.
Making for an international golf code
which viii take the place Of the rules Of
the game as formulated by the wise men
Of ST. Andrews are several lines of ef-
fort that originated in Chicago.
In ali probability it will be mir. strawn's
privilege at the next meeting of the Z. 5.
G. A. executive committee TO introduce
a resolution providing for the naming of
| representatives from the L. S. g. A.
clubs TO sit with representatives Of the
prominent golf associations and clubs of
all other parts Of the world in the first
! international commission of golf.
Everything points 10 a successful cam
psign for the recasting OF the golf code,
rather than the formation OF a national
code for the use Of the L. S. G. A. clubs
exclusively.
So widespread has become the strenuous
objection in this country to the anti
quated. inadequate, and ambiguous code
of ST. Andrews" that recently S. p
Jermain. Of the Inverness Golf Club. OF
l Toledo, Ohio, prepared a revised code for
golf, modernized, shorn of ambiguous
and interpolatory phrases, and gave it to
the public in Chicago as a suggestion for
the L. S. G. a. 10 act upon.
An American Code.
The revised code was distributed among
the most prominent golf leaders Of the
country, including President Daniel
Chauncey, Of the national organization, and
the executive committeeman and presi-
dents OF every golf club OF importance
abroad. Letters received In Chicago yes
terday from many of these men indicate
clearly that none IS Of the opinion that
the United States should make their OWL
code Of golf unless the ST. Andrews lead
ers shall refuse 70 accept the PROPOSE
revision to an international commission.
1t is held the wisest action by all the
lawyers Wh0 are golf officials to have
a code good all over the world. rather
than a series OF codes of rules. which
would make the game played in Scotland
differ from that played ia che United
States
Alexander Britton. of the Chevy Chase
Club, Of Washington, a lawyer and d
member or the United States Golf Ass0- (
citation executive committee. says he is
unqualihedly for revision. but suggests /
the interna tional committee, on which his
organization Will have liberal represen- /
tatiou. Leighton Calkins. also lawyer. 4
and. likewise a United States Golf Asso- /
citation executive committeeman, voices
the same sentiments. adding that IL the
BritOns refuse to accept the idea of an
international convention for revision, an /
other declaration OF independence may be /
signed IN the United States and at Il +
meeting Of the highest golf body in this
country.
Objects TO the Change.
IN a public arraignment of the cumber- /
some, ,ureramuaatiCal and almost unintelIi- /
gible St. Andrews code. Mr.. Callins calls /
attention to the positive need for revision /
anu AeEAo al HplAtiS 10 HbAh EhNdEElf d
against the adoption OF a purely Ameri- I.
can code. Nobody knows the present I
rules-aH have to be interpreted time 1
and again by the controlling body IN
golf here. The foreign-made rules. he I.
adds, are so badly drawn and expressed 4
that one realizes far more often what
they do not mean than what they do 1
mean.
The leading light in Eastern golf sta /
tistiCs and rules, Mr.. Calkns. attracts 4
considerable attention with his arraign- |
ment and also when he adds that IN the 4
event of the unfortunate refusal of the
British 10 consent to an international COM /
mission the United States Golf Association /
viii have men Of skill prepare a code /
that viii save the game from dry rot
President A. r. Gates, OF the Western /
Golf Association, is out with a letter to /
5. p. Jermain admitting the need of re-
vision and advocating the international
commission. Mr.. Strawn before leavi' g
wrote to Mr. Jermain suggesting the /
worldwide conference for IA new code
and now the critics are wondering If il
wni not be Mr.. Strawn's privilege while
abroad to sound some of the greatest golf i
men Of Great Britain on the programme
to be followed in the United States Golf
Association for the necessary steps 10
provide United States representation in
the International convention