Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
WORK DONE ON
new GOLF CODE

NEW YORK, May 2.-The proposition to
provide an adequate American code of rules
for the ancient and honorable game of
solf' has grown into the most formidable
undertaking the leaders OF golf have essay
ed But progress has been made more in
the direction OF q revised code under the
supervision of an International commission,
rather than set of rules for the United
States only.
1t may be said without fear Of contradic-
tion-although the ponderous golf bodies
move slowly. conservatively or, 1t may be,
timidly-that golf in 1898 will be under re-
vised code intended for use In all the world.
1t is an axiom that the present golf code,
made up at ST Andrews, has outlived its
usefulness for so many reasons that 1t
would tire the critic to point them out
ambiguity. opaqueness, proIixity. ponder
BUSINESS. etc, being chief In the indictments.
The need of code for the United States,
II the committee abroad did not see fit to
bring the rules up to the modern" stand
ard. apparent to many close students of the
game. brought from 8. P. Jermain of the
Inverness Club of Toledo a revised code.
This, printed In q recent number of the
Golfers Magazine, with the urgent request
OF Editor c. w. Higgins to have the sub
tect matter critically examined by leaders
In golf all over the country, has produced
results far in expectation Of the sponsors
Three members Of the U. 9. g. A. execu.
tive committee-an well-known lawyers
have read carefully Mr. Jermains sugRes-
lions and are agreed on the need of i'm
provenent IN the rules, but all voice the
sentiment that an international committee
should provide the necessary revision
President Danial Chauncey of the national
organization has been appraised OF the Jer-
main suggestion and has been informed that
he will be called upon at the next meeting
of the U. s. G.. A. to put the resolution
providing for a United States representa-
tive on an international commission to
frame code for the universe.
The Western Golf Association. while 1t
obviously may not do anything final be-
fore the national organization has acted
upon the subject, will give it's moral sup
port TO the plan of an International re-
vision board. because its leading spirits are
recorded favoring this action as well as
open consideration of the idea of a
cast code at the next meeting of the or
ganization.
Silas II. Strawn of Midlothian Country
Club and a Chicago member or the u. y.
c. A. executive committee has given con-
siderable thought to the Jermain idea and
has been emphatic on the need of re-
vision of the golf code by an International
commission. that golf will be the same
everywhere.
Alexander Britton of Chevy Chase Club,
near. Washington, also lawyer and an ex-
ecutive committeeman Of the u s. c. A:
Is out with the unqualified Endorsement Of
the idea of revision and suggests that tie
work should be done by representatives
from all the countries interested in golf so
as to make the code international rather
than have a revised code for America
alone.
Leighton Calkins. also o lawyer and an
executive committeeman of the national or
ganization does not believe the time is ripe
for this country to have a golf code of its
own. He says emphatically that there Is
much well-merited dissatisfaction with the
existing rules so much. In fact. that there
Is danger of the United States golfers fall
ing over backward In the warmth of their
reception of Mr. Jermain's code-Mr Jer-
main frankly has stated that his code of
rules is meant merely as a suggestion
MIR. Calkins may be depended upon when
the L. 5. G. A. meets to lend his voice to
the appointment of an international COM
MISSION and to request that the foreign
golf bodies act with the United States or
Banization to frame an International code.