The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-27
W0ULDCHANGE GOLF RULES
American Committee Petition Scottish
Authorities for Change.

Signed by President Daniel Chauncey,
Secretary W. F. Morgan and the execu-
tive committee of the United States Golf
Association, a petition has been forwarded
to Captain Burn, chairman of the rules
of golf committee of the Royal and An
Client Golf Club of st. Andrews, Scotland,
suggesting revisions in the rules of the
game which will be satisfactory to all
countries.
In this petition the U. s. G. A. officials
have taken a rather Apologize stand,
which, in face of the recent controversy
between Great Britain and America over
the matter, Is taken as a mild method of
submitting the proposition.
The letter in full follows:
We are authorized by the executive COM
mittee of the United States Golf Associa-
ton to present for the consideration of
your honorable committee a matter which,
In our opinion, is of the greatest import
ance.
The United States Golf Association has
always been a loyal supporter n follow
er OF the ancient game of golf, as handed
DOW by your ancestors to you, and, in
turn, by you TO us. and we earnestly hope
thar this support and allegiance will exist
as long, as the game is known and played.
IL is this strong sense of loyalty on the
part OF our executive committee that i'm
pels us to send youA this communication,
CNtNR 80 inns III 10 hIOM1uE
up a widespread feeling Of dissatisfaction
with the existing rules of the game, which
mas already gone so far as to call into
prominence a demand for an American
code of rules without regard to those laid
down by your honorable committee.
1t Is this demand for separate legisla-
from ancient authority, that leads us to
suggest to you the need Of action of some
kind. We are sure that you will feel,
with us, that golf, as a worldwide game,
would Suffpr irrara RI h1a iniurU &c fhis
country should be forced 10 adopt a code
of rules different from the rules in force
in Great Britain.
II different countries once start In to
make codes to govern the playing of the
game. golf will oon fall into a state of
chaos and will not be recognizable a dozen
years hence. Certainly one bad cod would
be better than several codes, some good
tries.
This feeling of unrest and dissatisfac-
ton, this growing demand for a careful
revision OF the existing rules, or for a
separate American code, if necessary,
makes IT a matter of s%uperlative import
ance that the United States Golf Associa-
ton, the association which represents and
controls the game of golf throughout the
United States; should set the facts before
your honorable committee for the purpose
OF inviting your opinion as to what course
of action ought to be taken.
We need not say that our executive COM
mittee does not believe in or recommend
80 - tabiNoi u LiOll WE wei
know that the game of golf is a growth
that the rules of the game are n growth
and stand for the essential things which
have been brought out by long experience.
We know, also, that the rule of golf,
committee is and always has been com
posed of able men and good golfers, men
who lave the best interests of the game
at heart, and who know better than out
siders what the problems have been and
now difficult 1t Is to frame rules which
will meet all cases.
1t is, nevertheless, the opinion Of our
committee. that the time has come for a
revision OF the rules. We do not mean
by this thai the existing rules are serious
ly at fault in matter Of substance. or that
an effort should be made to throw them
aside and attempt the drafting of an en-
tirely new code, but the existingS rules
certainly do need revision,
and better expression.
While our executive committee is on
posed to separate American legislation, for
reasons above given, we would be falling
In our duty If We did not call your atten-
ton to present conditions. submitting these
matters to you for your consideration. and
looking to you, as the leaders of the game,
for the right suggestion at this critical
time,