The Washington herald., 1908-07-19

American golfers will be grstihed to
learn that the Committee on the Rules of
Golf. which has been working for sew
eral months. has completed its Iabors
and viii submit the draft to the Roya!
and Ancient Club OF St Andrews for
approval on August 81 A copy has been
made public abroad and the comments Of
the London Field viii be OF timely in
terest
1t says that in calling the attention
of the general body OF golfers 10 the
suggested changes a useful purpose will
undoubtedly be served Discussion viii
be stimulated among all players who take
a keen interest in seeing a clear and logi-
cal code Of rules finally established for
the regulation OF the game. and who wish
for nothing so much IN adding 10 its per
manent enjoyment as the elimination OF
all real or imaginary causes which pro
woke hair-splitting disputes and occasion
al personal pickering.
Some suggestions. too. IN the phua seOIe-
gy, in the method Of cOdihcatOn, or in
the alteration Of the penalties may be
forthcoming between now and the great
St Andrews TO help the committee 70
give effect 10 what is the prevailing sen
timent among other players outside the
influential band affiliated 10 the Roy
al and Ancient OF what is Just.
fair. and equiJabie in the rules OF the
game. Il Is only by listening to and
Weighing in the balance Of Judgment
wide variety Of opinions even on points
which seem TO be clear and thoroughly
established. that conviction viii be made
unshakably steadfast that at last there
is neither room for doubt or cavu about
the principle Of any rule or penalty.
Revised Code Logical.
It has At once 10 be stated. therefore.
that the rules Of golf committee have set
about their work OF revision in a bust
ness-like spirit The revised code is much
more logically arranged to suit the order
Of strokes in which the game is played
from tee 20 hole than any code hitherto
published. The method OF expression
adopted. too. Is much more concise. and
instead OF running the rules into long
paragraphs. out OF which the penalties.
limitations. and qualifications had 70 be
disinterred from a good deal Of loose
the Devisers, have adopted
the sensible practice Of splitting them up
into clear and systematic paragraphs One
welcomes also a recurrence 10 the old
system OF having each rule and penalty
brought prominently 10 the eve Of the
reader by means OF q side head in the
margin Ia holder type than the text il
self. This Is the revival OF an old feature
that viii greatly tend to ease Of refer
ence when any point Of dispute occursg
definitions Of what constitutes "a side. ="
a single. a threes0rne and a foursone. and
the sentence at the beginning OF the pres
ant book. which reads Ike the opening
of serious and learned treatise on the
game. 20 the effect that the game Of golf
IS played by Two sides. each playing its
1wn ball" has been properly transferred
10 the section dealing with the general
avs Of the game The things that con
sutute the essential conditions under
which the game is pfayed-such as the
course. the teeing ground. the hazard. the
hole. and the putting green-a7e left
pretty much as golfers have known them
ID the present rules for the last four
-ears- But the definitions have gained in
,learness by their brevity. as. for ex-
ample the new definition Of what COustI-
utes a ball being ''out OF bounds name
Y. when the greater part OF IL lies /
within a prohibited area The same il I
ustration holds good of the definition I
y stroke as being the forward move l
nent OF the club mace with the iuten- /
ion Of striking the bali"
Obstacles Are Defined.
Snow and ice are defined as loose i'm /
'ediments' 20 be removed lightly with the /
hub. 4 moved BALI is one which leaves 4
Its original position in the least degree.
'ut not II It merely oscfllates A player 1
ncurs no penalty for playing a moving 4
al OF the tee while he IS making his 4
wing; Yet he does incur the penalty Of a |