New-York tribune., 1908-03-08
SUGGESTIONS on COLE.
NO RADICAL CHANGES.
American Ideas Submitted to the
Rules Committee abroad.

ruling body in this country were given out yes
terday AS had been predicted, few radical changes
appear. but in the effort to bring about clar1hc
tion the American committee has improved the
wording in many instances
As far hack 1ae4. when the St Andrews coiii-
.jtfee MADE its last revision il promised the then
American committee. consisting Of Charles b. Mac
donald, G. Herbert Windeler and Walter j. Travis
that the next time overhauling OF the cooe was
contemplated suggestion from America would pe
sought. The present interpretations really the
outcome of the agitation which began last summer
Early in fall the United States Golf Associa-
ton received word from Captain Burn, Of St An
drews. which the latter asked for suggestions
from this country.
1t decided go ahead with an American
code and the question left TO the executive
committee The real work. however, has been
done by a subcommittee, consisting OF Dahsel
Chauncey W. Feowes Morgan and Leighton Cali
kins The need for frequent meetings was the
reason why only New Workers were selected as
members of the committee.
Marginal references facilitate finding the point
in question appear in the new edition, but unques-
tionably the substance remains practically the
same a member Of the committee admitted
last might. a step in the right direction has at
least been made. Continuing he said:
"'The wording is better. the arrangement Is bet
ter and / believe if ever get at the same work
again will be able 10 Go still better If there
are any inclined crtiCise for not accomplish
ing more they would do well TO remember that
something like five hundred changes in wording
have been made and after the committee had met
fifteen times the work not half completed
Probably the pronounced suggestion refers
lifting the baI and 1eeing up for tho
usual tTro-stroke penalty The change recommend
ed by the Americans was doubtless inspired by the
controversy which arose over the action of Jerome
=. TIavers in the Olympic Cup competition at
Cleveland last July. 1t will be remembered that
Travers. finding his ball in unplayahle position
after wild drive and seeing in his judgment. no
suitable place 10 tee Immediately behind where the
ball lay. elected go 10 the fair green. but no
nearer the hole
His right to DO this was questioned by western
ers who first appealed to the executive committee
Of the United States Golf Association. The latter
upheld Travers in his action. Not satisfied with
this. the hair splitters asked for decision from
the ST Andrews body. and oddly enough the latter
decided against the national champion. Rule 10 In
the old book reads:
"A ball may be lifted from any place under pen
atty of two strokes a bail so lifted shall be teed
if possible, behind the place where it lay; If it be
impossible the ball behind the place where
ii lay. it shall be teed as possible thereto
but not nearer the hole. The penalty for a breach
of this rule shall disqualification
The American suggestion tends TO simplify this.
as may be seen by the following:
"A ball may be lifted from any place and teed
anywhere on the course but the hole
under penalty Of two strokes The penalty for d
breach Of this rule shall be disqualification
II will be interesting watch the attitude of the
81. Andrews committee toward the American con-
ception Of the boundaries of a water hazard
Heretofore the rule has been that overflow Of
the usual boundaries is part of the hazard, but
now the American committee comes out with d
directly opposite view. The latter part of Rule "A
C the present code reads:
IF the water in recognized water hazard over
fow its usual boundaries the overfowed portion of
the shall be considered as part of the haz-
ard. and not casual water
The new interpretation, appearing at the bottom
of Rule 9. follows:
If the water in a recognized water hazard over
flow its usual boundaries the over1owed portion of
the course shall not be considered as part Of the
hazard. but casual water "
1t is understood that in coming TO this conclu-
sion the committee by unanimous.
At any rate. it VIII be difficult matter define
the boundary Of a water hazard that has over
flowed and it is quite evident that the new inter
probation will open the way to endless discussion,
which is in direct variance TO the original idea of
this revised code.
Rule 80 of the old book referring TO advice ''
reads S follows:
"A player shall not ask for advice from any one
except his caddie his partner his part
ners caddie. shall he willingly be otherwise ad-
Tised in any way whatever, under penalty OF the
loss Of the hole"
In the new code Rule % treats Of this as fol-
lows:
"A player shall neither ask for nor willingly re-
ceive advice as to his play from any except
his caddie. his partner his partners cad
die The penalty for breach Of this rule shall be
the loss of the hole
The ''out of bounds rule which has caused so
much controversy has been dealt with also. For
instance. definition (gl of the old code reads:
g Out OF bounds is any place outside the defined
recognized boundaries Of the course"
Definition %. according to the American idea
further by treating of the ball 1t reads
this way:
"A bail is out of bounds when the larger part
Of IL is outside the defined boundaries> Of the
course"
There is difference wording of the lost
ball rule The old wording was:
"A ball Is lost il it be found within five min
utes after the search for it is begun
Definition tm) Of the suggestion reads:
"A ball is lost II II be not found within five
minutes after the search for it has begun; but a
player need not search for it"
As an illustration 20 show the improvement in
wording. Il is only necessary to compare definition
(a), rule of the old code with the latest idea
The old wording follows:
T'he game of golf is played by two sides. each
playing its own ball a side consists either OF one
two players. II orc player plays against another
the match is called a single. II play against
t~o II is called fourscme- One player may play
against two playing one ball between them when
fae match is called threesone. Matches consti-
tutsd above shall have precedence of and be en-
tilted TO pass any other kind Of match"
The definition is follows:
The game OF golf is played by two or more
sides, each playing its ball or balls. side
consists Of one two players II one player play
against another the match is called SINGLE If two
play against two. each side playing ball. II is
called q foursonne- If two play against two. each
player playing his ball. fl is called four-ball
match One player may play against playing
enc ball between them when the match is called
threesone- If three players, each playing his own
ball one against the other, If plays his own