Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-07
REVISED CODE OF GOLF RULES
Report of the Royal and Ancient to
BE Published soon.

Report OF the Royal and Ancient TO
BE Published soon.
GLASGOW, June 6-The report presented
to the Royal and Ancient Golf club by the
chairman Of the rules Of golf committee
gives one some idea OF what may be ex-
pected when the revised code is adopted
and issued to golfers 1t appears that the
new code will be somewhat longer than
the old, but that the rules follow a natural
sequence and are grouped under three
headings-general and through the green,
hazards and casual water and putting
green's. That som kind of classification
was necessary has been obvious to all
who took the trouble to consult the rules
It is not going beyond the mark to say
that a vast army of the people who play
golf nowadays have very little acquaint-
ance with the laws OF the game, being
content to rub along with a few of the best
known rules that they have picked up in
a casual way. However, the point is the
report that will surprise most readers is
that the new rules are to be longer than
the old. presumably because, according to
the report. the problem before the commit
tee was how far It was necessary to alter
and ampllfy the old code to meet the
various questions raised in some go de-
cisions given by the committee. but, unless
we are greatly mistaken. no small part of
the outcry against the rules was on ac-
count OF their multiplicity.
The demand all along has been for a
simpler and shorter code and one which
would also lay down some consistent policy
to be adopted in regard o the most COM
mon problems that have arisen on inland
green's. The committee. however. has evil
IDENTIFY taken other views of its duty in
the matter. The members state that they
proceeded on the principle that they were
drawing up a code primarily for golf as
. It is to be played on the links of st.
Andrews and other similar courses. IL
need not, therefore. occasion surprise IL
the result of their labors disappoints a big
section of golfers who were hoping for
something else. Until the new rules are
issued, however, It would be unwise to
enter upon detailed criticism. One notes
with interest that the cooperation OF the
United States Golf association has resulted
in the adoption of some of the suggestions
Of that body and the rejection OF others
and that in the majority of cases the
wishes of the golfers on the other side OF
the Atlantic were anticipated by the COM
mittee, which went to far as to express
the belief that. on the whole, the United
States association will be satisfied with
NAG hNh Wv AhIluGlNdAilf III TCPOIN
states that the committee has been in
friendly communication with the Midland
Golf association and that II has arranged
with Ahe association a few additional local
rules which are held by 1t to be necessary
for the links on which its members are
accustomed TO play" This seems to in
dictate that the rules of golf COMMITTEES
will be prepared to give advice on points
peculiarly affecting inland courses. If that
is the case. we do not see why the com
mittes should not have laid down one OF
two general rules as TO trees and hedges
for the guidance of golfers playing on in
land courses, for one may take IL that
uniformity will characterize its rulings or
problems OF a similar kind submitted to IT,
The old srudse as to the conservatism OF
st. Andrews will not be removed by the
publication of the new rules.