Evening journal., 1909-04-07
NEW GOLF RULES ARE OUT
One Relating to Putting Causes Much
Talk Among Devotees Of Game.

One Helatin9 10 Futtlng causes Much
Talk Among Devotees Of Came
The new book of golf rules has at last
made its appearance. in a neat pocket
edition form, and has been sent out by
the United States Golf Association. The
book contains the rules Of the game OF
golf as approved by the Royal and An
cient Golf Club of St. Andrews last Sep
tember, and as amended by the United
States Golf Association February 49, of
this year. II also contains recommended
tions, form and make of golf clubs, ETH
quette, competitions. rules for three-ball.
best-ball and four ball matches and spe-
cial rules for stroke competitions
On every page appear marginal notes
which are of valuable assistance to the
reader. The print is large and consequent
ly easier on the eyes than in most works
of its kind. While the new rules have al
ready been discussed, it may be as well
to call attention to the fact that the one
relating to putting has undoubtedly caused
the greatest commotion.
This has to do with brushing the line
OF putt no longer allowed. At Pinehurst
they had been playing under the new
rules, but the committee. in a moment of
weakness. made a local rule to the effect
that the line Of putt on the sand greens
could be brushed.
Now the committee has voted to live up
to the new rules in every particular. on
the other side James Braid. the open
champion, began on the first day to gar
den the line Of his putt. whereupon his
opponent promptly claimed the hole. Braid
will probably never make the mistake
in "a rft1a In fe H.
the heading Putting Green" and reads
as follows:
l. Any loose impedlment may be lifted
from the putting green. irrespective of the
position Of the players ball II the play
ers ball. when on the putting green, move
after any loose impediment lying within
six inches of it has been touched by the
player, his partner or either of their cad
dies. the player shall be deemed to have
caused II to move and the penalty shall
be one stroke.
2. Dung, wormcasts. snow and ice may
be scraped asidR with a club, but the club
must not be laid with more than its own
weight upon the ground nor must any
thing be pressed down either with the
club or in any other way.
3. The line OF putt must not be touch
ed, except by placing the club Immediate
~ in front Of the ball in the act of ad-
dressing It and as above authorized.
The penalty for a breach Of this rule
shall be the loss of the hole.
All this is quite different erom an early
code dated ls42. 1t has something 10 say
about the e0-yard limit now contained in
the definition Of a putting green. and it
/ emphasizes the word honesty" The lS42
rule reads:
/ Clearing the putting green: All loose i'm
pediments of whatever kind may be lifted
on the putting green. or tableland, on
which the hole is placed which is con-
sidered not TO exceed twenty yards from
/ the hole. But ball, although lying within
! less than twenty yards Of the hole, re-
quires to be played with heavy or cleak
iron. from the broken or uneven surface OF
the ground. shall not be reckoned on the
putting green nor entitled 10 the privilege
of lifting loose impediments-this privilege
being limited to the green ~ tableland
where iron or wooden putters are alone
used.
Holing out: In holing out no mark shal
be placed or line drawn TO direct the bal
70 the hole the ball must be played falrl,
and honestly for the hole and not on you
adversarys ball. not being in the way L
the hole: nor. although lying In the way 4
the hole, is the player entitled to play witt
any strength upon Il that might injure it
position or greater than is necessary q
send your own ball the distance TO TN
hole. Either party may smooth sand lynn
around the hole. but this must be dom
lightly and without pressure or beatinl
down with the feet, club or otherwise.
Another advantage in the new rule pre-
venting the brushing OF the line of put
is that it will tend 10 facilitate matters
Nothing could be more tedious than 4
wait while careful persons in a four-bal
match took time to go over the whole lin
Of putt with the hand.