Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-30
GOLF CHANGES NOT LIKED
Clubs Would Prefer to Speak for
Themselves in the Matter.
DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY
This May Lead to a Connict OF Au-
thority and Make Diverse
Opinions on the same Point
About the Rules.

While no one can accuse the Western
Golf association with being lacking in en-
ergy. nor doubt its well meaning attempts
toward the betterment Of the game, II lie
a question II the latest effort of this or
ganization on the subject of rules will not
end In a certain amount Of confusion. The
fact that the Western Golf association has
taken upon itself to legislate for clubs
under it's Jurisdiction amounts almost to a
revolution in the game. although It has
passed comparatively unnoticed.
Hitherto devotees Of the royal sport were
content to abide by the rules drafted by
Old st. Andrews, but recently the western
body passed rules dealing with stymies,
ball dropping in muddy ground, the con-
ceding of puts, duties of the referee, prac-
tice strokes and the settlement of disputes,
Leaving aside the question as to the wis
dom of certain new rules, it is pertinent
to call attention to the fact hat hence
forth there will be two sets of rules in
force in the United States. There are
those who predict a certain amount OF
confusion, because there will not only be
two. but three authorities to whom refer
ence may be made in case of dispute.
The United States Golf association, as it
has always done, will settle disputed ques-
ions coming under its authority; the
Western Golf association will have it's own
exclusive territory, and the Royal at st.
Andrews will probably look after the rest
Of the world. At least, that is the way #
appears at present. With different gov
erning bodies there Is always the chance
OF disagreement. In fact. this very thing
happened as the result of a disputed point
during the Olympic competition at Clcve-
land two years ago, Immediately prior to
the national amateur championship.
1t had to do with the occasion where
Jerome D. Travers, after finding his ball
in an unplayable lie, awaited himself of
the privilege at medal play Of lifting for
the loss of two strokes. In this instance
the champion. finding II impossible to tee
up Immediately behind the spot from where
he lifted, went off to one side, always taxi
ing care, however, to get no nearer the
hole. This at once occasioned no end of
discussion, some experts e%xclaiming that
the intent of the rule had been violated,
and others claiming that the title holder
had acted entirely within his rights.
Finally, the question was put to the ex-
eCuIlVe COflInltIee OF the OHllSu oldNcS GDlA
association for decision, and the verdict
was returned favorable to Travers. Not
content with this, certain parties then APP
pealed to the Royal and Ancient, and in
due time word came back from st. An
drew's to the effect that the rule had been
violated.
1t therefore needs no wide stretch of the
imagination to picture at no distant date
the edifying spectacle of three diverse opin-
ions on the same point. Thus far, the
Metropolitan Golf association, the Golf AS
ISOLATION of Massachusetts,, the Southern
Golf association and the New Jersey State
Golf association have been loyal to the
United States Golf association. but what
is to prevent these and other sectional
bodies entering into the fray? An old
golfer, not backward about speaking his
mind, probably voiced the sentiments of
thousands of others when he said:
we Americans waited long before en-
bracing this glorious game that has stood
the test of time, and for centuries flour
ished across the sea. Why, they, when 1t
is yet young here, only in it's swaddling
clothes, must we begin to tear IT to pieces2
But since this tickle, restless, breezy west
ern set, as they go beating the ball over
the prairie. don't like the brand as we
imported It from the Scots. they might far
better start all over again with a new
game, founded, II they choose, on the prin-
ciples of golf. Furthermore, for the sake
Of old times, I would suggest they at least
retain the original name, making ouly the
slight departure of spelling II
To the Western 'Flog' association I would
extend my most hearty, IL not respectful,
greeting, and even cheerfully agree to at
tend the first match between its premier
flogger and our champion golfer. For the
matter, almost any sacrifice could be en-
dured without a murmur II they would
only leave Us the ancient game in its orig
inal purity and loveliness."
OF course. different people view things
differently. so that what appears to be alb
solutely right to one is stamped as ridicu-
lous by another, and a case in point is fur
nished by some recent utterances on the
part of a Chicago enthusiast. Here is what
he says in part:
You can't plant a new crop in an old
field until you clear away the stubble.
That is what's the matter with the United