Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-07
GOLF AMATEUR
NEWLY DEFINED
RECENT CLAUSE PROMISES TO
MAKE TROUBLE
Professionals in Other Sports Can Be
Admitted as Amateurs In Golf
with Exception of the
Championship

NEW YORK, March "a new defini-
ton of an amateur sanctioned by the
executive committee of the United
States Golf association gives clean
bill of health to all players in good
standing on January l, but sounds
warning note to any and all who are
inclined to stray from the straight ana
narrow path. The bar against persons
who have been caddies, caddiemasters
or greenkeepers for pay after the age
of 16 is restored specifically after being
only covered in a general way for some
years, but it has always existed. Pro-
fessionals or past professionals in all
other branches of athletics are de-
barred from playing as amateurs as
they are in the recent definition of an
amateur by the Western Golf associa-
| ton. A professional in any other ath-
letic game If elected to golf club may
join in it's competitions, but he could
not join in the amateur championship,
"or in any event of amateurs author-
lied or held by the United States Golf
association"
The clause regarding such profess
SIGNALS of other sports seems apt to be
a trouble maker. AS to open tourna-
mentS, for instance, besides stating
they are for all members of the U. S.
G.. A. in good standing the committee
often adds land for such other anna
tours invited by the committee. AS
to protests on this basis and in re-
viewing the counter evidence, the U.
S. G. A. executive committee will be-
come q court to determine who is
professional in branches of athletics
far from the ken of the golf solons.
The new bylaws reads:
Section Z. No person shall be con-
sidered an amateur golfer or shall be
11ir III In a
championship of this association or IN
any event of amateurs authorized or
held by it who accepts or has accepted
directly or indirectly any fee, gratulty,
money or other consideration for play
ing or teaching the game of golf, or
who personally makes or repairs golI
clubs. golf balls or other golf articles
years has received pay for services as
caddie, caddiemaster or greenkeeper,
or who is or has been a professional IN
any other branch of athletics, provided,
however, that any person who is or at
the time becomes ineligible as an anna
teur by reason of this bylaw may be
reinstated upon giving to the executive
committee of this association satisfac-
tory evidence of meriting such rein
statement. Nothing herein contained
shall require reinstatement as an anna
teur of any person in good standing as
such on January l, 1909, under the pro-
visions of section of the bylaws or
this association then in force.
Section s. Protests against any IN
diYidual for violation of section Of
these bylaws must be made in writ
ing by a member of a club belonging 10
this association and must be sent to
the secretary of this association WltE
a certificate by the secretary OF such
club that the protest is lodged by a
Il e r1Iph
OF the recently revised rules of the
game rule Is is amended to retain
custom dear to thousands of American
golfers and a worthy one if not abused.
The rule and change:
Rule IS. Before striking at ball in
play a player shall not move, bend or
break anything fixed or growing ex-
cept so far as is necessary to enable
him fairly to take his stance in adj
dressing the ball or in making his
backward or forward swing. The club
may only be grounded lightly, and not
pressed on the ground. The penalty for
breach of this rule shall be the loss
of the hole. The Interpretation of this
rule additionally by the L. S. G.. A. is
as follows: "This rule does not pro-
hibit a practice stroke more than
| clubs length from the ball"
New amendments to revised rules
SO and 16, stroke play, merely demand
| that the players in cases of disputes
may not choose their own referee
Rule SO is amended to read as follows:
If dispute arose on any point a
claim must be made before the play
ers strike off from the next teeing
ground, or in the case of the last hole
of the round, before they leave the
putting green. All disputes shall be
decided by the committee in charge Of
the competition. which decision shall
be final unless appeal be taken to the
executive committee of the United
States Golf association, whose decision
! shall be conclusive.
Rule 10. (Strike competition) is
amended to read as follows All dis.
putes shall be decided by the commit
tee in charge of the competition, which
decision shall be final unless appeal
be taken TO the executive committee OF
| the United States Golf association.
whose decision shall be conclusive.