The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-27
NEW AMATEUR RULE
COMMITTEE OF THE U.
 s. GOLF ASSOCIATION ACTS.
All Who Have Been Professional In Other Branches Of Sport Are Debarred From Amateur
 Standing,

The executive committee of the Unit ed States Golf Association has followed the lead of the Western Golf Associa- ton by adopting a new amateur rule, which is more stringent than the old one, and consequently more difficult to evade; In futurs. any one who acts as
 saads os sixtsen er saSdie after shs
 While the new definition starts rath- CT threateningly by debarring all who other branches of athletics. it qualities itself by exempting those now rated as amateurs. Were this not done the new rule would he certain to work hard the present time who in the old days received salaries as professionals or mi-professionals.
 Nothing is found in the new rule to from taking part in club competitions. While this rule does not affect club events, the professional in other lines would be debarred should he attempt to compete In tourpament or team match controlled by the parent organization. The new definition reads as follows:
 Sec. No person shall be considered an amateur or shall be eligible to com this association, or in any event of amateurs authorized or held by 1t, who accepts or has accepted, directly or tn- Sher rs for payex %Sass teaching the game of golf. or who per sonally makes or repairs golf clubs, golf balls or other golf articles for pay, or who, after the age of sixteen years has received pay for services as caddy, caddie master or greenk eep- CT. or who Is, or has been. profess sional in any other. branch of athletics, or at the time becomes Ineligible as an amateur, by reason of this bylaw may be reinstated upon giving to the executive committee of this association satisfactory evidence of meriting such reinstatement. Nothing herein con- tained shall require reinstatement as an amateur or any person fin good under the provisions of Section of force.
 Sec. S-Protests against any individ- bylaws must be made in writing by & member of a club belonging to this as- sociation, and must be sent to the sec retary of this association with cer- that the protest Is lodged by a mem Der in good standing of such club.
 Amendments to Rules 36 and 16 de- mand recognition of the tournament players to choose who shall decide their disputes. In the new rules of golf Rule 36 Is amended to read as
 Rule 36-If dispute arise on any point, a claim must be made before the players strike off from the next teeing ground. or. in the case of the last hole 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 States Golf Association, whose decision shall be conclusive.
 Rule l6 (stroke competition) is amended to read as follows:
 All disputes shall be decided by the in charge of the competi- tion, which decision shall be final un- less appeal be taken to the executive of the United States Asso- citation. whose decision shall be con- elusive.
 A custom dear to the hearts of Am efican golfers, the practice swing. has been preserved by the United States Cliff Association committee in its in- of the new rule adopted abroad, by. providing that such swing length from the ball. Rules of golf on this question. as well as the United States Golf Association interpretation, 
 ing at a ball in play a player shall not move, bend nor break anything fixed or growing except so far as Is neces- sary to enable him fairly to take his III lio UdlI UT III making his backward or forward swing. The club may only be ground ed 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 by the United States Golf Association is as follows:
 This rule does not prohibit a prac- tice stroke more than a clubs length from the ball.