New-York tribune., 1911-01-07
GOLF TEMPEST RAGING
Macdonald Says Players Do Not
Understand the Question.
REFERS TO BAR ON PUTTER
Member of Rules Committee at
Old St. Andrews Promises
to Explain.

With all due respect for the opinions OF
the President OF the United States, ike
wise the views OF other golfers, c. B. Mac
donald. who has been with the game ever
since It's inception In this country, declares
ompbaticaIly that certain ones are iaborins
under a misapprehension with regard rot
only 10 the mallet-headed putter problem,
but rules legislation in general Mr.. Mac
donald who Is member OF the -. An
drevs rules committee, stated In his once
Yesterday that he was going to make an
other attempt TO set the matter Clearly po-
fore the American golfers
He was not quite ready TO go into tne
subject at length, but Is preparing iu'
statement In his conversation, however,
Mr. Macdonald showed beyond DOUBT 'hst
in one instance OF legislation at least golt-
ers on this side Of the Atlantic nave ishe'
70 comprehend the st. Andrews idea'
Reference IS made TO the practice swlhs,
which does not seem 10 have any oeaf'ns
ON the putter legislation except 10 s"'n
how easily golfers can get "on the Ine'
so 10 speak incidentally II sneds nc"
Itch, n, a rule that has I'm Itself caused no
ans ~ comment. Prior 10 referring 70 thls
Mr.. Macdonald said
..There IS no doubt I'm my mnd tra'
o,,. on,n,on exists among golfers, even OF
the most exalted station. as 70 'ne ne"
.,I. Tbis error exists not only with re-
.or5 IN the sense but the text OF the lu'',
% otter correspondence with Heroert
Iaou.s, president of the United s,a'es oUi
..aoo,a,,on and g. II. 6trawn, the ineo'h-
a. nras,dent. I have decided 70 seho "
pohart a. Watson, the association seer'
-, ,uI, analysis OF the action Oh thS
q, Andrews rules Of golf committee
.,>Iv frst explanatory letter to Mr.. wat
so,, 1yaa too brief, for Imagined tnere was
oraater general knowledge OF the s'uauon
thor really existed. The CRITICISMS OF IVY
axnlanat,on proves this to me. In tne ie-
,ar Under preparation every detail VIII 70
90, down, and nothing left to the imasii'@
,,on NV object Is 70 inform the American
golfers ON the new rule what IL means ana
1hot has brought IL about what aceioh
,,,av be taken at the coming annual meet
,,,., rosta with the delegates. but am ne-
,orr,ired that every delegate may ha's
on accurate account OF what has D'eh
dora nv 81. Andrews 10 guids his vote
or has cropped up frequently that 'hers
,a di1sranca between the st. Andrews
pu,e Ia and the United States Goif Asso-
citation Interpretation, the latter De'hs
said 10 be a new rule. II has Deen glNeh
on, ar this time as a precedent to justify
,,nsattina other st. Andrews rules me
INTERPRETATION OF Rule Is IL: A player may
take a practice swing or swings after tle
hal, is in play. more than CLUBS lensuI
from the ball
LAS a matter OF fact, this is an unnec-
Assarv addition. The ST. Andrews commit
tee has not barred a practice swing. ana
m order to prove my statement an so-
stract from the decisions of the rules OK
golf committee is given"
| "Royal Montreal Golf Club-If player
when playing through the green, before
| taking his stance, takes a practice swing
| at more than a clubs length from me
hall and accidentally scrapes the ground
| or breaks a blade OF grass. does he lose the
hola at match play and does he lose Two
| strokes in medal play under Rule ID
"Answer-In Rule 10 the words before
| ..,,x,ng' indicate that the player is with
,r striking distance OF the ball, and Is
| ohout 10 make stroke, though he may
M, necessarily have taken his stance.
This rule was not framed with any refer
.rce 10 practice swings, which are per
missibIe provided Rule 10, 10 and % % arc
not infringed. The player incurred no
nenalty In the case mentioned by the
Royal Montreal Golf Club.