New-York tribune., 1911-03-26
BOO|NC AT BOC|E RULES
Three e-Cornered Golf IInbrogIio
Strs Golf Critic.

Under the caption Another Develop
men. in the Bogie Imbroglio," appears an
editorial in a recent number Of The
World of Golf" London. II has TO do
with the action Of the Western Golf As
sociation in submitting its set Of bosie
rules 70 the Roval and Ancient Golf Club
of St. Andrews for approval.
The foreign writer comments favorab bly
on the policy adopted by the Western
body. and intimates that the last named
has the right idea. In that an effort has
been made TO adhere a. closely as possible
10 match PLAY rules whereas the United
states Golf Association code shows d de-
cided tendency toward stroke play.
Reference in the editorial is also made
% the adopted" code of the United States
Golf Association. As a matter OF fact, the
parent organization In this country has
rot as vet officially adopted its code Of
bcgie rules
The editorial reads as follows:
There seems 20 be fresh development in
the political situation IN golf We have u
on the best authority that the rules OF Solr
committee Of St Andrews are IN possession
Of draft OF rules Tor bogle play draw u
IN by the Western Golf Association OF
United States Golf Association, the para
mount body in America recently declded
70 remodel their laws concerning bosle so
that the stroke play element should predOm-
irate In the code suggested bv the West
srn Union, an exceedingly innuentlai Soli-
ing, body n tne states, the opposite view
is taken. The Western Union desires that
the match play spirit he retained. II mas
submitted its code 10 s.. Andrews IN the
nope that the ROYAL and Ancient club viii
offer suggestions and criticism, ana per-
he r-.4fN
IL was only few weeks ago that ri; An
drews drew UP a code Of rules for bogle
play for our own Midland Golf Assocla uon.
These we're almost Identical with those
citation. and entirely different from those
under which bocie COMPETITIONS had pre-
vicusly been decided, What atutude me
rules committee VIII adopt toward the
Western Association iS. OF course, I'm
known. To be consistent only one course
is omen 10 ito reterste its opinion that
the medal pav spirit should dominate IN
bocie competitions. an opinion with Which
IL lis safe 70 say that three-tourths OF tne
golfers in this country are IL complete dis
agreement. .,..
similar 20 thar which prevails here. The
views Of the United states Association on
the subject u bosie play no more reneGt
,re opinion of American golfers man 90
those of the ROYAL and Ancient club com
eide with the views OF golfers IN THIS couu-
try II IL were not so serious me slIua-
ION would be almost Gloeruan i ne Iuiihs
bodies I'm both countries are ouendinb 4
large number Of supporters by their WiltuI
disregard Of tradition.
The action OF the western Cor NSsoCid-
zion I'm approaching -. Andrews l. SIS
r,idcant The body has always been held
ur a. being composed mainly or lnsll-
gents Yet they are struggling lor a r.
f-rn 70 the original method or playing
| booie conpetitions and what Is much more
i,,,ro~-an+ thew submit their ideas on me
suhiect 70 the traditional governors or INC
nvch abused Western Golf Association Is
after an the most conservative BODY IN
TrtortrnateIv. ST Andrews seem 20 have
f,rfeited ali right 10 give advice. DoFi-
of.sIv thew persist in their absurd preJlclce
against a form Of play which is enloI "a
bv nine-tenths OF the golnnS cohlnunlts '
As q special case. presufnaDlF tneY cor
srrted "a draw I'D a code of rules for the
Midland association. Many people cor
sider the code as inimcal 70 the best m
feres-s of the game but s.. Andrews DIS
claim ali responsibility. and attempt 20
make their own position secure by assert
ing that no one need ADOPT thelr tleWS uIl 70
less fhe- like. The request or me NFSl
-, .,eeocistior has made clear the fufliitr
Of Iii such weak-kneed devices
II ought az least 20 convince even me
most obstinate OF those members or me
Committee % whom bogie IS anathema that
,be time has come for the Inclusion or q
code OF bogie laws in tho rules O. the game;
As they stand ~ present ne rlleS or gplI
70 ,,afnabIv incomplete Before they give
. -enlV to the Western association they
aha.,,f5 recoueidar the whole question. on
,be subject OF bogie they should realize
.ba. they are rot infallible. and seek ad-
t.ica outside their own charmed but narrow
iCIo and when thev have given the mat
,ar tbeir fullest consideration they should
embody their ideas in the rules Of goli.
vt-tsh their limited knOwledge-for on this
- - L.. a. tbe~e is surely ground for think
S,, that thew do lack knovledge--it must
ne apparent hat they cannot 60 on giving
advice 20 tho hundred. and one associations on ),
80 ~ll--,U,e,I =. II IS, and such procedure would
eriv make il worse confounded.
tgaanwhile tho Western association IL 10
-'e[,r' '-1 go t,,iated on having broken away
1royJ, rs parent body IN an attempt 10 pre-
IOl4L O 80 original form Of hOgic play.