The Washington times., 1911-01-07
|PUTTER QUESTION
AROUSES GOLFERS
St. Andrews Secretary Says
Americans Do Not Under
stand New Rule:
TRIES TO. EXPLAIN
EXACT SITUATION
Difference of Opinion on Ruling
Cause of Trouble, Says
Macdonald. . .

NEW YORK, Jan. with all due re-
spect for the opinions of the President
Of the United States, likewise the views
of other golfers, C. B. Macdonald, who
has been with the game ever since its
inception IN this country, declares EN-
phatically that certain ones are labor
ing under a misapprehension with re-
gard not only to the naIlet-headed put
ter problem, but rules legislation in gen.
eral.
Mr.. Macdonald, who Is a member of
the st. Andrews rules committee. stated
in his office yesterday that he was go
ing to make another attempt to set the
matter clearly before the American
golfers.
He was not quite ready to go into the
subject at Nngth. but is preparing a
full statement. In his conversation, how
ever Mr.. Macdonald showed beyond a
doubt that in one instance of legislation
at least golfers on this side of the At
lantic have failed to comprehend the
st. Andrews idea.
Reference is made to the practice
swing, which does not seem TO have
any bearing on the putter legislation ex-
CtDI 10 SBO" Io" easily 5oilSIS
get "off the line so To speak. Incl
dentalIy, 1t sheds new light on rule
that has In itself caused no end OF COM
ment. Prior to referring to this Mr..
Macdonald said:
Wrong Opinion Exists
There is no doubt in my mind that a
wrong opinion exists among golfers,
even of the most exalted station. as to
the new rule. This error exists not only
with regard to the sense but the text
of the rule, and after correspondence
with Herbert Jaques, president of the
United States Golf Association. and S.
II. Strawn, the incoming president, I
have decided to send to Robert c. Wat
son, the Sassociation secretary, a full
analysis of the action of the St.
I Andrews rules of golf committee.
My first explanatory letter to Mr..
| Watson was too brief, for / imagined
there was greater general knowledge OF
the situation than really existed. The
criticism of my explanation proves
| this to me. In the letter under prepar-
alton every detail will be set down, and
object is to inform the American golfers
on the new rule. what 1t means and
! what has brought it about. What action
may be taken at the coming annual
! meeting rests Will Tic uClCsdlCsB DuA
am determined that every delegate may
! have an accurate account of what has
been done by St. Andrews to guide his
vote.
Different Interpretation.
1T has cropped up frequently that
there is a difference between the st
| Andrews Rule Is and the United State:
Golf Association Interpretation, the lat
been given out at this time as prece
dent to justify upsetting other st. An
drews rules. The Interpretation or Ruiz
Is is: A player may take practlc'
! swing or swings afte~ the ball is IN play
more than a clubs length from thu
ball
essary addition. The st. Andrews com
mittee has not barred practice swing
and in order to prove my statement al
abstract from the decisions or the ruie'
of golf committee is given.
The Rule.
"RovaI Montreal Golf Club-If play
er when playing through the green De
fore taking his stance, takes pracuc'
swing at more than clubs length iron
the ball and accidentally scrapes tn
ground or breaks a blade of grass doe
he lose the hole at match play and doe
he lose two strokes in medal play unoe
Rule 15?''
"Answer-In Rule Is the words 'beforr
striking Indicate that the player !
within striking distance of the oall, an
is about to make stroke, thougn y y
NAV not necessarily have taken ~
stance This rule was not framed wit!
any reference to practice swings, whlcI
are permissible provided Rule ~, 10. am
% 6 are not infringed. The PLAYER IN
~ povai Montreal Golf Club