New-York tribune., 1911-01-02
GOLF CRISIS At HAND
One Player Suggests Forming
New Rules Committee.
TO DETHRONE ST. ANDREWS
Outcome Will Be international
Organization, with Repre-
sentation for All.

Even though goodly proportion or the
golf clubs East and West have declareu
themselves one way or the other regaruihs
the putter controversy, there continues 10
exist an element OF uncertainty as 10 just
what is going TO happen. Close studehts ot
the game are divided among themselves, so
there is no telling what may transpire when
the United States Golf Association dele
gates gather In annual session at Chicago
on January H. Here is the latest view ot
the situation as advanced by well known
golfer:
The game has got to come eventually 70
the absolute dethronement OF st. Andrews
as the rules making body OF the world ana
the creation Of an international ruies ot
golf committee, composed ABOUT as IolloI1
f-nitAd states 3. Great Britain, 3, Caneda,
]: Australia, I. and Royal and Ancient;
this last as a recognition Of the place they
have so long held. There is no use IN CON
sidering any but the English spsskhng pthn his his
is lust the best time 10 try and bring TINS
about, but II is bound TO be the ultlmsLe
outcome, as even the English goiters are
growing restive.
An Eastern golfer visiting the Pacinc
Coast and indulglng in his favorite sport,
writes an enthusiast, cannot fail TO oo-
serve a good many points OF difference
between his home links and those which
lie adjacent 10 the Pacific ocean. In a
climate where for eight or nine months or
the year no rain falls and where links are
five miles or over in area 1t Is manifestly
impossible 10 keep up the standard OF the
turf. AS far as the greens" are con-
cerned, there are none. The fair green on
a act liply la
hard oiled earth, with not spear of grass
growing on it. In order that 1t may be
kept busted off," so to speak. the hole
marker is substantial pole, with cross
piece on top. To this crosspiece in many
instances is nailed bit of carpet.
Players who imagine that the green
needs cleaning up use this bit of carpet
to brush real or fancied obstacles out OF
the way Of tho ball. One would naturally
suppose that 1t would be easier to put the
ball into the hole over this smooth, hard
ground than over the same area OF short
grass but apparently it takes just as
much skill and just as many strokes TO
negotiate a ball on the dirt surface as on
the ordinary green.
A good many OF the Pacific Coast play
ers use red paper tees in place OF the
time honored small handful of sand. The
results are about the same, though occa-
sionally a phenomenal drive is made. And
long drives are certainly needed on links
where the average hole is 400 yards long
and where some run up nearly as high as
Gl0.
One thing which is decidedly in favor Of
golf In Lower California is the absence Of
high winds. The wind hardly ever blows
sufficiently strong to interfere with play,
and for a large part of the golfinS season
the links are comparatively dry, a spongy
green being the exception and not tho rule.
The golfng season is at its height on the
Coast at time when the Eastern links
are a foot deep in snow. The rainy season
does not interfere with It much. as the
rains are short and frequent giving the
ground chance to dry between showers.
Another novelty TO the Eastern player IS
the "booze wagon" On Saturdays, Sun
days and holidays. when the players are
out I'm force, there is stationed on some
OF the links, about half way around, a
wagon which carries boxes of bottles. Some
Of the bottles contain seltzer and some con-
tain beer. There is generally something to
mix with the seltzer, and it is very we'll
patronized as a rule, drink being almost
necessity when man has followed his
ball three miles and is about to start after
Il for another three. The "booze wagon"
carries along water for the caddy boys.
The latter, by tho way, get 45 cents for
one round. II they are caddying for play
ers in a foursome they get 50 cents, be-
cause It takes them longer TO get around
and lessons their chances to get two rounds
put in one round will play one, two or three
holes for drinks, and then the caddy gets
extra pay for his time.
Robert A. Gardner. tho champion Of Yale
and former holder OF the national amateur
title. is nothing If not versatile. Not con-
tent with pulling down chief honors OF the
golf links and leading his college both at
golf and on the track. Bobby IS now on
tour with the Yale Musical Club. which
made an appearance in Minneapolis on
Tuesday night.
Members of the Advertising Mems Golf
Association are preparing for their annual
midwinter tournament. to be held at Pine
hurst from January to II, inclusive. This
meeting is now one Of the biggest of the
annual events played in the South during
the winter. w. G. Freeman is already on
the ground tuning up for the play, and
others from this district will follow In &
few days.