Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-09

The season for stroke competitions
especially is upon us. and for the pen
eft of those who don't care to take the
time to read the rule book through
and null over decisions handed down
by the royal and ancient rules com
mittee ! am mentioning few OF the
simple and fundamental rules which
are often unwittingly disobeyed, writes
John Anderson in the New York Sun.
1t is often asked WAS that
strokeo' when a forward movement of
the club was made but the motion
stopped before reaching the ball. The
rule says that a stroke lis any forward
movement of the club made. with the
intention of striking the ball, or any
contact between the head of the club
and the ball resulting in movement of
the ball. except in the case OF ball
accidentally knocked off the tee
In this connection I am reminded Of
player who was idly swishing around
on the tee and accidentally hit his ball
His opponent thought that the stroke
should count and it was counted the
ball being played from where it had
rolled. But under the Interpretation of
the rule II player swings at a ball
with the intention Of missing il no
stroke can be Counted. At the same
time it is we'll to let your opponent
know that you are practicing.
When Does a Ball Novel,
When does a ball move and what is
meant by Oscillation" is another rub of
the gofng mind In answer to that
would quote from the list of exam
pies as given out by the executive
committee of the Massachusetts Golf
Associatio The ball is deemed to
move If it leaves its original position
in the slightest degree. BY oscillation
it means that il literally 'auiyers as
golf ball 'Guivers But the following
instance happens often and should he
noted. A player pressed the face of
to move forward slightly When the
putter was withdrawn the ball fell
back into its original position. but the
committee to which the question was
referred decided that the hall having
left its original position had moved.
and that the movement constituted
stroke
This ruling is worth remembering.
addressing his ball carelessly pushes
it slightly forward. and this, according
to the decision just cited. is a stroke
even if before being struck at the ball
return to its original position and its
lie is in no way altered or improved
Now, in the matter of lost ball. it is
well known by all that the golfer must
go back to the spot from which the
ball was struck, but only after five
minutes search has been made The
player must search for the ball him
self, with others, too, if permitted but
he is not allowed to leave the search
in charge of his caddy or others and
then walk back to the tee or spot from
where he struck the ball which was
lost If he should do this and the ball
be found within the Ave minutes he is
not allowed to play the first ball 1t is
rather frequent occurrence in the
case Of lost ball for the player to
play his second ball in the proper man
ball being found while walking for
ward the second time to play on with
the original ball. This constitutes a
breach of the rules. When IT Is once
established that a ball is lost it must
not be put into play again.
Little Provision Overlooked.
Then there is another little provision
which believe is quite commonly
overlooked even among the fine players
Of the game. II a player goes out of
bounds or loses ball he must tee or
drop as the case may be as near as
possible to the spot from which the
frst shot was made. I have often seen
golfers who have driven out of bounds
lay il to the fact that they have teed
too near to the boundary line and then
do as Vardon says, tee the bali at the
extreme end of the tee farthest from
the out of bounds limits.
Also remember that even if the ball
fall in muddy ground under repair
there is no rule which gives permission
to clean it and there is distinct rule
against wiping off the mud or other
substance clinging to it.
For the benefit of club committees
which contemplate holding tourna
ments this coming season at which
there will be strangers invited it might
be well TO advise that all out of bounds,
where stakes are used. be made plain
by lines of whitewash or chalk which
viii make IL clear without all the line
sighting and figuring which is so often
had on courses where out OF bounds is
most frequent.
Many a golfer has wondered if he
would he penalizcd as many strokes as
there are clubs in his bag II have been
asked this question many times) If he
or his caddy should drop his bag in a
bunker and TO these it will be plea sin
news to hear again that there is no
penalty whatever in the dropping of q