Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-07
NO DECISIONS ON GOLF RULES
Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Scot.
land Gives Up the Job Until
After War is Over.
U. s. SHOULD SETTLE DISPUTES

| NEW TURK, May SIN view OF inc
fact that since the beginning Of the war
the rules Of golf committee Of the Royal
and Ancient Golf club of st. Andrews,
Scotland. has practically held no meeting
and has announced that no decisions on
disputed polnts will be made til after
tho war, the question naturally arises
why the task OF passing upon eontro-
versieA over the rules, etc, should not,
for the period OF the war be turned over
TO the United States Golf association
BY the common consent Of golfers the
world over. based upon a recognition Of
the work done by the ST. Andrews club
In keeping alive the interest In golf ~
tho Oldest golf club IN existence, the
Royal and Ancient has been allowed 10
DO the arbiter Of golf rules. and even
tho recent boom that the sport has had.
and the fact that other countries have
now larger number Of clubs and play
ers than Scotland. have not thus far af-
sected the dominance Of the opinion Of
ST. Andrews in the matter of golf prin-
ciples.
With the old governing body virtually
out Of the business Of passing on dis
puted questions. golfers elsewhere, es-
pecially in the United States, have the
right 70 expect that some arrangement
viii DO made by which the attitude OF
some controlling body shall be made
known In relation TO current changes In
the sport.
Outside the British isles. the most pow
aTfDI nod Ia ha Ia
States Golf association. Moreover, this
country up TO date, IS the only great
nation remaining out Of the war, and
consequently the governing body here Is
the only one that is free from the pertur-
bations OF the war and able to discuss
golf matters properly.
Hence. II anything is to be done In the
way Of giving out authoritative utter
ances on disputed points. the task might
well be confided TO the United States Golf
association. There is no foreseeing the
may drag on for years. How long, then,
are the golfers OF the world to be with
out a tribunal 70 which appeals can be
made in the event OF the disputes Of
importancef
The objection may be made that any
such assumption Of authority on the part
OF the United States Golf association
would appear to be taking advantage OF
war conditions for the ousting Of the
Royal and Ancient club. But the idea
should not be to assume anything The
Royal and Ancient itself might. and. some
may say, ought. to ask some body out
side the war~disturbed area to take over
the adjudication OF golf matters After
peace Is declared and things return 70
their normal condition. the United States
Golf assoclation could restore TO 81. An
drews its authority to legislate on golf
matters.
II may be said that the Royal and
Ancient might SEQ IN this move the enter
ing wedge by which would eventually
be taken from II It's authority in the
sport, II II cares TO take that view. then
II win lay itself open 10 the suggestion
that II cares more for It's prerogatiyes
than for the good of the game whish
manifestiy cannot but suffer with no
central body governing the sport
II the British golfing world should OBJ |
jcct 10 tho Americanism Of this authority, /
II might be suggested that the Unltea |
states Golf association and the Canadian /
Golf association come together and form |
a central ralsS committee. to which. dur |
ms tho war. matters might be referred.
This would place British subjects on the /
temporary rules committee
This arransement would not imply /
necessarily that the golfers 4 tie british /
Isles would have 70 submit "a the a.. /
clsiona az tha American hadY II they 4
cared 70 decide thair nwn dlasKtesmsnis.
Ia wolid IA their nftvlleae a. a. 10. How, I
ever u weu'A nlaAn that fhs aolfaA an 4
the un.teA states Ard eena8a would nave 4
hodg rignt At h0rus that aauia Ne 40 4
pealed 20 a. ems time. wtihant havlrE 30 I
wait en- ne sna n the WaF.
The Uaiisd states Cole assa at.aa las I
already teea sselHs d sians lp several /
impoTiani mattsft 4 has lsaislstta O. /
che faee e British aahtEaaat ia fatat 4
~ Ne schenectady retIsf ana has saas .
lnio tha AuslsHF lHssliae maFa taerlv 4
Than have tha nHtisa authorities fbs 4
tussiien ttea nsi9satF sFsta assthfr co. 4
Ne'tea atsies aa'f ssses Hs16aa 4 asa ahts 4
taw Or Oh satikisafnfl1 the aets 81
ateNaf Is Al aa.f maUefs aaflas lha 4
e.ntiNH shea ef fhs $40