The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-19
ADVISES AMERICANS
TO ABOLISH STYMIE.
British Publication Suggests
That L. s. &. 4. Make
Its Own Rule.
AGREEMENT IS UNLIKELY

Although insisting that IN. British
TO the American proposal 10 abolish
the stymie. the Field. one OF En9land's
leading sporting papers, takes an un-
usually tolerant view Of what !, assumes
is the American opinion on the subject.
The Field takes the view that American
golfers are united in their opposition
to the etyni. (which OF course il not
the caseb, n relying on that assump-
ton advises them 20 abolish the s;yinie
in the United states withou, waiting
until the war ends and then making an
attempt to get the rules OF golf COM
mistee Of the Royal and Ancient Golf
Club 20 consider the question. The eA-
tor.al follows:
Golfers In America are as q general
ruic fond OF counting their scores. and
to their credit be IL said-they are
accurate rather than approximate in
the statements they make about them
They also have a strong liking for multi
ball matches. TIL. onsequenC OF these
tno predictions Is that they regard
the occurrence of n stym.e as an un-
Welcome incident in a round We learn
on good authority that IL is the intention
% the United States Golhng Association
~ ~ M hhff ~ Va ~
~ the first convenient opportunity 20
ascertain whether there is any chance
OF r~ersuading them to relax the stym.e
rule or even 10 abolish 1t.
a convenient opportunity can hardly
arse before the end 81 .he war. for dur
ing it, progress a quorum could not be
raised. But when peace is declared the
rules committee seems likely 20 b- faced
with an insoluble dilemma. for opinions
IN Great Britain and America with re-
gard 10 The s;ymie canuo. be reconciled
Ny human Wit. In the circumstance
We are inclined to think that The L. :
q T.. will do we'll not TO follow the walt
and see policy. but 10 fra me a stym.e
rule on their own authority which shall
satisfy their immediate clients. When
al Is said. good Law : no more thar
crys,allized custom. and -, a. We are
informed : the case. american golfers
disregard the existing styrni. rule IN
their private matches. and find u Al
oneu . N competition Ia.
.ooner the lav IS s~itcrcd-in America
IN" better. Prompt action would not
o1ly give satisfaction over there z
would also prevent the rules Of colt
cn,nr:.,.e srcm andirC ~themsel'"s IN 2
mos: iuyidiouS position later on
W attach no importance whatsoever
80 basel on tn. presumption
tina. uniformity Of law ali the HorlC
over T.. q hing valuable and 20 10 81
tabIished at AL costs Experience prove
that prcsump, on unfcunded. because
when the rules committee barred MALE
beaded clubs The governing body in tn'
United states made an exception it
favor Of the schenectady putter. who's
Us. is permitted ever! where except 10
Great britain
W. have never been able 20 dscov''
that Thu divergence from Iniforml''
has done tn. slightest harm TO an. bod
except possibly TO the few who
being accustomed 10 tho use % Schenec
tadies. have had 10 putt with orthodo
golf clubs when taking part IN comT"ii
.ious over here. So those ha!Iin- IRON
courses where stym!.s are barred woul'
ia a. a disadvantage IN competition VIII
others whose habi; ii il 20 pias golf Il
its entirety"