New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-02
Amateur Issue in Golf !
Is N0w Clearly Dram,
Frank L. WOODWARD u.
Clearly Set Forth h.
What Constitute, +.
Professionalism.
Frank L. Woodward. pre,is.,.

Frank L. Woodward. preside.
United States Golf AssocSs.e' Z,
serves pean Of praise. for oa' =
at least, IN that he has de6ri u. ni',
emphatically set forth, once 10y u
all, the position Of the goyern,s.1ts
on the question of amateurisrs w
golfers. 'a arey
For weeks the newspaper, .,a
zines have been filed to renls,;.es e
hypothetical questions as 10 wv w
happen IN such and such a cass %.
inent amateurs and officials ~
various associations have arc. =
and against contingencies n ~ ~
was interpreted in this or tia, ~
SIR woodward reduces ~. a,e
subject to ore of facts by s,s,;, stss
what an amateur golfer may ,nt =: '.
not do without stepping over ,bs ~
daries into the realms Of profss,;".
ism. 1t is probable that MANY rsIs
agree with him, but at leas, ,h. .' ~
no longer be under any missno,.tse
sion IA to the position taker
president and the L. 6. G. A va
The fact that Mr.. Woodws,S
until half the continent Law ~,
him and the centres OF golfns ,,s'.
try on the Atlantic and Psclss so..
may be taken as sign OF discre,,n,
the part OF the president, but a. ~.
that issues from Denver 1, sI,s
one. "s'"'
Here IL the gist Of tho Who'll. Nj.
There are two and only two ,l..
Of occupations that golfers ar. NV, -.
mitted TO engage in for pay and ~
retain their amateur standing a.. /.
literary work. The only restn.t..
placed upon this form OF se,iyis. !.
that players name may no, n. :.
tached TO an article Of which h, /, :.
in fact the author. The other In. !.
effort for which an amateur gol,,, :.
receive pay is work IN the dIreetI., !,
what is known as golf archi,.e,p,.
the laying out, remodelllng or eou,tr.
ton Of golf courses"
Such aro the words OF pr.,,I..,
Woodward. Surely, thew isNs.
plainly enough what par. Of nj, soT',
attributes a golfer may employ IN ,,-
ing his living, but Mr. Woodvsn 4,
the simple process Of elimlr.,.,
leaves the matter in even simpler h.,
when he says THE mention 81 H..
two classes Of cases as the only tc-,
Of activity for which golfers NAV ~
cept remuneration ought In itss, !.
suffice, for by the simple process 4,
exclusion every other imaginable ,ou-,
OF income or financial benefit corr.s
ed in any way with the game o, MI
Is distinctly barred 20 amateurs ",
great emphasis therefore cannot BE- !. \
upon this method Of considering M
subject, for II these two things a.,
kept constantly In mind. a rule .hs, \
simple. easily understood and M
from any perplexing complications \
provided for tho guidance OF golfer
and all others interested
Things that an amateur golfer r,-
not do. according to President Wool
ward: at mean that no agent or or.
ploye whose duties even In par ~
quire him TO handle golf supplies a.
play golf as an amateur in this cor
try. II was necessary 10 set upskf
and distinct marx, and this was Dor,
by including everybody who coru
within the category. Il does net nr
ter whether they are now golfers CT
not. nor Is Il OF any importance
whether they play with grea. skill e.
not; while they handle goli Supplies
they cannot play as amateurs. !, =
not a question Of what name q give.
to the employe or the position he hct'
The facts regarding his relationship q
the business are the controlling tt
ments 20 be determined
4 careful reading Of the s.s,emc
thus far set forth will clarity he &.
mosphere considerably, and the stats
Of all who come within or yithou. ss
scope Of its meaning may EASILY h
ascertained. But the /. S. G. A. 4
inclined 10 leave a loophole. 10 ssr
cases. Il seems. as regards owners q
proprietors OF sporting goods ss,a.
lishments. Concerning this !ti.r
Mr.. Woodward says:
"A somewhat different, view !. si,
of the case of owners or proprietor. '
sporting goods establishments. ri
mere fact Of ownership Of such BIS
ness does not constitute a violation f
the rule. II, however, il appears ~,
any attempt is being made to esPh
ize skill or prominence in the game
golf. in other words. II playing sbfr
official position or wide aeqUalnis,e
among golfers is used b. the oE,'
or proprietor TO promote his bu'.'s'
he cannot play golf as an sns's''
Naturally the line eanno. be draw
hard and fast respecting owners .
proprietors as Il IS in the "a. :
agents and employees. but the prhe}
involved is equally definite. The y
cumstances surrounding each psNh
lar case will determine The sppliesut
of the rule. and IL ought not 70 I
necessary 10 add that the ereeS'
committee will uniformly endesvoi
be governed By fairness and impsn'
ity in exercising rs discretion. a..
Now that the lines have been ~
definitely drawn ard each man r''
whore he Glands. the battle can
70 its ultimate conclusion. Ire
matter is one that has aroused NJ
bitterness IN all sections OF the o
try. nor is this strange. where % =.
individuals arc 20 be affected os'
matter what the final outcome, We. ~,
lieve that when tie waters have 81.
receled amateur golf will be ne ga
by this na.,og-wide discussior' IL
hat af,er all Is tho main is.et