Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-21
Revolutionary Rule is Pro
mulgated by the Western
Golf Association.
UPSETS ONE OF
CARDINAL RULES
New Ruling Permits Ball
Farthest from Hole to be
Lifted if in Straight Line.

Chicago, May 21.-Stymies in golf
play are abolished by a revolutionary
rule promulgated by the Western Golf
association today for play in the west
ern amateur championship. to be held
at the Midlothian Country club, Chi
cago. July . to IA. The new rule,
which does away with one Of the most
three-fourths Of the United States and
all of Canada is concerned. also elm
mates to a large extent the bother of
lifting balls on the putting greens in
medal play.
Upset Cardinal Rule.
The rule upsets one of the cardinal
rules Of the game by providing that
the ball nearest the hole shall be
played first when both balls are on
the putting green. Heretofore, the ball
fartherest from the hole had to be
played first. In math play the old rule
brought about a stymie When the. ball
Of play Of the ball farthest from the
cup. In medal play the bic rule de-
manded that the ball nearest the hole
be played or lifted until the one farth-
est from the hole la been played, If
the first player desired. as he would
suffer a penalty of one stroke If his
ball hit the ball of his fellow com.
petitor.
Has Been Long Fight.
There has been a long fight to abol-
ish the stymie in both Great Britain
and America. 1t is contended by those
opposed to the sty,nie that a player is
confronted by this difficulty almost
entirely by the luck Of the game, as
golfers seldom. if ever, deliberately
play a stymie for an opponent. In fact
| n afvvoi0 Ia o1r,nct olyyoHys 1oi6 hv q
poor putt the opponents contend and
assert that it is not fair to %penalize a
player by the poor shot of his oppon-
ent.
Under the old rule, the ball nearer
the hole could be played first, either
at h request Of the competition
farther from the cup. or at h option
of the owner Of the are ball. go that
the lew rule as regards medal play
simply makes an option mandatory.
New Provision Made.
The new rule permits the ball farth-
or from the hole to be lifted If it Is in
the earer ball and within a putter's
length of the nearer ball. This pro-
vision was made to give the owner
of the nearer ball free action in his
stroke and to obvlate any assistance
he might gain from the three points
in the line Of his putt.
As IN new rule as applied to medal
play will he likely be enforced at the
western open championship. to be held
at Westmoreland Country club, Chi
cago. Sept. 1914. professionals from
the eastern territory not under the
control Of the Western Golf associa-
ton, will be compelled to adhere to
the new dictum of the western body
or be Unqualified.
Is Third Radical Action.
The adjustment Of the stymie and
the requirement that the nearer ball
instead Of the farther ball, be played
first, is the third radical action of the
Western Golf association under the
present administration. The first was
the formulation Of a new amateu,
definition: permitting amateurs to dea
in golf supplies if his fame or skill
az a golfer did not enter into the
business purposely. The second wa:
the recognition of Francis Ouimet a.
an amateur under this rule.