The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-24
NO CHRISTMAS
GOLF TOURNEY
Snow Causes Soggy Course
and Much Depends on
Work of Old Sol.

1t is hardly likely that regularly
scheduled golf events will be held at
any of the local clubs on Christmas
Day. although impromptu ones will
no doubt be arranged at any of the
clubs where enough are on hand to
create competition. Experience in the
past has shown that the month of
December is about as tickle as a 1s-
year-old schoolgirl, and that plans
made for any kind OF an outdoor
event during this month invariably
have to. be called Of on account of
weather conditions.
The snow of the past week is Just
beginning to melt with the result that
the ground is soft and soggy and to
play on it would give little pleasure
and do a great deal of damage to
the courses. The question as to
whether or not even informal or i'm
promptu events will be held will de-
pend largely upon the action Of ''Old
Sol" II he comes out and drys
things up considerably IL is quite like
ly that considerable activity will be
shown on the holiday, but IL condi-
tons do not improve, most Of the play
will be at the nineteenth hole where
no scores are kept.
The general committee in charge OF
the Washington Tennis Ambulance
Fund has forwarded the $500 con-
tributed by local racketers TO the Ma
! tional Association. That body will add
this TO its fund for purchasing ambu-
lance units for the American Red
4 ('rnSC ralfnf -
Incidentally, local racketers need NOT
feel particularly bad at their show
ing, which was only about one-third
Of their allotment. as this is about
| the same ratio raised by other cities.
The United States Lawn Tennis As
ISOLATION planned TO raise 800. 600, but
to date has only received about $780,
600.
Although there is hardly a golf
match ever played in which il is not
necessary for some one of the con-
testants TO have to drop" his ball.
yet there are any number Of golfers
| who have never taken the trouble to
look up this important item in the
rule book and who. day after day.
are breaking the rules every time it
becomes necessary for them TO
drop" According to "Hoyle," the
player himself must drop his ball.
and in so doing must face the hole.
stand erect and drop the ball over his
shoulder. The penalty for a breach
of this rule shall be the loss of the
hole in match play and the loss o.
two strokes in medal play. II. in the
act Of dropping, the ball touches the
player. he shall incur no penalty. and.
IL It rolls into a hazard, he may re-
drop it without penalty. The matter
OF dropping the ball appears to be a
small item in the eyes of some GOLF
ers, but golf is one game in which
every rule must be followed. and even
in individual informal matches should
be lived up to to the very letter.
Some players get careless in this re-
spect in friendly matches and take the
attitude that. il you can get by with
1t, anything goes. This reminds US OF
an experience well-known local
player had several pears ago before
he became active in the game. He
was watching a friendly" match
and was standing mean one OF the
players who was in a hollow out Of
sight OF his opponent. His ball was
in the tall grass and he swung twice
before finally hitting it That's too
bad" he remarked to the player.
losing those two strokes" I'm not
going to count them" replied the lat
ter; II don't believe my opponent
saw me take them"
It would not be at all surprising IL
the Departmental Tennis League
did not go back to its original
schedule for next year and play a
large number OF match games. On
account OF the war, the 1917 sched-
ule was cut down to only four or five
matches, ut conditions now are be-
coming more settled. and from pres
ent indications will be very near
normal by next year. As a matter
of fact, a longer schedule could have
been better gone through with this
season, as so few matches were ar
ranged that players did not feel il
worth while to get in shape. The
general opinion now is that at least
two or three matches n week will
be planned for next year. those in
charge believing that IT would be
better to do this and have a few de-
faults than to offer a schedule which
would offer practically no incentive
for the players to get in shape and
come out for the team. While some
of the smaller leagues will possibly
disband for 1918. it is almost as
sured that the Departmental. Subur-
ban. and Washington Tennis Asso-
citation will be under way.
President Wilson has played a
number of times over the Washing
ton Golf and Country Club courses.
Golfers feel that this is a distinct
compliment to the game. as the fact
that the President is INDUCING in
golf at a time like this when the
fortunes of the nation depend on his
mind and judgment only bears out
the contention often made that the
royal and ancient game" not only
aids physically, but also mentally.
Michigan Stewards to Meet.
Saginaw. Mich, Dec. 23.-Secretary
Thomas F. Morris. of the Michigan