Evening star., 1917-01-13
GOLF FSTARSL0SE
AMATEUR RANKING
U. S. G. A. Adopts Drastic Eli
gibiIity Code-Three Cham
pionship Journeys Awarded.
W. S. HARLAN GIVEN OFFICE


golfers Of national reputation will be
driven from amateur ranks by the ap-
plication of the new definition of anna
teurs approved early today at the an
nual meeting of the United States Golf
Association.
Walter S, Harlan of the Columbia
Country Club. Washington. D. c.. was
elected vice president of the organiza-
ton.
The meeting also sustained the rule
under which Francis Ouimet. Paul
Tewksbury and ]. II. Sullivan. jr. of
the Woodland tMass) Golf Club were
deprived of their amateur standing.
motion for a direct vote on the
action of the executive committee an
giving; notice to the disqualified golf
ers and calling upon the Woodland
Club to withdraw their names from the
handicap list of the Massachusetts COLI
Association was ruled out OF order after
the vote on the main question had
shown Ouimet's friends were well in
the minority.
After a spirited debate lasting long
after midnight the delegates. by vote
of so to IL, upheld a report of the
executive committee sharply restricting
the status of an amateur.
The Rule as Amended.
The rule as amended and adopted
makes ineligible as an amateur the
player engaging in any business con-
nected with the game of golf wherein
ones usefulness or profits arise because
of the skill or prominence in the game
of golf
The Interpretation put upon this is
~, r1o G a
players engaged ''in laying out. con-
structing, supervising or giving advice
concerning the lay out. construction or
thereof" commonly known as golf
architects"
"In making the latter change the
committee does not intend to alter the
intent or comprehensivenes of former
ruling No. g." the report stated.
The new wording is used simply for
the purpose of greater clarity and to
avoid any impression that discrimina-
ton is intended between employer and
employe."
Ruling No. had made ineligible
players accepting or holding any posi-
ton as agent or employe that includes
as part of its duties the handling of
golf supplies: or engaging in any busi-
ness wherein ones usefulness or
profits arise because of skill or promi-
nence in the game of golf"
w. M. Noble Makes Plea.
Determined efforts were made by the
Woodland Golf Club to have the dele
gates take some action looking to the
reinstatement of Ouimet. Tewksbury
and Sullivan. W. NJ Noble of the
Woodland club did his utmost to con-
vince the gathering that the three
players had been dealt with unjustly.
Frank L. woodward of Denver. re-
firing president. rose to the defense of
the executive committee in reply to
Mr.. Mobiles allegation that Ouimet.
Tewksbury and Sullivan had been
debarred without having been given a
chance to be heard, and made an i'm
passioned plea for sport for sports
sake and not sport for gain"
Silas II. Strawm of the Old Elm Club,
Chicago. also defended the executive
committee. "All the committee asks"
he said, ''is that there shall be no dis
elimination between the man who sells
golf clubs and the man who lays out
golf course for pay.
Frank NJ. Bowers of New York de-
clared that the defeat of the report
would be the end of a gentleman's
sport in this country
The national amateur championship
tournament for 1917 was awarded to
the national open championship to the
Brae Burn Country Club. West Newton,
Mass, and the national womens cham
rionship to the Shawnee Country Club.
Shawnee on Delaware, Pa.
Fl. w. Perrin Elected President.
The election of officers preceded the
debate oh the amateur rule. F. L.
Woodward retired as president by ex-
pration of his term and Howard w.
Perrin of the Pine Valley Golf Club of
Philadelphia was elected president.
Other officers elected were: Vice presi-
dents. DR.. Walter S. Harlan of the Co
'umbia Country Club, Washington, D.
C.. and NJ. Lewis Crosby of the Coun-
try Club of Brookline. Mass; secretary.
Howard +. Whitney, Nassau Country
Club. New York; treasurer Frederick
S. Wheeler. Apawamis Club. Rye, N. Y;
executive committee. Robert A. Gard
ner. Hinsdale Golf Club, Chicago; Ster-
ling Edmunds. st. Louis Country Club.
ST Louis; Mortimer n. Buckner, Garden
city Golf Club. Garden City, n. Y, and
W X. Stewart. Audubon Golf Club.
New Orleans