New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-12
u. S. G.. A. Committee
Barred Course Architects
at September Meeting

The executive committee Of the
United States Golf Association threw
bombshell into the camp Of the sup
porters Of Francis 0uimet, the de-
barred amateur of the Woodland Coli
Club. yesterday, when it announced that
golf architects who accept cash re-
Enumeration for their services could no
longer compete as amateurs IN any
tournaments sanctioned by the national
association.
The new rule will have faTreaching
effects. the chief of which is to place
Walter J. Travis, the Grand Old Man"
of American golf, three times amateur
champion and once holder Of the Brit
ish title, in the ranks of the profess
SIGNALS. That is what the ruling
amounts to, practically speaking, al
though the L. s. G. A., as though 10
soften the blow, simply declares that IN
cases like those of Ouimet and Travis
the men are barred from competing as
amateurs.
Action Kept Secret
In giving out this information yester-
dav. in conjunction with its annual re-
mort, the executive committee maze Ihe
further surprising announcement thst
the rule barring golf architects had
been passed at a regular meeting OF tne
committee on September last whlle
The amateur championship was being
nIeved on the course Of the Merton
Cricket Club.
Just why the new ruling had not been
made known before, instead OF oelhg
permitted to slumber in the committee
Office. has not been explained, nor ala
anv member of the committee Nouch-
safe any explanation yesterday:
Among those who have been bathing
with the L. s. G.. A. to have Ouimet
restored TO amateur standing, 10"
ever. the opinion prevails that the pc
lated announcement was made for the
purpose of depriving the supporters
of the young Boston golfer OF one oil
their chief arguments.
II has always been claimed IN Oul-
NETS defence that there were more
fragrant offenders against the amateur
rule than he, namely. course archltects'
who were unmolested, and II was TINS
line of argument that was relied upon
bv Ouimet's friends to restore nm
to good standing.
Hard Blow for Ouimet
When the clans gather at the an
nual meeting of the I. ). II. A. at the
Hotel Astor tonight, therefore thee
hackers of the former amateur ana
omen champion will find themselves
without the support of one OF thelr
| chief arguments. If men ike lraVl IS
are barred as amateurs, there VIII DE
more logical reason for putting up the
/ bar, against Ouimet. and the last
minute announcement by the executive
/ committee Of the national body, coming
| as II does on the eve Of the big gath
/ ering of delegates. falls with all the
4 more force upon the friends Of the
Young Woodland golfer.
/ The exact wording OF the rule re
J 0ardinc course architects is as follows:
/ AT the regular meeting of the eX-
! ecutive committee. held at the Merton
Cricket Club September s, 1916. II was
voted 10 amend Section Z OF the bylaws
/ bv striking ont the following words:
'or TO laying out, constructing, super
vising or giving advice concerning the
! LAYOUT. construction or upkeep OF a
/ golf course or any part thereof.
BY this amendment TO Section Z,
! only writers on golf are immune from
the clutches of the L. s. G. A. IN ITS
campaign against so-ealled amateurs.
{ Allowed TO Compete
/ Friends OF Travis regard il as re-
markable that he should have been
I allowed 10 compete in amateur tourna-
ments months after the national ssso-
citation had decided he was a profess
: sional. There are other golfers, al
/ most as prominent as Travis, who VIII
( be affected by the architect rule.
Another change IN the dehnitlon OF
an amateur has been made by the eX-
/ ecutive committee, as the following eN-
tract from the report Will show: AT
The annual meeting OF the association,
held in Chicago. January Il, 1916. the
delegates instructed the executive com
mittee to incorporate among the rul-
inrs under Section Z OF the bylaws
what appears hereunder as Ruling 6.
Some confusion has arisen as TO the
meaning OF the language OF this ruling.
For the purpose. therefore. of making
Ruling No. 8 palmer and more definite,
the executive committee has voted TO
change il so that il will read as FOL
lows:
"Tngaeing IN any business con
1851 With the game Of goH wherein