The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-01
WAR STARTS FOR
LINKSSUPREMACY
Director of Western Body Rec
ommends Change of Name to
American Golf Association.

CHICAGO, Nov. So.--A war for suprem-
aoy in the control OF golf in America is
promised by the proposal sent out to-day
lby the directors Of the Western Golf
Association for the adoption of a new
constitution and bylaws at the coming
meeting on January Is. changing the
name to the American Golf Association
TO act as the authoritative administra-
tive body for making and enforcing the
rules FOR the playing of golf in the
United States"
Heretofore the Western association
has limited it's membership TO clubs west
of line Just east of Pittsburg. Buffalo
and Atlanta. but the new constitution
provides for invasion OF the East. which
has been solely under the United States
Golf Association recognized as the au-
thoi'ity in American golf. The Western
Organization has grown to include nearly
900 clubs as members, while the u. S
G.. A. has nearly 400 members. OF which
about fourth are active and voting.
OF these active members nearly fifty are
in Western association territory but
leaders in the Western association have
frequently charged that the United
States Golf Association Is largely con-
troled In the East
There have been covert threats of
golf war for several years, and one was
on the verge OF breaking out when the
world war came on and stopped it. With
golf back to peace time basis. the
directors OF the Western association say
they are now ready to 90 ahead with a
new national body which, rs described in
the constitution submitted for approval.
would make and enforce the rules for
the Government and regulation of the
game and act as the final authority in
the determination of all matters per-
taniinS to the game of golf"
Ore of the main objects of the new
organization. If approved, according to
the notice sent out by the board Of di-
rectors, would be the Americanization
of the rules. which are at present they
assert. conflicting unwie'dy and often
not practical for American links which
do not possess some of the character
istics Of Scotch and British courses. for
VIII CHI the laws of the game were pri-
marily framed
The recommendation OF the directors
in this regard says: THE directors Of
the Western Golf Association. believing
there should exist a real national golf
association TO promote the best interests
of the game for Amer can golfers. ire
spective OF foreign bodies which govern
the playing of the game under condi-
tons different from those existing in
this country, and recognizing the need
OF truly democratic Amer can oreani-
zation recommend the adoption Of the
new constitution and the changing Of the
name of this association to that Of the
American Golf Association"
The proposed constitution also pro-
vides for the appo' ntment Of a rules
committee Of five members from five
different states. ito be selected for
their knowledge Of golf" to prepare and
submit a code of rules Suitable to meet
the conditions and needs of the game in
the United States" 1t is also provided
that ION all questions Of the interpre-
tations of the rules the committee shall
be the final authority
An innovato on In tho selection of
championship courses is also proposed
for the staging of American amateur
championships, the women's American
champ onship' open 10 any amateur
member of club in this association and
to any player who has been invited to
complete, and the American open cham
pionship. open TO the world.
The courses for such tcuTr amerts are
TO be selected by n committee in different
sections OF the country "in proper rela-
tive proport on to the number of gof
plgyers contiguous thereto" These
courses are to stage all championship
meets in rotation, so that no club viii
be called on ofSner than orcc in FIVE
years. No club would be required to
give its course without three years no
lice Other championship courses could
DC added from Gme to time by the com
nittee.
In making public the proposal for tn
new golf association Crafts w. Higgins
assistant secretary. said American golf
ers had been muzzled both by tradition
and the oligarchical methods OF govern
ment. No other sport could exist under
such conditions. submitting 70 the dicta-
tfoY1 of the few