The New York herald., 1921-04-10
Golf Rules.
st. Andrews as the Final Authority
on the Royal and Ancient Game.

TO THE NEW YORK HERALD: The let
ter entitled Uniform Golf Rules" calls
for an authoritative replyW one which
will endeavor to dispel current mis-
conception regarding the rules Of golf
as established by the Royal and Ancient
Golf Club Of st. Andrews, and in
lesser degree those adopted by the United
States Golf Association.
Mr.. Bowles says in his letter: "Mr.
Lincoln's letter is refreshing after being
told all these years that we must blindly
follow st. Andrews"
Told by whom? AS member Of the
say that the Royal and 'Ancient has
never made statement Of that charac-
ter nor even implied anything Of the
kind. st. Andrews. when approached
in the past. usually by English clubs.
in effect has simply replied: For GEN.
turtles we have played a game in Scot
land called golf, which our forebears
have handed down to US, and we have
been taught it along with our education
and our manners from childhood. 1t has
pleased us that England. and later Amer
lea. adopted the game with enthusiasm.
and that to-day in almost every part
Of the world there is golf course. How
ever 1t Is not our desire to dictate to
any one. When asked we are happy to
tell those in other countries who are
interested what the rules of golf are
as played here in Scotland"
Now clubs or associations that care
TO play a game similar to golf must
not blame st. Andrews for any Bolshe-
vik game they wish to adopt. st. An
drews is simply and honestly sorry that
all others cannot understand the
charm. the nobility Of the game. as it
is known in Scotland. There is no rea-
son why one should not eat with ones
knife. but it isn't done in polite society.
Such an operation may wound our
susceptibilities. but why object? Hap
piness is all that counts. So why should
not clubs or associations abolish sty-
mics. abolish bunkers. make the hole six,
eight or ten inches in diameter. or do
anything else IL 1t makes their COM
munity happy or pleases them? But
don't blame st. Andrews for the schism
or criticise ST. Andrews for playing a
Scottish game in the spirit embodied in
its ancient and honorable traditions.
/ was partially instrumental in organ
izing the United States Golf Association
in the fall of 1894. ] believed, with
my fellow officers, that Anglo-Saxon
Americans desire to play the royal and
ancient game of golf. Drawing up the
n Il
imously the following bylaw:
Section 12-The competition shall be
played in accordance with the rules OF
golf as adopted by the Royal and Ancient
Golf Club of st. Andrews. Scotland. with
such special rules as are in force and
published the green over which the
competition takes place. and with such
notifications as the executive committee
may from time to time adopt.
1t was with this understanding that
the United States Golf Association was
formed and Theodore A. Havemeyer pre-
sented the amateur championship cup.
Mr. Lincoln and Mr.. Bowles are mis-
informed II they think ''Englishmen''---
why not Scotchmen Twill never be
happy without the large floating ball"
lne lolioWinS - an extract from thc
minutes OF a meeting of the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club last September
| !. That on and after 1st May. 1921, the
| weight OF the ball shall not be greater
| than 1.G2 ounces and the sizc not less
| than 1.62 inches in diameter. The Rules
| OF Golf Committee and the executive COM
mittee OF the United States Golf Associa-
ton win take whatever steps they think
necessary TO limit the power Of the ball
| with regard TO distance should any ball
Of greater power be introduced, and that
the rules OF golf be amended accordingly.
This dictum will be followed by all
golfers in Great Britain. and 1 believe
by all Americans loyal TO the United
States Golf Association and the royal
and ancient game.
CHARLES y. MACDONALD.