Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-11
SIZE OF GOLF
BALL TAKEN UP
American and English Golf
ers Give Views; Handi-
caps Decided On.

London. Feb. 21.-(MaiD-In the
Of recent newspaper discussions
by English golfers on the wisdom of
players in the United States abolish
ing the stymie, the press is now pub
fishing contributed letters on the ad-
visibility of the ball favored as
standard" by American devotees OF
the game.
Standardization was decided upon
at a meeting here last year of the
rules committee of the Royal and
Ancient Club Of St. Andrews with
delegates from the United States and
Western Golf associations. 1t was
voted that. beginning May 1. 1921. a
ball used in a tournament play must
have a diameter of less than 1852
inches.
The effect of the ruling was to re-
tain the size Of the small, heavy ball
popular in England. but to reduce
the weight slightly. 1t rendered what
is known in the United States as the
go" eligible to competition but barred
the 31-pennyweights ball used in
England. English players had used
nothing between the 20 and 31-penny-
weights balls in their home play.
Duncan, of Hangar Hin. British
open champion, records his satisfac-
tion with the lighter ball and pre-
diets better championship figures as
a result.
II am glad that the ball is to be
lighter" writes Duncan. "as the game
will be easier to play for every one.
in that the 'all-air-route'-the cor
rect way to the green-will not be 30
difficult as with the heavy ball. I
will risk a prophecy and Va that the
oh u m nil cAir f;~,-1~ ~F 1901 ~.:OI ~
better h those of 1920, or of any
previous year. Not because the ball
will go farther than it did, but for
the reason that the lighter ball will
be much more easily controlled"
The title-holder commends the at
titude held by the Americans at last
years rules conference, when his sug-
gestion for Standardization Of the
present "29" was being considered.
The Royal and Ancient club took
the matter up" he writes. "and de-
in size and weight for the champion
ship. but to apply it to the game gen.
orally. A committee was appointed.
n they decided upon a ~floater, a
very useful ball for a player of more
than mature age. Fortunately for the
/ game. America had to be consulted
on that matter. and her delegates
rightly stood out for legislation for
the coming generation of golfers.
America won on a common sense ar
gument which was that her then open
champion and her amateur champion
knew nothing about a flOater, owing
to the fact that Americas best golf
ers had learned their golf since the
advent of the modern BALL" D.
Duncan expressed a conviction that
the popular ball of the future Will
be as near as possible to that known
in England as the "29," which is
slightly lighter than the present stand
ard.
Fix Handicaps.
The championship committee OF
the Royal and Ancient Golf club, st.
! Andrews, having decided that all
handicaps in the United Kingdom
should be put on a uniform basis. Ii
the subject. The r. and A. point,
out that. in order to arrive at uni.
formity.
l.. All sympathetic handicappins
should be discontinued.
q. A scratch score for all course.
should be fixed by the championship
committee.
3. The handicaps Of all player.
should be arrived at from this scratch
score.
BY sympathetic handicapping i.
meant the custom Of leaving a player
! at his old handicap, although his pla,
has ceased to justify it, rather thar
hurt his feelings. This, though q nat
ural thing to do, makes any reIiabl.
system impossible. :.
As regards the second and thirt
proposals, he championship commit
tee considers ca that the scratch
score of a course is the only SOUND
basis of handicapping; (b) that Thu
scratch score should be founded OF
the pa. score Of the course: (c) tina
In ordeE to obtain uniformity the pa
and scratch scores should be fixed ii
each case by a member or representa-,
tive of the championship committee
Any such representative would, Of
our rely to a considerable extern
i On &kA adMo> ak Aa.