The New York herald., 1922-07-12
ANDERSONAPPROVES|
MUDDY BALL RULE
Western Golf Innovation
Proves Big Help on Soft
Sk0kie Links.
BY JOHN G. ANDERSON.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
SKoKIE COUNTRY CLUR, GLENCOE,
ILL.,. July 11.-There are always two
sides to every question despite the
old Scots contention that while he was
open to conviction he would like to see
the man who could convince him. In
golf the old time Scot would not change
any golfng rule In the East we are
glad 60 follow the Scots lead in golfing
procedure OF this sort and for one -ex-
ample play the ball where It lies.
When the golfers in the West made
a rule which permitted the ball to be
cleaned of mud and dropped on the fair
way or placed on the putting green
there was a disturbance In Official cir
cles that the rules were being changed
and not for the betterment of the game
But the Westerners.-~ we must admit,
know their local conditions better than
many others. At st. Louis last year In
the amateur championship rule was
made that mud could be taken off the
ball and at the open championship this
year the same rule was put in force.
There was real need for this wise
provision. for after four hours steady
yielding and the mud was sure to ad-
here TO the ball. The marker was ac-
corded the duty of cleaning and replac-
ing the ball on the green or seeing that
the player In the fairway dropped 1t
properly, and we feel sure that not q
single bit Of advantage was had by one
player over another. In che future, too,
we rather expect that there will be a
better feeling Of cooperation between
the East and the West in the matter OF
new rulings caused by local conditions.
Ryfmors About "Pro" Demands.
Rumors keep flying all around on all
sorts of golfing points, the latest being
that the professionals were going TO de-
mand that fifty per cent. Of the pro-
ceeds taken In by the ". S. @. A. in the
way of entry fees should be handed over
70 the Professional Golfers Association
for it's use.
When this question was put to the
officials of the professional organiza-
ton they were quick to state that this
mattsr had never even been broached
in their organization that the U. s
G.. A. was in full control of all activi-
ties of the open championship and that
they regretted. exceedingly that any
such idle statement should have been
u.
all the more credit that the denial was
made with vehemence and speed. It's
a pity that such reports are spread. for
they do the game no good.
Walter Hagen had gunpowder in his
shoes to-day, which caused him to send
the drives far and straight and his iron
shots to the pin. One thing we have
noticed since he became the British
open champion-he takes about three
times, as long to play shot. The re-
suits are good. but the example Is not
one to be followed by the average player
or there would be no four ball matches
playing around under four hours.
A Lengthy Procedure.
Hagen sizes UP his short approaches
when the ball is to run to the hole by
walking nearly TO the hole, then view
ing the lay Of the land from ten yards
or so in front of the line The long
puts are played the same way. Results
are what count, OF course. but careful
ness can be overdone.
George Duncan sent nervous chlls
down the backs of many OF his adj
mirers when from an average of twenty
feet beginning on the tenth hole he took
three puts on five successive greens.
He did the same thing at Sandwich last
month when he squeezed into the ~ hole
by a single stroke and then came in
with a 50 and a tie for second.
Johnny Farrell of Quaker Ridge, after
missing two foot putt for 2 on the
second hole. breezed away with a 6s and
total of IA for the round. He is a
player who will have to be watched in
the coming championship.
The galleries are large and well be-
haved. From present indications there
will be big crowds on Friday.