Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-31
STARTS NEW YEAR WITH FEW
VITAL ISSUES UNDECIDED
United States Golf Association Virtually Definitely Set
ties Amateur Question Stymie Problem
Also Is Disposed Of.

The United States Golf Association
starts the new year with few i'm
portant issues undecided. They have
practically settled the amateur uucs-
/ tioh once and for all, the question
/ of the stymie has also been dis
posed OF. The present day golfer
| ana the governing body will no,
see any change for perhars nfty
years or more as 1t SO happens that
once every sixty or seventy years
the stymic question pops up and
after wranElc lasting for couplc
OF years or so the old stymic. STYLED
as Il nuisance. and "a big factor In
iuck and few other things. Is
placed on the shelf with other relies
OF the royal and ancient pastim..
the stymie, however, will not
down and refuses to be cast aside.
Even those who were instrumental
IN putting the official han on II were
among the first to vote it back into
'"c game II did not tako. another
generation to correct the mistake
The stymic and the amateur oues-
tion are not the only things that
have caused worry to the mowers
that be in golfdom. There Is some
thing else in the wind. 1t is the
general impression among the rank
ana hie of players that the execu-
i've committee acting for the official
body of the U. S. c. A. last sprinr
put their foot into It when thew at
tempted to dispose of tho steel
smart with one fell swoop.
Afraid to Let Go.
Now the IT,. S. c.. A. Is very mucb
IN the position of tho young man
who got hold OF tho bull by the tan
ana was afraid to let go. Tho bIr
angels or powers that he, or wbar-
ever you might want to call them
would like to get out of the mes.
they got themselves into IL thew
could do II gracefully and without
comment
NO sooner had the steel shat, been
narred than it was regretted on all
SIDES Explanations followed hui
'his dld not satisfy the poor golfer
WI" "ished to play with the new
smart yet was afraid to take IN tho
eiun defying tho parent and likely
TO be placed in the position of got
ting good spanking.
There was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., =,
the time. From reports circulated
iar and wide some believed that 4,
Eolfer seen with steady shoftcd
cruz IN his possession would not only
DC prevented from playing the course.
nut would he forcibly elected from
the club and grounds
Nhat the u. =. G.. a. did mean was
tnat golfers playing in tho big cham
p,onships should not play with them
CUBS holding invitation tournaments
were so afraid that the wrath OF the
u. ). G. a. would be brought down
upon their heads that thew insisted
on players entering the tournament
10 abide by the associations rulings.
ihcse rules were not intended to be
ii'ed up to In everyday play or In
anything but tournaments OF which
the United States Golf Association
had complete charge.
Rules Mnde to Brenk.
There are those who never know
how to break a rule and unless n
very old adage is at fault. rules
were made to break. There are a
great number of golfers and clubs
who insist on abiding by the deci-
sions of the u. S. G. a. or the ROYAL
and Ancient Golf Club, whether they
are right or wrong or whether they
understand the ruling or not.
For example: a well known golf
club In the II. s. A. were so afrnId
that they were going to court tho
displeasure OF the powers that be
that they insisted on every shot out
lance. even though the association
recommended that this rule was to
apply. first, to championships, and.
second. only in case II was q natural
out OF bounds and not one whore
the penalty would be severe. It Ravo
each club the right to enforce this
or leave II alone.
| There has always been too much
following in the footsteps OF tho
Royal and Ancient. Golf Is difrorent
In America. and what might appIv
TO Great Britain would be out az
| place over here.
The Royal and Ancient can nsve,
see anything but tho ST. Andrew.s
course In Scotland. 1t was rood in
its day. but now 1t Is a relic OF tho
past and not to be set up as a WORLDS
standard.
They barred tho steel shaft before
giving II . trial. They barred chs
schenectady putter after walter y.
Travis won the British amatsnr
ohampionship. They barred the ,ih.
) Bad eluss and .hoy stand ready 8.
4 =. H F.