The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-06-27
|AMF R|CAN GOLFERS REACHING
NEW ERA IN CAME SANE CODE
ay EANCIS OUIMET

full era in golf when the same code
will govern all play and the important
title events will be staged in the
same manner. This Is all due TO the
growing tendency toward international
competition, especially between the
American and British players.
While the average golfer is little
concerned with this trend from
playing standpoint, it does concern
him In the matter Of a better under
standing OF the incidents in connec-
ton with international matches when
the scene is not on links OF his own
nation For example, when an Amerl'
can amateur team visits the British
Isles, or a British team our own land,
il Is difficult for one who Is at home
to thoroughly understand the dlffer'
ence in play and just what Il handl-
cap il really is. Then, there Is the
matter of the rules governing PLAY,
They have always differed bit in
the past An international competitor
tends to magnify the effect of such
things on his game.
Last year. when we went to Hoy
lake with The American amateur team,
we distinctly recall with what Joy the
announcement was received that an
cut of bounds ball would be penalized
but one stroke. think that explains
This roint. While it Is so that the
double penalty would have been equal
IL fair, nevertheless we liked the old
and familiar one.
British Amateur Now Big Problem
The British Amateur was great
problem this year. 1t drew golfers by
the hundreds and the methad used,
eliminating them by eighteen hole
match play. no longer sufficed to
handle the larger field. 1t became n
colf Marathan, most exhausling TO
some OF the better players. II was
such a long drawn out battle that the
cream of British golfers, len like
Wethered Hunter and Toliey, were
unable to hold the pace that other
wise carries a star 10 the finals. Now,
that they are the cream, we will see
when the British amateur team visits
us late this summer. for surely these
men will be listed AS their stars. All
Of which is fairly goo proof that the
conditions under which a British
Amateur is played are not just what
they might be.
AS matters are now drifting, the
outcome Of this lack OF common code
and a like method OF ploying a title
event will be the adoption OF a uni
form set of rules, almost Identical
with the present code laid down by
the ROYAL and Ancient st. Andrews,
and a general adoption OF our method
of playing an Amateur-a qualllyln9
round TO cut down the field and then
match play of thirty-six holes by the
survivors. These moves at'the latest,
will he made in 1924, if not for the
next playing season. The demand Tor
them Is so great they cannot longer
be- delayed.
Strange as Il may seem, the pest OF
the British amateurs are keen TOT our
methad or funning this championship
They realize it is the right and proper
way for clearing the field for the best
golfers TO have it out in the more
equitable test, that OF thirty-six noies'
Statistics Are Wrong
Some fine statistics have been got
ten I'D showing that few men, down AT
the end of eighteen holes in thirty
six hole match, emerge winners.
This has been offered as conclusive
proof that an eighteen hole journey
will decide who IS better goHer
when two men meet. But the trouble
with such figures is that they 90 not
include the mental state or this or
that contest. It is a far different en-
periepce 10 be a hole or two down IN
an eighteen hole match than IN one
of the double distance. decldely So
In the former you begin to worry, as
Won realize that anything but perfect
golf means your downfall Now when
this situation arises in so important
an event as a British Amateur, IN pre-
paring for which you have gwen all
YOUR time and thought for month, II
YOU happen 10 be foreign entry .Ine
weight is rather heavy.
am one who believes in the longer
route as the better test OF golf. IN
such a match you have time 10 correct
faults or to square the rubs OF the
green. One star player told me OF
his experience in a match of this KIND
in our recent championship. He was
thoroughly beanten in the morning
round, to the surprise OF all, althoueh
his opponent was going great. For
scme reason he could not get his game
working. At lunch he discovered the
cause. II was rather amusing. HIS
aid unconsciously talked
him out Of II, so 10 speak. Ihat
afternoon his class stood out and be
pulled the match out of the fire. Had
that ben in a British Amateur the
weaker player would have won.
| think practically all OF the Amer
cans who have taken a fling at the
British Amateur, feel much the same
way about it, and know. from many
with the British, tina;
they do. TOO.
So. as both nations have much 20
gain and nothing TO lose by uniform
code and a like method Of conducting
their title events. there Is no longer
anv difficulty in the way OF bringing
about this more perfect state of COLI.
One can then look forward with far
greater pleasure to matching strokes
with the stars Of another land on their