The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-06-13
U. S. G.. A. Realizes That
It Pulled a Boner and
Waiting to get out
Gracefully.

moi since the famous Francis
OSuimet oase has there been as much
controversy concerning a ruling of
the United State Golf Association as
the barring Of the steel shafted golf
clubs has created. The Ouimet case
and the steel shafts are similar in
some respects.
When Ouirnet was barred from
amateur competition by the United
States Golf Association, on the
ground that h was engaged in the
sale of golf supplies. the Western
GOLF Association Immediately an
nounced Oudrnet had not lost his
rating as an amateur in their asso-
citation and invited the popular Bos-
tonian to participate In its amateur
Championship. He did. and won the
Western titla-
No sooner had the United States
Golf Association issued an edict. or
rather an Interpretation OF its rules.
20 the effect that steel shafted golf
clubs could not be used in tourna-
ments under the jurisdiction of the
association. then the Western As
ISOLATION. after giving the manu-
fact1rers Of these clubs tho court
esy Of a test announced 1t could
ind nothing illegal or mechanical
In the steel shafts. and declared
that they could be used in tourna-
ments of that association
The Western Golf Association is
a u more American institution
thar the United States Golf Associ-
atdon. In that It is not under the
baneful influence Of the Royal and
Ancient of St Andrews, the organt-
zation which rules British golf, and
which the United States Golf Asso-
citation follows. almost blindly.
The United States association be-
lieves that it would be a fne thing
II the rules OF golf could be uniform
In America and Great Britain, the
two foremost s-olfng nations. but in
attempting to bring about such a
situation, has completely forgotten
that America Is separated from Bril-
tain by a wide ocean. that condi-
tons on the sic are different from
those In America and that the
American golfng public desires
rules and regulations most suited
TO the game in America even II they
are at some variance with those
presEnabed for competition in Great
Britain
The great growth OF golf In
America. and the repeated demands
that the United States Association
give more consideration to needs
of players in this land. and less to
the desires OF Britain. has caused
those who sit In power to reflect
and eve now. an arissary Of the
United States Association is In
Great Britain, and many report that
his mission will be to inform the
severe gentlemen Of the Royal and
Ancient, that b constituency oil
the United States Association is un.
easy. and rebellious. and that the
Royal and Ancient must take cog
nizance of the demands Of the great
American goldng public. OIL the eff
fort to have Uniform rules may be
futile.
The situation IN regard to the
steel shafts is peculiar. According
60 James D Standfsh. Jr., or De-
troit, an active young man, who is
a member OF the executive commit
tee. the United States Association
has not barred the steel shafted
clubs and Is eager to have players
give them a trial; but according to
an Interpretation Of the rules OF
golf. the United States Association
cannot. at this time, sanction the
use Of III steel shafted clubs in the
three national championships under
its Jurisdiction, the open. the anna
teur and the woman's.
Sectional and state associations
and clubs may make their own rul-
ing on steel shafts, The Western
Association already has taken Off.
cial action favoring these clubs, and
the United States Association may
be expected to do SO later. Having
% announced an Interpretation CON
corning the steel shafts in March
the officers of the United State;
Golf Association do not wish to ap-
pear ridiculous by Immediately re
versing themselves; so at the May