Evening star., 1924-01-02

What the rank and file of players
the country over are interested in is
the action of the parent body on four
major topics just now teeming with
interest in the minds of golfers.
These are in the order of their i'm
portance: The steel shafted golf club :;
reduction of the penalty for an out
of-bounds ball from stroke and dis
tance to just distance; Standardization
of the ball and the ever-present
,stymie.
On the latter two points the as
sociation probably will take no ac-
tion, Notwithstanding an ever-press-
ing demand, recurring from year to
year, particularly in regard to the
stymie. that 1t be eliminated or its
practical elimination be brought about
by rule that permits the player of
the nearer bell to lift. On the other
two points some legislation is prom
tSed
Steel Shaft Is Favored.
- The wise and far-seeng heads Of
golf in this country, influenced in
major degree by the wishes of their
Constituents" the rank and file of
Ihs dyet Of e eues Wha hans
made possible the amazing spread of
the game-are slated to officially
1egislate the steel shaft into competi-
rion. That they also are influenced
by the increasing absence of suitable
hickory shafts and a growing impress
sion that the steel shaft does not add
an undesirable factor from either the
standpoint of length or of accuracy,
and that it does introduce the element
of Standardization. is not to be
doubted. So it appears from all
outward angles that the 1924 season
will see the steel shaft accepted in
good standing among the elite and
golfers. It's advantages are many,
its disadvantages few, and any talk
ing points against 1t can be disproved
by it's record. But one great factor
adoption-the time -honored tradition
that a golf club shall be hand-con
structed affair, made from wood, and
not manufactured, fabricated affair
made by more modern processes.
Anent Size of the Ball.
Standardization of the golf ball. en-
bracing an increase in size and a de-
upon the governing body of golf. AL
though these changes must be brought
about, in the opinion of J. F. Byers of
Pittsburgh, retiring president of the
association, in order to prevent the
totally unnecessary expenditure of an
aggregate of millions of dollars an
nually to meet the distance obtained
by the new balls brought out each
year by the manufacturers, 1t is
doubtful if any action will be taken.
Byers touched upon this matter at
Chicago when he presented the prizes
to the winners in the amateur cham
pionship. concensus among lead
ing players appears to be that the
best interests of the game itself and
of all classes of players will be served
by making the ball lighter and it's
size larger. Better lies will be OBJ
tanned by a. larger ball. although its
flight when hit hard may not be so
long, due to it's size, and particularly
in wind, due to its weight. Ad-
vance announcements. however. are
that no change will be made In the
ball this year.
AS to out-of-Bounds.
Alan d. Wilson of Merton, Pa,
home. of amateur champion Max
Marston, is prepared to submit a pro-
posal to bring back the out-of-
bounds penalty to loss of distance
only, as it was until two years ago.
Mr.. Wilson was instrumental in hav-
ing the association adopt a ground
rule putting this into effect at the
amateur championship, particularly
after seeing Mike Brady take IL on
a par hole at Inwood a few months
of ST. Paul roll up total of 8 on a
par 4 hole at the same course
through a combination of narrow
fairways and shots just a little off
are punished SO severely, argues Will
son, what must be the mental an
guish of the 100 shooter who is PEN
allied stroke and distance, or mat
ter of two strokes to all intents and
purposes for ball just little off
the line? To the mediocre player
who Is striving with might and
main to get below the century mark,
this extra stroke means just as much
as it does to the pros who are shoot
ing for a money prize, or the crack
amateurs who play for the glory"
of the game.
So without doubt, the 1924 meet
ing of the United States Golf Asso-
citation will result in some much
needed legislation to benefit the rank
and file of golfers in this country
That more legislation is needed is
not doubted, but that the action
shortly to be taken will lead to
better game and possibly other I'M
proyements later on is apparent.