Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
ST. ANDREWS CLUB
DEBATING REFORMS
British SoIons Considering
Bigger, Lighter Ball and
May 0. K. Steel Shafts.
BY FRANK II. KING,
Associated Press Stan Writer,

ut. ANDREWS. Scotland, Septem-
Der 22-After next week they
may have to call 1t the Royal
~ Modern instead of the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club.
The solons of British golf gathered in
the old gray city for the annual meet
ing Of the governing body OF the game
are about TO sit in legislative session on
revolutionary issues concerned with the
problem, world wide In its ranifications,
of getting the little white ball into the
cup in the tewest number of strokes.
Americans may have answered to
their own satisfaction most OF the prob
lens before the st. Andrews sages-
whether to have q bigger and perhaps
better ball. whether to permit steel
skafted clubs, whether to institute
qualifying rounds for the amateur cham
pionship and 36-hole matches there
after and what and when Is an amateur
But the Royal and Ancient IN the
past has stood as solid against innova-
tions as the sea rocks hard by the st.
Andrews clubhouse. When 1t comes to
innovations the "R. and A" Is as un-
changing as the tides that roll on the
white beach near the new course
new" but older as golflng ground
than any layout in the United States.
Tradition Rules st. Andrews.
Tradition has ruled st. Andrews for
generations. In Scotland golf mas oeen
as unchanging as the Constltutlon-
the American Constitution, not the
British-but this year there are signs
that subversive propaganda, fostered by
American agents, some say, mas been AT
work. and changes that will shake the
British game to its depths are expected
to be announced.
The first concerns the golf ball itself.
The ROYAL and Ancient Club Wall act on
a nronosal to adopt new ball to super
Sede the present one on January l,
1890. and Is expected to act favorably
This despite a howl OF protest from
British golf experts, who, bowling 1or
the rank and file Of golf-the very rank,
in fact the dubs, buffers and IL hanoi.
cappers, accuse the Royal ana Ancient
of betraying British golf into the hanos
of America.
They saw this new" ball Is the ball
America has been trying to foist on the
old country for several years.
AS every one knows or perhaps hasn't
been troubled, the dimensions OF the
present golf ball, before 1t has been
battered about by the average player,
are 1852 inches in diameter, and 1852
ounces in weight The new ball Is to
be larger, 1853 inches in diameter, and
lighter, 1S5 ounces.
May Lift Steel Shaft Ban.
After the golf ball comes the ques-
ton of the steel-shafted club, outlawed
in British championships, and therefore
bad form" in all competitive compe-
tition, even to putting match.
lie
larly against the steel shaft, in fact
might be expected to be enthusiastic
about this tool, for the finest OF steel
is made in this country, while all hick-
DRY is imported from America. And
the hickory shafts, while more expen-
Sive, aren't as good as they used to be-
Save the fine hickory for the golf
ing virtuoso, the Bobby Joneses," Jack
White, who makes many clubs for the
American champion, told the writer,
"let all the others use all the steel they
want"
The ban of the steel shaft may be
removed at st. Andrews the coming
week
Then come questions about amateur
ism, upon which no one in all the wide
GENTS ability to act wisely and with
the best interests of the game always
at heart
Finally, that subject of widespread
concern, not to say alarm, in this coun-
try, particularly since the debacle of
the British Walker Cup attacking force
in Chicago, what Is the matter with
British golf?"
Cyril Tolley, former, indeed very for
mer, British amateur champion The
hasn't done much since he won in
1920, declared In detail and with en-
phasis in the public prints that the old
fogies of the Royal and Ancient who
govern the game in this country are
mainly what's the matter with British
golf, with a secondary ailment of 18-
hole matches instead of the double dis
lance IN major competitions.
Without perceptible loss of an iota
of dignity. but nevertheless somewhat
in despair and no doubt little hurt
by criticism from such a callow youth,
the venerable golf surgeons of the Royal
and Ancient are in the mood for kill
or-cure remedy. They are believed to
favor any sort of matches to restore
British golf to its former high prestige
If they approve qualifying rounds for
the amateur championship and pre-.
scribe 36-hole doses for the survivors,
then it will be up to the likes of Mr..
TOllev