Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

thrice with the old and thrice with the new
ball
Gene Sarazen hit the longest wallop with
the old pellet 253 yards and tied for first place
at 242 yards while using the larger and lighter
ball The average of the best 10 drives of tina
field with the old sphere was 236 yards; with
the new, 231.2 yards.
This test verified results obtained by the
United States Golf Association with specially
constructed driving machines during the five
year period Of experimentation that resulted
In the development of the new standard BAH.
Herbert Jacques, chairman of the q. 8. q. AS
Committee on Implements and the Ball. said
that lost distance is more than made up by
increased efficiency with irons and putters. He
summed up the balls advantages as he saw
them by declaring it is easier to hit, rides
higher out of the rough, is better controlled,
sticks" to the greens and is beautiful" put
ting ball.
Now there you have one side of the picture.
Good arguments, aren't they, that these sup
porters Of the new ball have advanced?
RUT the opposite faction also has seemingly
sound reasons for its dislike Of the larger
and lighter pellet This element is best repre-
champion in 1928, an erstwhile Walker Cup
player and a man who Is regarded as one of
the leading thinkers in the game.
According to Marston, the last United States
amateur championship tournament held at the
Merton Cricket Club. provided proof positive
that leading players are not in favor of the
ball
1.-THE contestants had the privilege Of playing
either the old or the new ball" Marston pointed
out, even though the larger and lighter ball
had not officially arrived at that time. Yet
what did they do? To q man they used the
old ball If any Of them had liked the new one
don't you think they would have used It?
zone result Of the adoption of this larger
and lighter ball is, believe, going to be serious
injury to international golf. Great Britain YOU
know, has definitely rejected the new ball.
doubt II the English ever will adopt it as theiR
standard, primarily because it would be highly
difncult to control under playing conditions
that are encountered abroad. You often have
to play in heavy wind over there, and it's
difncult enough controlling the smaller and
heavier BALL
Canada likewise has refused to adopt the
new standard, following the lead taken by the
Royal and Ancient. This may injure the
Lesley Cup matches, an annual series particle
pated in by amateur teams representing New
York, Massachusetts,, Canada and Pennsylvania.
Another evil in the present situation viii
develop, believe, in the fact that the shorter
distance obtainable with the lighter sphere viii
necessitate expenditure Of many thousands Of
dollars for reconstruction of our golf courses.
I'm late years virtually all the links in tIle
United States have been planned and vamped
so as to take care of the distance which it was
possible to hit the old ball. All hazards were
created with this fact In mind. AS result OF
the decreased yardage that comes from playing
the larger and lighter ball many more shots
a distinctly unfair number of them-will wind
up IN hazards than ever before was the case
"This situation may be remedied by moving
the tees forward. But such reconstruction
work, you must remember, Is extremely costly.
"Yes, firmly believe that the advantages
Iorr,
heavily outweighed By the attendant disad-
vantages."