Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-24
LOEFFLER REVIEWS
SEVERAL SCHEMES
Application of Golden Rule
Would Go Long Way in
Easing Congestion.
BY WALTER r. McCALLUM.


v more crowded as each
year passes, movement
In which Manager S. G. Loefler
has heartily Joined has been mi
tiated to speed up play and pro-
vide more golfers with an oppor-
tunity to play on crowded days.
w E. White, who is connected with
the Bureau of Standards and is a
student of golf and a public course
player, has laid before Loeffler
scheme, or a series Of schemes,
for speeding up play in East Poto-
mac and Rock Creek Parks.
Loeffler has given his consent to use
of any method which might result in
providing comfortable facilities for
Speedier play, not from the standpoint
of the few more tickets which might
be sold, but from the viewpoint of
making golf on the public courses more
comfortable.
The background of the situation on
the public courses on crowded days is
this: From dawn until dusk the three
courses in East Potomac Park and the
two layouts in Rock Greek Park are
damned with golfers seeking an oppor-
on Sundays and before noon on Satur-
days crowds of golfers are at the first
tee at each place, their bags in the
rack to secure starting time. Attempts
are made to start them in foursomes
and to speed up play in various ways,
but on the whole a nine-hole round Of
golf usually consumes two hours.
Short Holes Slow EN-
The average Sunday will find be-
tween HOO and 1000 tickets sold at
East Potomac Park for use on the
three courses there, while at Rock
Greek Park, where there are but two
rine-hole courses, between $50 and $50
tickets are sold each Sunday The
method of starting is not at fault, for
ample time is reserved between each
match to keep continuous stream of
players moving smoothly over the
courses unless some other factor enters
to slow up play. These factors are the
things which cause the disturbances.
Chief among them are the number
of short holes, mainly at Rock Greek
Park lost balls and the unwillingness
of players to wave the match behind
through as soon as the spot where the
ball has been seen to drop is surveyed
and a short search has failed to reveal
the ball.
White has several suggestions TO
speed up play. One of his suggestions
is to take a vote among the public
course golfers to divide themselves into
= two classes as to speed of play, with
the slow players using one course while
the fast players, or those who believe
themselves to be fast players, use the
other course.
Loeffler already has agreed to pro-
vide course inspectors and fore-caddies.
the first to watch at all the congested
spots and warn players that they must
keep their place or drop behind: and
the second located at strategic places
on the courses to spot balls which
might be lost and play thereby be de-
layed. He is willing to spend coEsid-
erably money to speed up play, and
thereby make golf more comfortable
for his patrons But both White and
Ioef1er are convinced that the cure
does not lie in these measures alone.
The lost ball, according to close OBJ
servers OF the play on the public
courses. is the main evil which slows up
play. White suggests that players losing
a ball shall Immediately wave to the
match behind and invite them through.
He gives is seconds as the time for
which ball should be searched before
waving to the match behind TO come
through and in no case should a player
be allowed more than two minutes to
hunt for a ball without motioning the
following match to come through. We
believe If the minute player ascertains
a ball is lost he waved the following
match 10 come through much time
would be saved.
Education Is Remedy.
Since courtesy and consideration for
the other fellow is the underlying idea
behind the amenities which go to make
up an enjoyable game of golf friends
have suggested to Loeffler that he I'M
dertake campaign Of education and
craftsmanship on the public courses TO
convey TO all those who use them that
aside from their own pleasure they
should see 10 1t that others are not held
up. Such methods as barring if an
excessive number Of practice swings,
trying over Of puts. saving of the lost
time because of lost balls and others
have been suggested In the last anal
yS!s the problem is an individual one
and Loeffier is convinced that time
saving rests with the individual himself
The course manager, who has attained
q notable place among public course
superintendent in this country by his
ccnsiderate management Of the public
courses here, is sure that by inviting
all golfers to save time for themselves
and others, such time saving measures
will rebound TO the benefit Of all SO
4lE - pidnillliB W lIlaAB VI dLE a CdII-
paign Of education for those who do not
know the ordinary rules of golf course
courtesy and TO suggest to those who do
know that they treat their fellow golfers
with little more consideration.
The problem is a serious one, Loeffier
admits, but he Is equally sure that By
the cooperation Of all it can be solved,
and more people may be given the OPP
portunity TO play golf than has hitherto
been the case-sinply by the applica-
ton OF the golden rule and little
common sense.