Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
IRONS ANTIQUITIES
OUT OF LINKS CODE
Ramsay Has Committee of
U. S. G. A. Settle Games
PerpIexing Points.
BY WALTER r. MccALLUM.


N studded sky is hedged
4 Y about by more conventions.
rules and regulations than
the game Of golf. Disputes over
minor points of golf rules have
arisen so often and have resulted
in so many interpretations of the
rules governing this game and its
code of etiquette that it has come
to be almost automatic that the
rules may be twisted and distorted
to At particular case.
Ruling and interpretations galore fail
utterly to clear up the antiquities re-
vealed in many sections of the rule
book, even though every golfer realizes
that golf is a game of sportsmanship
alone and rule interpretations are and
should be based on the intent of the
rule and not its actual wording.
President Herbert H. Ramsay of the
United States Golf Association realized
as a lawyer that the rules Of golf are
capable Of much distortion and con-
tain many antiquities It has been
his aim ever since he first came into
the councils of the U. S. O. A. to so
clarity the rules as not to permit
antiquities Of meaning and non-literal
interpretations.
It is not surprising, therefore, that
in assuming the chair Of president of
the Nations most powerful golf body,
he makes vigorous attempt to clear
up points in the rules which are
capable of raisinterpretation.
No fewer than IA interpretations and
definitions have been outlined by Presi-
dent Ramsay and the Rules Committee,
to be effective Immediately and to be
printed in the 1881 rule book, which
will relieve doubt in the minds of
many players as to the intent of almost
as many rules.
First Recent Major Revision.
It marks the first attempt in many
years on major scale to revise the
rules Of golf and make them clearly
understandable in specific cases and
the U. s. q. A. has had before it for
several years a completely revised code
OF rules which would permit Of few
neutrality-suspicious..
The first definition is this: ~Grass
covered side walls leading to a bunker
are not part Of the bunker. A ball
lying on these grass side walls does
AAOS A4S AZ Va OOQCk1 q kldZLdIO ana TUG
70 does not apply" Which means that
the hazard or bunker is the area
covered with sand and all outside of
the actual sand-covered area is not
bunker and therefore the club may
be grounded.
But in clarifying rule 81, paragraph
!, the new definition is this: Grass
within the boundaries Of a water
hazard Is part Of the hazard and when
pan lies thereon the club shall not
touch the ground. 1t Is the duty of
local committees to indicate the bound
aries OF water hazards by white stakes
or otherwise" This means. that even
though the ball may lie on grass on
the walls OF water hazard, If it Is
within the limits Of the hazard CASUALLY
DEFINED by clearly cut banks) the club
may not be grounded.
On the important unplayable ball
rue, the definition states that the
player Is the sole judge as to when his
bali Is unplayable. It may be declared
unpIayable at any place on the course
except In water or casual water
Other Definitions.
Other definitions Of ambiguous rules
follow:
Rule 2, paragraph 2-"In anv handi-
cap match the honor is determined hv
the net scores at the preceding hole, .
which Is the reverse Of the usual prof.
cedure.
Rule 4, paragraph Am opponent
a partner or caddie may stand at he
mole and elevate the flag in order Ito
show the location Of the hole"
Rule LIT ball cannot be found
In ground under repair, it must be c1n-
stdered lost ball under rule %.
Dirt may be cleaned from a Rau
lifted from ground under repair. HE
pa1l SO lifted is not in play"
Rule 15-"A practice swing NAV be
taken any place on the course provided
the player does not violate the bro
visions OF rules 10, IS, 81 and k5..
Rule 10 provides that the player NAV
not smooth out irregularities Of Sur
1ace In the practice swing. Rule Is
covers the bending or breaking of any-
thing fixed or growing, which NAV not
be touched in the practice swing to
improve the lie. Rule 81 says that II
the ball lies in long grass, bent. bushes
or the ike, only so much shall be
touched as will enable the PLAYER Ia
nnd his ball. Rule IS covers play in
hazards. and states that the PLAYER
Shau not. do anything to improve the
Rule II, paragraph s-"rhis section
also applies to a ball that has been
SSo~PfS0 oA aA4u ur4Vc1 1nLo the ground
py spectator" It covers a BAH ar
rest being displaced by an agency ont.
SIDE the match, except wind. and toer-
mits the player to drop without pen
a!ty; The same rule applies on the
putting green.
Outside Aid Permissible.
Rule 21--"A person outside the match
may point out the location of the BAN
ior which search is being made. A
DaA given up as lost may not be
played II later found"
Rule ~, paragraph 2-"There Is no
limitation as to the number of strokes
the player may play with a provisional
pan oe1ore arriving at the approximate
locauon OF the ball believed to be lost
Rule 81, paragraph l-"There is no
limitation as to how far behind a
hazard a ball may be dropped
Ru!e 80, paragraph 1.-THE penalty
applies when the flag stick has been
removed by the players side, irrespec-
ave OF whether it be actually held when
struck. 1t also applies when the stick
IS attended, irrespective of whether it
IS actually removed. In match play
there is no penalty for striking the
flag stick when it has not been re-.
moved or is not attended by either
side" This rule says that either side
may have the flag stick removed. and
that If a players ball strikes the stick.
which has been removed by himself.
MS partner or either of their caddies'
MS side shall lose the hole.
Under special rules for match play
a definition is made
which may be Of particular interest at
Chevy Chase, where handicap competi-
lions frequently are held throughout
he season. Rule now states that ssit
s the opinion of the Rules OF Golf
COMMITTEES that where handicap matches
esult in q tie, the tie shall be decided
" another round Of Ii hnlAs