Evening star., 1932-01-11
NOTWITHSTANDING the fact
\ that the business of the meet
v ing took only a bare 80 min

v ing took only a bare 80 min
utes the annual meeting OF the
United States Golf Association man
aged in those brief moments to cram IN
several matters that will aid golf in
1882. Not the least of the important
matters decided was the elimination OF
the 3s-hole play-off for ties for first
place in the national open champion
ship, which presumably would do away
with such marathon affairs as the con-
test staged last July between Billy
Burke and George Won Elm, when they
tied at tie end of the 72-hole distance,
tied again in a 36-hole play-of. and
then, after playing LA holes, Burke won
by single stroke. Critics OF the So
hole play-off declared that had an IL
hole play-of been set, Burke would
have won just the same, as he had
l-stroke lead at the end OF the flrst
round of the first play-off.
The U. S. G. A., taking cognizance OF
certain inequalities in the sectional
qualification round system, declared
that, although the sectional system itself
meets all requirements, the basis of allo-
eating places to the 20 districts through
out the country must be changed TO
eliminate the possibility Of non-qualifl-
cation of prominent competitors in the
two major championships In districts
which have a number of strong golfers
and vet have too few places allocated to
them. This grew out Of the non-qualifi-
cation of Don Moe in the Pacific North
west last year, when Moe, member OF
the 1880 Walker Cup team and admit
tedly one of the finest amateurs in the
world failed to qualify in a district
crowded with strong players, but
awarded only two qualification places
The U. S. G. A. made the following de-
cision to cover these cases: the basis
of allocatng places to each qualifying
district mathematically, as heretofore,
will be followed in principle. The COM
nittee will reserve the right, however,
to vary the ALLEGATION in every district,
based upon the entries and the playing
strength of the district"
n OBERT MCLEAN, president of the
II Maryland State Golf Association,
presented the name of the Chevy
Chase Club as a candidate for the
sectional qualification rounds In the
Middle Atlantic section. The District
Golf Association already has submitted
a bid for the sectional qualification
rounds in favor Of the Columbia Country
Club, but there will be no conflict on
this matter. The District association
wants the sectional rounds for both the
open and amateur championships in
this section of the country held near
Washington and put in the name OF
Columbia to have something concrete
before the national body. The District
association is understood to feel that
either Columbia or Chevy Chase would
be satisfactory for the sectional rounds
for the amateur championship. Mean
while the District association has also
submitted bid for the open cham
pionship sectional rounds, naming two
other local courses over which the
qualification rounds can be played.
QUALIFICATION rounds for both
" the amateur and open champion
ships in the Middle Atlantic sec
tor were held at Richmond last year.
The decision as to the venue of the
sectional rounds rests with the Cham
pionship Committee, which will an
nounce its selection of courses and
cities In about two months. The regu-
lar ticket of officers submitted several
months ago by the Nominating Com
mittee went through without hitch,
with Herbert II. Ramsay to serve an
other year as president of the United
States Golf Association. Reelection of
Ramsay promises another year Of the
forward looking policies which have
been his over the last four years, during
which time he has been virtually at the
helm of the national body.
The practice of seeding players in
the draw for the amateur champion
ship will be abandoned this year,
another move which will meet with
popular approval. Some years ago Wal
ter Hagen made the remark that he
could stop at any crossroads town in
America and find real contest. The
same thing is true in amateur golf, for
the past three amateur championships
have found the seeded players vanishing
quickly in defeat before the unseeded
stars. So this year the draw will be
but there will be no seeded
players. The seeding system has been
obsolete for some years, for the differ
ence in skill between the unseeded and
seeded players is SO small as to be in
visible to the naked eye. For example,
after the second round In last years
amateur championship there were only