Evening star., 1939-02-19
New YardstickCu
Measuring Scores
| 10 4 Strokes
ToIIy Change Effective
For D. G. Linkswomen
Late in April

TOR y. -. lInkSWOmen
Late in April
BY WALTER McCALLUM.
H@adicaps of the 50O-odd players
on the rolls of the Women's District
Of Columbia Golf Association are
due for big boost as women's par
figures on the several country club
courses around Washington are
being cut to conform with the new
par-yardage regulations of the
United States Golf Association.
Chairmen of women's golf COM
mittees now are preparing to make
their reports to Mrs. v. A. Welte,
new handicap chairman of the
women's association, prior to a
meeting of the feminine golfers the
first week in March. But in the
cases of many of the clubs. reports
already have been made by the club
professionals. All show reductions
in the women's par and conse-
quently will mean a boost in handi-
caps.
The par reductions, and the en-
suing handicap increases range
from one to four strokes. with the
minimum change coming at Chevy
Chase, and the maximum at Co.
lumbia and Manor.
All handicaps must be changed by
April 20, which is the approximate
date of the first tournament for the
women golfers of the city and be-
fore that time they must turn in
Ave score cards based on the new
par-yardage requirements.
Changes at Courses.
Here Is the way the women's par
changes will come at eight OF the
major courses around Washington
Chevy Chase, reduction from 78
to II and possibly rs.
Columbia, reduction from II to
IS and from the white tees (the
women's markers) to 70, based
strictly on yardage
Washington, reduction from 70
to IS.
Indian Spring, reduction from
the present par of rs to IS and
possibly "a.
Kenwood, reduction from rs
to 70.
Manor, reduction from n to IA.
Congressional, a reduction from
IS to rs.
Army Navy, a reduction from IS
to 70.
Handicaps of the feminine golfers
Of the town are based, like those
of the men, against par figure
which is based on yardage. A few
weeks ago the United States Golf
Association, viewing the upturn in
feminine golf scoring and the in
creased distance the topnotchers Of
the fair sex are getting with all
shots, announced a new basis of
rating par by increasing the par
yardage distance.
Basis of New Par.
Roughly, par-3 holes were stepped
up in distance from 200 to 210
yards; par-4 holes were stepped up
from a 375-yard limit to 400 yards;
par IS from 376 to 40l with
maximum of $50 yards. and par-6
holes will be those of 576 yards
and over. For weeks the heads of
women's committees have been
scurrying around trying to arrive
at the new par-yardage figures,
anticipating early opening of the
competitive golf season around
Washington this year. The fact
that the first tourney OF the year
comes along in April doesn't make
it any easier for them.
Several years back Betty Meek
ley, perennial championship winner
around the Capital, breathed a
true word "Why do We try to get
our handicaps down so low?" said
experienced Betty. I'VE can't play
up to these low handicaps and in
competition with women from other
cities who have higher handicaps
1t works against U.S." Betty won't
have to say it again, for all handi-
caps of the feminine golfers will
be revised upward. Her own handi-
cap, now standing at 2 strokes, will
be showed up to 3 or more.
All Handicaps Go Up.
Reason for the big change at
Columbia is that several of the
holes are on the border line of the
yardage requirements, depending
on where the tee markers are placed.
From the blue tees, which generally
are used in tournaments and will
be used in the District women's
championship starting June 10, the
new par will be IS, resulting in an
increase of two strokes all along
the line in the handicaps of the
Columbia women.
But suppose they insist they
should be handicapped from the
white tees, which they ordinarily
used? In that case the women's
par will drop to 70, says Fred Nc
Leod, the veteran club professional.
Take the case of Manor, where
also there are two or three holes
on the border line in yardage. Pro-
fessional. AL Treder says the new
women's par will be 36-38-74.
where 1t has been for years fixed
at II. The 18th hole will become
q par 4 affair and two more holes
are on the border line. The 18th
measures 403 yards, but can be made
400 yards In length.
All in all, it's quite a problem
the women have before them this
spring. But there's one happy side
to the picture. All of them will
have their handicaps revised up
ward, even the Meckleys and the
Marion Browns and the Helen Dett-
weilers.
n1L. ILL