Evening star., 1940-02-14
Ban on Seraping Green Tops Golf Code Changes
18Th Birthday Fixed
As Limit 10 Regain
Amateur Status
Public Links to Open
This Week Unless
1t Ruins Heavily
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

BY WALTER McCALLUM.
-Four important changes in the
rules of golf are featured in the 1910
oficial booklet carrying the revised
rules of the game, sent out today by
the United States Golf Association.
The changes are: Definition of the
distance the lining of the cup must
be sunk below the surface of the
putting green; barring the scraping
of the putting green surface with a
club or otherwise, under penalty of
loss of the hole in match play, and
two strokes in medal play; uni
formly fixing the 18th birthday as
the time limit for excusing prior
violations of the amateur definition,
and by providing that one who be-
comes automatically reinstated to
amateur status prior to his 18th
birthday may not again be rein
stated; clarification of the direc-
tions for computing par by direct
ing that each hole should be meas
ured from the middle of the tee to
the center of the green following
the general plan of the hole" This
last point is important in that the
hole is not to be measured in air.
line distance, but will follow the
conflguration of the ground.
May Add Color to Cup.
Included in the first change tthe
one defining the lining of the cup),
which must be sunk an inch below
the green, is a statement that the
lining must be of metal "but may
be of any color which opens up
some interesting possibilities. Black
soil against green background does
not give much contrast. But
yellow strip painted on the inside
rim of the metal lining would bring
out the cup so that not even half
blind golfer could say the visual
picture of the cup blends into the
surrounding grass.
It may not be long before metal
Innings may be painted yellow. Some
years back an enterprising manu-
facturer brought out white paper
rims which we're placed inside the
cups These cannot be legally used,
but there isn't any bar to painting
the metal rims.
From the viewpoint of the players
the most important change is the
one legislating against scraping the
surface of the putting green. For
years that has been done on South
ern courses with their "grainy'
surfaces, in an attempt to determine
the way the grass grain lies. 1t
cannot now be legally done
Golfers Eager for Action.
Unless bad weather again inter-
venes the public golf courses in
Potomac Park, Rock Greek Park
and Anacostia Park will be opened
for play in a few days. All Of them
are playable now, if you don't care
labout getting muddy feet. The
management at East Potomac Park,
center of the Leoffler enterprises,
announced today that unless
heavy rain comes along all the
courses will be open by the week
end.
Several of the private courses
have been open for play for three
or four days. They've been muddy,
but mud hasn't meant much to the
golf starved linksmen, who have
been kept off the courses since late
December by snow and cold.
Danny Burton, Quantico golf pro,
announces that frequent team
matches will be arranged this year
between the Marines and golfers of
the local clubs. The Quantico club
recently Joined the District Golf
Association, and if the District body
arranges team matches this year,
the Marines will be in them If
no formal matches are arranged
Burton intends to work up a series
Of informal matches. owe have
some very good golfers there at
Quantico," said Danny. "All the
officers are enthusiastic about the
game and we have good course"
Burton left Army Navy last year.
His brother Allan is the pro at the
Army Navy Club.