The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-18
This
Sporting
World .

BY JOHN A. cLUNEY

Connecticut's State Golf Associa-
ton, through IT'S venerable secretary.
30 year old Bob Pryde Of Orange, is
making an all-out effort to elimin-
ate the golf "cheaters"-
sionals and amateurs alike, who
take PREFERRED LIES at the
slightest excuse. It has been going
on in Waterbury for years, making
some Of hte scores turned in as
phoney as a lead Nickel insofar as
the accepted RULES OF GOLF are
concerned
To the uninltiated. a preferred
lie" means setting the ball up in
the fairway OR ROUGH so that
the club-swinger may have a bet
ter chance TO hit the ball and
thereby keep his score low. It's
like cheating yourself at SOFIA
TATRE.
OF course, when the golf scores
are reported TO the newspapers.
only the players themselves know
how many "setups' were taken
during an 10 hole round, but
never yet have / seen a score re-
ported with the explanation that
preferred lies were taken and the
REASONS therefor.
The professionals, many of them
reporting in the SIXTIES were
guilty Of cheating, too, so much so
that the UsGA came out and call
ed e fmor it. Condition Of the
course, many Of which were not in
good shape due to wartime labor
shortage was the reason given by
most professionals for taking a set
up on the fairway, in direct viola
tion Of the rules.
Here's the notice Secretary Pryde
sent out to all Connecticut member
clubs on behalf of the CSGA for the
1916 season:
To The Member Clubs.
At a meeting Of the Executive
Committee Of the Association held
at the Graduates Club in New
Haven on Tuesday, December 4,
1915, there was considerable dis
cussion Of the general breakdown
in the observance OF the Rules OF
Golf as established by the U. S.
G.. A. which are still in full force
and effect. This condition seemed
10 be a by-product Of the war sit
uation and the tendency has
probably been somewhat acceler-
ated by the extreme drought en-
countered last Summer and by the
difficulty that many clubs are ex-
periencing in maintaining their
respective courses under existing
conditions.
The committee was unanimous
in its expression Of disapproval
of the situation and was partic-
ularly astonished at hearing 10
what extent the privilege OF pre-
ferred lies or teeing up in the
rough or in traps was being in
dulged in at some courses
was instructed by the meeting
to address a letter to all membe!
clubs, advising Of the action taken
1y the Executive Committee anC
urging that the letter be appro-
priately referred to the Chairman
Of the Golf Committee, the Chair
man of the Green Committee ana
the Board Of Directors of each re-
5pective member club with a re-
1ueSt that action be taken to curb
he tendency and TO correct the
ituation.
This is the second year that the
s1mmittee has taken this action,
md was further instructed 10
give this matter as much publicity
in the Press as is possible. Several
dditional plans were made to
work constantly with the member
clubs to overcome this situation
We have strong hopes that the
sportsWriters of the country will
join us in this effort and call at
.ention to tournaments at which
breaches Of these rules are per-
mitted.
Respectfully, yours.
ROBERT d. PRYDE,