Evening star., 1947-03-16
Golf Association
Drops 40 Rules,
SinnpIifies Code
First Changes Since
1884; Out Of Bounds
WORT Add Stroke
By the Associotsd Press

pr 7e HSfoSt0feo FIeSS
NEW YORK, Mar. 15.-The first
changes in the rules of golf since
1924 were put into the book by the
United States Golf Association to-
day with the main emphasis on
simplifying the playing code.
Adopted last year, but withheld
until today by the USGA to OBJ
tain the views of the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club of st. Andrews
Scotland, the revision cuts the rules
from 81 to 81. Definitions directly
applying to the rules have been
placed with those rules to make
references easier. The new code
is effective today.
The old index of about 900 items
has been replaced by an index of
73 listings, major operation by the
golfing powers.
Among the more important
changes were those on out-of-
bounds balls, use of the 'fagstick
and artificial distractions.
Penalty is Loss Of Distance.
Under the new code, the penalty
for an out-of bounds ball is loss
of distance only. Previously, the
player lost both distance and q
stroke.
The flagstick change was in the
matter of distance. Under the new
rules in stroke play when the flag
stick is attended, there "is a two
stroke penalty if the ball strikes
the fiagstick or the person standing
at the hole regardless of from how
far away the ball was played.
Previously the two-stroke penalty
was inflicted only when the ball
was hit from within 20 yards OF
the holes
For artificial distractions the
new rules reads:
Except in a hazard, if a ball
is within two club lengths OF an
immovable obstruction, it may be
lifted without penalty and dropped
at the nearest point not in a
hazard and not nearer the hole
which permits the player to take
his stance and to make his COM
plete stroke in the direction he
wishes to play from such stance
without interference by the OBJ
struction and without interference
by the obstruction with the antici-
pated flight of the ball."
Penalty for Wrong Ball.
Another important change was
in the penalty for playing a wrong
ball in stroke play. The rule now
reads: There is no penalty for
playing one stroke with a wrong
ball; if two consecutive strokes are
played, the penalty is disqualified
tion. However, in hazard, there
is no penalty for playing any num-
ber of strokes with wrong ball,
as before"
Under the old definition, If COM
petitor played a stroke or strokes
with the wrong ball he would be
penalized two strokes and then al
lowed to play his own ball.
Under the rules governing form
and make of golf clubs and balls,
the ruling body struck a severe
blow at the casual golfer who played
or planned to play with one or two
clubs with interchangeable parts.
The USGA says the following
new sections. are now in force:
"The grip shall consist of plain
extension of the shaft to which
material may be added for the pur-
pose of obtaining frmer hold
(This prohibits grips OF odd sizes
and shapes) -,
"a club shall be one unit. AL
it's various parts shall be perma-
.nent1y fixed. No part may be
movable or separable or capable OF
adjustment by the player"
May Have Open Rift.
In releasing the changes. the
USGA may have opened a rift with
the Royal and Ancient, governing
body of British golf and generally
regarded as the supreme authority
for golf throughout the world.
The USGA said "it is understood
that the R. and A. has not finished
its consideration of the matter and
has not adopted the new USGA
code: however, a few suggestions
which have been made have been
adopted by the USGA."
In the event the Royal and
Ancient doesn't go along with the
United States group complications
could develop in the Walker Cup
play which is scheduled to be
resumed at st. Andrews, May 1917
The revision of the American code
first was drafted by Richard S
Francis of Haverford, Pa, long
time member of the USGA Rules
Committee and brought to the
body's executive committee by
Charles w. Littlefield of Montclair
N. j., president and John G. Jack
son of New York, a former president
The original revision was worked
over for more than a year, frs
by a special committee headed by
Richard S. Stufts of Pinehurst
N. c., and later by the Rules OF
Golf Committee. whose chairman
was Edward B. LeiSenring of Ard