JOURNAL COMBINING TIMELY TURF TOPICS THE CURTIS CUP TEAM Miss Kielty Miss Suggs Miss Riley Mrs. Vare, Captain Miss Page Miss Kirby Miss Lenczyk SPRING 1948 is«a JOURNAL COMBINING TIMELY TURF TOPICS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION Permission to reprint articles herein is freely granted provided credit is given to the USGA Journal. VOL. 1, NO. 1 SPRING, 1948 First Edition ..................................................................................... 1 Curtis Cur Renewal...................................................................... 2 Championships ................................................................... 4 The New Handicap System: William O. Blaney.............. 5 Hints on Playing: Mrs. Edwin H. Vare, Jr., and William P. Turnesa......................................................... 8 The Glorious Game of Golf: J. Martin Watson.................. 9 Club Grips and Gloves: John D. Ames.................................. 10 Through the Green....................................................................... 11 Timely Ti -rf Topics : Fred V. Grau................ .......................... 13 Uniformity in the Rules.................................. .......................... 19 The Referee: Rules of Golf Decisions.......... ........................ 23 It’s Your Honor : Letters.................................. . ........................ 26 Subscriptions: $2 per year; seven issues per year: Spring, June, July, August, September, Autumn, Winter. Single copies—30 cents. Subscriptions, articles, photographs, and correspondence (except pertaining to Green Section matters) should be addressed to: 73 East 57th Street UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION New York 22, N. Y. Correspondence pertaining to Green Section matters should be addressed to: Plant Industry Station USGA GREEN SECTION Room 307, South P»uildin<; PRINTED IN U.S.A. Beltsville, Mu. USGA COMPETITIONS Invitations for 1950 Invitations arc welcomed from USGA Regular Member Clubs to entertain USGA competitions in 1950 and thereafter. Invitations for 1950 should reacli the USGA office as soon as possible. Schedule for 1948 Curtis Cup Match: Women’s amateur teams, British Isles vs. United States: at Birkdale, England—May 21 and 22. (Dates entries close in the schedule below mean the last dates for applica­ tions to reach the USGA office, except in the case of the Amateur Public Links Championship. For possible exceptions in dates of Sec­ tional Qualifying Rounds, see entry application forms. Championship Open Entries Close May 17 Sectional- Qualifying Rounds June 1 Championship Dates June 10-11-12 Amateur Public Links *Junc 16 Junior Amateur Amateur July 8 August 2 Team: July 17 Indiv: July 19-24 August 11-14 **June27 to July 3 **J uly 26 to 30 Aug. 18 August 30- Women’s Amateur August 23 — September 4 September 13-18 Ceti ite Riviera C. C. Los Angeles, Cal. North Fulton Park G. C. Atlanta, Ga. Univ, of Michigan G. C. Ann Arbor, Mich. Memphis C. C. Memphis, Tenn. Pebble Beach Course Del Monte, Cal. * Entries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. * Exact date in each Section to be fixed by Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 1 First Edition HERE we are on the first teeing ground. It’s pretty much the same course we’ve been playing since we took up the game in 1894, and it has stood up well all this time, as many old things do. But we have some new playing equip­ ment—this modest publication, “USGA Journal, combining Timely Turf Topics but let’s just call it the Journal, for we’re eager to tee off. You’ll remember what we used to do —every now and then the USGA put out bits of original information, one bit at a time, in addition to answering questions from individual clubs and golfers. Now it has seemed well to collect all this under one cover, enlarge upon it, and make it available periodically for all USGA Member Clubs and Courses and for golfers generally. In the Journal we shall be mainly con­ cerned with two things—the play and con­ duct of the game, and the improvement of golf course maintenance. As for the play of the game: We propose to provide a meeting place for golf-lovers to exchange useful ideas and a medium for USGA decisions, comments and informa­ tion, on such subjects as the Rules of Golf, tournament procedures, handicapping, USGA Championships, amateur status, golf balls and clubs, and new trends in the game. We’ll also touch on golf history and back­ ground. Successful players will give hints on how to play. As for golf course maintenance, each is­ sue of the Journal will contain a section entitled Timely Turf Topics. This will be the same sort of information previously issued by the USGA Green Section in a separate publication of the same title. (Timely Turf Topics as a separate pub­ lication was discontinued with the March issue.) For more than 25 years the Green Sec­ tion has been advising the Member Clubs on course upkeep. Its work has been a major factor in developing many of the best greenkeeping practices now standard on many courses. The Green Section’s advice has been invaluable in terms of im­ proved playing conditions and economical maintenance—elements which are impor­ tant to all golfers. The Timely Turf Topics section of the Journal will serve not only to assist green committees and golf course superintendents but also to acquaint golfers generally with problems of course upkeep which are little appreciated by many players. The Journal thus will help further to unify these two major spheres of interest— how the game is played, and where it is played. We propose to publish the Journal seven times a year. After this first Spring issue, there will be others in June, July, August, September, Autumn and Winter. One copy of each issue will be sent gratis to every USGA Regular Member Club and Associate Member Course and to sub­ scribers to Green Section service. Items for Publication Additional subscriptions may be entered at $2 a year by Member Clubs and Courses and by individual golfers. As the Journal is an integral part of the USGA’s activ­ ities, it will perforce be a non-profit enter­ prise, as is the USGA as a whole. Sub­ scriptions are cordially invited. We said the Journal would be a meet­ ing place for golf-lovers to exchange use­ ful ideas. That being so, we welcome con­ tributions of articles, notes and photographs which may be of general interest. Such items should be sent to the USGA Execu­ tive Office, 73 East 57th St., New York 22, N. Y., except that material about green­ keeping should be sent to the USGA Green Section, Room 307, South Building. Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md. If by chance we cannot publish or acknowledge everything that is sent in, we hope our friends will understand our limitations. Just one thing more, and then we’ll play away: Our aim will be to hit the ball down the course, even though we may not hit it far. We’ll probably be bunkered every now and then, and maybe even stymied. But we’ll always try to serve the interests of golf and golfers. And now, let’s drive off. It’s your honor. 9 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 Curtis Cup Renewal “To Stimulate Friendly Rivalry Among the Women Golfers of Many Lands” Vare and Mrs. Page are members of the USGA Women’s Committee. The Team’s itinerary follows: SO reads an inscription on the Curtis Cup. It has been ten years since that purpose had its last expression. But now that war and its aftermaths no longer intervene, teams of women amateur golfers represent­ ing the British Isles and the United States are about to meet again. Last time it was at the Essex County Club, Manchester, Mass., in September, 1938. This time an American side is going overseas. They will renew their friendly rivalry with a British Team on May 21 and 22 at the Birkdale Golf Club, Birkdale, England, near Southport. Three foursomes will be played in the afternoon of Friday, May 21 and six singles in the morning of Saturday, May 22. Of the seven players selected by the USGA, only two played in the last Match— Mrs. Edwin H. Vare, Jr., Merion, Pa., the present Captain, and Mrs. Julius A. Page, Jr., Chapel Hill, N. C. The others are Miss Louise Suggs, At­ lanta, current USGA Women’s Amateur Champion; Miss Dorothy Kirby, Atlanta, runner-up to Miss Suggs; Miss Dorothy Kielty, Los Angeles; Miss Grace S. Len- czyk, Newington, Conn., and Miss Polly A. Riley, Fort Worth, Texas If any original nominee is unable to make the trip, an invitation will be ex­ tended to one of the following Alternates, in the order named: Miss Helen M. Sigel, Philadelphia; Aliss Peggy Kirk, Findlay, Ohio; Miss Jean Hopkins, Lakewood, Ohio. All seven members of the Team will compete on their own initiative in the British Ladies’ Amateur Championship, to be held from Monday, May 31 to Friday, June 4 at the Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s Golf Club, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea. Misses Kirk and Hopkins are going over with the Curtis Cup Team, though not under USGA sponsorship, and also will play in the Cham­ pionship, along with Airs. Willard E. Shep­ herd, Los Angeles. Airs. Shepherd, Mrs. May 5—Sail from New York in S.S. Mauretania. May 11—Arrive Southampton. May 12-13-14—In London. May 15-22—In Southport. May 21-22—Curtis Cup Match. May 23-June 4—In St. Anne’s-on-the- Sea. May 31-June 4 — British Champion­ ship. June 5—Sail from Southampton in S.S. Mauretania. June 11—Arrive New York. History of the Series THE Curtis Cup series, sponsored jointly by the Ladies’ Golf Union, of Great Bri­ tain, and the USGA, was started in 1932 as a biennial event. The Curtis Cup was donated in 1932 by the Misses Harriot S. Curtis and Alargaret Curtis, Boston. Miss Harriot Curtis had won the USGA Women’s Amateur Cham­ pionship in 1906. In 1907 she and Miss Margaret Curtis met in the final, and Aliss Margaret was the winner. Aliss Margaret was Champion again in 1911 and 1912. The first Curtis Cup Alatch was played in 1932 at Wentworth, England. The USGA Team won, 514 to 3% (in a halved match each side receives a half-point). In 1934 the Americans won by 614 to 2/4 at the Chevy Chase Club near Washington. Two years later a Match at Gleneagles, Scotland, was halved, each side scoring 4% points. The last Alatch, played at the home club of the Misses Curtis, is memorable in many details even after a decade. The British Team won two foursomes the first day and halved the third, and so led by 214 to 14. In the singles next day Americans won the first four matches and lost the fifth, and thus led in the Team Alatch by 414 to 314. In the sixth and final singles the British representative, Aliss Nan Baird, was 2 up and 3 to play against Miss Charlotte Glut­ ting. A win for the British player would USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 3 have tied the Team Match. Miss Glutting, however, won the last three holes and the match by 1 up on the home green, and the United States gained the Team victory by 5/4 to 3G. Permit us now to introduce the Mem­ bers of the 1948 USGA Team: Miss Dorothy Kielty Miss Kielty is a member of the Virginia Country Club, Long Beach, Cal. She took up golf in 1938 and won the Los Angeles city tournament three years later. When war broke out she devoted herself to aviation and for two years was a Women’s Airforce Service Pilot. She was Staff Di­ rector of the Second Airforce in the WASP, under Jacqueline Cochran. During 1946 Miss Kielty was quarter-final­ ist in the Trans-Mississippi Championship and semi-finalist in the Women’s National Open. She won seven consecutive tournaments on the West Coast, including the California Championship. Last year Miss Kielty went to the quarter-finals of the USGA Champion­ ship and the Western Open and to the semi­ finals of the Trans-Mississippi. Her favorite clubs are driver and wedge. She is a flight instructor and part-owner of a women’s clothes shop. Miss Dorothy Kirby Miss Kirby might have won three major championships last season but for her own clubmate, Miss Suggs. As it was, these fel­ low-members of the Capital City Club, At­ lanta, met in the finals of the USGA, South­ ern, and Western Open Championships, and Miss Suggs won each time. In the USGA Championship, Miss Kirby made a great bid for victory after being 3 down in the morning round of the final. She played the course in 71 in the afternoon but could retrieve only one hole. Miss Kirby was runner-up in 1939 also. Miss Kirby won the first of her four Geor­ gia championships in 1933 at the age of 13. Her victories include the 1937 Southern Championship and the 1943 North and South event. She was medalist in the 1946 USGA Championship. Miss Kirby is engaged in radio sales work and devotes considerable time to golf admin­ istration in the Women’s Southern and the Women’s Western Golf Associations. Her favorite shot is putting. Miss Grace S. Lenczyk At 20, Miss Lenczyk is the youngest Team member. She is a member of the Indian Hill Country Club, Newington, Conn., and a stu­ dent at John B. Stetson University, Deland, Fla. Last year Miss Lenczyk won the Canadian Championship and the women’s division of the “All-America” tournament. She was a semi­ finalist in the USGA and the Western Open Championships, runner-up in the National Collegiate, and third in the Eastern. In 1946 she was Connecticut Champion and came to attention in defeating Mrs. George Zaharias in the first round of the Women’s National Open and Miss Kirby in the first round of the USGA Championship. Miss Lenczyk won the first event she ever entered—a girls’ championship in Hartford, Conn.—at the age of 11, scoring a 44 for nine holes. The driver is her favorite club. Miss Lenczyk enjoys horseback riding and oil paintings. Mrs. Julius A. Page, Jr. Mrs. Page, who has a practically self-made golf swing, played No. 1 singles in the 1938 Curtis Cup Match and defeated her opponent. She was USGA Champion in 1937 and has been a leading player ever since, having been runner-up in the 1938 USGA Championship and a semi-finalist in 1941 and 1947. She has thrice won or tied for the medal. A housewife whose main interests are keep­ ing her home and her flower garden, Mrs. Page competes almost exclusively in southern events. She was 1946 Southern Champion and has won the North and South tournament seven times and the Carolinas Championship eight times. She has made nine holes in one, and scored a 66 on the No. 1 course at Pinehurst in 1941. Mrs. Page is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and a member of the Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N. C. Her favorite shots are a No. 7 pitch and a long No. 3 iron. Miss Polly A. Riley Miss Riley was a stranger to golf when the last Curtis Cup Match was played. She took up the game in 1939. At 22, she is one of the youngest Team members. Miss Riley has been an enthusiastic golf­ ing traveler. Last season she was winner and medalist in the Trans-Mississippi Cham­ pionship, second and tied for low amateur in the Women’s National Open, semi-finalist in the Southern, and quarter-finalist in the USGA WTrnen’s Amateur and Western Open Championships. In 1946 she was runner-up and co-medalist in the Trans-Mississippi and semi-finalist in the Southern. Miss Riley is a member of the River Crest Country Club, Fort Worth. She formerly attended Texas Christian University and is now a life underwriter. Miss Louise Suggs Little Miss Suggs has made an amazing record in recent years. In 1947 she won the USGA, Western Open, Western Amateur and Southern Championships, as well as being medalist in the USGA and the Southern events. 4 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 She had won the two Western tourna­ ments in 1946, and her retention of both titles last year was unprecedented. She has fully borne out the promise she showed when, at the age of 16, she won the Georgia Cham­ pionship in 1940. She was Southern Cham­ pion as early as 1941, and has twice won the North and South. Miss Suggs has a splendidly rounded game and hits the ball a surprising distance espe­ cially for one her size. She prefers approach­ ing and putting, however. Miss Suggs is a member of the Capital City Club, Atlanta, and is a sales representative. Mrs. Edwin H. Vare, Jr. The Captain of the Curtis Cup Team has a golfing record without parallel. As Miss Glenna Collett, she won the USGA Women’s Amateur Championship five times between 1922 and 1930 and, as Mrs. Vare, she scored for the sixth time in 1935. Last year she went to the home green before losing to Miss Kirby, 1 down, in the second round. Mrs. Vare is Captain of the Curtis Cup Team for the third time, and is the only person who has served in some capacity in every Match with the British. She has won two of three singles matches and has shared in scoring 1% points in three foursomes. Mrs. Vare was runner-up in the British Championships of 1929 and 1930. She is active in golf administration as President of the Women’s Eastern Associa­ tion since 1946 and a member of the USGA Women’s Committee since 1941. The spoon is her favorite club. Mrs. Vare is the mother of a girl, 14, and a boy, 13. She engages enthusiastically in shooting, painting, stamp collecting, making tapestry, and field trials, and is on the Board of the Merion, Pa., Horticultural Society. She is a member of the Phila­ delphia Country Club. Championships Junior Amateur The USGA Junior Amateur Champion­ ship, to be held this year for the first time, will follow the general form of the Ama­ teur and the Amateur Public Links Cham­ pionships. The Championship field will be deter­ mined by Sectional Qualifying Rounds, at 18 holes stroke play. The number of quali­ fying points is expected to be between 40 and 45. Each Section’s round will be held on one day in the period from Monday, July 26 to Friday, July 30. There will be 128 players in the Cham­ pionship, which, through the kindness of the University of Michigan, will be played at the University’s course at Ann Arbor from Wednesday, August 11 through Saturday, August 14. It will be entirely at match play, with seven rounds, all at 18 holes. Entries will be open to amateur golfers who will not have reached their 18th birth­ day by August 14, the day of the final. An entrant may not accept contributions to his expenses from commercial sources; this applies to Sectional Qualifying Rounds as well as the Championship. If an entrant’s expenses are not paid by his parents or others on whom he is normally dependent or with funds earned by him­ self, he may accept contributions from rec­ ognized golf associations or clubs or in­ dividual members of such organizations without forfeiting amateur status. (The Rules of Amateur Status prohibit accept­ ance of expenses after the 18th birthday.) Open Twenty-nine qualifying Sections have been established for the Open Champion­ ship, to be played June 10, 11 and 12 at the Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles. New Sections have been set up in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Utah and Hawaii, while the Middle Atlantic Section has been omitted this year. The Pacific Northwest and Texas each will have two qualifying events instead of one. The Sectional Rounds will be at 36 holes stroke play on Tuesday, June 1 except at Honolulu, where the date is May 25, and at Los Angeles, where play will be spread over two days, May 27 and 28, 18 holes each day, with two courses in use. More qualifiers’ places will be available than ever before in the Sectional Rounds, due to the fact that the 20 lowest scorers and those tying for 20th place in the 1947 Open are exempt rather than the low 30 and ties. The field for the last 36 holes will be reduced to the lowest 50 and ties after the first two rounds, where formerly the low 60 and ties played through. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 5 The New Handicap System By WILLIAM O. BLANEY Chairman, USGA Handicap Committee CREATION of the USGA Journal meets a definite need for a medium of gen­ eral distribution pertaining to the many matters constantly confronting golfers. The Handicap Committee welcomes the oppor­ tunity of using the first issue to present further information on the USGA “Golf Handicap System,” a new handicap and course rating system for men adopted and released by the United States Golf Associa­ tion in December, 1947. This article as­ sumes that readers are familiar with “Golf Handicap System.” Handicaps in golf are intended to equal­ ize the abilities and inabilities of countless players. If a perfect system could be cre­ ated, any player of a given handicap could play against any other player of similar handicap on a neutral course without giv­ ing or receiving odds. Unfortunately, such a system has not yet materialized. As our booklet states, “Handicapping is an inexact operation, more of an art than a science,” and, human nature being what it is, we can­ not expect to approach perfection until all participants enter into the game in the spirit its creators intended for it. Up to the present, golf in the United States has been played under so many dif­ ferent handicap systems that the various ideas and methods embodied therein add up to an amazing total. For this reason, the USGA appointed a committee to study the situation and adapt the best features of the many systems into a master system that might meet with the universal support of its member clubs and the various district, State and sectional associations. Last year’s Handicap Committee, under the chairman­ ship of Richard S. Tufts, brought this pe­ riod of investigation to a close by issuing the master system recommended in “Golf Handicap System.” The new system is designed for use by any or all clubs or associations, whether private or public, and, if adopted as a uni­ form standard, it will permit a 15 handicap golfer to visit another club or State, or travel clear across the country, and find that he is a 15 handicap player wherever he goes, instead of a 12 handicap player here and an 18 handicap player there. When the USGA Handicap Committee was in the throes of devising the “Golf Handicap System,” much was said for and against both the “basic” and the “current” types of systems. Both types have been in use extensively and each has its advan­ tages. We finally decided on the “basic” type, designed to determine a player’s in­ herent ability to play golf, primarily be­ cause of its simplicity and also because it meets what we consider the fundamental purpose of a handicap system; namely, to answer the question, “How good a golfer is Joe Jones ?” There is no reason, however, why our “basic” system cannot be used as the foun­ dation of a “current” system by clubs and associations which are willing to take on the details and extensive bookkeeping necessary to disclose at any time the preva­ lent, or “at-the-moment,” state of a player’s game. The Starting Point If a club or association wants to use a “current” type of system, we would ap­ preciate its using our course rating methods and handicap tables as the foundation, so that, when necessary for comparative or eligibility purposes, the records can be used readily to compute a player’s “basic” handicap. We make this request because a “current” type system might prove un­ fair to a player whose inherent or “basic” ability would make him eligible for a na­ tional or sectional tournament but whose “current” handicap at the time entries closed happened to be over the eligibility limit because his last 10 or 20 scores were a little higher than usual, for one reason or another. One of the first problems confronting an association adopting our system un­ doubtedly will be to find a starting point. It is our suggestion that a small course rating committee of not more than six or 6 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 eight individuals be appointed to determine as nearly as possible the playing ability of the “theoretical scratch golfer” described on page 4, paragraph 4, of “Golf Handi­ cap System.” This is most important, as the entire handicapping structure is de­ pendent on a correct interpretation of this playing ability. In cases where neighboring associations have had more experience with our rating methods, it would be well to call on them for assistance in more accurately establishing this factor. Once the commit­ tee has arrived at this point of beginning, its members should then rate the more pop­ ular courses in the district. As a guide to rating committees, a brief review of methods used successfully by the Massachusetts Golf Association might be helpful. Individuals assigned the task of rating a given course play the course in company with the club’s professional and/ or one of the club’s low handicap amateurs. From these local players, the committee can obtain knowledge of the parts of the tees most commonly used by club members during times of maximum play. They can also find out whether the wind and other playing conditions on the day of rating are the conditions most prevalent during the playing season. While playing the course, each individual privately assigns a fractional rating to each hole. It is advisable not to discuss the rat­ ings of each hole during the round, as the opinions of one individual might tend to bias some of the others. The human ele­ ment will cause a difference of opinion as to the rating of any given hole and it will be rare when all members of the com­ mittee unanimously agree on any one rat­ ing. Experience has proven that each rating committee member will give a higher rating to some holes than the majority of the other members, but he also will give a lower rating to other holes. These higher and lower ratings should average out and, therefore, discussion during the round is of no great advantage. At the conclusion of the round, all mem­ bers should total their individual hole rat­ ings and compare said totals with the other members. If all totals fall within the limits of one course rating figure, such as between 69.5 and 70.4—the limits for a 70 course rating—there can be no question that the course rating to assign to the course is 70. If, on the other hand, the totals should fall within the limits of more than one course rating figure, a hole-by-hole review of the rating should be made, the individual hole ratings should be assigned by majority opinion, and the total of these majority opinions used for the final course rating. When comparing individual hole ratings, if any hole is rated identically by all mem­ bers of the rating committee, or by almost all members, that hole should be set up as a typical example of that fractional rating classification, so that it can be referred to by individuals subsequently rating other courses. In this connection, we recommend that associations adopting our system establish a set of typical examples for their own use taken from courses in their association. As a word of precaution to clubs and associations at elevations well above sea level, adjustments should be made in the course rating procedure when it is known that a drive with a 200- or 225-yard carry at sea level will travel greater distances through the air in the thinner atmosphere. The question has been asked as to why a player whose 10 best scores have an average equal to the course rating is not given a zero, or scratch, handicap. (Under our handicap Table A, such a player is given a 2 handicap when his scores are made on courses rated between 66 and 76, inclusive.) The reason is obvious. Every player is much more familiar with his home course and most likely plays it at least two strokes lower than other courses of similar rating with which he is less familiar. Therefore, in our opinion he would not be a scratch golfer. Put another way, course rating is the score a scratch player should average for every 10 times he plays the course with­ out any poor shots or any unusually good shots. Naturally, this average will be higher than the average of his 10 best rounds. “Golf Handicap System” being new this year, some method should be devised for clubs and associations not having sufficient scores on which to base permanent handi­ caps to provide temporary, or provisional, TTSGA Journal: Spring, 1948 7 handicaps. Also, such a method then will be available in future for players who are new at the game or who have not previous­ ly been handicapped. It is our suggestion that when the record of a player contains fewer than 50 scores, the best 20% of his available scores be averaged, multiplied by 10, and the result­ ing figure used to assign the player a pro­ visional handicap. For example: 20 scores available—the best 4 (20% of 20 scores) average 77.2 strokes—move decimal one place to the right (77.2 becomes 772) — apply 772 to handicap Table A and assign the player (assuming his scores were made on a course rated 70) a handicap of 9. It is possible that the requirement of a player’s best 10 scores selected from a period covering at least 50 rounds of golf may work a hardship on some clubs or as­ sociations which do not keep very complete scoring records or which are geographical­ ly located where it is impossible for most golfers to play as many as 50 rounds during the season. Our committee is open to sug­ gestions that will provide for the use of fewer than the 10 best scores or for the period of play to cover less than 50 rounds. The fact that 50 scores are not available or cannot be obtained from the players, even though the average golfer in the local­ ity plays 50 or more rounds during the year or season, is not a particularly valid reason for changing the basic requirements for allocation of handicaps. If a player completes as many as 50 rounds during the season, whether or not he turns in his scores, he should be handicapped on the basis of his 10 best scores, as our handicap tables are designed to calculate his play­ ing ability under such conditions. It will be noted that there are two handi­ cap tables in our booklet, Tables A and B. Table A is the one we prefer and the one we believe will provide a more accurate basis for handicapping. Table B was in­ cluded for use by associations that have been using match play handicaps exclusive­ ly in the past and might not want to make such a complete change-over to stroke play handicaps, with the 85% differential for match play. Table B has been formulated to produce handicaps as near as possible to 85% of the stroke play handicaps pro- <1”<'ed by Table A. USGA Handicap Chairman Courtesy Boston Herald William O. Blaney Handicapping, being the inexact opera­ tion that it is, requires the full cooperation of the Course Rating and Handicap Com­ mittee members, the club handicapper, and, most of all, the players themselves. It is only natural that the more information the handicapper has to work with, the better job he can do in assigning equitable handi­ caps. Therefore, every golfer interested in fair playing conditions—and any golfer not so interested should not be playing the game—should make every effort to turn in all his scores, good or bad, so that a fair estimate of his playing ability may be established and a proper handicap assigned him. In conclusion, may we take this oppor­ tunity to ask that our system be given a fair trial. Everyone will agree that a standard handicapping system for country­ wide use is needed. Ours is the first real step in that direction, and if, after a fair trial, there are features of it which you do not approve, we will be glad to enter­ tain your constructive criticisms. 8 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 HINTS ON PLAYING What seems most important to you in playing? What do you concentrate on, either in a single stroke or in a whole game? Mrs. Vare and Mr. Turnesa give their views. By MRS. EDWIN H. VARE, JR. By WILLIAM P. TURNESA USGA Women’s Amateur Champion 1922-25-28-29-30-35 Member of USGA Curtis Cup Team 1932-36-38-48, Captain 1934-36-48 TO be able to concentrate fully on the game in progress and to lay aside every other consideration is to me the most im­ portant factor in good golf. During a round of golf it is not only necessary to have your mind occupied with each stroke as it comes along, but between times it is of utmost importance that the problems of the next stroke be analyzed. A mind that wanders leads to shots that wander. There are so many factors to consider in making a golf shot that only a great deal of thinking beforehand will reduce the shots themselves to a pre-determined me­ chanical effort—without effort. These in-between thoughts revolve around wind and weather conditions, con­ tour of the ground, distance to be covered and selections of clubs as to the best way of hitting the shot, i.e., low into the wind, running, high and such like. Having reached a decision that seems best under all circumstances, it is then pos­ sible to hold the mental picture intact while the stroke is being made. And with this comes another kind of concentration. At least in my own game, I have to think of swinging back slowly and firmly, keeping my eye on the ball and following through on the line, forcing my weight from the right foot to the left. This ideal situation is almost like get­ ting inside of a bubble that must not be pricked by any agency from outside. In putting it is essential—a definite decision as to line and distance to be covered has to be made and there can be no hesitation or last-minute changes. USGA Amateur Champion 1938 British Amateur Champion 1947 Member of USGA Walker Cup Team 1947 I HAVE been asked time and again: “What seems most important to you in play­ ing a round of competitive golf ?” This question, of course, is quite gen­ eral, since eighteen holes of play is capable of creating many situations and in each one a different matter may seem paramount. However, I believe the outstanding qual­ ity to be “the ability to keep the mind func­ tioning in the positive state.” This is what I like to term as “straight- line concentration between the tee and green.” If this can be accomplished, you immediately eliminate the trap on the left, the out-of-bounds on the right and the water hazard in your mind. These hazards being removed, you are now capable of focusing your mind on the target without fear and, by the same token, without over-taxing the nervous system. We have witnessed in several of our championships incidents where competitors of unusual skill and talent breeze along in machine-like precision for seventy-one holes without showing the slightest signs of faltering, but for some unknown reason and at the most critical time, when fame and fortune appear to be a certainty, the unbelievable usually takes place. Why? Because the ability to concentrate on the execution of the drive or the putt is definitely lost. The mind has detoured to the negative side and, as a result, strict caution is employed, bringing back to mind many more hazards than exist. This is bound to cause nervousness and most likely embarrassment since you are thinking in the negative while trying to accomplish a positive objective. Good golf demands clear thinking and In other words, the fear of missing is clear thinking commands good golf. usually the direct cause for failure. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 9 The Glorious Game of Golf By J. MARTIN WATSON Hillcrest Country Club, Boise, Idaho IS the real game of golf disappearing? Is the real spirit of the ancient and honorable pastime being supplanted with something less difficult to play and less capable of pleasing? Is it giving way to haphazard, humdrum and monotonous journeys from the first tee to the eighteenth hole in the course of which obstacles are removed at will and the rules of the game not only ignored but treated with a contempt that indicates a total lack of appreciation of what the game of golf really is ? What is the answer? Let us see. The real serious answer is that no per­ son can play any game without knowing and without adhering to its rules. While the “rule shark” is often a pest, the profes­ sional ignoramus is intolerable. If every contestant is to adopt his own code of conduct and each is to treat condi­ tions he is confronted with in a different manner, you will have no contest at all, because you have no test of the comparative skill with which the respective players can overcome the countless obstacles that con­ front them on the course. It is these surprising situations constant­ ly arising and the absolute necessity for extricating one’s self in strict accordance with golf law that makes the game of golf the most fascinating in the world. There is a particular reason why rules are more important in golf than in most games. It is the one game in the world in which contestants play frequently at great distance from and not in the presence of each other. The sole assurance that the contestants are contending for victory on equal terms lies in the fact that each player knows what the rules require him to do and the fact that his sense of honor impels him to do it at any cost to himself. A player may have the keenest regard for honesty, and yet if he does not know the rules, his honor is of little avail in the presence of his ignorance. To assert one’s honor and do justice to one’s opponent, one must not only be will­ ing to do the correct thing, but also to know, and know for a certainty, just what the correct thing is. This entails a knowl­ edge of the rules. Without this knowledge one may be ashamed to find that he has unconsciously deprived his opponent of a victory one day and he may be equally humiliated by discovering that through his ignorance he has deprived himself of a triumph the next. In all the activities of life there are rules which well-bred human beings observe, whether it be paying one’s social or finan­ cial obligations, driving one’s motor on the highway, beginning and ending letters with proper terms, taking one’s place in line at a desk or ticket office, greeting one’s friends and acquaintances, and replying courteously to their salutations; keeping engagements on time, saluting one’s flag, baring one’s head in the presence of women, kneeling in church, and standing while one’s national anthem is being rendered. It is the observance of these and thou­ sands of other rules of life that imparts the rarest charms to our civilization. With­ out them we would be a mere mob moping in the dark, conflicting in our customs and ridiculing each other for the odd ideas each improvised for the government of his own conduct. Now, let us come back to the game of golf. Why deprive it of the foundation of all its most fascinating features; why de­ grade it by the insinuation that it is the one game in the world in which rules may be cast to the winds ? Why belittle it by converting it into a clumsy, colorless, club­ swinging performance in which the surest winner is the one who pays least attention to the rules of play? Why boast of the fact that one does not know the difference between a stymie and an unplayable lie, any more than one would boast of not knowing the difference between a club and a spade in a game of auction, or between a foul and a home run in baseball ? (Continued on next page} 10 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 Club Grips and Gloves By JOHN D. AMES Chairman, USGA Implements and Ball Committee ONE of the most important phases of the USGA Implements and Ball Committee’s work in recent years has dealt with artificial aids in the gripping of a golf club. As a general proposition, the Association believes that individual skill in gripping a club is an integral part of the skill in­ volved in playing a shot. It is a part of what all golfers know as “feel.” Thus, the Association is generally opposed to club grips and accessories which provide pro­ nounced automatic aid to the player in plac­ ing any fingers on the club. Over a period of many years grips which were not of the traditionally round form have been submitted to the Implements and Ball Committee. Some of them, while of help in enabling a firm hold, did not assist in automatic placement of the fingers; and, in general, such grips were approved. On the other hand, some samples submitted had various indentations and knobs which re­ quired the player to place his finger or fingers in one set position. They were, in fact, molded to the fingers. Such grips have been disapproved. Last year the Rules contained a new general provision on the subject, and this year the provision has been made more nearly specific, in order that all players might be aware of the interpretation which the Association has made to inventors and manufacturers. This new Rule appears as section 4 in the Rules Governing Form and Make of Golf Clubs (sec page 60, 1948 USGA Rules of Golf booklet), and it pro­ vides as follows: 4. “The grip shall be a continuation of the shaft to which material may be added for the purpose of obtaining a firmer hold. The grip shall be sub­ stantially straight and plain in form, may have flat sides, but may not have a channel* or a furrow* for the fingers or be molded to the fingers. “* The above prohibition against a channel or a furrozv for the fingers will not become effective until Jan­ uary 1, 1949.” The Rule does not mean, and in fact does not say, that a grip must be perfectly round. It does not disapprove certain de­ partures from round grips. But it does prohibit devices for automatic placement of any fingers on the club. The furrows and channels referred to have to do mainly with hollowed out grooves extending over the greater part of the grip and which are wide enough and deep enough for thumbs or fingers to fit into. Aside from grips on clubs, there are cer­ tain golf gloves in existence which are so constructed as to be of artificial aid in making a stroke. Some have leather loops or pockets attached so that the end of the shaft may be fitted into a socket or the shaft itself put through a loop, in each instance binding the hand or fingers to the grip by other than the natural means of holding on. These obviously cannot be approved. The Glorious Game of Golf {Continued from preceding page) To the gentleman, the etiquette of the game is also equivalent to a rule of the game, just as much as the etiquette of the drawing room is a rule which one cannot repeatedly violate without ostracism. Let us keep these fundamental thoughts in mind when we take our place on the tee under a clear sky, with glorious fairways stretching away into the distance, and as we smile at our opponents and begin the battle, let us remember that we are in God’s great outdoors in search of pleasure; and this being our mission, let us fit ourselves for the play by an understanding of the rules of the great game we are about to play, and thus add a hundred-fold to the charm that comes from knowing just what each crisis calls for, so that in the end one’s knowledge of rules, one’s devotion to their observance, and one’s skill in the use of every club will have played their respective parts in the contest. In that event, no matter who is the win­ ner or the loser, each will have proven himself a competitor whose companionship is worth cherishing, and golf will continue to remain without a rival as a game and without a peer as a pastime. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 11 THROUGH THE GREEN Entering the Open —and Opening the Entries THIS is the season when the little staff in USGA headquarters in New York begins to feel more than an ordinary kinship with the folks who receive income tax returns. For this is the season when we receive entry applications for the Open Championship, and, like tax returns, many of them arrive at the eleventh hour. We normally expect between 1,100 and 1,400 entries for the Open. Close to 50% arrive in the last two days. Unfortunately, some arrive after the books are shut. The late and near-late are always in a dither. Some of them make extraordinary efforts. There was, for example, the time when a certain professional (who shall go name­ less here, but who is a headliner today) dis­ patched an application from a New York hotel, located about a drive and a brassie from the USGA office. He sped it on its way via air mail special delivery postage. (This was in the days before helicopters.) Another time, a gentleman from Brook­ lyn sent in a bank cashier’s check as his entry fee (the entrant’s name not appearing on the check), and that was all. No entry blank. No message. No name or return address on the outside of the envelope. Just an innocent bank cashier’s check for $5. Things looked bad for awhile. Finally, the office sleuth looked under the flap of the envelope, and there, in writing about 1/32 of an inch high, was a name and address. There was another unhappy moment when a telegram arrived with this delight­ ful message: Enter Me Open —Jim On the other hand, there is the eager beaver who sends in two or three entries, at different times. The duplications can’t be discovered until all entries are sorted into Qualifying Sections. Some of our friends have the mistaken notion that the date of postmark is the con­ trolling date. For instance, this year’s Open applications close at 5 P.M. on Mon­ day, May 17; we have every confidence that some one whose entry has to be declined will later write us that he himself, per­ sonally, mailed the application at the main post office at Sloping Valley at 4:15 P.M. on May 17—plenty of time ! Our answer to that is if Sloping Valley were a few thou­ sand miles away, we might not receive the entry until the Sectional Qualifying Rounds had all been played. (Besides, who wants to try to decode postmarks?) In short, the closing time for applications means the time by which they must be received in the USGA office. That is Step 1 in getting an entry before the Committee. The others are just about as hard: Step 2—Have the application made out in full on a USGA blank. Nothing else will do. Telephone calls and telegrams won’t do. Step 3—Enclose the entry fee. Anybody doing those three things right will have taken a big step toward dethron­ ing Lew Worsham. Abe Mitchell’s Putter The late Abe Mitchell was one of Bri­ tain’s longest hitters. He was several times a member of Ryder Cup Teams and, before turning professional, was runner-up for the 1912 British Amateur Championship. In 1921, during an American tour, he used a McDougal putter with an aluminum head. After one of his last games on the tour he presented the club to Mrs. J. Bernd Rose, who lives in Sewickley, Pa. Mrs. Rose in turn used it in winning four Women’s Western Pennsylvania Golf As­ sociation Championships. Mrs. Rose has now generously donated the putter to the USGA Golf Museum. 12 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 Burrowing Animals The Rules of Golf this year mention holes made by burrowing animals for the first time—see Rule 7(6). It is only a question of time before it will appear in print as borrowing animals— and there it is ! The only remaining question, then, is what golf widow will be first to borrow the term for her burrowing husband. Kolef . . . Kolf . . . Golf Charles C. Auchincloss, of New York, has presented the USGA Museum with an interesting engraving entitled “Natives of Holland, with their Diversions During the Winter Season,” made in 1780. One of the diversions shown is the old Dutch game of kolef, or kolf. It happens that the Museum has three clubs and two balls used for playing the game. The clubs are very heavy, average 50 inches long, and have thick, pointed iron heads which are 6-jLf inches long. The balls are leather covered and have a diam­ eter of 4J4 inches. They were obtained from The Hague in 1939. The chain of circumstances stretches fur­ ther. In 1939 the Museum acquired a book published in 1742 describing Rembrandt’s etchings. Our interest in it is a description of kolef, which was played on a kind of mall from 40 to 60 feet long and 9 or 10 feet wide. The Dutch sport was, of course, greatly different from golf as we know it. But there is at least an etymological affinity, if you know what we mean. R. and A. Gifts The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, host for last year’s Walker Cup Match, has sent Club neckties to the ten players who represented the USGA in the Match. Americans Abroad William P. Turnesa, of New York, is going over to Sandwich, England, to de­ fend the British Amateur Championship he won last year when he was abroad with the Walker Cup Team. The British Ama­ teur begins May 24. Six other Americans have entered — Robert Sweeny, Jr., of New York and William P. Turnesa London, a former Champion; Frank Stran­ ahan, Toledo; S/Sgt. Charles T. Jennings, Haddonfield, N. J.; Christopher Dunphy, New York; Edward E. Lowery, San Fran­ cisco, and Udo M. Reinach, New York. Sweeny and Dunphy have also entered the British Open, to be played at Muir- field, Scotland, June 30 and July 1-2, with qualifying rounds June 28-29. Do’s and Don’ts A club in the Southwest has a score card containing the following: “Pay dues by 10th of month or cease play­ ing.” “Caddy fees: 35c for 9 holes; 60c for 18 holes.” There are a number of admonitions un­ der the heading “A Few Do’s and Don’ts.” Under “Do,” one is advised about methods of playing, etiquette, and encouraging youngsters. Under the other heading ap­ pear the following: “DON’T— “—Play unless you have paid dues. “—Fail to count all strokes. “—Forget that a two-foot putt is as valuable as a 200-yard drive. “—Fail to throw a rock off each fair­ way.” The altitude of the course is given as 4,688 feet. The Club has never joined the USGA. Minnesota Cooperation Directors of the Minnesota Golf As­ sociation have “unanimously decided that the United States Golf Association rules be adopted in toto.” USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 13 TIMELY TURF TOPICS from the USGA Green Section GREEN SECTION HISTORY — A REVIEW By FRED V. GRAU Director, USGA Green Section THE history of the beginnings of the Green Section and its real significance in the development of Better Turf are obscure to many of the USGA member clubs today. In order to appreciate the efforts of the United States Golf Association toward the improvement of golf courses to the enjoyment of the game of golf, one should understand some of the background of its turf branch, the Green Section. April, 1923—Twenty-Five Years Ago This historical sketch covers the April 21, 1923, number of the Bulletin of the Green Section of the United States Golf Association, which was published by the Green Committee of the USGA at 456 Louisiana Ave., Washington, D. C. The masthead states, “A monthly periodical to promote the betterment of golf courses.” Members of the Executive Committee who were on the Green Committee were : C. V. Piper, E. J. Marshall, Walter S. Harban, Wynant D. Vanderpool, and Alan D. Wilson. The permanent members were: Hugh I. Wilson, Merion Cricket Club, Haverford, Pa.; F. H. Hillman, W. R. Walton, and Lyman Carrier, Washington, D. C. The contents of this issue are of great interest. To acquaint our readers with this material, short abstracts and some quota­ tions are presented. Turf Experiments at the Florida Experiment Station—C. V. Piper Attention is called to the turf plots at the Florida Experiment Station which include tropical and subtropical species new to the United States. The text is illustrated with photographs showing the texture of each type of turf in relation to a golf ball. Grasses described include: Centipede grass, which is described as “a splendid fairway grass . . . and not a bad putting green grass if kept well rolled ;” Bahia grass, the common grass of West­ ern Cuba and one which forms the fairways at the Havana Country Club; Blue couch-grass, an Australian grass, which makes a fine dense turf fit for putting greens; Bermuda grass—a discussion of four types (Giant, St. Lucie, ordinary, and Atlanta) ; St. Augustine grass, not a bad one for fairways; Giant carpet grass, a good fairway grass in evidence at the New Orleans Country Club; Korean grass (Zoysia japonica—then called Osterdamia japonica), a splendid grass for tees and fairways, occurring at the Palm Beach Country Club and the Miami Country Club. The experiments, conducted in coopera­ tion with the Green Section, were in charge of Prof. J. M. Scott and Mr. W. E. Stokes. Vegetative Planting —Lyman Carrier It was thought that this subject had been described previously in such detail that everyone understood it. Circulars on the subject frequently brought by return mail the question, “Where can I buy seed of this grass and how much is it a pound?” [It is still happening—Ed.] Vegetative planting is as old as written history. Sugar cane has been planted in this manner for centuries. The article described 14 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 in detail the method for planting bent. Bent was not known to be successful south of Richmond, Va. In planting a 6,000 square-foot green, 10 cubic yards of topdressing made up of 1/3 each loam, sand, and manure were re­ quired to cover the planted grass. If sand and manure were not available, ordinary topsoil was to be screened and used. One square foot of stolons planted 10 square feet of green. A crew of 14 could plant from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet an hour. With good care the green could be used for play in six weeks. The article was well illustrated. New Member Clubs of the Green Section Edge Hill Golf Club, Edge Hill, Pa. Hamilton Country Club, Olean, N. Y. Myopia Hunt Club, South Hamilton, Mass. Lookout Point Country Club, Welland, Ontario Plymouth Country Club, Norristown, Pa. Richmond County Country Club, Staten Island, N. Y. Hempstead Country Club, Hempstead, N. Y. Mankato Golf Club, Mankato, Minn. ‘‘The Green Section does not guarantee or certify the goods of any commercial dealers in seeds, fertilizers, machinery, or other golf course supplies. Beware of the dealer who states or implies that his goods have the endorsement of the Green Sec­ tion.” Vegetative Planting of Bent Grasses: An Historical Sketch—R. A. Oakley The author records the history of plant­ ing bent grasses vegetatively. Dr. C. V. Piper and his assistants, Prof. Lyman Car­ rier and Dr. R. A. Oakley, had observed the circular patches of uniform grass on all putting greens sown with seed of German mixed bent. This led to a start of the study in the summer of 1916 to solve the mystery. Plugs of grass were sent from the Columbia Country Club, the Merion Cricket Club, the Washington Golf and Country Club, the Ekwanok Club, and from the grounds of the Department of Agriculture. A “veritable botanical circus resulted.” Two groups were classified— creeping bent (then called carpet bent), and velvet bent. Mr. F. H. Hillman, of the Seed Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, had just discovered how to identify seeds of each of the various species of bent and redtop. German bent seed in 1923, calculated free of redtop, chaff and weed seeds, con­ tained only a trace of true creeping bent, 15% velvet bent and 85% Rhode Island (Colonial) bent. Only the creeping bent and the velvet bent produced runners that could be used to propagate the grass. In September, 1917, plots 8 x 8 in the grass garden at Arlington were planted vegetatively to creeping bent and velvet bent. The runners [the word stolons was not used in this article—Ed. J were covered with one-half inch of good compost, largely topsoil, rolled and watered. Whole run­ ners were used. In October, 1917, nursery rows were planted 8 rods long and spaced 6 feet apart. Between October 2 and 12, 1918, the first five greens to be planted with runners of creeping bent were established at the East Potomac Park Public Golf Course. This was a notable event. The first bent grass nursery to be estab­ lished on a golf course was planted in the fall of 1918 by Dr. Walter S. Harban at the Columbia Country Club. In 1922 bent runners from a commercial nursery were available for the first time. As a result, 125 greens were planted that fall. The No. 9 green at Columbia was cited as a good example of what could be done. The author quoted an .article written by Piper and Oakley in December, 1918, to the effect that surface runners and brown­ patch would make trouble. By 1923 the trouble from surface runners had not materialized; proper topdressing had ob­ viated it completely. Brownpatch had been serious but was reasonably well-controlled with Bordeaux mixture. The greens planted at the East Potomac Park Course in the fall of 1918 were vic­ tims of a combination of unfortunate con­ ditions which resulted in their undoing. Brownpatch was one factor. The author felt that it was needless to make predictions for the future of vegetative planting be- USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 15 Grasshoppers, Cutworms, and Army Worms, and Their Control by Poi­ soned Bran. Extension Circular 38. South Dakota State College, Brookings, S. D. A Wonderful Turf Walk An illustration shows a palm-lined walk in front of a home. The walk was built of coquina rock, the shell limestone of South Florida, and planted with Mascarene grass {Osterdamia tenuifolia). [This grass is now classified as Zoysia tenuifolia—Ed.J The editors stated that "It is believed that tees built on this plan would be ideal. The grass never grows over half an inch high.” Some U. S. Golf Association Decisions on the Rules of Golf This consisted of Questions and Answers settling disputes over rules of the game. Questions and Answers In the April, 1923, number of the Bul­ letin, questions were asked on these topics : Preparing a bent turf bed to be planted from seed; vegetative planting of bent greens ; how to distinguish between creep­ ing bent and velvet bent; relative value of the two bents; preparing for a bent nursery; Poa annua in putting greens; and renovating bent greens. Meditations of a Peripatetic Golfer "In the spring one itches to worry the soil and plant the seed. So far as grass seed is concerned, see if you can’t restrain the itch and plant the seed at the best time— that is, in late summer. “Corrosive sublimate is a perfectly re­ liable worm killer. It DOES NOT injure the soil unless used excessively and is much cheaper than any commercially advertised worm killer. “ ‘Clipped grass, if allowed to rot on the green, will cause a toxic condition.’ The fellow who wrote this gives an example of pure ‘rot’ or, if you prefer, ‘bunk.’ “Don’t hesitate to mow old putting greens in spring as soon as necessary. It is folly to let the grass grow two inches high before mowing. Harris & Ewing James D. Standish, Jr. (left), USGA Vice- President and Chairman of the Green Sec­ tion Committee, and Dr. Fred V. Grau, Director of the Green Section. cause the future was so near at hand that it would very soon speak for itself. Vegetative Planting of Putting Greens—Walter S. Harban This was a well-written article describ­ ing in detail the methods used in planting the No. 9 green (and others) at the Colum­ bia Country Club. Most of the steps out­ lined are those in use today for vegetative planting. Some New Bulletins Valuable to the Greenkeeper The Use of Concrete on the Farm. Farmers’ Bulletin 461. U. S. Depart­ ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Food of Some Well-Known Birds of Forest, Farm, and Garden. Far­ mers’ Bulletin 506. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. The Drainage of Irrigated Farms. Far­ mers’ Bulletin 805. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. American Moles. Farmers’ Bulletin 1247. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Choosing a Tractor. Farmers’ Bulletin 1300. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Preparation of Peat Composts. Depart­ ment Circular 252. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Substitution of Stable Manure by Fer­ tilizers, Green Manures, and Peat. Bulletin 188. Agricultural Experiment Station, Kingston, R. I. The Japanese Beetle. Circular 46. State Department of Agriculture, Trenton, N. J. 16 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 New Bentgrass Nursery at Beltsville Turf Gardens More than one hundred selected strains of bentgrass from all over the country are collected here for studies of adaptability to fairway use. The objective is ultimately to produce seed from the superior strains which, when blended and produced commercially, will develop superior fairway turf. Lawns and cemeteries also will benefit from these studies. USGA Green Section Photo “The ideal tee is a large area of turf on the ground level but well drained. On such the turf is much more easily main­ tained; besides, if the area is large enough the plates can be moved every day. A raised tee is never defensible except to se­ cure visibility. “Buy your supply of bent seed now. You may not be able to get it later in time to sow between August 15 and September 15. “Now is a good time to observe grass sown last fall, to see how much of a start it already has over that sown this spring. “The idea that a bunker must be a hole in the ground is an illusion. It may just as well be an area of loose sand on top of the ground level or even a patch of rough grass. Where sand is expensive and drainage poor, the rough grass patches are very effective. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 17 “If the advertisements of some new and wonderful thing in regard to grass excite your interest, try it by all means, but only in a small experiment. “It is unfortunate that many green­ keepers incline to be secretive. Green­ keeping, like everything else, will advance with the spread of knowledge and not by keeping ‘the light under a bushel.’ “If you are going to build a new golf course in the North, plan the work so the seeding can be done between August 15 and September 15. “A hazard that is too severe is apt to defeat its object. The players purposely avoid taking the chance. “It is well to be suspicious of the seeds­ men who advise spring seeding of Turf grasses in the North. The conditions are exceptional where spring seeding is jus­ tifiable. “Before you try anything new in the way of greenkeeping except as a small experiment, better get the opinion of the Green Section. It may save you some money that might better be used otherwise.” COMMENTS ON THE APRIL, 1923, NUMBER OF THE BULLETIN IT should be obvious to every golf club that uses vegetated creeping bent-grass that the golfing world owes an undying debt of gratitude to the men who developed the principles of the vegetative planting of bent. What has been done in 25 years since the historical dates cited are merely refinements; the basic principles still stand. New member clubs of the USGA should strive to borrow old copies of the Bulletin in order to develop an appreciation of information available today. The supply of this number of the Bulletin is ex­ hausted so please do not write to the Green Section asking for this number. Another fact is so glaring that one actually blushes. The information pub­ lished 25 years ago on vegetative planting has been reprinted almost on an annual basis and the Green Section still gets let­ ters asking the question, “We have heard of your new creeping bent. Where can we get seed and how much does it cost?” It is obvious that education actually is needed more than research. The Green Section staff would answer fewer letters if all green committee chairmen would first consult with their course superintendents before writing for technical information. In 1923, golf clubs could hold separate memberships in the Green Section and the USGA. On November 30, 1923, the Green Section membership was 643 and the USGA membership was 645. The majority but not all of these clubs were members of both the Green Section and the USGA. Actually little has changed in 25 years— principally the people and some of the grasses. As personnel changes the same lessons have to be taught to a new group of people. The more frequent the change, the more difficult becomes the job of dis­ seminating information. It is safe to say that, in the past 25 years, there has been less change among the course superin­ tendents than among club management, es­ pecially green committees. It is hoped that suitable recognition ultimately will be given to the stabilizing influence of course superintendents on golf clubs through the one thing that makes the game of golf pos­ sible—good turf on the course. CENTIPEDE GRASS FROM SEED Lack of seed has discouraged the plant­ ing of Centipede grass for many years. Test plots of Centipede grass at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Ga., have produced yields as high as 200 pounds of seed to the acre. The use of proper management practices may encourage seed production sufficiently to make it com­ mercially profitable. Dr. G. W. Burton, of the Tifton Station, has a limited quantity of seed for trial purposes. Anyone who is interested in obtaining a small packet of seed for testing may request it of Dr. Burton. The Northern limit of the range of Cen­ tipede grass is not clearly known. One of the objects of distribution of seed is to 18 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 determine this limit. It is possible that some of the seedlings may possess quali­ ties that make them more cold resistant than the ordinary Centipede grass. Centipede grass makes a very desirable turf on poor, sandy, acid soils. It is tough, forms a dense turf, is low growing, has a pleasing color, withstands close cutting and heavy use, and the fertility require­ ments are low. The low-growing habit of Centipede grass contributes to its desir­ ability for roadsides, airfields and similar areas. It is being used as a desirable grass in golf course roughs as far north as Greensboro, N. C. PEST CONTROL SUPPLIES Attention is invited to the Seventh Edi­ tion of “Entoma,” a directory of insect and plant pest control, published by the Eastern Branch of the American Associa­ tion of Economic Entomologists. This directory will be extremely valuable as a guide to sources of pest control materials and as an informational handbook. “En­ toma” can be procured from Dr. G. S. Langford, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland. College Park, Aid., at a cost of $1. RESULTS OF LEAD ARSENATE SURVEY The November, 1947, number of Timely Turf Topics contained a questionnaire relative to the use of lead arsenate. This survey was made for the purpose of pro­ curing information regarding the effective­ ness of lead arsenate in the control of insect pests and turf weeds. The response was disappointing. It is felt, however, that the information derived from the returned questionnaires is indica­ tive of the results usually obtained from the use of lead arsenate. In general, good results have been ob­ tained in controlling insects with lead arsenate. Some of the data are obscured because other materials were used for control or because of a lack of infestation of various insects. Of the reports received. 44 per cent in­ dicated that crabgrass had been controlled by lead arsenate; 35 per cent reported that it had controlled chickweed; 17 per cent reported that it had controlled Poa annua. Few reported control of pearlwort, clover, and other weeds. Only 22 per cent stated definitely that lead arsenate had not con­ trolled weeds. Fifteen per cent stated that they were unable to determine whether lead arsenate had contributed to the control of weeds. There was no correlation between the soil type and the extent of weed con­ trol accomplished by the use of lead arsenate. Amounts of lead arsenate applied were variable and many clubs did not have figures available regarding the amount or rate of application. It is felt that much of the success in weed control effected by the use of lead arsenate may be ascribed to controlling the insects that would weaken turf and allow weeds to come into the plant population. Weeds are inhibited by a vigor­ ous turf but when the turf is weakened they are quick to take over. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LEAD ARSENATE LITERATURE Grau, Fred V.—Control of Crabgrass and Other Turf Weeds with Chemicals. USGA Green Section, Bulletin, Vol. 13, No. 3, p. 47. 1933. Welton, F. A., and Carroll, J. C.—Crab­ grass in Relation to Arsenicals—Jour­ nal American Society of Agronomy, Vol. 30, No. 10:816-826. 1938. Vandecaveye, S. C., Horner, G. M„ and Keaton, C. M.—Unproductiveness of Certain Orchard Soils as Related to Lead Arsenate Spray Accumulations. Soil Sci., Vol. 42, No. 3:203-213. 1936. Welton, F. A., and Carroll, J. C.—Lead Arsenate for the Control of Crabgrass. Journ. American Societv of Agronomv. Vol. 39, No. 6:513-521/1947. CONFERENCE DATES February 21-24, 1949 Pennsylvania H. B. Musser, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. TURF FIELD DAYS September 20-21, 1948 Pennsylvania H. B. Musser, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 19 Uniformity in the Rules RECENT decisions by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America to play its tournaments under the established Rules of Golf are a splendid thing for golf. They mark a highly important step toward one unified game in the United States. Early this year the PGA offered the USGA a number of suggestions regarding the play of the game and the USGA Open Championship. Later, but before receiv­ ing the USGA’s reply, the PGA announced that its competitions would henceforth be played under USGA Rules except for the number of clubs a player might carry; more recently, the PGA adopted a policy of full uniformity. The PGA’s action was especially gratify­ ing because it had been made voluntarily. The PGA’s original suggestions were signed by Air. Ed Dudley, its President. The USGA reply was made by Mr. Field­ ing Wallace, its President. Normally, when Messrs. Wallace and Dudley have any mu­ tual golf affairs, they handle them by con­ versation in the clubhouse and on the golf course of the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga., of which Mr. Wallace is Secretary and Mr. Dudley the Professional. They are good friends and occasional golf companions—symbolic of the fine relations which have always existed between ama­ teurs and professionals in golf. The USGA’s reply covered in detail some basic views of the Association. Cer­ tain points are sometimes little understood by golfers generally. The USGA believes it to be in the interests of the game for its attitude to be known by golfers generally. Therefore, the USGA’s answer to the PGA is published below—but we emphasize that the PGA has independently settled most of the questions raised. Thus, the USGA letter should be read not in the sense that it is still directed to the PGA but only in the sense of information for all golfers. Following is Air. Wallace’s letter to Air. Dudley: WE have given consideration to the sugges­ tions in your letter of January 8. Our Execu­ tive Committee is highly desirous of promot­ ing uniformity in the play of the game and observance of the Rules, and we therefore appreciate any effort toward that end. However, our Executive Committee be­ lieves that it would not be to the best inter­ ests of golf to adopt your particular sugges­ tions. Perhaps our divergence from your views is accounted for by a difference in general approach to the game. Golf to us is essen­ tially a recreation and a sporting test of skill for the nearly 3,000,000 amateur players in the United States. On the other hand, your Association sponsors a program of intensive competition among professionals for money prizes. In general, your suggestions would tend to “soften” the game, in our opinion, and to make for artificially low scoring. We, too, are interested in promoting interest in golf. How­ ever, we do not believe that this is the way to do it. Our observation has been that a game is not necessarily improved by “soften­ ing” it. To the contrary, we believe that the challenge which golf affords as essen­ tially a test of skill is one of its greatest charms and one of the reasons why it has thrived. It appeals deeply to that quality in people which inspires them to exert their best efforts in the face of difficulty. Most if not all of your suggestions doubt­ less come from the small group of profes­ sionals who are your tournament circuit players. They are the greatest players in the game. It seems to us that, since they possess the ultimate in skill, they are the ones who should least feel a need for a “softer” code of Rules. If they do feel such a need, then you will doubtless recognize that their inter­ ests are quite special in that they are con­ stantly competing for money prizes. In that case, we cannot agree that their special inter­ ests necessarily represent the best interests of the game as a whole. 14-CIub Rule You have suggested that the Rules of Golf be amended to permit the use of 15 or 16 clubs, rather than the present limit of 14. Our Executive Committee is unanimous in the belief that 14 chibs are enough to play the game pleasurably or to provide a demon­ stration of skill. You have said that the vast majority of those with whom you have discussed the subject are very strongly in favor of 16 clubs. You imply that failure to amend the 14-club limitation would constitute failure to give cognizance to the wishes and inter­ ests of what you call “the golfers of the Nation.” 20 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 Although the USGA represents the mem­ bers of some 1,100 clubs, we have not re­ ceived any suggestions for increasing the num­ ber of clubs except from some of the pro­ fessionals on the tournament circuit spon­ sored by the PGA. If the Rules were amended to permit 16 clubs, many amateurs would feel a compul­ sion to add two clubs to their sets—an increase of 14 per cent. The cost of a set would increase proportionately. If for no other reason, we feel this would be a dis­ service to the vast body of amateur golfers. Decision to limit the number of clubs to 14 was made by our Executive Committee in November, 1936 after an extensive survey of sentiment throughout the United States and after conference with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. The effective date of our Rule was deferred to January 1, 1938 in order to give players and manufacturers ample opportunity to make necessary adjustments. The Rule was well received and we have not heard of serious objection in the intervening decade except for the suggestions in very recent years by your Association. In announcing the 14-club limitation in January, 1937, our Executive Committee is­ sued the following statement: “The Executive Committee has noted with concern a growing increase in the number of clubs. Its inquiries supported its conclusion that limiting the number of clubs would tend to restore to the game individual shot­ making skill lost through the introduction of an excessive number of clubs in finely graduated and matched sets. The Commit­ tee felt that a multiplicity of clubs tended toward mechanization of a game one of W’hose virtues lies in the opportunity it af­ fords for full individual skill. In earlier days players sometimes changed their swings to execute varied shots. The tendency in re­ cent years has been to change only the club. It was felt that, as a former President of the Association said, players should not buy their shots in the professional’s shop but should develop skill by their own effort. “The Executive Committee believes that limitation of the number of dubs will ac­ complish other desirable objectives, namely: 1. “Relief to caddies from unfair burdens; 2. “Reduction of delays in play, as the players will spend less time in deciding what club to use; 3. “Give players who cannot afford an un­ limited supply of clubs an opportunity to compete with others on a more equal basis.” Markings on Iron Clubs You have suggested that we adopt one standard design with which the faces of iron clubs may be marked (rather than the speci­ fications we now have). A similar request was made by a com­ mittee representing the PGA during the Open Championship last year. The USGA repre­ sentatives at that time stated that the feature of the Rules which permits some latitude in the character of markings was adopted at the request of manufacturers in order to give them an opportunity for some indi­ viduality of design. Your representatives then expressed the opinion that the manufac­ turers would accept a standard design, to which we replied that our Executive Com­ mittee would probably approve such a design if the manufacturers were agreeable. It was therefore determined that we would approach the manufacturers to obtain their opinion, which we did, and we advised Mr. George Schneiter, Chairman of your Tourna­ ment Committee, of the results. The final vote of the manufacturers was that seven were opposed to or preferred not to make such a change and that three were willing. Since the action of our Executive Committee was contingent upon a favorable reply, this concluded the matter. We note your feeling that a standard design would make it easier to inspect clubs and eliminate confusion. A standard design doubt­ less would be simpler to interpret than the present specifications, but the checking of scoring of iron clubs is at best not an easy job for the layman since it deals with very fine measurements. We therefore feel that we should depend on the manufacturers to make clubs in conformity with our present specifications, and a change to a standard design would be of no assistance in this respect. Most of the confusion in the last year was caused by either deliberate or care­ less manufacture of clubs in violation of our specifications. Such a situation would not have been helped by the adoption of a stan­ dard design and, since we rely on the manu­ facturers for their cooperation, we think it far better to provide them with a set of specifications which is to their liking rather than force the adoption of a standard design which they do not want. We are receiving the cooperation of all the manufacturers. If the professionals will give similar support, we believe that the matter of club face markings will not be a problem. Prize Money for Open Championship You have suggested that the prize money for professionals in the Open Championship be increased by an amount equal to the entry fees received from the competitors. We regret to say that we feel it inadvis­ able to do so. We have many other activi­ ties which would be adversely affected if we were to increase the Open prize money. Fur­ ther, we feel that the prize money now of­ fered is adequate under existing circum­ stances. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 21 his livelihood from the game. To give you but a few examples: 1. Last year the USGA allotted to its Green Section a budget equivalent to 125 per cent of all income from USGA mem­ bership dues. To reduce the Green Section’s budget would retard its work for the good of all golf courses. 2. Our Walker Cup and Curtis Cup Matches with the British are very expensive and pro­ duce no income whatever for the USGA when held abroad. Last year the Walker Cup Match expenditures were nearly $16,000, which accounted in large measure for the USGA’s net loss of nearly $9,400 in our over-all activities. But the international matches serve a real purpose both here and abroad and in generally furthering interna­ tional sportsmanship and understanding. We should not like to have them affected ad­ versely. 3. Our Amateur Public Links Champion­ ship has always entailed a financial loss to the USGA. We feel it is a boon to golf, and we should not like to impair it. All USGA revenue eventually goes back into the game. Since the professionals stand to gain most from those things which aid the development of golf, it would seem to us short-sighted for your Association to ad­ vocate the diversion of funds from broadly useful purposes in order to increase the prizes for the 30 lowest professionals in the Open Championship. The financial success of the Open Cham­ pionship, like all other events of which we are aware, depends in large measure upon the generosity of several hundred amateur golfers who give freely of their time and energy to conduct it, without compensation whatever. Our Executive Committee, like the members of the host club, not only con­ tribute their efforts but pay all of their own expenses in connection with all of their USGA work. If everyone connected with a competition were to be paid for his ef­ forts and his personal expenses, it is doubtful whether any competition would be a financial success, and that in turn would probably mean a reduction in money prizes. Finally, you may be correct in your state­ ment that the Open Championship has dimi­ nished in importance because its prize money is no longer of an unusual amount. We, how­ ever, do not consider that the amount of prize money is the sole important test of the worth of a competition. The Open Championship is intended to be essentially a sporting event and a Championship test. It is not a com­ mercial event for advertising purposes. Suggestions for Changes in the Rules of Golf Your several suggestions for changes in the Rules of Golf were considered by the Executive Committee when the forthcoming Fielding Wallace (left) and Ed Dudley, USGA and PGA Presidents, respectively. The Open Championship prize money has twice been increased in the last two years— by $2,000 in 1946 and by $2,000 again in 1947. The total scheduled prizes in 1947 amounted to $10,000. In addition, in both 1946 and 1947 we awarded special prizes of $1,000 for equal division among the competitors in playoffs which became necessary after ties for the Championship. Thus, in 1947 all prizes for professionals amounted to $11,000, &s compared with $6,000 in the last pre-war Championship in 1941. The USGA’s income has not increased cor­ respondingly and its expenses have grown much greater. In connection with entry fees, the fee for the Open Championship has remained at $5 for a great many years. Further, 42 per cent of the entrants in the last two years have been amateur golfers—the two-year total of 2,532 entrants consisted of 1,467 professionals and 1,065 amateurs. That proportion has been constant in both of the post-war Open Championships held thus far. I am sure you know that we should like to make the Open Championship as inter­ esting as possible for the competitors, con­ sistent with our other commitments, and that we should like to be as helpful as reasonably possible to the professional golfers. The USGA’s attitude has been expressed in nu­ merous ways throughout the years. The Open Championship, for instance, inaugurated in 1895, was the first regular competition with money prizes for professionals. Then, too, in the early years of your Association’s Ryder Cup Match series with British pro­ fessionals, the USGA made cash contribu­ tions toward the PGA’s expenses. I think you must know that it has always been the USGA’s intention to be as useful as possible to the game of golf. Our desire to serve the best interests of the game as a whole is precisely one main rea­ son why we feel unable to increase the Open Championship prize money. If we were to do so, we should have to make a correspond­ ing decrease in allotments for other activities, all of which ultimately benefit the game and therefore benefit the professional who makes 22 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 1948 Rules were adopted. We had also re­ ceived numerous suggestions from other sources. A number of changes are being made in the Rules, but the Committee did not adopt any of the proposals you advanced. Your same suggestions had been fully con­ sidered more than a year ago. Among the most compelling reasons against your proposals are: 1. Proposal to Permit Cleaning Ball on Putting Green : One of the basic principles of golf has always been to play the ball as it lies without touching it. To permit clean­ ing the ball indiscriminately, regardless of conditions, could easily lead to lifting the ball following a majority of strokes, and that, in turn, could easily lead to unfair tac­ tics. We do, however, adopt a local rule to permit cleaning the ball on particular days when adverse playing conditions justify. It is never possible to provide uniform condi­ tions for an entire field, and a basic idea of the game is to take the course as you find it. 2. Proposal to Permit Lifting, Cleaning and Placing Ball Embedded on Putting Surface: Same considerations as in item 1 above, and same procedure on special days in USGA competitions. 3. Proposal to Prohibit Brushing Line of Putt With a Club: Removal of loose impediments from the line of putt has long been permitted. We feel it is more practical to permit a club to be used for the purpose rather than to require that it be done by hand. We feel also that Rule 18 of the 1947 code provides sufficient protection against improving the line of putt otherwise. 4. Proposal to Permit and Require Re­ pair of Ball Marks on Putting Surface Before Putting : We feel that players them­ selves should not be allowed to do this or to order that it be done, as it could definitely allow improvement of the putting surface and testing of the grass; but in our competitions we direct the club’s greenkeeping staff to do so. As far as players are concerned, we re­ vised Section 6 of Etiquette of the Game of Golf last year to provide as follows: “A player should see that any turf cut or dis­ placed by him is at once replaced and pressed down, and after the play of the hole is com­ pleted should see that any ball hole made by him in the putting green is eradicated.” You cannot eliminate all luck from the game. There are a great many irregularities of lie in the fairway, such as in divot holes and natural depressions, which might also be considered as unfair as ball marks on the putting green, and possibly even more so because they are not made by the player affected. See also general consideration in item 1 above. 5. Proposal to Reduce Penalties to Dis­ tance Only for Lost or Unplayable Ball: To do so would be to allow any shot to be replayed for loss of distance only, and that would change the very nature of the game, would be a great time-consumer, and would create grave inconsistency among the Rules. We do not agree that the matter of a lost or unplayable ball tis exactly parallel with that of a ball out of bounds. Boundaries are a necessary evil and in a great many instances are unfair in location. Although in theory it might seem incorrect to have a lesser penalty for a ball out of bounds than for a lost or unplayable ball, in actual practice there are relatively few lost and unplayable balls in comparison with out-of-bounds shots. For many years the Rules of Golf sanctioned re­ mission of the penalty stroke for a ball out of bounds by local rule, and most clubs had such a local rule. When the change to loss of distance only was made in the Rules of Golf proper last year, it was merely mak­ ing uniform what had previously been option­ al and what had already been common prac­ tice, even in USGA competitions where there were many boundaries close to the line of play. We realize that there can never be unanim­ ity of opinion among all golfers as to certain Rules of Golf, and we do not pretend that our committees are always unanimous. But we do consider these two factors very im­ portant : First, that all opinions be informed opin­ ions, based on full knowledge of the facts and with the best, long-range interest of the whole game in mind. Second, that there be unanimous observ­ ance of the Rules once they have been fixed. Tournament golf is not quite the same sort of spectacle as many professional sports. Golf is primarily a game for amateurs to play. One of its distinctive features is that it is played as a sport in which everybody com­ petes on equal terms. Unlike most profes­ sional spectator sports, the gallery at golf tournaments is constituted of golfers who play the game and understand it and who walk around the course with the competi­ tors. One of the features that makes the vocation of golf professionalism attractive is the close association between the amateur and the professional. Many of us feel that the PGA’s adoption of a different code of play­ ing rules is creating a break which can only result in injury not only to the game itself but to those who have made the decision to take up the game as a means of earning their livelihood. The professional golfer is constantly set­ ting a powerful example. He has a real responsibility. In view of all these considerations, and in view of the long history of cordial rela­ tions between the professional and the ama­ teur and between their respective representa­ tive bodies, we request your Association to give serious consideration to abandoning its special rules and to return to uniform ob­ servance of the established Rules of Golf. USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 23 THE REFEREE Decisions by the USGA Rules of Golf Committee Example of symbols: “No. 48-1” means the first Decision issued in 1948. “R. 14(3)” means Section (3) of Rule 14 in the 1948 Rules of Golf. Cleaning Ball: Removing Dandelion Blade No. 48-1. R. 14(3) Q: The Danish Golf Union a short time ago received an answer from St. Andrews which is in contradiction to one of your de­ cisions mentioned by Mr. Richard S. Francis in his book as R-12-3. Our question was: “In an open match play tournament (quar­ ter-final), w’hich was played on a newly-mown course just after rain had fallen, a piece of a dandelion blade adhered to a ball with only a small part of the blade sticking out from the surface of the ball. Can such a blade be considered a ‘loose impediment’ or will removal of the blade be considered ‘cleaning of the ball’ (not covered by local rule) ?” The answer read as follows : “The dandelion blade, part of which was sticking out from the surface of the ball, can be considered a loose impediment and could be removed under the terms of Rule 12.” I do not at all understand this answer, which I find is contrary to the general rule that a ball must not be cleaned during the play and as I do not see the difference of an adhering blade and mud and particles adhering to the ball. I would be much obliged if you would send me your opinion. C. Scheller, Hon. Secretary Danish Golf Union Copenhagen, Denmark A: In the absence of a local rule, the re­ moval of the piece of dandelion blade adher­ ing to the ball would, in the opinion of this Association, be a violation of Rule 14(3). Playing Opponent’s Ball in Four-Ball Match No. 48-2. R. 13(4a) Q: In a four-ball match, A and C are play­ ing B and D. B plays A’s ball up close to the hole and then strokes the ball into the hole (making two strokes played by B with A’s ball). A then goes to play and finds that B has played his ball. No one else in the match made a stroke between the strokes B played with A’s ball. B contends that he may replace A’s ball without penalty, then play his own ball. Is this correct? Jerry Jentes New York, N. Y. A: No. B is disqualified for that hole as provided in Rule 13(4a). The disqualifica­ tion does not apply to his partner D. A is entitled to replace his ball in its original posi­ tion and continue play without penalty. Embedded Ball: Local Rule Necessary No. 48-3. R. 10(2), 8; LR Q: Our No. 8 hole is a par 5, 495 yards. From approximately 350 to 450 yards out, on the left side, drainage is poor so that, after a rain, water lies in the rough for at least a few days, which is naturally casual water. However, at all times a certain amount of mushiness exists so that a high ball may be­ come embedded yet under foot no water is visible. A number of arguments ensue during this condition as to what the correct ruling might be in the event of a lost or unplayable ball. R. W. Hathaway Binghamton, N. Y. A: In the absence of casual water and in the absence of a Local Rule covering an em­ bedded ball, the ball must be played as it lies. See Rule 10(2). If the ball is deemed to be lost or unplayable, Rule 8 governs. See also Recommendations for Local Rules. Concession May Not Be Recalled No. 48-4. Misc. Q: If a putt on putting surface is con­ ceded and man misses without acceptance can hole be called? Erwin Hardwicke Dallas, Texas A: No. When a concession is made it may not be recalled. Hazards: Natural Impediments and Artificial Obstructions No. 48-5. R. 17(1), 7(4) Q: Please send me the new ruling on what may be lifted before a player plays his stroke in sand traps or hazard. Some players say they can lift branches and stones out of sand traps. Harold Lee New Orleans, Ea. 24 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 A: Under Rules 17(1) and 7(4), certain artificial objects may be lifted, but natural objects such as branches and stones may not be removed without penalty. Knocking Away Moving Ball No. 48-8. R. 1(3), 2(1), 3(1), 12(5c), 15(1), 18(9) Q: A makes a putt. Ball apparently stops on lip of cup. B decides to knock it away. Before B could hit the ball, it started to drop into the cup and was moving when he finally knocked it away. B acknowledged the ball was moving when he hit it. However, he con­ tends he still was entitled to knock it away, while A thinks he was entitled to the putt. There was no wind or anything to cause it to move other than the grass giving away under the ball. A three-ball match was being played, and all three saw the ball moving as it was hit. B. A. Rhoades Trinidad, Colo. A: A vs. B 1. If B had not holed out, B lost the hole to A under Rule 12 (5c). 2. If B had holed out, the rule of equity (Rule 1(3)) must be invoked to prevent in­ jury to A. A’s ball had not come to rest after A’s last stroke, and A must be given the bene­ fit of the doubt that it would have fallen into the hole. For purposes of possibly applying Rule 2(1)—Penalty Qualified, A cannot be considered to have had a stroke left for a half. Thus, invoking the rule of equity as the primary consideration, it is ruled that: (a) If B had holed out in more strokes than A had played, B lost the hole to A. (b) If B had holed out in the same num­ ber of strokes A had played, the hole was halved. See Rule 2(1)—Penalty Qualified. (c) The entire matter is academic if B had holed out in fewer strokes than A had played, as B had already won the hole under Rule 3(1). A vs. C As indicated in Rule 12(5c), B was an out­ side agency with respect to the match be­ tween A and C (the third player). Ordi­ narily Rule 15(1) would apply, but it would obviously be unfair to require A, in his match with C, to play his ball from the place to which it was knocked by B. Rule 1 (3) with respect to equity supersedes Rule 15(1) in this particular case, and A is deemed to have holed out at his last stroke. With respect to Rule 18(9) applying to a ball on the lip of the hole, the following note has been added in the 1948 Rules of Golf: “Whether a ball has come to rest is a ques­ tion of fact. If there be reasonable doubt, the owner of the ball may require a mo­ mentary delay to settle the doubt. There is no specified time limit for determining the fact.” Bridge in Hazard: No Relief No. 48-10. R. 7(4), 17(1) Q: May a ball within a club-length of a bridge in a water hazard—but not in the water —be moved back in the hazard without penalty? The rule is worded “steps.” Oscar Coolican Washington, D. C. A: No. Parts of bridges and abutments in the confines of hazards are not artificial obstructions under Rule 7(4), and there is no relief therefrom without penalty when a ball lies in a hazard. “Steps” in Rule 17(1c) of the 1947 Rules of Golf did not mean bridges. It should be noted that in the 1948 code Rules 7(4) and 17(1) have been revised so as to afford relief without penalty in a hazard from all artificial obstructions except parts of bridges and abutments. Playing Opponent’s Ball: Opponent May Not Elect to Exchange No. 48-11. R. 13(la) Q: In a match in the 1935 Women’s West­ ern Championship there occurred an unusual and interesting incident involving the rules that showed Miss Miley’s sportsmanship. The drives were about alike, the balls being within fifteen yards of each other in the center of the fairway. Mrs. Atwood, for her second, shot the wrong ball. Miss Miley, as she went to play, saw the mistake, and asked the refe­ ree what should be done. The ruling of Mrs. Raymond, president of the Women’s Western Association, was that Miss Miley might claim the hole, or that she might waive the penalty and the hole be played out with the exchanged balls. Without hesitation, the Kentucky girl decided on the latter. Playing Mrs. Atwood’s ball, she hooked into a trap, but they ultimately halved in fives. Was the above decision correct or should Mrs. Raymond have ruled that Mrs. Atwood lost the hole: that it is not permissible to elect to play the player’s ball and thus cancel the penalty by playing out the hole with balls thus exchanged? Mrs. W. H. Seagrave Cleveland, Ohio A: The decision was incorrect under the current USGA interpretation. The opponent may not elect to play the player’s ball; the exchange must be inadvertent. Rule 13(1) of the 1948 Rules of Golf provides in part: “If a player play the opponent’s ball his side shall lose the hole, unless: “(a) the opponent then inadvertently play the player’s ball, in which case the penalty is cancelled, and the hole shall be played out with the balls thus exchanged.” For further qualifications, see Rule 13(lb). USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 25 Borrowing Club from Other Than Opponent, Partner, or Fellow Competitor No. 48-12. Pre.; D. 9 Q. 1 : In a team match. Player A, upon reaching the first green, found her putter had been left out of her bag. She putted as well as she could with another iron to avoid “bor­ rowing from her opponent.” She continued to putt in this fashion for several holes until they came to a short hole where several matches were delayed. In the general conver­ sation, A mentioned that she had no putter and had been using her No. 2 iron. One of the waiting players said, “I happen to be carrying two putters. I’ll be glad to let you have one.” A gratefully accepted it. Upon completing play of the next hole, A’s oppo­ nent claimed the hole and the match, saying A had disqualified herself by using a bor­ rowed club. They agreed to take the matter up with the Team Captain, who immediately called me for a ruling. My analysis was as follows : A had merely added a club but had not exceeded the 14-club limit. I could see little difference in her accepting it from an­ other player on the course than if she had waited until the ninth hole to borrow one from the pro shop or someone’s locker. (Being a team match, she was not playing at her own club and only temporary replacement was de­ sired.) I ruled that there had been no in­ fringement and the match should continue. A. 1 : Player A did not violate the Pream­ ble (14-club rule) as she did not carry or use more than 14 clubs and did not borrow from an opponent or a partner. Q. 2: Suppose the above incident had oc­ curred in stroke play? The club A accepted was not in use by the player who loaned it, yet they would be fellow competitors. Is the rule meant for the purpose of limit­ ing the player to 14 clubs only, or is borrow­ ing the greater sin? A. 2: A fellow competitor is the player with whom the competitor plays in stroke competition—see Definition 9. The prohibi­ tion in the Preamble against borrowing a club from a fellow competitor would not have applied had the incident occurred in stroke play, as A borrowed the club from a player with whom she was not playing. Questions by Mrs. Robert Hurka C.W.D.G.A. Rules Chairman Chicago, III. Scraping Sand on Backswing No. 48-16. Et. (6) ; R. 2(1), 17(1), 18(3) Q. 1 : I respectfully request an official rul­ ing on the following decisions of mine based on Rule 17 (Hazards) (1) and (b) : “A player scraping or touching the sand on his backswing in a sand trap does so under penalty of two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.” This ruling is claimed to be wrong, several pros and others contending that the back- swing is part of the act of “striking” the ball. My contention is that the backswing is not part of the act of striking, but is a move­ ment preparatory to the “act of striking” as set forth in Rule 17; otherwise a path in back of the ball could be cleared and the lie of the ball improved, intentionally or other­ wise. This would be, as I see it, contrary to one of the fundamentals of golf. A. 1: Your interpretation of Rule 17(1) is correct. See also Rule 2(1). Repairing Line of Putt Prohibited Q. 2: Has there been any change in Rule 18? There has been considerable confusion in this district over a ruling believed to have been made by the PGA whereby a divot hole on the green in the line of putt is allowed to be repaired before putting. Does this have any official sanction? A. 2: Although Rule 18 has been altered in some respects, there has been no change which would permit a player to repair the line of putt before putting. See Rule 18(3) and Etiquette 6. Questions by A. D. Cranstoun Los Angeles, Cal. Practice Strokes No. 48-19. R. 2(3), 13(5) Q : A and B were playing a match in a tournament. When they arrived at the second hole there were four matches waiting to tee off. While waiting A took out of his bag about 15 balls and practiced pitching shots, not to the green but to his caddie standing in the rough. He continued to practice until it was time for him to continue play. Did he violate a rule ? William C. Hunt Houston, Texas A: No. Rule 13(5) does not apply. It should be noted that, had there been no waiting, the player would have violated Rule 2(3) prohibiting unfair delay in play. Ball Touching Artificial Obstruction No. 48-21. R. 7(4) Q : Please clarify new rule on ball touch­ ing obstruction. May ball be moved nearer hole to allow free swing or what? New rul­ ing not clear to me. George MacRae San Francisco, Cal. A: Ball touching artificial obstruction as defined in 1948 Rule 7(4) may be lifted with­ out penalty and dropped within two chib- lengths of that point of obstruction nearest where ball originally lay, and must come to rest not nearer hole. Similar procedure per­ mitted when swing or stance is interfered with by immovable obstruction within two club­ lengths of ball. 26 USGA Journal: Spring, 1948 IT’S YOUR HONOR Farewell to Calcutta To the USGA: I wish to confirm my advices to you that the Garden City Golf Club has decided to hold its Thirty-Eighth Annual Invita­ tion Tournament on May 20th, 21st and 22nd. I am, also, pleased to tell you that the Board of Governors of the Club has unan­ imously agreed, at a recent meeting, to eliminate the Calcutta Sweepstakes Pools from this tournament. We have felt, for some time past, that the amounts of money involved in pools of this character have grown so large that they have had a very injurious effect on amateur golf. Long before these pools had become common practice our Club conducted these Annual Invitation Tournaments in a manner productive of satisfaction and enjoyment to the participants without the atmosphere of gambling which seems to be an accompaniment of the Calcutta Pools. Under the circumstances, we are happy indeed to take the lead in eliminating a feature which we feel to be detrimental to the ideals and aspirations of amateur golf and we feel certain that all of the contestants will agree that the trial of skill and good sportsmanship inherent in the good old game of golf will provide all the thrills and excitement necessary for their thorough enjoyment. We have been glad indeed to note the attitude of your Association toward this undesirable development and we feel that our action demonstrates clearly our sup­ port thereof. C. Waller Barrett Chairman, Tournament Comm. Garden City Golf Club Garden City, N. Y. Golf Terms To the USGA: How long will it be before lexicogra­ phers are puzzling over the derivation of the verb “to stymie”?—golf’s expressive contribution to the English language and especially adapted to the plight of the fat man who can’t get over the fence. What is to become of those who use “bogie” to denote a stroke over par when the USGA’s new fractional system for rating golf courses goes into effect? When, oh when, will the dear USGA inform the dear old public (yes, and re­ porters) it is about time they quit using the plural for greenkeeper, green commit­ tee, etc., because the word “greenkeeper” stems from golf’s early days when the “course” was called the “green”? All these years it must have perplexed many as to what the ’’greenskeeper” and the “greens committee” did about all the other hundred acres of fairways, tees, rough, putting greens and woods while devoting all their time to eighteen putting greens. Proposed and seconded that an organ­ ization be herewith formed, whereby all club members calling a greenkeeper a “greenskeeper” or using the plural for the green committee, its chairman or members, be mulcted in the sum of blank cents or blank dollars and sent for blank minutes to trim the bunkers or mow the tees. Kerr N. Petrie N. Y. Herald Tribune The New Handicap System To the USGA: Just a short note after the first meeting of the Cincinnati Golfers’ League on the system for handicapping that the USGA has proposed. Five members of the Gol­ fers’ League took the formula and studied it thoroughly and then rated each of the 16 courses hole by hole. We each sub­ mitted our own calculation and when we finished the difference wasn’t over 3/10 of a stroke on any course. We rated each course and presented the final results to each club and there was not one objection. The USGA was complimented on its ef­ forts. Thomas W. Earls USGA Sectional Affairs Comm. Cincinnati, Ohio Rules Revision To the USGA: Permit me to extend my congratula­ tions to your Rules Committee who, through their keen revision of the 1947 Rule Book, have eliminated most of the claims of the ever-present golf doctor. Harry Winters Inglewood, Cal. * * * Editor’s Note: The USGA Journal invites com­ ments on matters relating to the welfare of the game and will publish them as space permits.