USGA JOURNAL COMBINING TIMELY TURF TOPICS LOOK WHAT MUMMY WON! Nancy Porter, age 11 months, was not particularly impressed when her mother won the Women’s Amateur Championship. But Whan Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Porter brought home the Cup, she registered, all the proper emotions. IS GA JOURNAL COMBINING TIMELY TURF TOPICS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION Permission to reprint articles herein is freely granted (unless specifically noted otherwise) provided credit is given to the USGA Journal. Vol. II, No. 6 Autumn, 1949 Through the Green................................................... 1 Penalties Cut in British Rules........................... Bernard Darwin 5 A Champion Who Laughs....................... Miss Frances E. Stebbins 6 What Mrs. Porter Learned................ ..... .....................Marty Lyons 9 Anyone Can Make a Hole-in-One.......................... John P. English 10 The Overweight Ball...... .............................................John D. Ames 13 The Young Guard Advances..... ......................... Richard S. Tufts 14 USGA Nominees for 1950.............. 16 Observations on the Ryder Cup Match................... Henry Cotton 17 An Old International Match............. C. Campbell Patterson, Jr. 18 The Referee: Decisions by’ the Rules of Golf Committee........... 21 Timely Turf Topics: USGA Green Section Observations o.n Turf Maintenance in 1949..... ..... ..... 25 Second Annual National Turf Field Day............ 29 Brief Report on thi: Status of B-27 Bluegrass......................32 Tlrf Problems in California.............. ............ 32 It's Your Honor: Letters ........................................................... 33 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: united states golf association 73 East 57tii Street, New York 22, N. Y. Correspondence pertaining to Green Section matters should be addressed to: USGA GREEN SECTION, Room 307, South Building, Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md, Edited by Joseph C. Dey, Jr. and John P. English. Advisory Committee—John D. Ames, Chairman; Isaac B. Grainger, Curtis W. McGraw, Janus D. Standish. Jr. All articles voluntarily contributed. PRINTED IN U. S. A. USGA COMPETITIONS FOR 1950 ’ Curtis Cup Match: Sept. 4 and 5 at Country Club of Buffalo, Williamsville, N.Y. Women’s amateur teams, British Isles vs. United States. (Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in the ease of the Amateur Public Links Championship. For possible exceptions in dates of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, see entry forms.) Championship Open Entries Close May 15 Sectional Qualifying Ron ncls May 29 Champio nshiy Dates June 8-9-10 Amat. Public Links *May 26 Junior Amateur June 26 **June 11 to 17 July 11 Team: July 1 Indiv.: Julv 3-8 July 19-22 Amateur July 24 August 8 August 21-26 Venue Morion G. C. (East) Ardmore, Pa. Seneca G. C. Louisville. Ky. Denver C. C. Denver, Colo. Minneapolis G. C. Minneapolis, Minn. Girls’ Junior Women’s Amateur August 10 Aug. 24-25 September 11-16 Atlanta A. C. (E. Lake) August 11 — Aug. 28—Sept. 1 Wanakah C. C. Hamburg. N.Y. Atlanta, Ga. •Entries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. ♦♦Exact date in each Section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 1 THROUGH THE GREEN Thinking Out Loud Criticism, both malevolent and bene­ volent, is an editor’s lot. As we near the end of our second year of publication, we are grateful that no reader has yet threatened, at least publicly, to pillory us. We are equally grateful that some have made kindly suggestions. We have been told, for instance, that the USGA Journal is sometimes too technical. We have taken this benevolent criticism to heart and attempted to work out a solution. Our first step was to increase the num­ ber of pages, last spring, from 28 to 36. This enabled us to publish more articles of general interest. Yet the USGA Journal remained to some extent technical. It has to re­ main so, because of the very nature of much of the USGA’s work. In setting forth our policy in the spring of 1948, we proposed to provide “a meeting place for golf lovers to exchange useful ideas and a medium for USGA decisions, comments and information on such subjects as the Rules of Golf, tourna­ ment procedures, handicapping, Cham­ pionships, amateur status, golf balls and clubs and new trends in the game . . . and the improvement of golf-course maintenance.” We believe our program has been sound and adherence to it has given the USGA Journal a distinctive quality. We like the remarks of Mr. Hal A. While, member of the Sectional Affairs Committee and Secretary of the Detroit District Golf Association: "One of the benefits of this USGA Journal would be to make members bet­ ter directors, officers and operators of golf clubs, because certainlv when they get into that type of operation, they should have a good deal of technical background. “Many clubs in this district limit the time their directors and officers can serve, and the turnover is fast. Promising directors, officers and chairmen of com­ mittees should be advised to subscribe, to better prepare themselves for the day when they take over. “I think we should admit our USGA Journal is technical in many cases but that the information is absolutely and fundamentally necessary to do the job that we think is worth while for golf.” Two Passings The latter part of the season was saddened by the passing of two pro­ fessionals whose names will not be forgotten although neither won a na­ tional championship. Macdonald Smith, a Carnoustie man, was one of the great untitled players. In 1910 he tied for the Open Championship and lost to his brother, Alex. Twenty years later, in the 1930 Open, he nearly blocked Bobby Jones’ grand slam with a finish that, in the end, earned him second place. In between, he won almost every­ thing else that counted in this coun­ try and set records that endured beyond his prime. The grace and stvle of his swing, performed in his early years with the old palm grip, remain a standard of perfection wherever swings are discussed. Frank Turnesa, a New Yorker, was not a great player but he bore a great golfing name with honor as an architect and instructor. The second of the seven brothers, it was his role to serve as an inspiring force within the family and a staff upon whom the brothers could de­ pend. 2 Golden Anniversary The USGA was organized on Decem­ ber 22, 1894, and the following Au­ tumn inaugurated one of its principal functions—conduct of Amateur, Open and Women’s Amateur Championships. During the intervening 55 years, the Championships have been suspended six times because of two World Wars. In each instance, therefore, next year’s Championship will be the 50th — the Open at Merion Golf Club, the Amateur at Minneapolis Golf Club and the Wo­ men’s Amateur at the East Lake Course of the Atlanta Athletic Club. These three Championships will be termed the “Golden Anniversary Cham­ pionships.” That Californ’a Final We are indebted to John B. Morse of Del Monte, Cal., for an account of one of the most thrilling finals the game has USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 produced, that between Mac Hunter and Gene Littler for the California Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach. Hunter, who is 21, gained a three-hole lead in the morning round, but Littler, who is 19, had squared things when they came to the 17th in the afternoon. Mr. Morse takes it from there: “The 17th is a long par 3 right at the ocean. It has a long, kidney-shaped green, really in two parts, and the flag was on the far part. Both elected to play safe and run up the neck onto the green with irons. Littler hooked way back in the trap so that he had to cross on his second shot 20 feet of sand and 20 feet of green to the pin. Hunter rolled up on the lower half of the green but was stymied on his putt by the kidney which is, of course, rough. Littler was away, took out his wedge and laid his ball three feet from the pin. Since Hunter Earning Their Pay? When Charles B. Grace and Isaac B. Grainger, members of the USGA Executive Committee, used a tape measure to determine which of two balls was away during a match in the Amateur Championship, two spectators were overheard in conversation: First Spectator: “What’re they doing?” Second Spec: “Measuring the putts.” First Spec: “Why do they do that?'’ Second Spec: “ Oh, they’ve got to do something to earn their pay.” The remark was not intended to be funny, but it was. USGA officials give their time and even pay their own expenses to serve the game. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 could not putt, he took a wedge on the green, lifted his hall beautifully over the rough and it stopped one foot from the pin, leaving Littler a dead stymie. Littler again used his wedge and holed out, giving Hunter his putt. Both made 3s and nobody putted. “They went into the long finishing hole still all even. Both hit fair drives but were stymied by that enormous pine in the center of the fairway. With the greatest courage, they sliced their long brassies out to sea and back again onto the course. Littler played a No. 5 iron to the green 22 feet from the hole. Hunter laid a No. 6 iron 20 feet from the hole. Littler sank his putt for a birdie 4. Hunter lined up his and halved him with another birdie 4. “They went up to the first hole, the 37th of the match. Hunter made a mag­ nificent drive and Littler hooked into the rough. Littler played a magnificent controlled hook which ended pin-high, 20 feet away. Hunter sliced into the trap. It looked as if the match was over. Hunter was away, deep down in the trap and blind to the hole, but he sank his recovery for a birdie 3. Once again the match seemed over, but Littler, under the most terrific pressure, dropped his putt to halve with another birdie. “They went to the second extra hole, which is a par 5. Both slapped out long drives and long brassies, were on the green in two and for the third successive hole halved in birdies. “On the third extra hole, Littler was to the right and made a nice pitch to the green but it wouldn’t hold and slid off into a trap. Hunter was on and sank his putt for a 4 and the match was over.” Who’s Afraid of Stymies? Australians seem to know what to do when faced with a stvmie. Joe Greening was stymied three times in a match against Maxie Eise at the Metropolitan Golf Club near Melbourne. In each case. Eise's ball lay about four inches from the hole I Royal and An­ cient Golf Club rules governing) and Greening’s a little more than a foot far­ ther away. Greening holed his ball each time. 3 SPORTSMAN’S CORNER TO THE USGA: At this time of year when there is con­ siderable space devoted on sports pages relating to the selection of "All-Amer- icas", it seemed to me that you might well select some "all stars" from among our golfers. Truly this might prove quite a task, es­ pecially if you decided to select one per­ son who had contributed most to the game in 1949. However, from the sidelines, it appeared to me that one young man in particular had added considerably to his stature dur­ ing the last few months. A year ago he was semi-finalist in the British Amateur and later won our National Champion­ ship. Then this year he reached the final of the British and the semi-final of our Amateur. These are cold facts. But behind them lies a human story of this man's character and courage. One or two newspapermen were aware that while he was competing in the champion­ ships, a member of his family was fatally ill and that our sportsman assumed a daily share of the responsibility that cloaked the grieving family. In deference to good taste a general silence was observed: the background was never communicated to the public. It was edifying for a bystander to ob­ serve this American in action. Golf may be only a game, but this was a man who was playing it. There was another outstanding person on the scene this year. He was the leader of the British Walker Cup Team. Had the result been a triumph for the visitors in the international series, undoubtedly he would have been widely acclaimed. But he left an inerasable mark nevertheless on the 1949 season. There was always a complete understanding of his task and teammates, no matter what the outcome. And despite his deep disappointment at the result, he added immeasurably to the spirit of fellowship which was part of the Walker Cup atmosphere. And these are only two who in my humble opinion merit your consideration. Sincerely, LINCOLN A. WERDEN THE NEW YORK TIMES (Editor's note: Mr. Werden refers to William P. Turnesa in the first instance and Percy B. (Laddie) Lucas.) 4 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 A Trophy Returns to Kebo Valley The mu? held by John J. O’Brien (center), President of the Kebo Valley Club, represents second prize in a tournament played there 55 years ago. It has been presented to the club by its winner, E. Shirley Goddard (left). First prize in the same tournament was won by Hugh Scott (right). The Kebo Valley Club in Bar Harbor was the first permanent golf club in Maine. It was incorporated by a group of huntsmen in 1888 (the same year that the Old Apple Tree Gang of the St. Andrew’s Golf Club started playing golf in Yonkers, N. Y.), and its first golf holes were laid out in 1891. On September 8, 1894, the Club con­ ducted a handicap stroke-play tourna­ ment which must have been one of the first held Down East. The competition consisted of three rounds on the six-hole course. The winner was Hugh Scott and the runner-up E. Shirley Goddard. As the recent season was ending at Bar Harbor, the two leaders in that Nine­ teenth Century competition, now aged 77 and 79, respectively, lunched together again at Kebo Valley with John J. New Caddie The caddie-scholarship idea continues to flourish. The Detroit District Golf As­ sociation is one of the most recent ad­ ditions to the list of sponsors, and John Anderson, who is 18 and lives in Pon­ tiac, Mich., is the first winner of a full­ tuition scholarship from Detroit’s James O’Brien, the Club President, and Mr. God­ dard presented to the Club the mug he had won almost exactly 55 years ago. The inscription on the mug reads: “Kebo Valley Golf Club Handicap. Sec­ ond Prize. Won by E. S. Goddard. Scratch. Sept. 8, 1894. Score 111.” Mr. Scott promised to scour the attic of his home in Wellesley, Mass., for the first prize he won on the same day, with a handicap and score he cannot recall. If he is successful, the two trophies will also be reunited, in the Club’s trophy room. The room already contains another of the Club’s most prized possessions: a placard announcing a tournament on Au­ gust 19, 1897, for “all visitors to Mount Desert Island, Sorrento and Grindstone Neck.” Scholarship D. Standish, Jr., Scholarship Fund of the Evans Scholars Foundation. Ander­ son is attending Wayne University. Mr. Standish was long President of the De­ troit Association and was recently nom­ inated to be President of the USGA. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 5 Penalties Cut in British Rules By BERNARD DARWIN Retired Chairman, Rules of Golf Committee, Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland On the 20th September at a crowded meeting of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, our new code of Rules was passed by an overwhelming majority and will come into force on New’ Year’s Day. These rules have demanded consider­ able work for the past three years, and now that they are safely passed I have resigned my position as Chairman of our Rules of Golf Committee. I am there­ fore a free man, but I feel that I ought still to write of the Rules as objectively as possible and shall try to do so. One important point is this: these Rules will now, as far as we are con­ cerned, be the official Rules of Golf, but the Committee suggested what I may call a probationary period of two years, at the end of which any parti­ cular Rule may be reconsidered, when it has been seen how it works out in practice. At the end of that time we may hope for a code that will not need revision for a very long while, and there is one thing that I should like most emphati­ cally to add. This period of two years will give time for the USGA and our Rules of Golf Committee to confer to­ gether in the hope of arriving at one uniform code for all the golfing world. The wish for such a conference has been most cordially expressed by the USGA and as cordially reciprocated by us. I do sincerely trust that it will take place and that it will be fruitful. Per­ sonally I can think of no differences that could not be composed by a little give and take on both sides. Distance Only Now as to these new Rules, the most important and the most controversial point is the reduction of the penalty for a ball lost, out of bounds or unplay­ able from stroke and distance to dis­ tance only, and some other reductions naturally flowing from this main one. On that main question the Commit­ tee’s members were so evenly divided that the Chairman’s casting vote might have decided the issue. That was clearly undesirable and I did not give it. In­ stead, wre took a referendum of the mem­ bers of the Club, that we might have their opinions to guide us, with the re­ sult that there wras a considerable major­ ity in favor of distance only. There­ upon, whatever our individual opinions, we thought it our duty to adopt the majority’s view and reduced the penal­ ty to distance only. A sense of proportion and a desire for consistency in the Rules thereupon demanded the reduction of other penal­ ties. Briefly, the old penalty of two strokes has disappeared and the general penalty is now one stroke; but this does not apply to anything in the nature of a deliberate defiance of the Rules, such as carrying too many clubs. There has been a hardening rather than a softening in such case. As regards the unplayable ball, we have for the first time defined it. It must still be ultimately for the player to decide, but we have tried to give him some guidance by declaring that a ball is unplayable if the player consider he cannot make a stroke at it and dislodge it into a playable position. This defini­ tion may not be “water-tight”—I doubt if there can be one—but it gives the hon­ est player at least some rule of con­ duct. Impediments and Obstructions A new’ and rather controversial point is the distinction between “loose impedi­ ments” and “obstructions”. A “loose im­ pediment” is “any natural object not fixed or growing on the course”, while an “obstruction” is “anything artificial erected or placed on the course or any­ thing temporarily left on the course”. The bottle in which the unfortunate (Continued on Peifie 8) 6 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 A Champion Who Laughs By MISS FRANCES E. STEBBINS Chairman, USGA Women’s Committee Golf, which is alleged to be a game, must look like pretty grim business to an uninitiated watcher at a national championship. Competition has become so keen that the utmost concentration appears necessary if a player is to be in the top flight. You have to concen­ trate merely to play the game at all, much less to play it well. The result is that many players of championship quality give an impres­ sion of utter self-absorption. Smiles are rare. When your average good golfer gets set to putt, the whole world stops breathing; the world, of course, is polite­ ly focused on that simple act of trying to roll a little white ball across grass into a hole in the ground. Yes, golf is a game, but with some players it is a game in name only. By way of contrast, it is particularly refreshing to watch Mrs. Mark A. Porter, the former Dorothy Germain, of Phila­ delphia. Here is a happy golfer. Here is a young lady who plays as if she gets some fun out of playing, and not as if the fate of nations hung on her ability to explode one from a bunker. Golf Her Servant Not that Dot Porter is exactly casual about golf. She has given it a good deal of time in her young life of 25 years. But she is the master of her golf, not its servant. She has kept it in its right place, as a game. You could not fail to be impressed with this had you seen Dot win this vear’s USGA Women's Amateur Cham­ pionship at the Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia. Dot had been brought up as a golfer on the Llanerch Countrv Club course not far from Merion and num­ bers of her friends were on hand to cheer. It was like a quiet Sunday afternoon at home for Dot. Championship or no championship, she greeted and chatted writh friends between shots, stopped and patted little girls on the head, asked them how things were. Judged by mo­ dern standards, you were very pleasantly surprised that she wasn’t trudging along glumly, head down. It was wonderfully natural. Women’s golf has never had a more charming, gracious Champion than Dot Porter. She is a delightful personality. Perhaps her enviable ability at keeping golf a game induces the self-control, in mind and skill, which champions need. The paramount place of the spirit is worth thinking about. There are other factors, of course. Mrs. Porter is engrossed with her fam­ ily, comprising a husband (who plays so w’ell that he gives her handicap strokes) and a darling daughter named Nan­ cy, who wras less than a year old when Mummy won the Championship at Mer­ ion. There is the further factor that Dot is an athlete. She has played and coached field hockey and has served as an official in hockey and basketball. Mrs. Porter’s victory at Merion was no surprise to those familiar with her record. In the last six years she has won the Women’s Western Amateur Cham­ pionship twice (19-13 and 19-14), was runner-up in the Western Open to Mrs. George Zaharias in 1914 and 1945, has won the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Championships and has been runner-up in the Women’s Eastern and the Nation­ al Intercollegiate Championships. Dot qualified in the USGA Champion­ ship twice before this year, back in 1939, when she was 15 years old, and in 1941, when she won two matches before losing on the third extra hole to Miss Helen Sigel, who eventually was runner-up. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 7 Mrs. Mark A. Porter The Champion Miss Dorothy Kielty The Runner-up At Merion this year it was all match play, with a field of 128, so Dot had to win seven matches to become Cham­ pion. Among her victims were three members of the last Curtis Cup Team: Miss Dorothy Kielty, of Los Angeles, who lost in the 36-hole final by 3 and 2; Mrs. Julius A. Page, Jr., of Chapel Hill, N. C., who lost on the 21st, and Miss Dorothy Kirby, of Atlanta, who was defeated in the semi - finals by 3 and 1. Miss Kielty in reaching the final won from several particularly strong oppo­ nents, including Miss Helen Sigel, of Phil­ adelphia, who was runner-up last year; Miss Polly Riley, of Fort Worth, a mem­ ber of the last Curtis Cup Team, and Miss Marlene Bauer, of Los Angeles. Last year, when there was a qualifying round in the Championship proper, Miss Kielty called a disqualification penalty on herself for inadvertently returning a wrong score after she had easily passed the medal play test. This year she near­ ly won the Championship. Merion was a delightful host, both on and off the course. The justly famed East Course is a great test of the game, and it brought forth some thrilling play. One of the real features was the play of 15-year-old Marlene Bauer in being a semi-finalist. One of her victims was Mrs. Edwin H. Vare, Jr., six times Cham­ pion. Marlene this year won the first LSGA Girls’ Junior Championship. It was fine to have Mrs. John L. Hui- teng back in the Championship. As Miss Betty Jean Rucker, she has been Pacific Northwest Champion. Since her marriage she has lived in Providence, R.L, and is supervisor of personnel at a hospital. It took Dorothy Kirby to eliminate her in a match which went 19 holes. One of the most interesting competi­ tors was Miss Frances Stephens, of Eng­ land, the current British Champion. She lost in the second round to Mrs. Page, who showed real mastery of rainy-day conditions. One of the contestants was Mrs. Helen B. Stetson, of Philadelphia, who won the Championship 23 years ago on the same course. Another was Miss Margaret Curtis, of Boston, who first played in the event in 1897. A keen spectator was 8 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 Miss Frances Griscom, of Philadelphia, Champion in 1900. The Championship this year was held on a new pattern. Its success was such that it has been decided to repeat it in 1950. This plan provided, first, for 36-hole sectional qualifying rounds over two days. They were held in 16 sections; 24 sections were originally scheduled, but there was not enough interest to justify play in all. A total of 192 persons sent in entries; rejections for lateness and withdrawals cut the list to an ultimate 171. After the sectional qualifying, a field of 128 in the Championship proper at Merion competed entirely at match play, for the first time; they were paired by a sporting (blind) draw. During an open meeting of players with the USGA Women’s Committee at Merion, player sentiment was slightly over 82 per cent in favor of sectional qualifying. The 1950 Championship will be planned on exactly the same pattern. As before, entrants must have handicaps not exceeding six strokes. The USGA is sincerely grateful to wo­ men’s sectional golf associations which kindly conducted sectional qualifying this year. Penalties Cut in British Rules (Continued from Page 5) Bradshaw found his ball in our Open Championship (in which he tied with Bobby Locke) would, by way of exam­ ple, be an obstruction and he could, un­ der the new Rule, move his ball with­ out penalty. The same Rule will apply to an obstruction in a hazard, and that is a point on which obviously all will not agree. We have made an effort to discourage the funereally slow play which is some­ times seen in competition. It is now laid down that the committee in charge shall have power to disqualify any player who in their opinion unduly delays the play of others. We have added a recommen­ dation that this Rule should not be en­ forced without previous warning. Further, in order to stop the inordi­ nate and unnecessary lifting of the ball on the putting green in stroke competi­ tions, it is laid down that in stroke play when a ball lying on the putting green interferes with the play of another ball, the ball nearer the hole must be played first. There arc many other minor changes, but I have tried to mention the most important ones. And now, two final points. First, we have been throughout in consultation with the governing bodies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Afri­ ca, with the Joint Advisory Committee at home (representing the English, Scot­ tish, Irish and Welsh Unions) and with the Professional Golfers’ Association (British). Secondly, we have borrowed from the United States the layout of the Rules, bringing the Rules for match and stroke play together. FATHER "Who's the stranger, Mother Dear? Look! He knows us! Ain't he queer?" "Hush, My Own! Don't talk so wild; That's your father, dearest child." "That's my father? No such thing! Father died, you know, last spring." "Father didn't die, you dub! Father joined a golfing club. "But they closed the club, so he Had no place to go, you see— "No place left for him to roam; That's why now he's coming home . . . "Kiss him, he won't bite you. Child! All those golfing guys look wild." —RUSSELL W. HOBSON USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 9 What Mrs. Porter Learned By MARTY LYONS Secretary, Professional Golfers’ Association of America Professional, Llanerch Country Club, Havertown, Pa. When I became professional at the Llanerch Country Club in 1934, I in­ augurated a junior golf class, and it was there that Dorothy Germain, now Mrs. Mark A. Porter, started her golf­ ing career. Her victory in the 1949 LSGA Women’s Amateur Championship was therefore a source of great satisfac­ tion to me. It would seem also to be a fine testimonial to the value of the junior instruction program which the PGA is now actively promoting. We kept the children interested by holding tournaments with their parents, giving spring and fall parties, awarding prizes to each child and taking movies to record what each accomplished. In teaching beginners, I first put them through a series of exercises. I teach the proper use of the arms by having them swing on a straight line backward and forward through the ball. Then I have them use their hands at the top of the backswing and swing through on the line of flight. Finally I concentrate on the backswing and through the ball. When the pupils have achieved some sense of control, I go into the complete follow-through, teaching the proper use of the hands through the ball so they can hook, slice and hit low or high. I also have them exercise by swinging with the left arm alone, with the right arm alone and with two clubs together. The weight of two clubs seems to make them swing in the right arc. I don’t believe in telling pupils all their faults. I try to get them to con­ centrate on the right things to do. I explain the entire golf swing, the Xardon grip, the various stances and the necessity of taking a firm hold with the left hand. When addressing the ball, I teach my pupils to keep the right side relaxed, the shaft in line with the left arm, the weight slightly behind the balls of the feet, the knees relaxed and the shoulders, Marty Lyons elbows and wrists free from tension. The left side controls the backswing. The hands, arms and club must start back together, the body turning easily toward the right side, the left knee bend­ ing inward toward the right, the right leg straightening to support the weight and the left arm extending to the full to hold the club in a horizontal position, pointing toward the objective, at the top of the backswing. The downswing starts with the left heel returning to the ground as the weight is shifted to the left leg. The shoulders turn toward the left as the hands and arms begin the downward sweep. The right shoulder slips under as the club is brought into the ball. The left arm is straight but not tense. The right elbow is comfortably close to the side. The head does not move forward with the swing. The hands return to the position at address, with the back of the left hand facing the hole. The right leg re­ laxes and follows around easily. 10 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 Anyone Can Make a Hole in One By JOHN P. ENGLISH USGA Assistant Executive Secretary An individual who makes a hole-in-one is rewarded with a sensation of thrilling satisfaction that has remained undiluted since first a Scottish shepherd knocked a rounded pebble into a pothole in the pasture with his crook. The rarity of a hole-in-one, however, has declined as the number of players has multiplied, and it is estimated that 1,500 holes-in-one are now7 made each year in the United States and Canada. In order for a player to achieve any enviable amount of prestige in holing a tee shot, he must do it under most un­ usual circumstances or in duplicate. This in spite of the fact that the chances a- gainst a hole-in-one are about 10,000 to 1 each time a player steps to the tee of a one-shot hole, or 2,500 to 1 each time he starts a normal 18-hole round. The Most Dramatic Ace No one has ever matched, for pure drama, the hole-in-one made by Jamie Anderson on the 17th hole at Prestwick in the second and last round of the 1878 British Open. After he had set up his ball on the 35th tee, Andy Stuart, his marker, remarked that it was outside the teeing ground. Anderson reteed his ball and holed it. The ace sealed his victory with a 36-hoIe score of 157. In the absence of such a dramatic set­ ting, either length or frequency is required to endow a hole-in-one with memorability. The longest was entered in the records by a chap named Cardwell on the 425-yard ninth at the old Hillcrest Golf Club in Winston-Salem, N. C. The Golfer’s Handbook, which lists this record, does not give Cardwell’s full name or the date, and the feat is now difficult to confirm. A woman, Marie Robie of Wollaston. Mass., is credited with the next longest. She reported holing a tee shot on the 393-yard first hole at the hilly Furnace Brook Golf Club last September 4. This fairway runs downhill to the green, but Miss Robie had to drive 200 yards to catch the roll. The player who claims the most holes- in-one is Arthur J. Wall, Jr., of Hones­ dale, Pa., twice Pennsylvania Amateur Champion. Wall, who is 26, claims 28 aces, and no one has challenged his claim or dares predict how7 many he may make, at that rate and granted a long life in his new7 role as a professional. The late Sandy Herd and Jim Braid, both professionals and w'inners of the British Open, made 19 and 14, respec­ tively. Herd made many of his holes-in-one with a jigger. One afternoon he was fol­ lowing a game, carrying the jigger in his hand. A player asked if he might try it, and he, too, holed an unofficial ace—- a feat which transferred a certain amount of awe from Herd to the jigger. Among Braid’s 14 wrere six on the sixth hole at the Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, where he is both profes­ sional and an honorary member. Golfers who are endowed with such artistry or good fortune, of course, dwell on Olympus and need not mingle with ordinary 14-handicap men. It is more likely that mortals will stir up excitement by making two holes-in-one in the same round. Cpl. Bob Halverty, for instance, re­ ports that he aced two consecutive holes at Recreation Park in Long Beach, CaL, in August, 1945. He made one on the 308-yard 15th and another on the 130- yard 16th. II is achievement, though, on­ ly duplicated the record of Alex Duthrie. a Canadian professional who also aced two consecutive holes at Vancouver Golf and Country Club in 1911. At least twenty-three other players have reported holing in one twice in the same 18-hole round. Two holes-in-one in the same round is no guarantee of success, however. In a match at the Peninsula course near Portland. Ore., in 1931. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 11 Marty Leptich is reported to have aced the fourth and 15th holes and lost. In the sectional qualifying for the 1919 LSGA Open Championship at the Plum Hollow Golf Club in Detroit, Hay Ma­ guire aced the fifth and 14th holes on his second round and failed by two strokes. Eric W. Fiddian, once English Ama­ teur Champion, made two holes-in-one during the 36-hoIe final of the Irish Open Amateur Championship at Newcastle in 1933. He aced the seventh hole in the morning and the 1 1th in the afternoon and lost to Jack McLean, 3 and 2. A considerable number of others have made two holes-in-one on the same day. One was an Englishman named P. II. Morton, famed chiefly for his ability as a bowler, who found time for two rounds of golf at Meyrick Park in Bournemouth on Christmas Day, 1899, and holed his tee shot at the first hole each round. In the afternoon, it is related, a friend called across a fairway to congratulate him on his morning ace and remarked: ‘'It’ll be many a day before you do that again.” “I just did it again this afternoon,” Morton responded. Elliott C. Stauffer duplicated that feat at the Churchill Valley Country Club in Wilkinsburg, Pa., last May Day. He holed out with his ?w. 6 iron on the 156- yard 16th hole in both morning and af­ ternoon rounds. G. Hebden also twice holed in one the 120-yard 10th at the Malden Golf Club in Surrey last Sep­ tember 18, using the same club and ball each time. Mrs. Julius A. Page, Jr., a former Wo­ men’s Amateur Champion, made three holes-in-one within 15 days at the Chapel Hill Country Club in North Carolina in the winter of 1939-40. They came on De­ cember 22. December 29 and January 6. A chap named Turtle made three aces within 15 days on the same hole, holing in one on three consecutive Sun­ days on the sixth hole at Hawkes Bay. New Zealand, in 1934. Such situations prompted Lloyd’s to offer insurance against a hole-in-one. By paving a premium of $2.50. a golfer can assure himself that a hole-in-one will bring $50 to cushion the expense entailed. 12 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 by the custom of buying all round. An alternative is to make a Scottish hole-in-one. The term is applied to aces such as that made by Duncan C. Mac- Clintock on the 13th hole at the Rock­ land Country Club in Sparkill, N. Y., two years ago. He shrewdly made his ace on Election Day while bars were closed. An Ace At 85 Sometimes the age of the maker con­ fers on a single hole-in-one more dis­ tinction than it would otherwise achieve. J. C. Hurd was 85 when his first ace was reported, on the final hole at the Wood- cote Park Golf Club in Surrey in Sep­ tember, 1948. On the other hand, two 8-years-olds have reported holes-in-one. The first was Peter Toogood, who holed a tee shot on the 110-yard seventh hole at the Kings­ ton Beach Golf Club in Tasmania. Last summer, Bobby Kirkwood made another on a 98-yard hole at Albany, N. Y. Allyn C. Jones, a Hollywood camera man, has made aces from both sides. Jones is ambidextrous. Playing left-hand­ ed on the old Westwood course in 1941, he holed a No. 7-iron shot on the 165- yard eighth. Playing right-handed on the same course a year later, he holed a No. 6-iron shot on the 175-yard second. Aces can be made without benefit of all of one’s limbs. Jim Nichols, the one - armed professional, claims seven holes-in-one, the longest 336 yards. Ken Lawson, playing on crutches, made a one on the 220-yard eighth hole at Bemus Point, N. Y., on July 31, 1949. He lost his left leg in childhood. Sometimes a casual remark makes a hole-in-one worth talking about in the locker rooms. Last June, Fred Jones an­ nounced that he was seriously considering runnimi for Governor of Oklahoma. Three days later, in the course of a tight match at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, he remarked on the tee of a 176- yard hole: “I’d rather make a hole-in-one than be elected governor.” He did, and he wasn’t. In Great Britain, a player can make a hole-in-one and lose the hole. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has ruled than when a player abandons search for a ball it becomes “lost” and the second ball played becomes the ball in play, even if the first ball later is found in the hole. The USGA takes a contrary view. It rules that play is completed when the ball is holed and a ball which is no longer in play cannot be “lost.” On at least ten occasions, a hole has been halved in one in a singles match, which must present a dramatic juxta­ position of emotions. One half was per­ petrated by George Stewart and Fred Spellmeyer on the last hole at the For­ est Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, N. J., in October, 1919. At least twice in foursomes and twice in four-ball play, holes have been halved in one, but a more tragic instance in­ volved Arthur Fleet, secretary of the Castle Bromwich Golf Club, and W. N. Dudley Evans. Playing as partners in a four-ball on the Warwickshire course on August 21, 1927, they had the honor on the fourth tee and successively holed in one, the ace by Evans being wasted as far as the better-ball score was concerned. After making his 17th hole-in-one, Sandy Herd refused to concede that they were entirely flukes. Still, the record discloses no discernible relationship between skill and the mak­ ing of a hole-in-one. The late Harry Vardon, whose six victories in the Brit­ ish Open have never been equalled, made only one ace during his lifetime, at the Mundesley Golf Club in Norfolk in 1903, the year he won his fourth Open. Yet Gertrude Lawrence is said to have holed the first tee shot she ever struck. And Samuel T. Jones made one on the 120- yard sixth hole at the Pueblo Golf and Country Club last spring despite the fact that his glasses fell off during his back- swing and his ball hit a tree and rico­ cheted off a water fountain. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 13 The Overweight Ball By JOHN D. AMES Chairman, USGA Implements and Ball Committee A purpose of the United States Golf Association is to make and interpret rules to promote the best interests and true spirit of the game. To this end, it adopted in November, 1931, a rule that the weight of the ball shall be not greater than 1.620 ounces avoirdupois and the size not less than 1.680 inches in diameter, effective January 1, 1932. The specifications wTere reached only after five years of study, largely under the direction of Herbert Jaques, then Chairman of the Implements and Ball Committee and later President of the Association, and one year of experimen­ tation with a ball of the same size but weighing not more than 1.550 ounces. Co-operation Forthright Ball manufacturers have given the As­ sociation their complete co - operation, and enforcement never presented any sort of a problem until last season. Even in that one case, the manufacturer’s co-operation was so forthright that the problem, when brought to his attention, was easily solved to the satisfaction of all concerned. The case is reported here only to keep the record straight. During the golf season the Imple­ ments and Ball Committee became aware of rumors that the Dunlop Maxfli ball seemed heavier than other balls and was attaining unusually long distances. Since the weight of the ball has a di­ rect bearing on distance, the Committee procured from golf shops random sam­ ples of various brands of balls and tested them. A torsion scale of the type which pharmacists use to determine weight accurately down to grams and grains was purchased and used for these tests. The Dunlop Maxfli was shown to weigh consistently more than .6 of a gram, or more than one per cent, above the maximum. The other brands tested were consistently at or below the max­ imum. The Committee at once brought its findings to the attention of the Associa­ tion and the Dunlop Tire and Rubber Corporation. Both reacted immediately. The Association informed contestants in the Amateur, Girls’ Junior and Wo­ men’s Amateur Championships and in the Walker Cup Match: “Dunlop Maxfli balls tested by the USGA weigh more than USGA rules permit. A player using such a ball disqualifies himself unless he can prove it is within the regula­ tions on page 56 of the Rules of Golf booklet.” E. B. Germain, president of the Dun­ lop Tire and Rubber Corporation, res­ ponded:' “The figures you give check very closely with our own. The average of our ball is slightly heavy . . . The present plan is to start [correcting] this right after Labor Day.” A more recent letter from Mr. Ger­ main announced that the mechanical problem had been solved and that balls now being produced are within the maximum weight. Accordingly, the USGA has notified all Associations: “USGA tests indicate that the Dun­ lop Maxfli golf ball now being pro­ duced with the number printed in black and the other markings printed in red conforms with USGA Rules. “Such balls in which the number is printed in red have not conformed with USGA tests, having weighed more than USGA Rules permit. “The color in which the number is printed is the distinguishing feature.” Mercury in a Clubhead A putter with a movable insertion of mercury in its head has been disap­ proved by the Implements and Ball Com­ mittee. In two respects the club does not con­ form to the Rules Governing Form and Make of Golf Clubs and Ball. It con­ tains a movable material which changes the balance of the club, and it is not in one piece. 14 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 The Young Guard Advances By RICHARD S. TUFTS Chairman, USGA Championship Committee Was this year’s Amateur Champion­ ship a tournament of “upsets’? The right answer probably is “no ’. Time no doubt will prove that at Oak Hill the advancing guard of younger players was simply overtaking those who have enjoyed their due quota of time as leaders in the front ranks. In any case, a change is imminent for the very simple reason that the younger golfers have now had the op­ portunity, since the war, of acquiring the experience necessary to win matches with regularity in top-flight competition. Recognition of the fact that there were many fine young players on the way up made the selection of this year’s Walker Cup Team an especially difficult task. And yet, the record of the Team in the Championship indicates that the selections were sound. One Team mem­ ber won the Championship—Charles R. Coe, of Oklahoma City; still another was a semi-finalist—William P. Tur- nesa, of New York; yet another was in the quarter-finals—John \V. Dawson, of Los Angeles; and four members were eliminated by teammates. When you think of the younger play­ ers coming along, some of those who come to mind are 1 besides Coe and some of his Walker Cup Teammates I: William C. Campbell, of Huntington, W. Va.; Harvie Ward, Jr., of Rocky Mount, N. C.; Julius Boros, of Hartford, Conn.; H. MacGregor Hunter, of Los Angeles; Sam Urzetta, of Rochester; Charles B. Dud­ ley. of Greenville, S.C.; Harold Pad­ dock. Jr., of Cleveland; William L. Goodloe, Jr., of Valdosta, Ga. To name these few is to do injustice by omission to many others. A Great Championship This year’s Amateur was the 49th in the series, and it was played under exceptionally favorable conditions. The Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester. N. Y., provided a great course in top condition and ample facilities efficiently managed, all located in a community that loves and understands the game. One of the most pleasant features at Oak Hill was the fine spirit in which the game was played. To even the casual observer it must have been obvious that though there were close, hard-fought matches, the players were competing for the pleasure of playing and not only to win. Typical of this spirit was an incident in the Goodloe-Campbell match when Campbell’s shot to the short sixth hole tore up the surface of the green and the ball spun back, leaving the damaged mark in Campbell’s line to the hole. Goodloe told Campbell to repair the mark, and when his opponent quoted the prohibitory rule, which both of course knew, Goodloe was still not con­ tent; he walked over to an official and said, “Mr. HelTelfi nger, you mean to say Ah can’t even stomp on that place to help him out?” This spirit of real sportmanship makes the Amateur what it should be— not just a championship but an annual gathering of lovers of golf. The event is well worth attending just to meet and be with these devotees of the game from every section of our country. To many, the practice rounds are more interesting than the championship itself. It is a fraternal gathering which builds not only better golfers but better representa­ tives of the sport. Coe a Convincing Champion, The Amateur further provides an op­ portunity for those charged with the official responsibility of directing the game to make contacts with the leading golfers of many communities. It may not be generally appreciated how welcome and how’ valuable these contacts are, but any golfer w ith a load on his mind is always welcome to unburden himself to the nearest official. After all, our in­ terests are mutual—-to do what is best for the game of golf. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 15 Semi-Finalists in the Amateur Championship Rochester Times-Union Photo The survivors of six rounds of match play at the Oak Hill Country Club were representative of the country and of the reigning and rising generations of golf. They were William C. Campbell of West Virginia, Rufus King of Texas, William P. Turnesa of New York, and Charles R. Coe of Oklahoma. Coe was 25, Campbell 26, King 33, and Turnesa 35. The promise which Charles Coe's game has given in recent years came to full fruition at Rochester. The tall, 25-year- old Oklahoman was very convincing in winning the Championship. Among those whom he defeated were Robert Sweeny, former British Champion; Har- vie Ward, who held a substantial lead until late in the match and finally lost on the 19th; John Dawson, whom Coe defeated on the 21st after three extra holes; Bill Campbell, in the semi-finals, 8 and 7, and Rufus King, of Wichita Falls. Texas, in the final, 11 and 10. Charley Coe is a thorough Champion. Up to the final. King played splendid golf of much the same quality that fir-t attracted attention in the Amateur Cham­ pionship of 1935, when he had a most interesting match with Lawson Little, the defending Champion, in the first round. zXll factors conspired to make the 49th Amateur at Oak Hill an outstand­ ing tournament. Otto Shults, the Club's President and Tournament Committee Chairman, had as efficient an organiza­ tion as has ever prepared such an event. There was a tremendous field of 1,060 entrants and, after sectional qual­ ifying, the starting field of 210 at Oak Hill was perhaps the strongest since 1936. It included not only almost all of our country’s leading players, but also the British Walker Cup Team. The British added immeasurably to the success of the event, and most of all by their fine sporting spirit. They may not have won any cups, but they won something far more precious—hosts of friends. 16 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 USGA Nominees for 1950 The USGA Nominating Committee has presented its nominations for the of­ ficers and members of the Executive Committee for 1950. If the nominees are elected at the annual meeting in New York in January, James D. Standish, Jr., of Detroit will succeed Fielding Wallace of Augusta, Ga., as President. Mr. Standish is now a Vice-President and Chairman of the Green Section Com­ mittee. He has been a member of the Executive Committee from 1921 to 1927 and again since 1946. He was first Chair­ man of what is now the Public Links Committee and donated the Amateur Public Links Championship Cup. As a player, Mr. Standish reached the quarter-finals of the Amateur Cham­ pionship and the final of the Western Amateur and won the North and South, Austrian and Michigan Amateur Cham­ pionships. As an executive, he has served as President of the Intercollegiate Golf Association, the Detroit District Golf Association and the United States Squash Racquets Association. Isaac B. Grainger of Montclair, N.J., who has been Secretary for four years, was nominated to be a Vice-President, and Totton P. Heffelfinger of Minnea­ polis was renominated for a third term as a Vice-President. The L SGA has two Vice-Presidents and the listing by custom is alphabetical. The nominee for Secretary is Richard S. Tufts of Pinehurst, N. C., a member of the Executive Committee for four years. John D. Ames of Chicago, also a member of the Executive Committee for four years, was nominated Treasurer to succeed Daniel A. Freeman, Jr., of Mt. Kisco, N. Y., who is retiring after seven years. Four new members were nominated for the Executive Committee: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., of Sewickley, Pa., Frederick L. Dold of Wichita, Kan., T. R. Garling- ton of Atlanta, Ga., and Lewis A. Lap­ ham of San Francisco, Cal. The other nominees for the Executive Committee, all of whom served last James D. Standish, Jr. year, are: Charles B. Grace of Phil­ adelphia, Charles L. Peirson of Brook­ line, Mass., Corydon Wagner of Tacoma, Wash., and James W. Walker of West­ bury, N. Y. The officers are ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. Fraser M. Horn of New York was nominated General Counsel to succeed James H. Douglas, Jr., of Chicago, who is retiring after eight years. The Nominating Committee is a sep­ arate entity from the Executive Com­ mittee, and its Chairman is Morton W. Bogue. The other members are Charles L. Dexter, Roy H. Pickford, Frank D. Ross and Gerald Shattuck. They also nominated a 1951 Nominating Commit­ tee to consist of Charles W. Littlefield, Chairman, and Samuel D. Conant, C. Pardee Erdman, William C. Hunt and Edward B. Leisenring. Louise Suggs’ 291 Louise Suggs wasted little time in ac­ quiring a title to replace the USGA Women’s Amateur Championship which she gave up to turn professional a little more than a year ago. She won the Wo­ men’s National Open at the Prince Georges Golf and Country Club in Land- over, Md., with a score of 291. The 72- hole score is the lowest by a woman of which we have knowledge. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 17 Observations on the Ryder Cup Match By HENRY COTTON Captain, British Ryder Cup Team, 1947 The team of first-class golfers chosen from your mighty country arrived a bare week before the Ryder Cup Match and hurried to Ganton, the scene of the en­ counter, in our best motor cars, Rolls and Bentleys, traveling via Oxford, Strat- ford-on-Avon and Leeds. These great golfers in their bright at­ tire and with their huge red leather golf bags set about getting to know the course, for a good British golf course, unlike most American courses, cannot be learned in one round, however studied and thorough the round may be. It takes many rounds to learn a natural type of course such as Ganton, as the boys found out. The fact that Ben Hogan came over and met us all pleased golfing fans im­ mensely, and we were all so sorry that he could not play for us. Ben handled his team well, and he, Ed Dudley and Bob Hudson had a busy time with such a big party to handle. The meat brought by the team gave much pleasure to all of us who were in contact with them, for we all shared their food. I am sorry that fellow-countrymen of mine lowered them­ selves by writing anonymous letters to Ben and Bob on this question. We were delighted they thought of bringing food with them. The Club-Face Matter After the first day at foursomes, with the home players leading 3 to 1 and our Captain claiming it was then 50-1 on us, the visitors were so mad at themselves that I felt anything could happen. It did, for we won just two singles matches and lost by 7 to 5. I do not think we can ever win a match in your country, but we could win over here, given all the advantages. These matches do good and I am pleased Ben called attention to some roughed-up club faces in the British players’ bags, for it is to the eternal credit of the United States golfers that since 1947 United States clubs have been scrupulously cor­ rect. We shall follow suit, no doubt, now, for if I called attention to the club-face situation in 1947, it was needed; and it is regrettable that two years later a timely word was needed from your Cap­ tain, requesting us to put our house in order. The inspiration left to us by your golfers will benefit us all, and our stand­ ard will improve in 1950 as a result of this all - too - brief visit. We had hoped your players would stay and play for us here and there, but as the pound note slipped, some profited by the occasion to show their wives around Europe and others dashed back to get on the dollar trail again. I hope it will not be four years be­ fore we see your leading players again. We are due to visit you in 1951 and I hope we shall do better on the next oc­ casion, but I am sure that, whatever the result, our players will benefit from visiting your great golfing country. Those golfers on your team who had not played our sort of golf before com­ plained that if that was what we called golf, then they had never played golf. This was prompted because on our courses greens are often not built up and fre­ quently slope away, and shots have to be played to run to the flag. I have been brought up to think of this type of golf as the real game, as it was first played with the “rub of the green” as part of the game. You in your country have tried to eliminate from the game any sort of chance, and whilst much is to be said for the motive, it becomes a much duller game than ours and at times monotonous. That is why I wish your players had stayed longer, to get to know and I hope like us more and to see our great courses as they are so very different from the majority of your courses. All the same golf is a wonderful game and we all love it. 18 USGA Journal: Autumn, 19491 An Old International Match By C. CAMPBELL PATTERSON, JR. Captain, The Country Club, Brookline, Mass. INAUGURAL GOLF MATCH 21 May 1898 Played on the links of the Royal Montreal Golf Club The Country Club S. H. Bennett ................................ 0 H. C. Leeds ................................... 1 L. Curtis ....................................... 0 G. T. Rice ...................................... 4 H. C. Ernst .................................... 5 L. A. Frothingham....................... 7 H. Jaques......................................... 3 Q. A. Shaw, Jr............................... 3 G. H. Windeler ............................. 8 F. I. Amory ................................... 0 Royal Montreal Golf Club Rev. J. R. Dobson .......................... 8 F. J. Stancliffe .............................. 0 A. A. Wilson .................................. 7 G. W. Macdougall ........................ 0 Rev. J. Barclay .............................. 0 J. R. Meeker................................... 0 J. Taylor ......................................... 0 K. R. Macpherson.......................... 0 W. W. Watson ................................ 0 W. J. S. Gordon ............................ 4 31 19 The Country Club won by 12 holes. Weather very hot and bright. This is probably the first international club match ever played in America The above record may be found in the annals of The Country Club, Brook­ line, Mass. The casual observer might give the report a quick glance and pass on to up-to-date news. On the other hand, the footnote would strike the eye of the old-timer or one interested in the development of golf in this country. The old-timer, looking back at the names, would immediately recognize Curtis, Windeler, Jaques and Leeds: “Why, these men were among the found­ ers and developers of United States golf”. Laurence Curtis was the first Vice- President of the USGA and succeed­ ed to the Presidency, which office he held at the time of this match. G. Her­ bert Windeler’s official connection with the USGA started in 1901 and was climaxed by the Presidency in 1903- 1904. Herbert Jaques, elected to the Ex­ ecutive Committee in 1907, held the Presidency in 1909-10. Herbert C. Leeds served on the Executive Committee in 1905. When one considers what this Association means to modern United States golf, one cannot help but give a great deal of credit to the sound founda­ tion laid by these early internationalists of The Country Club. After all, this was an international match I While on the subject of the players in these matches and their connection with the USGA, two other members of The Country Club side in later matches also have been honored by election to the highest office in American golf: Herbert Jaques, the son of the Herbert Jaques of the original match, and Har­ old W. Pierce. In addition to these five Presidents, numerous members of the LSGA Executive Committee have played for Brookline. In passing, it might be pointed out that it was not their official positions which qualified them to represent The Country Club. With the sole exception of Laurence Curtis, all assumed their LSGA offices subsequent to their being privileged to play against Montreal. Just as a goodly proportion of The Country Club players freely gave of their time and labor to further Amer­ ican golf, so, too, have many of the Royal Montreal players, through their connection with the Royal Canadian Golf Association, been instrumental in advancing the game in Canada. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 19 The Players Who Started It in 1898 Participants in the first match between the Royal Montreal Golf Club and The Country Club at Montreal on May 21, 1898, were, omitting the standees in the background and reading from left to right: (rear row) H. C, Leeds, the Rev. J. Barclay, the Rev. J. R. Dobson, J. Taylor, F. I. Amory, W. J. S. Gordon, J. R. Meeker, H. C. Ernst; (middle row) Q. A. Shaw, Jr., L. A. Frothingham, G. T. Rice, G. W. Macdougall; (front row) F. J. Stancliffe, Laurence Curtis, W. XV. Watson, G. H. Windeler, K. R. Macpherson, Herbert Jaques, S. H. Bennett. Everyone knows a good drive from the first tee does not win a golf match. A good start was made in Montreal in 1898, but what about the rest of the round? Except for the war years, 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1945, the matches have been played each fall, alternating between Koyal Montreal Golf Club in Dixie and The Country Club in Brook­ line. In September, 1948, the 50th An­ niversary was celebrated at Montreal. In September of this year, the beginning of the second half-century was celebrat­ ed in Brookline. Turn back for a moment to the list of The Country Club names of 1898. Mark that of Q. A. Shaw, Jr. Though his last appearance as a player was in 1946, Mr. Shaw was on hand in 1948 to commemorate the first 50 years and again in 1949 to start the two clubs off on the second 50 years. To those who know him. this gentleman is a living ref­ utation of the shibboleth that United States golf in its infancy was an old man’s game. How the matches started seems to be lost in history. That they were carried on is a fact. The reason for their suc­ cess is probably unique. When it comes to selecting the indi­ viduals who are to play, the men who have played the longest are given first consideration. There are many members of both sides who have been connected with these gatherings for more than 20 years. To supplement the older in age, one or two younger men are added each year or so. These additions are not chosen merely for their golfing ability; prime consideration is given to those who individually will contribute to the gatherings and will insure the perma­ nence of the matches. This year the handi­ caps of The Country Club players 20 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 The Players Who Continued It in 1948 Participants in the 50th match between the Royal Montreal Golf Club and The Country Club at Montreal in September, 1948: (standing) P. S. Macnutt, F. T. Pfael- zer, J. V. Kerrigan, D. C. Watson, A. Hutchison, M. Lewis, G. S. Currie, D. Jones, A. Rogers, R. T. Riley, G. C. Marler, J. D. Baile, C. L. Peirson, H. A. Cresswell, J. A. Newell, T. B. Heney, A. J. Hills, H. K. White, J. P. Anglin, J. T, Baldwin, C. B. Balch, F. A. Reece, R. J. Dawes, M. Jenckes, G. Horrax, J. W. Yuile, C. F. Rowley; (seated) J. C. Harris, I. L. Ibbotson, F. King, B. C. Gardner, T. M. Claflin, J. C. Kemp, E. W. Rogers, R. P. Jellett, C. C. Patterson, Jr., J. de M. Marler, Herbert Jaques, K. G. Blackader, H. M. Biscoe, Jr., W. W. Robinson, P. Gilbert, P. S. Gregory, G. Henderson, F. J. Kavanaugh. ranged from 2 to 21; of the Royal Montreal players, 2 to 24. Because of this continuity of play, the visitor arriving at the host club feels as though he is stepping into his own club. The warm reception is extended not only by his immediate opponents but by club members having no con­ nection whatsoever with the games. The number on a side depends to some extent upon the visitors. The visit­ ors take 20 to 24 players. The home side not only has the same number, but being at home, quite a few extras. Two days of play provide matches for these extras. In accordance with the customary handling of play, the men with most years in the meetings have the inside track for both days of play. It is the new men, no matter how much better golfers they may be, who must step aside and play but once. The early games at singles were de­ cided by the total holes won in a full round of 18 holes. Later this was changed to singles the first day and four-balls the second. The current system is singles the first day and foursomes the second, the scoring being like that of the Walker Cup Matches. Needless to say, Royal and Ancient Golf Club Rules apply in Canada; USGA Rules in Brookline. The Rules, without any deviation, are strict­ ly applied. International Precedence One final remark. In all modesty, the two clubs had always looked on these matches as the oldest international golf competition in the world, ranking sec­ ond in age only to those between Eng­ land and Scotland. When the Captain of The Country Club side made this observation at Royal Montreal in 1948, he was immediately challenged by some of the Canadians. Their argument wras, regardless of any matches played prior to 1707, since that date Scotland and England have been parts of the United Kingdom, hence since that date such competition would not be international. Such being the case, it would indicate that the annual matches between Royal Montreal and The Country Club are the oldest continuous international golf matches in the world. lar be it from any member of The Country Club to raise any question as to the status of England and Scotland. Remember, the observation came from a member of the British Commonwealth. After all, whether the matches are the oldest, the second oldest or what, every­ one of The Country Club side is proud to be connected with these meetings. The 51 years of unbroken gatherings, except for war years, is proof of the good will and pleasure such an inter­ club competition affords. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 21 'T'LJL' RfTFURPF jL. Jl 1 1_,«■ study of combination of warm­ season grasses to resist crabgrass and cool-season grasses to give color to the USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 turf has been one of the outstanding con­ tributions of the USGA Green Section to turf throughout the crabgrass belt. During the past several years the USGA Green Section has collected bent­ grass selections from all over the coun­ try and has tested them at Beltsville under a system of no irrigation, using no fungicides or insecticides and mow­ ing them at 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch. Out of more than 150 strains, only four have survived ami prospered sufficient­ ly to warrant further work with them. One comes from Ohio, one from Wash­ ington, D. C., one from Atlantic City and one from Virginia. Several selections from Oklahoma show promise. This is the most brutal treatment that can be accorded bentgrasses, which pop­ ularly are supposed to require a great deal of attention. These have had the minimum of care and have thrived in spite of it. Zoysia Breeding There was a great deal of interest in the zoysia breeding and testing project which is being developed between the USGA G reen Section and the Division of Forage Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry. Hundreds of new strains of zoysia have been developed through breeding. Many new strains are being tested under various heights of mowing, alone and in combination with various cool-season grasses. In the trials thus far, the top performing cool-season grasses are B-27 bluegrass, Alta fescue and Penn State Chewings fescue. It was interesting to note that it was difficult to get the crowd away from a demonstration of cutting plugs from Z-52 turf with specially designed plug­ cutters fitted to the F. G. Aerifier. It appears that this may be a rapid, low­ cost method of taking plugs from a nursery bed and inserting them into fair­ ways in play without interfering in any wav with the play. NEW GREEN SECTION SUBSCRIBERS COMMERCIAL FIRMS Garden Products Company. St. Louis. Mo. CEMETERIES The Elmwood Corporation. Birmingham. Ala. GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS ’Alfred H. Tull. New York. N. Y. ’Contributed $100 to Education Fund. 31 Most of the greenkeepers were sur­ prised to find that U-3 Bermudagrass which invaded the bentgrasses maintain­ ed at putting-green height did not ma­ terially affect putting quality or ap­ pearance. Many of the visitors went home with 2-inch plugs of Z-52 zoysia in their pockets and a bag of U-3 Bermudagrass under their arms. Since seed of B-27 bluegrass is practically non-existent at the present time, creeping grasses which can be planted vegetatively represent the greatest interest at the present time. It should be pointed out that most of the 19-19 production of B-27 bluegrass is being used to plant additional acreage for seed production. Even though seed is not available at the present time steps are being taken to insure ample sup­ plies in the future. A great deal of crit­ icism was voiced because B - 27 blue­ grass looks so good and yet there is no seed. It must be understood that when­ ever anything superior is finally proven, there always will be a lag between the demand and the available supply. It is inevitable and unavoidable. Some of the work which was not shown to the group included a co-opera­ tive testing program of the new fescue strains developed by breeding and selec­ tion at the Pennsylvania Experiment Station. Another was the testing of some 50 strains of Bermudagrass in bluegrass turf. Studies of nurse grasses and re­ novation trials made recently received little attention because the turf had not as yet matured. Also there were demons­ trations of establishing turf from seed of different Zoysiagrasses. The Third Annual National Turf Field Dav will be held on October 16 and 17. 1950. One day will be devoted to the inspection of local golf courses where new grasses and practices are being used under heavy play. One day will be de­ voted to inspection of the plots at the Beltsville Turf Gardens and discussions of the various points of interest. An­ other student get-together will be plan­ ned. probably for Sunday night. Octo­ ber 15. 32 USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 BRIEF REPORT ON THE STATUS OF B-27 BLUEGRASS The demand for information on B-21 bluegrass is so great that we are taking this means to answer many of the ques­ tions that have reached us. At the end of the second year of our co-operative tests with experiment sta­ tions, golf clubs and homeowners in comparing B-27 with commercial blue­ grass, we can state conclusively that B-27 bluegrass is an improved bluegrass which shows every indication of maintaining its superior characteristics under turf management. B-27 bluegrass tolerates closer mow­ ing than does commercial bluegrass. One- half-inch mowing results in the virtual destruction of common bluegrass but B-27 produces a tight, dense, clean turf under this height of cut. B-27 bluegrass is more drought-toler­ ant than is commercial bluegrass. Under identical conditions, after a period of no rain or no irrigation, B-27 has been green and vigorous when commercial bluegrass has been wilting and suffering from lack of moisture. B-27 bluegrass produces a turf that is more free from weeds than is commer­ cial bluegrass. There has been less crab­ grass in the B-27 plots. B-27 bluegrass is in extremely short supply, principally because of severe drought and a heavy freeze on June 28 in the seed-producing area of Oregon. Had normal weather conditions prevailed we would not have to be apologizing for the shortage of seed. The seed grow­ ers are exerting every effort to increase their acreage so that this improved turf grass can be made available to all. Quite naturally, the demand and the shortage combine to keep prices high. We must ask our Member Clubs and our subscribers not to request seed from the USGA Green Section because we have none to distribute. Turf Problems in California Notes on “A Survey of Twelve Golf Courses in the Los Angeles Area”, by Edward F. Roach, Graduate Student, Division of Ornamental Horticulture, University of California, Los Angeles, California. The USGA Green Section recently re­ ceived a mimeographed report on “A Survey of Twelve Golf Courses in the Los Angeles Area” by Edward F. Roach which shows the interesting similarities between golf courses in Los Angeles and golf courses in most eastern cities. No mention is made of the type of grass used on the putting greens, but our visit in February indicated that seaside bent is used almost entirely. The pH value of the greens varied from 4.6 to 8.5. The clay content rang­ ed from 9 per cent to 31 per cent. The sand content ranged from 17 per cent to 77 per cent. No correlations were drawn from the limited sampling. No excessive salt-content (conductivity read­ ings) was found. Watering varied from once a week to six times a week. Organ­ ic fertilizers are used most commonly, and the actual nitrogen as N to 1.000 square feet varied from 6 pounds to 13.8 pounds. The most common weeds listed are Poa annua, Bermudagrass and dichondra. Diseases include brownpatch, dollarspot and copperspot. Insects include earth­ worms and sod webworms. Arsenate of lead is used quite freely. Mr. Roach directs the survey into research channels by listing seven prob­ lems which were of greatest interest to the greenkeeping superintendents who were interviewed. They are: 1. Search for a variety of creeping­ bent grass that would be easier to main­ tain than varieties used at present. 2. The fertilizer requirements of bent. 3. Fungicide research. 4. Developing a method of determin­ ing how much to water bent. 5. Testing the value of mechanical aeration and cultivation of turf. 6. An attempt to find the best type of soil for greens. 7. An attempt to find a grass for green aprons that will withstand cad­ die-cart wear. USGA Journal: Autumn, 1949 33 IT’S YOUR HONOR More on Putting TO THE USGA: Sixteen putts for 18 holes by my friend George Lockwood at the Inglewood Coun­ try Club made interesting reading. Ralph Guldahl had 17 one-putt greens while playing an exhibition with Bing Crosby at the Rancho Santa Fe course in the late Summer of 1938. Crosby had in­ vited me (and my kilts) to act as referee and announcer. After I noted how many greens Ralph had failed to hit, I began to count his putts. He holed one from just off a green on the homeward nine. Being a magnificent short-game player, Guldahl had no difficulty in chipping many shots to within inches of the hole. D. S. Johnston of the Midwick Country Club, Los Angeles, now deceased, shot his home course in 69 on his 69th birthday through amazing skill on the greens. He took only 22 putts. J. J. Quinn, now of the Los Angeles Country Club, shot a great 75 over the South course at his home club on his 75th birthday. And today this venerable war­ rior, drawing mighty close to the four­ score mark, can turn in 82 and 83 with amazing regularity. preciation for the very fine manner in which the Championship was conducted by the USGA. It was certainly a pleasure to have the privilege of playing in the Championship and I want to apologize for not adding my share to the quality of golf that was exhibited. It is comforting to realize that the USGA is headed by men of such high quality, as it is a definite inspiration for maintaining sportsmanship in all types of athletics. MORTON M. JONES Kansas City, Mo. From England TO THE USGA: On my return to England I feel I must write you this note to say how very deeply and sincerely I, as Captain, appreciate all that the USGA did for the British Walker Cup Team while we were in America. I know that all my boys were so apprecia­ tive of the kindness and the attention which was shown from the moment that we landed until the day we left Roches­ ter, and they will expect me to express on their behalf our sincere gratitude. LADDIE LUCAS London, England D. SCOTT CHISHOLM Ojai, Cal. One Man's Views TO THE USGA: New Subscriber TO THE USGA: Please enter my subscription for USGA JOURNAL. I am the old man Lockwood of 16-putt fame. GEORGE H. LOCKWOOD Los Angeles, Cal. Bouquets TO THE USGA: May I thank you all for the wonderful time I had at Merion. I felt the tourna­ ment was run beautifully and that the of­ ficials present did everything they could to help the matches run smoothly and put the contestants at ease. It was a pleasure and great thrill to have played and won. May we all meet again in Atlanta next year. DOROTHY GERMAIN PORTER Westmont, N. J. It was a good move when the USGA limited the number of clubs to 14. I have felt for many years that the number should be reduced to 10, because then a good player would have to depend more on his skill rather than having a club for every purpose. A game of golf is 18 holes, but I have never understood why an endurance con­ test of 36 holes would show any more skill, or as much skill, as an 18-hole match would show. I am heartily in favor of the present system of starting the Amateur Champion­ ships at match play instead of having qualifying medal rounds. By having sec­ tional qualifying rounds, the best medal­ ists in the country have their chance to play in the championship tournament. OSCAR FURUSET Portland, Ore. TO THE USGA: As a player in the recent Amateur Championship, I wish to express my ap­ Editor's Xote-. The USGA Journal invites comments on matters relating to the welfare of the jrame and will publish them as space permits.