JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT WALKER CUP BASKS IN SMILES OF VICTORY Photo by Alex Bremner Captain William P. Turnesa and U. S. Walker Cup Team receive the trophy after triumph over British Team at Birkdale Golf Club, South­ port, England. From left: Charles R. Coe, James B. McHale, Jr., Richard D. Chapman, Frank R. Stranahan, William P. Turnesa, Captain; Sam Urzetta, Robert W. Knowles, Jr., William C. Campbell, Harold D. Paddock, Jr., with H. F. Simpson, Captain of Birkdale Golf Club, who made presentation, and Raymond H. Oppenheimer, non-playing Captain of British side. USSA JOURNAL TURf MANAGEMENT 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. IV, No. 2 June, 1951 Throlgh the Green ................................................................................. 1 A World Code oe Riles .......................................... Joseph C. Dey. Jr. 5 Oakland Hills’ Aeyy Look eor the Open ............ M. F. Dri kenbrod 7 The Walker Cl p Match ..................................... William P. Tlrnesa 10 The British Wylker Ci p Cyptain's View ... Raymond H. Oppenheimer 13 Finynles oe the PG A .................................................. Harry L. Moffitt 14 This "Inside to Olt" Business .................................... F. H. Frostick 15 Detroit Caddies Get a Break ..................................... John Walter 16 The Championship Picti re ................................................ Harry Robert IB The Condict of Women's Golf................................................................... 19 •’Golf Hol se" Helps Itself.................................................. 20 The Referee: Decisions by the Riles of Golf Committee .......... 23 Ti rf Mynagement: VSGA Green Section (:<>MI> m tiox <>i Ti hf Soils ( IhsF.RV YTIOXS OF Nf.MYTOIH.S IX Y El.LOW Tl FT OF Bf.XIGKXSS R. B. \ldekfek 25 \. C. Tyiljyx \xi> M. H. Ff.hgi sox 28 Thxvei. Highlights ................................................................................................... 31 It's Yoir Honor: Letters ........................................................................... 33 Published seven times o year in Feh-uary. Aoril, Ju"e. July, Auaust, September and November by the UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 40 East 38th St. New York 16, N. Y. Subscriptions. S2 a year Single copies: 30'. Subscriptions, articles, photographs, and correspondence, except pertaining to Green Section matters, should be sent to the above address. Correspondence pertaining to Green Section matters should be add'essed to USGA Green Section, Room 307, South Building, Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md. Entered as se'ond-class matter March 3, 1950, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Edited by Joseph C. Dey, Jr. and Harry Robert. Advisory Committee—John D. Ames, Chairman; Isaac B. Grainger, Totton P. Hef felf inger, Curtis W. McGraw. All articles voluntarily contributed. Printed in U. S. A. USGA COMPETITIONS FOR 1951 (Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in the case of the Amateur Pub'ic Links Championshin. For possib'e exceptions in dates of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, see entry forms.) Chamf'-'nship Open Entries Close Ok ali 'v Rnii^ Dates June 14-15-16 Amai. Public Links Junior Amateur July 2 "^June 1 5 to 25 July 17 Team: July 7 Indiv.: Julv 9-14 July 25-28 Girls' Junior July 30 none August 13 17 Women's Amateur August 6 none August 20-25 Amateur August 13 August 28 Sept. 10-15 “Exact date in each Section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. I 'enue Oakland Hills C. C., Birmingham. Mich. Brown Deer Park G.C.. Milwaukee. Wis. Univ, of Illinois. Champaign. Ill. Onwentsia Club. Lake Forest. Ill. Town and Country C. St. Paul. Minn. Saucon Valley C. C.. Bethlehem. Pa. USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 1 THROUGH THE GREEN Try, Try Again Richard D. Chapman, of Pinehurst, N. C., is the new British Amateur Champion after defeating another American, Charles R. Coe, 5 and 4, in the final at Porihcawl last month. Chapman twice had been turned back in the final. Now he joins the select circle of those who have won both the USGA and British Ama­ teurs. His USGA title was achieved in 1940. Additions to Executive Committee We beg to introduce two new mem­ bers of the USGA Executive Committee, elected to fill the places created at the annual meeting of the Association last January when the Committee was en­ larged from 13 members to 15. The newcomers to the body that wrestles most strenuously with USGA problems are William P. Castleman, Jr., of Brook Hollow Golf Club, Dallas, Texas, and John G. Clock, of Virginia Country Club, Long Beach, Calif. Mr. Castleman, a native of Kentucky, now a Texas oil operator, plays a very sound game of golf himself. He was run­ ner-up for the Kentucky State Amateur title in 1937 and has participated in four USGA Amateurs. He played basketball for Notre Dame from 1935 until 1938. Mr. Castleman, 33 years old. has served as executive vice-president of the Dallas Golf Association and is now Trans-Mis- sissippi Golf Association tournament chairman. Mr. Clock, president of Virginia Coun­ try Club last year, has been president of both the Southern California Golf As­ sociation and the California Golf Associa- W. P. Castleman, Jr. tion, in addition to holding other offices in those associations. John G. Clock An attorney, he has headed the Long Beach Bar Association, has been vice- president of the State Bar of California and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County Bar Associa­ tion. He is 55. The Schenectady Putter Next to “Calamity Jane, II,” Bob Jones’s historic weapon, the old original Schenectady putter with which Walter Travis won the 1904 British Amateur is American golf’s most famous club, judg­ ing by the questions of “Golf House” visitors. This is the putter which Travis, plagued by a putting slump, took abroad in some desperation. With it. he “putted his eyes out,” as Sam Snead sometimes expresses it, and won the British Cham­ pionship. The British later prohibited the use of center-shafted putters and the ban exists to this day, although their represen­ tatives in conference with USGA negotiat­ ors in London last month recommended lifting it. Since we must tell the truth and shame the devil, we confess that Travis’s old putter is not in “Golf House.” “Calamity Jane. II” hangs proudly in the reception hall, and upstairs we have an original Schenectady, a replica of the Travis club. But it is not THE club. 2 USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 Many a golf club or individual be­ lieves he has that putter, and where ig­ norance is bliss, it may be folly to put them wise. But there is an interesting letter on the subject in our Museum files — a letter written years ago by H. B. (Dickie) Martin, author of Fifty Years of American Golf, one of the most authoritative histories of the game in the United States. “I know at least half a dozen golfers who think they own that putter,” Mr. Martin wrote. “What they have, probably, is a copy of it or second cousin or step­ brother—-maybe one of the original lot that was turned out. “The original Travis putter is snugly enclosed in a glass case in the Garden City Golf Club. It cost the club $1,500 and I suppose they consider it money well invested. “Strange to say, I had something to do with the purchase. In 1918 I was book­ ing Red Cross matches. Travis finally agreed to play an exhibition match against Findlay Douglas. He got out the famous old putter and permitted us to auction it to the highest bidder. I re­ member telling one of the members they should never permit anyone to outbid them as Garden City should own that club.. Garden City finally got it—the money went to the Red Cross. “That is the story of the famous club and you can understand why I smile when someone tells me he owns the original.” To the Ladies We have a copy of “The Development of Women’s Golf in the United States,” with the compliments of Miss Ellen Phil- beck, now affiliated with High Point Col­ lege, N. C. That is the title of the thesis Miss Philbeck submitted toward obtaining her Master’s degree at the University of North Carolina. We have on our library shelves books of instruction directed primarily to women, but to the best of our present knowledge this is the first history of women’s golf in the United States we have seen. Much of the material deals with early golf in general and has been repeatedly covered but Miss Philbeck has turned up some engrossing facts. She says Mary, Queen of Scots, was probably .the first woman golfer and be­ came adept but suffered much criticism and ridicule for playing the game. Miss Philbeck points up the remarkable im­ provement made in the year between the first and the second women’s Amateur Championships — the first title was won with a score of 132; the medalist scored 95 the next year and it took 111 to qualify. It may surprise you to know, too, that by 1900 women were at times driving nearly 190 yards. Putting Members to Work The Rockville Country Club, of Rock­ ville Centre, N. Y., has a good idea for putting its members to work. The club sends out a notice explaining that the Board of Directors feels that everyone should share in the Club’s operation. The notice includes a list of committees with boxes for the member to check that in which he feels he is best suited to serve. That puts it squarely up to him. "—From Little Acorns" A year ago the Journal carried a story by Dr. John R. Williams describing the memorial trees at Rochester’s Oak Hill Country Club, site of the 1949 Ama­ teur. When one was planted in honor of Charles R. Coe after he won that tournament, members of the British Walker Cup Team who witnessed the ceremony were so impressed that a beauti­ ful pin oak was dedicated as a memorial to their visit. Curiously, the tree fruited for the first time that fall and acorns from it were sent through the British Embassy to each of the clubs represented by the British side. They were planted according to instructions. Now Dr. Williams writes that he has had many reports from Eng­ land that the trees from those acorns are growing and creating much good will. Twelve British clubs have them. Golf in Print The June issue of Holiday Magazine carries an article on St. Andrews by USGA Journal and Turf Management: June. 1951 3 SPORTSMAN'S CORNER Herbert Warren Wind, titled “Scotland s Shrine of Golf,” which not only describes the Old Course but relates some feats of Bob Jones in winning Championships there. One of the photographs illustrat­ ing it is of Old Tom Morris. A new’ golf publication from Great Britain has reached us. It is the first issue of English Golf, the new official organ of the English Golf Union. It ap­ pears to be very readable and attractive. Another Type of Tournament Our reprint of “Tournaments for Your Club” in the April Journal brought forth still another attractive type of competition, described to us by Paul L. Lewis of Merion Golf Club, near Philadelphia. Ac­ cording to Mr. Lewis. Merion’s annual fixture, “Match Play Against Dr. Bil­ lings." brings out the biggest entry of the season. Dr. Arthur E. Billings, the popular president of Merion, is a golfer of no mean ability himself. On this day he plays every other player in the tourna­ ment. Every card is matched against that of the redoubtable doctor, with an allowance of three-fourths of the handicaps. The three players making the best showing receive prizes and every­ one who finishes up on the club president receives a small token. Those who lose pav a forfeit which is donated to the Caddie Fund. The Caddie Fund does all right. There are very few winners. Fighting Golfers The New York Rojal Gazette for April 21, 1779, carried the advertisement: “To the golf players. The Season for this pleasant and healthy exer­ cise is now advancing. Gentlemen may be furnished with excellent clubs and the veritable Caledonian Balls by inquiring at the Printers." This makes it clear that even then, in time of war. gentlemen found some time for the pleasant and healthy exercise the Season for which is now advancing. And. of course, everyone knows how the Civil War boys plaved. Out in ’61. back in *65. Alfred C. Ulmer Forty years later, a title By Charles Evans, Jr. Open Champion 1916, Amateur Champion 1916, 1920 Picture, if you will, the clubhouse of a great eastern country club, in the late afternoon light of an Amateur Championship, with a crowd en­ circling the 18th green. Club employees are at the upper windows. The veranda is crowded with that portion of the gallery which prefers to take its golf sitting rather than walking. The air is warm and soft about the rolling green, and every eye is on that verdant spot. The caddie yard is quiet; even the flowers seem to bend toward the home green. The stillness is broken only by the singing of a bird. It is a short hole, and the players have just tried to pitch across a mirror-like lake, dotted with water lilies. One ball splashes into the water, but the player hits his next nicely on the green, near the hole. The other's ball finds a trap on the left edge of the green. As the crowd stands hushed and he is about to play out of the bunker, the silence is broken by his own voice: "I have grounded my clubs. It is your hole." This player was from Florida, his opponent from California. The Californian, victor when his opponent ruled himself the loser, was elim­ inated in the next round. Both were golfers of promise, but neither was seen again in the Amateur as a serious contender. Last year, almost 40 years later, the Florida man returned to a site not far from that remem­ bered scene and won a title. Alfred C. Ulmer, of Jacksonville, scored 69-77-146 to win the United States Seniors' Golf Association champion­ ship. He is a golfer of ability, five times Florida State Champion. But my richest memory of him is his sportsman­ ship in a bunker many years ago. That's the sort of memories golf leaves us. 4 USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 A Rare Distinction Francis Ouimet has received many honors in his long and respected golf career, but never before one like that be­ stowed upon him last month. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Francis Ouimet St. Andrews paid him a tribute never accorded before to anyone but a Briton. The R. & A. elected Mr. Ouimet captain of that club. Many famous players of golf have held the captaincy during the club’s 198-year history. Among them were the King of England in 1930 and the Duke of Wind­ sor in 1922. To choose an American to the post is a tribute that only a Briton can fully appreciate. Mr. Ouimet will assume office when he drives off the first ball in the Autumn Medal tournament over the Old Course in September. Rule 99 During negotiations on the Rules of Golf among representatives of Great Britain. Australia, Canada and the United States in London last month. Viscount Simon, former Chancellor of the Excheq­ uer, stopped at the luncheon table of the conferees in the House of Lords to offer the following proposal: "Rule 99" “A player who is stymied by his op­ ponent's ball may pick it up, put a lump of mud on it, and require his opponent to play it from the other side of the hole.” Viscount Simon’s memorandum also in­ cluded the following: “On ‘deeming’ to be unplayable, add this: “ ‘Note—Lord Halsbury, former Lord Chancellor, laid it down that when a thing is DEEMED to be so. you know that it isn’t so”.’ A Farewell to Elbows A great and fighting heart was stilled last month when Leo Diegel died in North Hollywood, Calif., after a long illness. He was 52. Diegel was one of the great competitors of the era that knew’ Jones and Hagen and Sarazen and none was more colorful than the nervous, excitable Leo. When he lost the Open Champion­ ship of 1920 by only one shot, he appeared destined for great things. The heights he scaled were not as high as had appeared within his reach. His greatest claim to fame came as PGA champion of 1928 and 1929, and on the way to the first of those titles he stopped Walter Hagen. 2 and 1, in the third round, ending Walter’s streak of four successive PGA Championships. Leo Diegel But it was Leo’s odd putting crouch, with his elbows pointed out straight in opposite directions, which captivated gal­ leries. With this style, Leo maintained one could putt just as well either left-handed or right-handed and often sank them both ways in tournaments. Nobody played or loved golf more ar­ dently than Leo Diegel. USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 5 A World Code of Rules By JOSEPH C. DEY, Jr. USGA Executive Secretary Twelve men sat around a large con­ ference table. They were in a committee room of the House of Lords in London. The twelve men represented the gov­ erning authorities of golf in Great Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States. They were trying to develop a code of Rules of Golf which could be used uni­ formly throughout the golf world. In the main, this meant trying to reconcile the differences between the British and Amer­ ican codes, in substance and form. At the moment of which we-write, the conferees were in a deep discussion of a point. After full consideration, the British view prevailed. At lunch, the British rep­ resentatives decided it would be prefer­ able to change their position because of possible complications for the USGA. “That,” said Lord Brabazon of Tara, “is the way to negotiate: you win your point and then concede it.” This symbolized the spirit of the meet­ ings. For four days those twelve men ex­ plored every phase of the Rules. There were no axes to grind, no ultra-national­ istic views. They were just golf-lovers, and they worked together in complete harmony. They reached full agreement on a uni­ form code. They had a wonderful ex­ perience together, and a memorable one. The London meetings had been pre­ ceded by months of correspondence. After London, the meetings were adjourned to St. Andrews, in Scotland, the home of golf. There, in the clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, overlooking the historic Old Course, four of the negotia­ tors worked five days more as a Drafting Committee in rounding the London deci­ sions into shape. The recommendations of the Negotiat­ ing Committees now must be considered by the USGA Executive Committee and by the full membership of the Royal and An­ cient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which is the governing authority of British golf. The next R. and A. General Meeting is to be held in September, at which time the proposals will be acted upon. The USGA Executive Committee will have two meet­ ings before then. If approved, the changes probably will go into effect January 1, 1952. Proposed Changes The major points proposed: Among the changes which would af­ fect both the USGA and the R. and A. codes are: 1. The Stymie—abolition. 2. The Putting Green — to be all ground of the hole being played which is especially prepared for putting or otherwise defined by the Committee in charge. Here­ tofore it has represented all ground except hazards within 20 yards of the hole. 3. Practice Stroke — to be pro­ hibited during a round, including the re-trying of putts after holing out. 4. Ground under Repair and Casual Water — to be treated alike. 5. Out of Bounds — penalty: stroke and distance. 6. Sand — Sand not in a hazard no longer a hazard. Among the changes which would affect only the USGA code are: 1. Size of the Ball — the use of the British ball of 1.62 inches diame­ ter to be permitted in the United States. This compares with the American standard of 1.68 inches. The weight remains the same— 1.62 ounces avoirdupois. 2. Adoption of British format of code. 3. Obstructions — adoption of Bri­ tish definition. Negotiators representing four countries drafted a Rules of Golf code designed for world-wide use during meetings last month at London and St. Andrews. Scotland. Differences between the American and the British Rules will be eliminated if the proposals from these historic meetings are ultimately approved by the governing bodies which appointed the negotiating committees. Above, nine of the negotiators outside the clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Left to right: Front row—Dr. James Lawson. R. and A.; Isaac B. Grainger. Chairman of the USGA Rules of Golf Committee: Dr. Harold Gardiner-Hill. Chairman of the R. and A. Rules of Golf Committee and Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committees; Comdr. J. A. S. Carson. R. and A. Secretary. Rear row—Joseph C. Dey. Jr., USGA Executive Secretary; Ivo Whitton, of the Australian Golf Union; Lt Col. John Inglis, Deputy Chairman of the R. and A. Rules Committee; Richard S. Tufts, USGA Secretary: Colin Rankin, Rules Chairman of the Royal Canadian Golf Association. Negotiators missing from the picture are three R. and A. representatives—Col. T. J. Mitchell. Lord Brabazon of Tara, and Roger Wethered. former British Amateur Champion, and Herbert Jaques, former USGA President, who did not make the trip. 1. Lateral Water Hazanh -- adop­ tion of lit it i4i ilefinithm and rule. \HHUtp th*' change- uhieh would alba! onh the IL and V. code arc: L Thr Glul- adoption <4 the Ahn-rirau poni-ion- for: ad Permitting -haft of putter t«> fixt-d at am point in the head »d the Huh. d.s Pn did ‘it u 12 rhntuteh. fui- nm- and molding of grip- f;td' no bmgei s la-Hfu-d a- hazards. • L Ikdl Let <•! 1’p‘Lnabh penahs ' rir«>kr- and dukwn . 4 iL'-toKiiinu .-t the L-timi P !<>-> of hole in Hialch plav plus. and two -tiuke- in Those who pattieipated are; I't.i the IL ami A. Dr. Harold Gai diner J lill. Thairman *»f the Hulee <4 Golf Coimuitter; Lord Pirabazon. Lt. Gul. Je.hr> ’ugh-. Du Jame- Luu-oh. I.ol T. J. MihLvlL Iveer Wetheiid .tud Gsidr. J. V >. Gat-on. SevrehHa, For the \u-tralian Golf I ums lu< Whillou. l or the I SG \ - - l-aao IL Grainger. For, - Gohsi hhujkm. ho- Hie l4i\ Goo- IL Gi.ungor. (ha'ntn.iu <>f th<> ILJe- of Gu|f Giiii- ttidhe; KioharH "e IqfK H-eretar) : Herbert Jaque-. forumi Pte-ideia < in eonT-p. Uhtl JuM-ph (f D,-v. Jf FAeoiihu* "o-n-nug. hr. < mnlnivr-flih --i\> d ,o i-hauomH USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 7 Oakland Hills’ New Look for the Open By M. F. DRUKENBROD Golf Editor, Detroit Times It was at Oakland Hills Country Club, 20 miles north of Detroit and just west of Birmingham, that Cyril Walker won the USGA Open Championship in 1924 with a score of 297, Ralph Guldahl set a record of 281 (since broken by Ben Hogan) in 1937 and Miss Glenna Collett won the Women’s Amateur in 1929. But that same club will offer a course for the Open, June 14-16, quite different from that over which those titles were won. Oakland Hills is still big and expansive, with pleasantly rolling fairways. But no longer is it the sluggers’ paradise it was known as for years. A modernization designed and super­ vised by Robert Trent Jones, well known golf architect, has changed it consider­ ably. It has been transformed into a course putting a premium on accuracy and position play. Those who learned their lessons in these important essen­ tials at Merion a year ago and have not forgotten them should do well at Oak­ land Hills. “I think the Open at Merion proved that players as well as spectators enjoy a course that is a real test of golf, where every shot must be well thought out and properly executed or there will be a justified penalty,” said Mr. Jones. “Such a course, as proved at Merion, will pro­ duce a real champion."’ Meets Changed Conditions Mr. Jones explained his purpose was to remodel the course to meet the stan­ dards of modern playing conditions. The ball and equipment have changed radical­ ly; obviously the course values have changed. “We have attempted to match these changes with new features at strategic locations, creating hazards and pitfalls to make the current Open a test of intel­ ligence and playing skill.” he said. “Recent tests I made during Open Championships proved that the average Where Open Champion Will Be Crowned The tightly-trapped 18th green at Oakland Hills Country Club, Birmingham, Mi­ chigan, with rambling clubhouse in background. Here is where a Champion will emerge at the USGA Open Championship, to be played June 14-16. Detroit News Photo 8 USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 carry of the entire field is about 240 yards. Better than ten players carry 250 yards and scarcely anyone in the field carries less than 230 yards, illustrating that features outside these limits are of no penal value/’ Accordingly, the trapping Mr. Jones placed at Oakland Hills begins at the 230-yard distance. Traps flank both sides of the fairways except where natural features made that unnecessary. There are also occasional positional or strategic traps in the center or just off center, which demand that a golfer position his tee shot. There’s always a target area with plenty of room in which to park a drive if the player doesn’t want to risk the carry of the trap. Despite the accent on accuracy, which carries all the way to the putting greens, ability to power the ball will not be with­ out its reward—if the hitting is controlled. Proof of this is the fact that the course, with a revised par of 35-35—70, will measure 6,927 yards. Par at the eighth and 18th has been reduced from 5 to 4 through use of middle tees. There are now only two par 5 holes, the second and 12th. Long Hitters Take Risks Under favorable conditions, the longer hitters can get home in two on the second and it could happen rarely at the 12th — if the hitters are willing to risk the traps guarding the elevated green. But it is not all to the siege gun, Mr. Jones has made sure. ■‘The topography of Oakland Hills was almost ideal for the development of our plan,” he said. “The green contouring, while rugged in certain parts, was ex­ tremely adaptable for the new tongue or pin areas we have attached to them. New- trapping was placed to protect certain pin areas that were open or unprotected, so missed shots will be penalized and well- played ones rewarded. “The green contours will play a part in offsetting to some extent the benefit of the wedge and the pitching wedge, which have no doubt made the game somewhat less difficult, particularly in the hands of modern first class profes­ sionals.” There will be four testing one-shotters ranging from the 169-yard 13th to the 216-yard ninth, which will be played from a tee gouged out of the hillside below the old elevated tee. The real length will show up on the 12 par-4 holes. Not more than four of these will be of the drive-and-pitch va­ riety. On the others, the second will be A Tight One-Shotter for Title Aspirants Detroit News Photo The well-guarded 13ih hole. Par 3, 169 yards, showing some of trapping put in by Robert Trent Jones to emphasize accuracy. B"GA JotKMt mu hw Mwv'.emkm". |r>v( l«Hl 4 Emphasis on Position Play at Oakland Hills A view of the rolling and well protected terrain which must be traversed on the way io the 11th hole, 407 yards, par 4. pLivrd with a medium »r long iron. ->i mitHitim a wmak The eighth- where ITiiph Guldahl putt f».r an migle :» -oastrh ill a fj.'iil Marled him on the urn C lb‘ C'C t hampimmhip. wih mr;btlh' I5H nitT with tin- hwl Mage-. uphill. Tlw tilth, with a -hasp dogleg to the right ati>>r llm de i- th** bC-mnl Ibth. with a big hike UTT e\pmd- to she \er\ mlge ut th. Svn and which hinsl h<- omU with ommd dml. h wa- hart- \\ aikm ma-h- tin* hirdi. A that \irlmdo w«.d ■q» hi- PCI Gb impimt-hip. It aid n>< mng.'f he p.>mibh- t«> hemtmr a drim direeth low nd the gri.u rm ho miiM and w olhm- did ihm and in 1’K'C •Jn-n wi‘ vfdarpod b\ budding ml mio the Ink*- w hih- llw tough wm well ,n fmm th* tight. < hanging dm iim hmm du Im \nd the tough will hr tugged. I la 10th Costly to Bob Jones It loll dm-mh Boh Jo.ur- Io I. ,-iru that In.. r>u!t. imp- h.iw been added at Hw I l.'Card I- elk. o!o> *t him Hw PCI ^h.-n il mi-fal la,. ,~C and two .‘ h> Hie pm ms the luC lmb' tor what thm wii a fm.hr I. iw took the CC with a of _CM But "am ban-B bml tim»' hr re.uh thr . Inhhmim CCr.- a mighh imr from mil mi tlw <-mimo m.maHz.'d the • aph d with win. h Muklahl opened his- winning '•pint, Itaiph Jotrnwed with a 2 mt the rm.th. mad’- the turn if; tm and < ame .Ut: the kml uiiie m HH for hi- otid {>•( of the tournament beating Semi b\ two Mn.-km. ’We haw hied m diinimir mix Hsing that ’multi hr w being Used for pumluriiig eotnpacted siirfaoe hue in turf soils. Those Jut UN XL VM> ft iU MtX v;t tIFM ; J| x ?•„ RSf machines, in remm ing plugs of soil from turf af'a'. aHuahx create a svsteni of large or mm-cypillarx poo's bx which moisluie. iTdihzei and ~eed ran be taken into the soil. Thev also provide a through which air ran breathing escape duimg rainfall ot irrigation and ihnrngh which fresh air ran enter the soil later, The rapid intake and unm- merit of watm and air are recognized gcm-rallx a* prime necessities in mm- parted soils. The w idc*pn ud Use of these mcehauimd <|e\w,-s m opening up or in aerating compacted surface Lmm would indicate that results air being ob­ tained in terms of bettei turf. OBSERVATION OF NEMATODES IN YELLOW TUFT OF BENTGRASS «> X. C IXItlXX ..ml XI. !1. I’Klil.l sox V*b!ei Xi Xi X’ot Of.isi, iHmi.o of AXB A<'.t;o\oxUsC ;;Mt X niiii'C mm iimi, lt.P.I.s,\.E„ Wminr. Mtinf x\i< Vlhm tuft ill heidgrass orur- as small • irdvs in the I nd ! t to I inch in diameter. V close examination discloses that the tufts arc formed bx manx | advent of nwr faxmabh- grovine eoitdifmn*. after xxhich lie- HoMmd gown color wnipm-, This - ondhimi is apparent mc-th m the hili m e.irh *prmg |!Ut max' persist thmmrh- FIGURE 1 Comparison of tufted shoots in upper row with normal shoots in lower mH the war, Mlhmigh Ihw disease max i.eeiir mi other grasses, it is ttm.-l winiiieii mi bciitgiass turf. Similar condition* have been reported on Bermuda grass in Florida and in South Afiiea. Fig. I shows a comparison of tufted shoots with normal shoots of beutgrass. Historical Veihm mfi was first dtm-rihed bx K \. Itiiklex' tu p)2 L hi this ,U Count he slated: ”A Hom cxaminatimi Two (he small tufts or roo-ges which ihr iimtlliim or spotting to i»- made up M xmmg grass plant* produced m< the stems I'd the oldei plants. Bmmiiealh the tufts m joseth-s ,ue pioiifernhou* how, die older Im f. So f,H lb < ;m he as’er. tamed, lhex an- ;mt dm to mix hmgu> disease or to am m*o t m tin.i.ilMF. I hi* ;m allcvmu tlw ce-mbtem bx apphralmn* of mumoimim sulfate, mnuiomum ph<>*pluite, ami inm *ihs is,a did not obtain .mt imti-eidH toHih-., s 4 o, ■ v K Vw-m । <• >w : ■ ■- g; \ ; f- , :w , m, a »I, * ,O . >■ s, , .p o-.< I s s \ .. 2-e. V. .'Ct \,, j j USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 29 Monteith and Dahl2 published on vari­ ous turf diseases in 1932 and in relation to the cause of yellow tuft made the fol­ lowing statement: “Although various ex­ planations have been made as to the cause of. yellow tufts, the real cause re­ mains unknown. A similar tufted growth occurs on many trees and shrubs, where it has been traced to injuries resulting from some mechanical factor or from the invasion of parasitic organisms, par­ ticularly bacteria". Economic Importance The presence of yellow’ tufts does not greatlv harm the quality of a putting surface but may, under severe condi­ tions. cause enough unevenness of the surface to deflect a putt. The unsightli­ ness of the putting greens, how’ever, is the chief difficulty caused. This condition, although generally un­ noticed. is common throughout the Mid- FIGURE 2 Photomicrograph of a nematode of the species Eucephalobus Oxyuroides in leaf tissue of bentgrass. die Atlantic States, where it seems to have increased in severity during the past two years. Last year, particularly, putting surfaces were damaged on sev­ eral golf greens around the Washington area. In one case a green planted from stolons in December had yellow tuft the following summer. 2 Monteith, J. and A. S. Pahl. Turf Diseases anp Their Control. The Bulletin of the U. S. Golf Association Green Section. Vol. 12. No. 14. August 1932. Results of Examinations Numerous examinations o f yellow’ tufts from various locations have re- COMING EVENTS June 12: Turf Field Day. Central Plains Turf Foundation and Kansas State College at Manhattan, Kansas. Ray A. Keen. August 20: Golf Association of Phila­ delphia and Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents at Plymouth Country Club. Mrs. Ralph I. Raynor, 629 Chestnut Street, Room 303, Philadelphia 6, Pa. August 22-23: Twentieth Annual Green­ keepers' Field Days. University of Rhode Island at Kingston, R. I. J. A. DeFrance. August 27-31: American Society of Agron­ omy Annual Meetings, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. L. G. Monthey, Madison, Wis. September 5-7: Turf Field Days. The Pennsylvania State College and Turf Advisory Committee, State College, Pa. H. B. Musser. September 17-18: Turf Field Days. Purdue University and Midwest Regional Turf Foundation. West Lafayette, Indiana. W. H. Daniel. October 7-9: National Turf Field Days. Beltsville Turf Gardens, Plant Indus­ try Station, Beltsville, Md., USGA Green Section and U. S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Fred V. Grau. October 24-26: Turf Conference. Central Plains Turf Foundation and Kansas State College at Manhattan, Kansas. L. E. Lambert and Ray A. Keen. (Note: The Advisory Committee for the Northern California Turf Conference is considering changing the spring dates to fall dates. Early November is being con­ sidered. It is hoped that turf conference groups in the Western half of the United States can integrate dates through the Green Section for efficiency and economy of travel.) 19 5 2 January 8-9: Turf Conference. Mid-Ailan- tic Association of Golf Course Su­ perintendents. Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, Md. E. N. Cory, Uni­ versity of Maryland. February 3-8: 23rd Annual Turf Confer­ ence and Show of Golf Course Super­ intendents Association of America. Neil House, Columbus, Ohio. February 18-21: Turf Conference. The Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. H. B. Musser. March 3-6: Turf Conference. Midwest Regional Turf Foundation and Pur­ due University, West Lafayette, Ind. W. H. Daniel. 30 USGA Journal and Turf Management.; June 1951 vealed the presence of several nematodes among which two forms, Eucephalobus oxyuroides and Panagro laimus rigi- dus, appear in relatively large numbers. Other nematode forms observed in tufts, but never as numerous as the two mentioned, are Tylenchus, Aphelenchoi- des, Doryloimus, Monhystera, Ditylen- chus and Plectus. When healthy shoots were examined, however, in some cases a few specimens of Eucephalobus ox­ yuroides and Panagrolaimus rigidus were also found, but never in as large numbers as found in diseased tufts. Throughout the examinations of af­ fected shoots, these nematodes were usually found either well within healthy tissues of the leaf sheaths (Fig. 2 and 3) or between the leaf sheaths and the stem, apparently feeding on the contents of the cells. Observations of the intes­ tinal contents of several of these ne­ matodes revealed the presence of green chloroplasts indicating that these forms had been feeding on healthy cells where chloroplasts are usually found. Conclusions Whereas P. rigidus and E. oxyuroides had been regarded as free-living soil forms normally feeding on decaying plant material, the possibility that they may be plant parasitic is now worthy of consideration. It is conceivable that the formation of the number of fine leavies which make up a diseased tuft may be stimulated by the feeding of nematodes on the meristematic tissues of the plant, or that the effects of their presence in sufficient numbers within shoots may manifest the symptoms of yellow tuft. It is equally as strong a possibility, however, that yellow tuft is made up of a group of concurrent symptoms to which the deleterious ef­ fects of these nematodes may add. Movie Being Revised The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s 16mm kodachrome short entitled, “Lawns that Live,” designed for television show­ ings, was considered by the movie experts unsuitable for motion picture use. There­ fore this film is in the process of revision and no copies are available for sale TURF RESEARCH REVIEW The second edition of Turf Research Review, a directory covering turf activ­ ities in the United States for the calendar year 1950, is now ready for distribution at the Green Section office. A limited number of copies are for sale at $1.25 a copy, postage free, first come, first served. Turf Research Review belongs in the library of every turf enthusiast. It is the first time in history that there has been presented a complete up-to-date in­ ventory of turf research, education, and extension in the United States. Here is what you will get in Turf Research Re­ view: A list of experiment stations which have active turf projects in research teaching or extension. A directory of turf workers who spend part or all of their time in turf work. A list of active turf projects (who is doing what and where). A list of turf publications, by states and by subject matter. A survey of turf conference and field days. A directory of Green Section Ser­ vice Subscribers. A review of turf research fellow­ ships and research grants. A summary of accomplishments. To those of you who purchase copies we suggest prompt action. Mail $1.25 to: USGA Green Section P. I. Station (T.R.R.) Beltsville, Md. Be sure to give accurate mailing ad­ dress. Turf Research Review in effect is an annual supplement to the USGA’s new book, Turf Management, by H. B. Mus­ ser, published by McGraw-Hill Book Co. at $6 a copy. It is available from book­ stores, from McGraw-Hill Book Co., 330 West 42nd St., New York 18, N. Y., or from the United States Golf Association, 40 East 38th Street, New York 16, N. Y. USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 31 TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS By the Green Section Staff Plans are under way to release the Z-52 strain of Japanese lawngrass officially. This will he a joint action by the USGA Green Section and the U. S. Depart­ ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Forage Crops and Diseases. Common bluegrass has been damaged badly by Helminthosporium leafspot. Our spring has been long, cold, and wet. Where Z-52 zoysia has been planted into common bluegrass lawn turf it is covering up for the, diseased common bluegrass. Merion bluegrass with Z-52 zoysia and also Merion bluegrass with common Japanese laWngrass are the two top turf combinations at the Beltsville Turf Gar­ dens. The top creeping bents under our sys­ tem of management .(no artificial water­ ing and no fungicidal treatments) are Arlington (C-l), Congressional (C-19) and Dahlgren (C-115). Several “F” fescues from the Penn State breeding program show definite superiority this spring in the cooperative test plots. Commercial fescues now on the market are having a tough struggle to cope with the serious disease problems of the Maryland area. Crabgrass easily chokes disease-weakened turf. At last we can report that we see very definite differences in the performance of strains of tall fescues for turf. Ken­ tucky 31 gets the nod over Alta in our trials. The price structure is favorable, too. Al Radko is very busy with the na­ tional coordinated crabgrass trials. Some cooperators want to change the rules, which of course would throw their tests out because they would be different from all the others. Charles Wilson is working diligently on the national coordinated fungicide trials. Returns to date and participation in the program has been somewhat dis­ appointing. Perhaps when disease hits harder there will be more interest in these national coordinated trials. New Green Section Service Subscribers Ariefacios De Papel, S. A., Monterrey. Mexico Beniley-Milorganiie Co.. Seattle, Wash. Bob Dunning-Jones, Inc., Tulsa, Okla. Buckner Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill. Calvert Distilling Co. (The), Baltimore, Carter, H. V., Co., Inc., San Francisco. Cleary, W. A., Corp., New Brunswick, Dickinson, Albert, Co. (The), Chicago, Dixie Lawn Supply Co., Inc., Louisville. Md. N. J. Ill. Ky. Foxcroft School, Middleburg, Va. Hart, Chas. C., Seed Co. (The), Wethers­ field, Conn. Mitchell Bros., Inc., Danvers, Mass. Nelson, L. R., Mfg. Co., Inc., Peoria, Ill. Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents, Havertown, Pa. Roseman Mower Corp., Evanston, Ill. St. Louis Division of Parks and Recrea­ tion, St. Louis, Mo. Manhattan, Kansas Schmedemann, C. R„ Implement Co., Standard Mfg. Co., Cedar Falls, Iowa Toro Equipment Co., Inc., White Plains, N. Y. Turf Equipment, Inc., Kansas City, Mo. United Seeds, Inc., Omaha, Nebr. Vaughan's Seed Co., Chicago, Ill. Warren's Turf Nursery, Palos Park, Ill. — ® ■—_ West Coast Trip Most of the putting greens in the Seattle area tend to develop a thick “felt pad” which strongly resists the movement of water, air and nutrients. Aeration of this pad immediately starts new live, healthy root action which did not exist before. Observations indicate that most turf would benefit from some additional nu­ trients, particularly nitrogen. There is some evidence that perhaps more water is being used than may be needed. Dandelion, chickweeds and English daisy constitute the principal offenders in turf. 2, 4-D does very well except on the chickweeds and English daisy. There is some indication that sodium arsenite would be an excellent material. Poa annua and Poa trivialis seem to 32 USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 Kikuyugrass continues, to spread and as yet no control for it has been found. Billy Bell reports that roots were found at a depth of 7 feet. (I hope I quote correctly). Bill Beresford’s No. 13 green at the Los Angeles Country Club is a beauty. The drainage is excellent; his own strain of bentgrass is doing an excellent job under his management. The biggest need in California today is that of an extension specialist in turf. Omaha Merion bluegrass seems to be out­ standing as compared with common blue­ grass because of its resistance to Helmin- thosporium leafspot. Leafspot is ruining most common Kentucky bluegrass turf in this area but it is difficult to detect unless the turf is observed closely. McCall Retires; Myers Leaves Forage Corps A memorandum dated April 30 from Dr. R. M. Salter, Chief of jthe Bureau of Plant Industry, announced the impending retirement of Dr. M. A. McCall and the transfer of Dr. W. M. Myers from Head of the Division of Forage Crops to Direc­ tor of Field Crop Research. This re­ organization was effective May 1, 1951. Dr. McCall long has been a friend of the Green Section and an active member of the Green Section Committee. We shall miss him. Dr. Myers has done much to effect close coordination between the Department of Agriculture and the USGA Green Section in the short time that he has been here. be two predominant grasses in lawn and fairway turf. , Occasionally some red fescues do a fair job of making turf. For the most part the red fescue looks quite unhappy. The reason is not altogether clear. The best fescue turf observed is under light shade where it is mowed to 3 inches high and about 2 or 3 times during the season. Under close mowing the fescue disappears, especially on fairways. The Bay Area We were fortunate to be shown around Stanford University by Ellis Van Gorder, Superintendent at Stanford University’s Golf Course. Aerifying is producing excellent results. His rake-brush machine, which is pulled with an old 3-wheel tractor across the greens, is largely res­ ponsible for keeping the putting greens in tournament condition at all times. One' of the best jobs of water management found on any golf course may be ob­ served here. At Burlingame we saw plots of Merion bluegrass two years old which had been mowed at 3/16-inch during those two years. The ordinary .commercial fes­ cues were unable to take this treatment. Common bluegrass simply disappeared. Deep “felt pads” develop in the Bay area exactly as they do in Seattle, Port­ land and other places where moisture is plentiful. Chlorosis and other troubles develop under these conditions. Nearly everywhere we saw the need for combs or rakes on fairway mowers. Los Angeles Area A 30-minute tape recording for the Armed Forces Radio Service was done with John Gallagher, 0. J. Noer, H. B. Musser, Robert Hagan, with Fred Grau monitoring the discussion. It was a perfect day for the inspection of the plots at the Southern California Turf Conference. A great deal of interest centered around the combination turf of U-3 Bermudagrass and Congressional bent. One got the feeling that quite a number of people were going to try this combination because of its toughness, drought resistance, deep rooting and beauty. USGA Journal and Turf Management: June, 1951 33 IT’S YOUR HONOR The Kindest Cut TO THE USGA: I cannot refrain from' making complimen­ tary comment on the photo on the cover of the April USGA Journal. That one issue alone should save a million divot holes. The picture should be posted in all club houses and proshops. Believe me, after 17 years, using every means to appeal — hoping to get careless golfers To replace turf — you certainly help by producing cuts like this one. Keep up the good work. A. R. EMERY Sall Lake City, Utah Good Turf Work TO THE USGA: We again wish to thank you and the USGA for permitting your Extension Agronomist, Mr. Charles Wilson, to visit our country club this spring. He did an excellent job, gave a most^ understandable report to our committee, made a lot of good recommenda­ tions and left us with a better appreciation of golf and turf problems. I know you will be pleased to hear of the good work Mr. Wilson is doing in the field, and that we owe a great deal to his sound advice. P. E. DRACHMAN, Chairman Grounds Committee Evansville Country Club, Ind. Play It as It Lies TO THE USGA: Your article in the April issue of the Journal entitled "No Local Rules" should be called to the attention of every president of every USGA member club. Many of the present day officers of golf dubs are men who have little or no knowledge of the game and I doubt if 1% of them have ever read the Rules. As a result, there has been much tamper­ ing with the Rules, usually in line with efforts to make the game "easier" and, if such actions continue, the game will lose the character which makes it great. Such variations of golf as "winter rules" and "mulligans" should be vigorously forbidden and discouraged in every way. It seems to me there should be emphasized to the president of each dub the necessity of adherence to the Rules in their entirety and elimination of local rules as far as pos­ sible. If this is not done, and each year, some men who might be considered non­ golfers will completely ruin the game which I, and I know you, love so well. "Play the ball as it lies." There is a real challenge to a sportsman and I sin­ cerely hope you can see that it becomes the method of playing golf. On the back of the scorecard of Chicago Golf Club, which is within sight of my house, the simple statement: "USGA rules govern all play," could well be the model for all clubs. It has no local rules and it is very much in keeping with the great traditions of Chicago golf. CHARLES R. WILSON Wheaton, III. Two Sportsmen TO THE USGA: During the presentation of prizes at the recent Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, Skee Riegel made one of the finest speeches in defeat I have ever heard. Skee has always been known for his sportsmanship and happy acceptance of any breaks that may go against him. When asked what he thought about his chances after he had finished the 72 holes with a splendid score of 282 (6 under par), he said: "I knew that whatever I shot out there today the 'little man' would be better." His reference was to Ben Hogan, of course. I know everyone joins me in wishing Skee the best of luck in his future events. I had the privilege and honor to play the final round with Sam Urzetta, the Amateur Champion. He displayed the poise and balance of a seasoned competitor; but more important than that, exhibited all the qual­ ities of an outstanding sportsman. Sam Urzetta is an inspiration to the rising young stars and millions of golfers in our country. RICHARD D. CHAPMAN Pinehurst, N. C. Editor's Note: The USGA Journal invites comments on matters relating to the welfare of the game and will publish them as space permits.