USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT THE THREE MUSKETEERS OF GOLF Here together are the only three men who have won the USGA and the British Open Championships in the same year. Robert T. Jones, Jr., (left) did it twice, in 1926 and 1930. Ben Hogan (center) did it this year. Gene Sarazen (right) did it in 1932. They were together at the dinner given by the USGA for Ben Hogan on his relurn to New York from Carnoustie. Wide World Photo USGA JOURNAL ANO 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. VI, No. 6 November, 1953 Through the Green............................................ Driving Tests at Oakmont............................................... Robert Trent Jones Impressions of Golf in America 1..................................... Lt. Col. A. A. Duncan Color Prints of the Jones Portrait ........................................................... Eliminate the Small Ball Here .......................................... Charles B. Grace Country Club Operations in 1952 ..........................................Joseph H. Nolin USGA Nominees for 1954 ........... ..........................'............ .............. A Final Won, Not Lost ............. ..........................~Joh7p71^ The Development of Mexican Golf ... Percy Clifford Changes in Rules of Golf ..................... Joseph C. Dey Jr Why Trial Form of Open Was Abandoned The Referee: Decisions by the Rules of Golf Committees Turf Managements USGA Green Section ........................ ’ Watering in Winter ....................... From the Eastern Office ........... From the Southwestern Office From the Western Office ........... The Superintendent’s Section . ................................. Marvin H. Ferguson Alexander M. Radko Marvin H. Ferguson .. Charles G. Wilson 1 5 8 10 11 12 14 15 17 20 21 22 25 26 28 29 30 32 33 t , ,, Salt C°ntent of Water Necessitates Perfect’ Drainage"................................. Its Your Honor: Letters ............................................... ..................... Published seven times a year in February, April, June, July, August, September and November by the UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 40 East 38th St., New York 16, N. Y. Subscriptions: $2 a year. Single copies: 30c. Subscriptions, articles, photographs, and correspondence tTff t0 SeLt,Om TtterJS; shou'd be sent to the above ^dress Correspondence pertaining to Green Section matters should be addressed to USGA Green Section Room 206 Son th R„ildin. BeBsvil*e- Md-’ to USGA Green Section Western’ Office, Box’ 241, Davis, Caf; or to USGA Green Section Southwestern Office, Texas A. and M. College, College Station Texas Entered mTatter March 3, 1950, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of M^ch 3 1879. Edited by Joseph C. Dey, Jr., and John P. English. Advisory Committee: John D. Ames Chairman: Isaac B. Grainger and Bernard H. Ridder, Jr. All articles voluntarily contributed. USGA COMPETITIONS FOR 1954 Americas Cup Match August 12 and 13 at the London Hunt and Country Club, London, Ontario, Canada. Men’s Amateur Teams: Canada vs. Mexico vs. United States. Curtis Cup Maich —September 2 and 3 at the Merion Golf Club, Ardmore Pa Women’s Amateur Teams: British Isles vs. United States’. (Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in the case of the Amateur Public Links Championship. For possible exceptions in dates of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, see entry forms.) Championship Open Women's Open Amateur Public Links Entries Close May 24 June 9 fJune 4 Junior Amateur July 6 Amateur July 12 Girls' Junior August 16 Women's Amateur August 30 Sectional Qualifying Hounds June 7 Championship Dates June 17-18-19 none June 24-25-26 JJune 20-26 Team: July 10 Venue Baltusrol G. C. Springfield, N. J. To be determined Cedar Crest G. C. July 20 July 27 none none Indiv: July 12-17 Dallas, Texas August 4-7 The Los Angeles C. C. Los Angeles, Cal. August 23-28 Aug. 30-Sept. 3 Sept. 13-18 C. C. of Detroit Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Gulph Mills G. C. Bridgeport, Pa. Allegheny C. C. Sewickley, Pa. tExact date in each section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. fEntries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November. 1953 1 THROUGH THE GREEN What Harold Clasen Stood For Reidar Lund, expressing in the Duluth Herald the sense of loss occasioned by the passing of Harold Clasen, professional it the Northland Country Club, made a point of the fact that Clasen actually car­ ried out the obligation which all pro­ fessionals have to teach other things than golf—the Rules of the game, the com­ panionship of the game, its sportsman­ ship and its pleasures. “A wonderful fellow, Harold Clasen —everything you would expect in a truly great golf professional,” he wrote. “Maybe his name didn’t get up in newspaper headlines with the Hogans and Sneads and Middlecoffs and Demar- ets, but those guys couldn’t carry Clasen’s bag in our book, and no disrespect is meant to them. “In his way, Harold Clasen symbol­ ized everything that is good about golf. “Wrap up the warmth of a June sun, the fragrance of newly mown fairways, the comfortable feel of lush turf under­ foot, the ‘click’ of a tremendous drive, the plunk of a long, curling putt into the cup, the caress of a cooling breeze and that tired but satisfied feeling after a glorious round of golf with friendly com­ panions—and you have Harold Clasen. “These are what he stood for, all the things he meant to his profession. “These are the little things to which he dedicated himself, because it was his hope everybody would find such pleasures in their pursuit of that elusive par.” Superstitious Dropping A club, which shall go nameless, has a local rule which provides that when a ball is lifted in a certain situation, it shall be “dropped over the right shoulder.” Reminds us of a Philadelphia lady golfer who struck a ball into a shallow brook. Her caddie lifted it out, and asked: “Shall I drop it over my shoulder?” “No,” the lady replied, “just drop it in front of you. I’m not superstitious.” Through British Eyes Golf Illustrated summarized Brit­ ish opinion on the loss of the Walker Cup Match when it editorialized: “We don’t think anyone in Great Brit­ ain was disappointed over the result of the Walker Cup. Everyone over here was resigned to the fact that we would lose, but there was keen disappointment that some of the individual matches were lost by such overwhelming margins. . . “Perhaps the greatest disappointment was the failure of the two youngsters, Drew and Perowne, to do well. Each played in one game only, but both suf­ fered a crushing defeat . . . “This year’s hero was unquestionably John Morgan, who, quiet and unassum­ 2 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 ing, summoned all the will power at his disposal to win both big matches.” to the tournament regulation that only caddies attached to the course entertain­ ing the Championship may serve. Golf Writers' Dinner The response to inquiries concerning another winter dinner under the sponsor­ ship of the Metropolitan Golf Writers As­ sociation in New York is “yes”. There will be a second annual dinner in the Sert Room of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Thursday evening, January 21. The first dinner, last January, was such a success that it outgrew the quarters at Shor’s and necessitated the shift to a larger room this year. How They Travel Nearly half of the qualifiers in the Amateur Public Links Championship drove to the site in their own automobiles or in that of another qualifier. Somewhat more than a quarter of the qualifiers were accompanied by a member of their family, usually their wife. These facts were determined from the registry at this year’s Championship in Seattle, which is remote from many popu­ lated areas and therefore may reflect minimum figures. Of the 200 players who signed the register, 176 stated their means of trans­ portation. Of these, 89 had come by auto­ mobile, 62 by airplane, 24 by train and one by bus. Most of those who did not answer lived in or near Seattle. Also, of the 200 who signed, 159 stated whether or not they were accompanied by one or more members of their families. Of these, 107 were not and 52 were so accompanied. It was apparent that the other member of the family was the wife in most cases, but one brought his wife and two children, two brought their wife and one child and one was brought by his father and mother. Presumably, most of those who did not answer the question lived in or near Seattle or were un­ married. One player brought his wife and used her as his caddie, as he does in many tournaments in his home area, until the •unromantic committee drew his attention Versatility beyond Compare We mentioned in a recent issue the achievement of Miss Margaret Curtis in holding national championships in both golf and tennis at the same time, in 1908. In that respect, she stands alone in the records of these two sports in the United States. However, a reader has pointed out that Miss Lottie Dod, of England, was perhaps even more versatile. Miss Dod won the British lawn tennis championships in 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892 and 1893. She then switched to golf and won the British golf championship in 1904, after twice previously reaching the semi-final round. In the same period, she also won the Diamond Skate, emblematic of the British figure skating champion­ ship, was a field hockey internationalist and an archer and billiardist of the first rank. 1954 British Championships For the information of foreign travel­ ers, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, will conduct the British Amateur Championship at Muir- field, Scotland, starting May 24, and the British Open Championship at Birkdale, England, starting July 5, next year. Advice for Juniors Jimmy Thomson talking to the entrants in the Junior Amateur Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla.: “I have been giving the subject of junior golf a great deal of thought and I would like to stress the wonderful , oppor­ tunities ahead for the golfer who con­ ducts himself properly on and off the course. I feel that golf presents a wonder­ ful avenue for contact with the right kind of people, and only those who are USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 3 gentlemen will be in a position to take advantage of these opportunities. “Should you consider golf as a life work, your future will depend not only on your playing ability but on whether you play the game fairly and consider your fellow players, observe the rules and etiquette and conduct yourselves around the club in such a manner that you will be welcomed back. “Those of you who carry your games through into the business world should not treat golf as all-important. It’s a game to enjoy and it’s relaxing. I suggest your business come first and your golf sec­ ond. If your golf shows signs of possible national recognition, the honor of win­ ning national events is something you will always treasure. “I suggest that you all work harder on your golf games after you leave the junior ranks. The competition gets tough­ er, but the chances and opportunities are unlimited.” Forty-One Championships Charles Evans, Jr., of Chicago, now 63, reports that he made his forty-first appear­ ance in the USGA Amateur Champion­ ship at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club last September. He com­ peted for the first time in 1907, failing to qualify, after having watched in 1902 and caddied in 1905. We hesitate to call this a record, because we doubt Chick is through yet. Instruction through the Years The art of golf instruction clearly has been improving over the years. While browsing through a 1913 volume in our Library entitled The Golfing Swing by Burnham Hare we came across this stag­ gering paragraph: “The player may now address himself to the business of the swing, and in do­ ing so he should remember to introduce into his methods a little of the suaviter in modo as well as the jortiter in re.” LITTLER AGAIN Julian P. Graham Photo Il somelimes happens that prophets go without honor in their own country, but not so with golfers. Gene A. Littler (right), of San Diego, who won the Amateur Championship at Oklahoma City, returned to his native green and added the Califor­ nia Amateur. He was seven under par for thirty-two holes at Pebble Beach in dis­ posing of Dr. F. M. Taylor (left), of Po­ mona, 5 and 4, in the final. Earlier in the year, Littler won the California Open, too. The Loquacious Caddie Many unusual persons have appeared on the golf scene as caddies, and Don Cherry, of our Walker Cup Team, had one of the unique ones when he won the Canadian Amateur Championship last month. His caddie, whose name is Felix, made only two remarks to him during the en­ tire week, as follows: 1. First day: Don asked Felix what club to use on a certain shot. Felix re­ plied: “I don’t know”. 2. Last day: On the next-to-last hole, Don prepared to play a certain iron to the green. Felix remarked: “You can’t get there”. That was the extent of their con­ versation. Not a word passed between them during the first 18 holes of the semi-final round, which Don played in 18 straight pars. Shades of Tommy Armour! Silent Felix is an Indian. 4 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 Three Holes in Six Word of spectacular performances con­ tinues to come in. Earl Ross, of North Salem, N. Y., earned his place in the lists several years ago when he played three successive holes in a total of six strokes at the Bonnie Briar Country Club, Larchmont, N. Y. Mr. Ross made a hole-in-one on the short third hole. He followed that with a birdie 3 on the fourth hole and then placed his tee shot two feet from the cup for a 2 on the short fifth hole. It is fantastic to imagine that anyone has played three successive holes in firj strokes, but if they have, we would like to hear about it. Golf In Japan Golf in Japan has taken a great stride in the last few years, and Shun Nomura, of Tokyo, Director of the Japan Golf As­ sociation, estimates the number of golfers to be 100,000, which is more than double the pre-war number. Many golf courses which were con­ verted into farm land during the war have been reconverted to golf courses, but many new courses are still needed to take care of increasing numbers of golfers. Quite a few are under construction al­ though there is opposition from some of the farmers. In the summer resort of Hakone, about two hours ride from Tokyo, three 18-hole courses are building, in addition to the one already there. Treat for Caddies ecutive Committee, had gone to Oyster Harbors for a visit after the Match at the Kittansett Club, and they decided it would be fun to take dinner with the cad­ dies that night. Although their appearance was unher­ alded, Yates was willingly impressed as toastmaster, Ward made one of his most entertaining talks and the boys never had such a time in their lives. One of the nice, unpublicized things that we hear about only by coincidence. Curtis W. McGraw The Association lost one of its most valued friends with the passing of Cur­ tis W. McGraw, of Princeton, N. J.—and the game lost, too. Mr. McGraw was a member of the Green Section and Public Relations Committees and contributed ma­ terially to their work, and most particu­ larly to the publication of this magazine and the book Turf Management. New R. and A. Captain The new Captain of the Royal and An­ cient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scot­ land, is Lt. Col. John Inglis, a delightful Scotsman who is one of the world’s few authentic experts on the Rules of Golf. Jock Inglis was a member of the R. and A. committee which conferred with a USGA group in 1951 and from this the present uniform world code resulted. He not only helped formulate the prin­ ciples of the code but was a member of the drafting committee which composed and edited it. As R. and A. Captain, Col. Inglis suc­ ceeds Lord Brabazon of Tara. There was a special treat for the boys in the caddie camp at the Oyster Harbors Club, on Cape Cod, when they swarmed into their mess building for their farewell dinner at the conclusion of the Labor Day weekend. Charles R. Yates, the Captain of the Walker Cup Team; Harvie Ward, a mem­ ber of the Team; and John W. Fischer and Edward E. Lowery, of the USGA Ex­ Farewell, Calcuttas We learn that three of the four clubs in the Philadelphia area which custom­ arily have held Calcutta pools in connec­ tion with their tournaments did not do so this last year, and the one pool which was held probably will be discontinued. Needless to say, these steps away from organized gambling have our whole­ hearted support. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 5 Driving Tests at Oakmont By ROBERT TRENT JONES Past President, American Society of Golf-Course Architects For years I have been making tests during USGA Open and Amateur Cham­ pionships on the length of the flight and the roll of the golf ball as hit by experts. These tests were made at Canterbury Golf Club in 1940 and 1946, at Medinah Country Club in 1949, at Merion Golf Club in 1950, at Oakland Hills Country Club in 1951, at Saucon Valley Country Club in 1951 and at Oakmont Country Club during the 1953 Open Champion­ ship. For each test, I tried to select a hole which would be most feasible for the purpose and which would bring out the true character of the normal hitting of the country’s finest golfers. TO THE LADIES If you can play as fast as men (or faster) And never lose your place through any green. Yet humbly recognize the male as master And bid him "please come through" as soon as seen; If you can hit the shot that sweetly landing Brings even birdies well within your ken, But still preserve a proper understanding That golf links were, of course, devised for men; If you can make your handicap respected And even bear off pots and other loot, Yet never leave your sacred home neglected, And never, never fail to feed the brute; If you display the tact that smoothes and evens The woes that make the golfing husband groan; If you can hear his latest golfing grievance And never try to bore him with your own; At Oakmont, because of the rolling character of the ground, there were really no flat holes, but tests were made on the fourteenth and eighteenth holes. If you can praise when all his shots succeeded And comfort when his card was marked "retired" If you can make a foursome when needed, But fade away when females aren't required; In short, if you can keep your proper station, The fourteenth was the nearest to flat which the course offered. However, be­ cause of the slight tilt of the fairway to the left and the very tight bunkering, players were inclined to ease up or steer their drives and so the fourteenth was more a test of accuracy than of power. The eighteenth was not ideal, either, due to the fact that the tee is elevated about twenty feet above the target area. The eighteenth is considered one of the two hardest on the course. It is 462 yards in length and well bunkered in the target area, although the bunkering is quite wide. The width at the landing area is 41 yards. The hole is downhill for about 300 yards, then rises slightly to the green elevation. The green is large, flank-bunkered on both sides and undu­ lating. The wind during the test, which was made on the morning of the final You'll be a perfect paragon, methinks— And voted, by the Lord of all creation, An ornament to any home or links) From a Ladies’ Bulletin Board, Bolton, Lancashire day, varied from 3.4 miles per hour to as high as 14 miles per hour, according to the Windicator. The wind over-all was slightly helpful. Our figures indicate that the drive was helped by the wind to the extent of approximately 5 to 8 yards. The chart shows that there were excep­ tions: when long hitters came to the tee during gusts and high winds, they did get exceptionally long drives. Field Averaged 261 Yards The average length of the drive on the eighteenth hole was 240 yards carry and 6 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 261 yards carry plus roll. The test cov­ ered the whole field of fifty-nine players in one round, and so included some poor drives which were not characteristic. It is interesting to note that one player drove more than 300 yards. Two players drove from 290 to 300 yards. Four drove from 280 to 290 yards. Nineteen drove from 260 to 270 yards. Sixteen drove from 250 to 260 yards. Only ten drove less than 250 yards. Bill Nary, Frank Souchak and Jimmy Clark used No. 9 irons for their second shots. When you consider the size of the target and the distance of the bunkers at the sides of the green, you can see that only the contour of the putting green made it possible for this hole to defend itself against normal birdies. Of the fifty- nine players, forty-one reached the green in two, with iron seconds. Ten were short of the green, on the apron, primarily due to failure to judge the distance correctly. Three were bunkered left, and four were bunkered right. Only one ball was in the rough at the green area during the en­ tire morning. 45 of 59 in Fairway It is also interesting to note that forty- five of the fifty-nine players hit the fair­ way. Eight barely missed the fairway and were about three feet or less into the rough. Five missed the fairway by wide margins, but only two shots went into the bunker from the tee. The cluster of dots in the fairway on the sketch of the hole shows that most players were within 10 yards of the center of fairway with their tee shots, an amazing display of the accuracy with which these modem play­ ers hit the golf ball. These statistics show why the eighteenth hole at Oakmont, which once was a fear­ ful hole and required a wood second shot into its green, is no longer a hole of terror for the modem expert. With expert golfers averaging 261 yards and playing iron second shots, the hole has become a comfortable par 4, whereas it used to be a fearful par 4. You can see from the accompanying sketch of the hole that the bunkering is fairly well placed, although it could be slightly tight­ er. One bunker, however, from 200 to 235 yards from the tee, was completely out of play during this particular round. This bunker would, during normal play, catch primarily the average golfer. The tee markers were at the very back of the tee. The fairway bunkering, such as that across the service road, is of no value whatsoever as far as the big hitters are concerned and presents a problem only to average golfers and to women. These tests have now been carried on over the years. They have proved that the strategy and the hazards of golf holes must be conceived by the architect in such a manner that there will be a problem for experts in modern play and that those shots that are missed will be punished accordingly. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 7 IB* HOLE 53rd OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP OF U.S.GA. OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB • OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA 3rd ROUND - JUNE 13,1953 Compiled by Robert Trent Jones, Golf Course Architect NO. NAME YARDS I BUCK WHITE 2 JACK FLECK 3 MICHAEL HOMA 4 ROBT.A.ROOS.JR. 5 CHICK HARBERT 6 A.L DOERING,JR. 7 MARTY FURGOL 8 BILL OGDEN 9 FRED WAMPLER IO CLAYTON HEAFNER 11 GEORGE FAZIO 12 JULIUS BOROS 13 ROBT.R. ROSBURG 14 JIMMY CLARK 15 E. J. HARRISON 16 LOU BARBARO 17 AL MENGERT 18 JACK BURKE 19 TOBY LYONS 20 CLARENCE DOSER 21 BEN HOGAN 22 DICK METZ 23 DENNY LAVENDER 24 JOHNNY BULLA 25 JAY HEBERT 26 TED KROLL 27 GARDNER DICKINSON,JR. 28 ERRIE BALL 29 LLOYD MANGRUM 30 JERRY BARBER 31 H. HAVERSTICK,JR. 32 ART WALL,JR. 33 FELICE TDRZA 34 SAM URZETTA 35 ED OLIVER, JR. 36 JIM TURNESA 37 WILLIE GOGGIN 38 SHELLEY MAYFIELD 39 SAM SNEAD 40 JIMMY DEMARET 41 RAY GAFFORD 42 JOHN GARRISON 43 FRED HAAS 44 LAWSON LITTLE 45 J.B.MCHALE,JR. 46 DICK MAYER 47 BOBBY LOCKE 48 FRANK SOUCHAK 49 BILL NARY 50 FRANK STRANAHAN 51 PETER THOMPSON 52 J.D.BRADLEY 53 WALTER BURKEMO 54 LIONEL R HERBERT 55 DOUG FORD 56 PETE COOPER 57 WM. J. PATTON 58 CHAS. BASSLER 59 HARRY TODD 2nd it _..J SHOT -£>club position W TRAP RIGHT I GREEN ' I APRON I GREEN I GREEN I TRAP RIGHT I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I SHORT I TRAP LEFT I SHORT I GREEN I GREEN I SHORT I LEFT ROUGH I GREEN W SHORT I APRON I GREEN I TRAP LEFT I GREEN I TRAP LEFT I GREEN I SHORT I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I SHORT I GREEN I GREEN I SHORT W TRAP RIGHT I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN W GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I TRAP LEFT I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I SHORT I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN I GREEN 8 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 Impressions of Golf in America By LT. COL. A. A. DUNCAN Captain, 1953 British Walker Cup Team This short article is an attempt to put down some impressions of golf in the United States as seen in a short visit of about three weeks. During that time I saw only three courses and took part in the Walker Cup Match at the Kittansett Club, in Marion, Mass., and the Amateur Championship at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, in Oklahoma City, Okla. In addition I had a most enjoyable day at the Pine Valley Golf Club in Clem­ enton, N. J. Bearing in mind this limited background of golf in a large country, I intend to set down some random thoughts on the courses, the players, the officials and the general attitude towards the game that struck me most and to draw any necessary comparisons with golf in Great Britain. My first impression of the three courses I saw, that is, Kittansett, Pine Valley and Oklahoma City, was that they were much more like our own courses than I expect­ ed them to be. I have always been given to understand that United States greens have a lot of nap and that nearly all are heavily watered and all shots must be pitched right up to the hole. I found rela­ tively no nap at all—it was very slight at Kittansett and I thought of no signifi­ cance at all at Pine Valley or Oklahoma. The greens on all three courses did hold the shots well, but not to the extent that I expected. Oklahoma City, in particular, reacted extremely well to the pitch and run, and on occasions I saw few players able to stop their second shots at the eleventh hole from flying over the back! Kittansett is a fine test of golf. I would describe it as a thoroughly exacting in­ land course by the sea. It is a penal course and a severe examination to the golfer. We have in Surrey several courses of a similar type, but on less exacting lines. It is not in British eyes a seaside course, as although it is by the sea it has none of the characteristics of a links. NEW MEMBERS OF THE USGA Regular Apple Valley Country Club, Cal. Beatrice Country Club, Neb. Boiling Springs Country Club, Ky. Boulder Country Club, Colo. Cold Spring Golf Club, N. Y. Columbus Country Club, Miss. Columbus Golf Club, Ind. Dubuque Golf and Country Club, Iowa El Reno Country Club, Okla. Fairway Golf Club, Ohio Four Lakes Coun xy Club, Mich. Hillcrest Country Club, Mass. Hillcrest Country Club, Texas Junction City Country Club, Kans. Lacon Country Club, Ill. Lake Wales Golf Club, Fla. Ludlow Country Club, Mass. Mohawk Golf Club, Okla. Newnan Country Club, Ga. San Juan Country Club, New Mex. Sidney Golf and Country Club, Mont. Troy Country Club, Ohio Wing Point Golf Club, Wash. Worland Country Club, Wyo. Associate Boothbay Region Country Club, Maine Circle R. Ranch Golf Course, Cal. Green Valley Golf Course, N. Y. Sewart Air Force Base Golf Club, Tenn. Tuscumbia Country Club, Wis. Vermilion Country Club, Ohio This does not, of course, prevent it from being a great golf course, which it un­ doubtedly is. Pine Valley impressed me enormously. After all one has read about its legends, one comes to expect some sort of trick course. I did not find it that way at all. It is a tough course and absolutely fair. The fairways being reasonably wide and the greens very large, the hazards are nearly all mental. You know that a bad shot means bad trouble, and so you hit plenty of bad shots. Its layout is outstand­ ing and it has a very high percentage of classical holes. Oklahoma City is the most English course on which we played. The greens are fast and tricky, with a great deal of USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 9 borrow. They resemble many good Eng­ lish greens that I know. The fairways are the best I have ever seen, without exception. They are so good that they give the wretched golfer no excuse what­ ever for his bad shots. The ball sits up and asks to be hit and the turf is soft underneath, so that a squeezed iron shot is very easy to play. In addition, this bermudagrass, surprisingly enough, takes the pitch and run quite beautifully. Now I come to the players and the general standard of play. We have come in our country to expect Americans to play very well indeed, and there is no doubt that the general standard is very high. The United States Walker Cup Team is a superb advertisement for the United States golf, all high-class players and delightful people. When we went to Oklahoma City, I was most interested to study the general form outside the Walk­ er Cup Team. I came to the following conclusions: There are a number of players outside the Walker Cup Team of Walker Cup class, but this number is not so high as I had previously thought. It is only a dozen or so, making a total of about thirty in this, the highest class. The standard then drops appreciably (it is still a high standard!), but having dropped once, it does not drop again. Therefore, all the players who have quali­ fied for the Amateur, outside the top thirty, are highly competent performers who will give anyone an awful time over eighteen holes. The top-class Walker Cup standard, however, is confined to the com­ paratively limited number of about thirty. To compare this with the entry for the British Amateur Championship, you have more of the Walker Cup class than we do (not as many more as I thought), but your bottom standard is far higher than ours. We drop to a much lower standard than the lowest qualifiers for your Cham­ pionship, and you no doubt have many competent performers who fail to qualify! Before leaving the standard of play 1 would like to say what impressed me most in the rank and file of the com­ petitors at Oklahoma City. There were two outstanding points. Firstly, all seemed to be powerful hitters; today one must be long and accurate, and all the young Americans seem to give that ball a mighty good crack. Secondly, the holing out from ten feet and under was most impressive. Time and again I saw saving putts of this length holed and very, very seldom missed. Attitude Toward Game I would like to say something on the. general attitude towards the game. Firstly, I believe the American mental approach is more aggressive than the Brit­ ish. The American golfing population is very birdie conscious. We are notl Many times at Oklahoma City when a player put his second shot some twenty- five feet from the pin, I heard murmurs in the crowd, “A chance of a bird here!” I believe our general attitude to this situa­ tion is, “Ought to get a par here.” We are definitely not so birdie conscious. Secondly, I believe in this highly com­ petitive age that it is important to main­ tain the correct attitude towards amateur golf and to be very zealous of the spirit in which we play. This can only be achieved, if the example comes from the best players. I can only say that during my visit to the United States I saw no finer example of how amateur golf should be played than that given in the Harvie Ward-Charles Coe match at Oklahoma City. That example is a shining light for all to follow. No article on this subject would be complete without reference to the of­ ficials of the USGA. The success and the future of any game in any country must depend upon its ruling body. While in. the United States I saw a good deal or the working of the officials of the USGAr and without hesitation I would say that the future of golf in the United States could not rest in better hands. Finally, as a golfing visitor to the United States, I would like to thank a multitude of hosts for their kindness and generosity both to myself and to all members of the 1953 British Walker Cup Team. 10 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November. 1953 Color Prints of the Jones Portrait The portrait of Robert T. Jones, Jr., which was painted by Thomas E. Stephens and presented by a group of members of the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga., to “Golf House” has attracted so much favorable comment that five-color reproductions are now being offered for sale. Few exhibits in “Golf House” have at­ tracted as much attention as this oil painting which was hung over the fire­ place in the library last January. It is, in fact, the painting which inspir­ ed President Eisenhower to put his brush to canvas and make a copy which now hangs in the Augusta National Golf Club. This offer to Mem­ ber Clubs and to all friends of golf is neces­ sarily provisional in that it depends on the receipt of sufficient ord­ ers to warrant proceed­ ing. The closing date for orders is Decem­ ber 11. Each print will be 20 by 24 inches plus margins and will be re­ produced on fine qual­ ity, heavy stock paper suitable for framing and hanging in club­ houses, homes and of­ fices or for tournament prizes and gifts. Thomas E. Stephens' painting of Robert T. Jones, Jr. The cost will be $20 per print and the net profit will go to “Golf House” Fund in an effort to complete the purchasing, equipping and maintaining of “Golf House,” in New York, home of the USGA Golf Museum and Library and USGA headquarters. “Golf House’ Fund now totals $101,- 662.50, which is $8,337.50 short of the objective. In the period since the last issue of the USGA Journal, the following individuals, clubs and associations have enrolled as Founders: Sam Baronian William C. Chapin Thomas Gwinn Denny Miss Patricia A. Devany Barnes Humphreys Ellis Charles Daniel Ellis Mrs. Eleanor Gwin Ellis Individuals Melvin Wilbur Ellis Miss Mina Walleser Ellis Robert J. Foley Richmond Gray Miss Novadean Hogan Dr. Robert A. Keilty James B. Knowles W. A. Landreth Dr. Douglas B. Miller C. H. Specht George E. Thomas Russell Valentine Gardiner W. White William H. Williamson, III Ernest Wolf Clubs Ballston Spa Country Club, N. Y. Country Club of Lincoln, Neb. East Potomac Golf Club, D. C. Associations Chicago District Golf Association Detroit District Golf Association Golfers of Arizona Oklahoma State Golf Association USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 11 Eliminate the Small Ball Here By CHARLES B. GRACE Chairman, USGA Implements and Ball Committee It has come to the attention of the Association that some small-size golf balls are in use in this country, and the aid of every Member Club is being enlisted to help eliminate their distribution. The use of the small-size ball here, ex­ cept in an international team match, is a violation of Rule 2-3, and the penalty in both match and stroke play is dis­ qualification. Scores made with the small ball, even in informal games, are not acceptable for handicapping. The use of the small ball is, in fact, a fraud which weakens the sportsmanlike fibre of the game, engenders disrespect for the Rules and, if it expands, can dis­ tort the playing values of United States golf courses to the detriment of the Member Clubs. The Difference Here is a comparison of specifications for the United States and the small (Brit­ ish) ball: USGA British Weight—not greater than 1.620 ozs. 1.620 ozs. Diameter size— not less than Impact velocity— feet per second 1.680 in. 1.620 in. 250 no rule Note that there is no impact-velocity specification under the British rule. This is an important difference. The USGA impact velocity test pertains to special apparatus which the USGA ob­ tained a number of years ago at a cost of many thousand dollars. Its sole purpose is to produce a standard by which to limit the distance qualities of the ball. Some years ago it became necessary to limit the distance qualities. As the ball became longer and longer, courses were being outmoded, some clubs were hav­ ing to buy more land to lengthen their courses, were therefore paying more taxes and the essential nature of golf was being affected by distortion of the playing values of courses. This was costly, un­ necessary and harmful to golf. TROUBLES An exclamation of disgust at your hard luck or lack of skill is tolerable. However, remember that your playing companion's game is causing him such excruciating pain that he has neither interest in nor sympathy for your troubles and, at best, is only bored by them. For these same reasons, it is still essen­ tial that the distance qualities of the ball be limited. United States manufacturers have been most cooperative to that end. There is no such velocity limit on the small ball. Therefore, it is a matter of self-interest for Member Clubs to insure that a ball with unlimited distance quali­ ties does not gain a foothold in United States golf, even in the most informal games. USGA specifications for the ball have been worked out over a great many years. They have resulted in a ball which, we confidently believe, is far and away the best for use in this country. Aside from distance qualities, the United States ball sits up better in fairway, rough and bunker and putts and chips better. That is the consensus of leading American play­ ers and of many British players. Admit­ tedly, the United States ball is shorter than the small-sized ball against the wind, but downwind and under other con­ ditions it is vastly superior to the small ball in all-around playing qualities. So the player who attempts to cheat on distance by using the small ball against the wind is very likely to cheat himself in far more important factors. Certainly, he is cheating himself in be­ ing no sportsman. Officers of Member Clubs can do a ser­ vice to the game of golf by: 1. Informing their members of some of the essential facts and appealing for their cooperation. 2. Seeing to it that their professional sells only merchandise which conforms with USGA Rules. 12 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 Country Club Operations in 1952 By JOSEPH H. NOLIN, C.P.A. Member of the firm of Horwath & Horwath, New York, N. Y. Our fourth annual study of country club operations discloses a sorry year-end result for the group as a whole—a 50 per cent decrease in income available for depreciation, surplus and emergencies. In round figures, net operating costs and fixed charges increased 1^4 times as much as the 9 per cent increase in dues and assessments. In terms of the ratio to dues and assessments, the net result plunged 4.3 points from 8.0 per cent in 1951 to 3.7 per cent in 1952. The operating statistics on page 13 provide a comparative summary of the same seventeen clubs as were represented in a similar study last year. These clubs are located in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Illinois and California. Unless othenvise indicated, the statis­ tics are expressed in relation to mem­ bership dues and assessment income. These statistics are representative of this particular group of clubs and are not necessarily standards for all country clubs. For significant comparisons among clubs it is essential that the income and expense classifications conform to the Uniform System of Accounts for Country Clubs. The seventeen clubs received 6.2 per cent more income from membership dues in 1952 than in 1951. Three clubs raised their anual rates for regular members. Nine of the clubs increased their number of regular members. In 1952 these seventeen clubs suffered a continued upward trend in operating costs. Both net clubhouse cost, with an increase of 20.5 per cent, and net grounds, golf and other outside activities, up 13 per cent, sped far beyond income from dues and assessments which rose only 9 per cent. In ratio to dues, only five clubs improved their net result before Condensed from The Horwath Hotel Ac­ countant, October, 1953. More detailed statis­ tics are available in the original report. fixed charges. The other twelve clubs averaged a drop of nearly 11 points. Payroll is a major reason for the higher cost throughout operations. Compared with the year before, payroll alone in­ creased 7.5 per cent, or $225,000, which does not include the additional payroll taxes and employee-benefit costs. Another striking note on payroll is that these clubs had a total payroll amounting lo 117 per cent of their dues income, of which 40 per cent was for restaurant em­ ployees. The importance of the profitability of the restaurant and bar to the financial success of the entire club operation is emphasized by the 1952 results in these clubs. More than one half of the $100,000 decrease in net income before deprecia­ tion lies in a poorer departmental profit on food and beverages. Although sales did increase 3.3 per cent, food and bever­ age costs per dollar sale did not im­ prove; restaurant payroll rose 8.7 per cent and other expenses went up 5.3 per cent. Ten clubs reported lower food and beverage profits in ratio to sales, and the group average fell 1.8 points. In ra­ tion to dues the group average dropped off 3.2 points. Overhead expenses, which in total in­ creased 9.8 per cent, kept pace with dues and assessment income. Each of these ex­ pense groups maintained about the same relationship to dues except for repairs and maintenance, where larger amounts apparently were charged off in 1952. A 30 per cent bite out of the dues dol­ lar went for the maintenance and opera­ tion of the grounds and golf course, swim­ ming pool, tennis courts and other out­ side activities. All the clubs managed to cover their net operating cost. However, after fixed charges nearly half of them—three more than. in 1951—found themselves with a deficiency of income. And eleven clubs ended the year with a smaller portion left of their dues dollar. [JSGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 13 AVERAGE OF COUNTRY CLUB OPERATIONS—1952 Membership dues and assessments ................................... $162,000 1952 Group Average 1951 $149,000 Income from dues and assessments ........................................... .............. ... _ 100.0% 100.0% Deduct cost of operations Summary of Operations in Ratio io Dues plus Assessments Clubhouse (detail below) ...................................................................... ...... Golf and grounds—net ................................................................................. Swimming pool—net ............................... .................................................. 1.4(a) Tennis—net ____ ■■................................................ _............. 2.3(a) Other outside activities—net ................................................................. ..................9(a) 46.9 27.1 Total ...................................................................................................... ...... 77.0 Net before fixed charges ................................................................................ ...... 23.0 Fixed charges Rent ................... ............................................................................................ ------ 10.0(a) Taxes and insurance ...................................................... ................... ........ Interest*.......................................................................................................... 15.2 2.7(a) Total ............................................ ....................... ................... ..... 19.3 Dues and assessments available for depreciation and surplus .......... ..... 3.7________ CLUBHOUSE OPERATION Departmental protit Food and beverages ......................................................................... ....... ...... Rooms ...................................................................... ........................ ........... ...... Other sources of income ............................................. ... 11.9% 10.9(a) 4.1 Total ...................................................................... .............. . ................ ...... 22.4 Overhead expenses Clubhouse .................................................................................................. .... Administrative and general .............................................................. ..... ...... Entertainment—net ........................ ............... ............................................. ....... Heat, light and power ............................................................................ Repairs and maintenance .............................................................. ..... .. 17.6 27.0 4.3(a) 9.4 11.9 Total ...................................................................................................... ____ 69.3 Net clubhouse cost ............................................... .............................. . .............. ..... 46.9________ FOOD AND BEVERAGE STATISTICS Total food and beverage sales (b) Ratio to membership dues .................................................................. ....... Amount per member (all classes) ....................................................... ....... $288 135% Cost per dollar sale Food (c) ................................................................... ........................................... Beverages .................................................................................................... ....... 58.6c 37.0(a) Ratios to food and beverage sales Payroll ............................................................................... ........................... ....... Departmental profit .................................................................................. GROSS MAINTENANCE COST OF GOLF COURSE AND GROUNDS (d) 35.0% 8.8 Per golf course hole ............................................................................... . ___ $2,283 Ratio to membership dues ...................................................................... ...... 29.1% $283 ANNUAL DUES PER REGULAR MEMBER NUMBER OF MEMBERS Regular membership ...................................................................... ...... ....... Total of all classes .................................................................................... ....... 468 762 (a) Average only of those clubs reporting this item. (b) Exclusive of bottle sales. (c) Before credit for employees’ meals. (d) Does not include golf shop, caddie costs, etc., and green fees income; eleven courses, two have 9 holes, one has 27 holes and three have 36 holes. 42.4 26.2 1.5(a) 2.0(a) •8(a) 71.5 28.5 8.3(a) 16.1 3.5(a) 20.5 8.0 15.1% 11.6(a) 4.3 26.3 17.7 27.7 4.1(a) 9.3 10.7 68.7 42.4 143% $279 58.5c 37.0(a 33.2% 10.6 $2,154 29.9% $272 475 760 14 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November. 1953 USGA Nominees for 1954 The USGA Nominating Committee has presented its nominations for the officers and members of the Executive Committee for 1954. If the nominees are elected at the 60th Annual Meeting in the Vander­ bilt Hotel, New York, N. Y., at noon on January 23, Isaac B. Grainger, of New York, N. Y., will succeed Totton P. Heffel- finger, of Minneapolis, Minn., as Presi­ dent. Mr. Grainger is now a Vice-President and Chairman of the Rules of Golf Com­ mittee. He has been a member of the Ex­ ecutive Committee since 1945, was Sec­ retary from 1946 through 1949 and has been a Vice-President since 1950. Mr. Grainger was President of the Metropolitan (New York) Golf Associa­ tion from 1943 through 1945. John D. Ames, of Chicago, Ill., who has been Secretary since 1952 was nom­ inated to be a Vice-President, and Rich­ ard S. Tufts, of Pinehurst, N. C., was re­ nominated for a third term as a Vice- President. The USGA has two Vice-Pres­ idents and the listing by custom is alpha­ betical. The nominee for Secretary is Charles B. Grace, of Philadelphia, Pa., who has been a member of the Executive Commit­ tee since 1949 and who is Chairman of the Amateur Status and Conduct Com­ mittee and of the Implements and Ball Committee. Charles L. Peirson, of Boston, Mass., has been renominated for a second term as Treasurer. Three new members were nominated for the Executive Committee: Thomas H. Choate, of New York, N. Y., Gordon E. Kummer, of Milwaukee, Wis., and F. Warren Munro, of Portland, Ore. They would replace Mr. Heffelfinger, who is retiring after the customary two terms as President; and Lewis A. Lap­ ham, of New York, N. Y., and Corydon Wagner, of Tacoma, Wash., each of whom has requested to be relieved because of the pressure of business. Other members of the Executive Com- Isaac B. Grainger mittee were renominated. Fraser M. Horn, of New York, N. Y., was nominated for a fifth term as Gen­ eral Counsel. The Nominating Committee is a sep­ arate entity from the Executive Commit­ tee and its Chairman is James D. Stan­ dish, Jr., of Detroit, Mich. The other members are: Jerome P. Bowes, Jr., of Chicago, Ill.; W. Hamilton Gardner, of Buffalo, N. Y.; Gerald H. Phipps, of Den­ ver, Colo., and William McWane, of Bir­ mingham, Ala. They also nominated a 1955 Nominating Committee to consist of George W. Blossom, Jr., of Chicago, III., Chairman; C. W. Benedict, of White Plains, N. Y.; Robert W. Goldwater, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Richmond Gray, of Rich­ mond, Va., and Hal A. White, of Detroit, Mich. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 15 A Final Won, Not Lost By JOHN P. ENGLISH. USGA Assistant Executive Director It often happens that the final of a Championship is an anti-climax. Players who emerge from a week of gruelling matches in summer heat sometimes have progressive difficulty in keeping their swings sharp and their concentration keen. As a result, a final is as often lost as won. The final of the 53rd Amateur Cham­ pionship at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club had none of that quality, however. It was a thrilling duel between two great craftsmen and sportsmen, and it was clearly won by Gene Littler, of San Diego, Cal., but not lost, in the real sense of the word, by Dale Morey, of Indian­ apolis, Ind. As Totton P. Heffelfinger, President of the USGA, told Littler and Morey during the presentation of prizes, “There is glory enough for both of you.” The glory came toward the finish, as it should when champions compete. The clock-like Littler had worked his way into a two-hole lead with three holes to play and was running off solid pars one after the other. Standing on the sixteenth tee (the thirty-fourth of the match), Morey seemed to be playing Damocles to Littler’s Dionysus. On the 502-yard sixteenth, however, Morey plumped his approach close enough to make a birdie 4 and take the hole from Littler’s orthodox 5. On the 389-yard seventeenth, he holed an unlikely putt over a slippery mound for a birdie 3. The match suddenly was square again even though Littler had played both holes according to the card. On the 441-yard eighteenth, both hit superb tee shots. Morey played the odd and his iron failed to draw in quite its usual fashion, the ball catching only the right rim of the green and rolling off into a mean lie in a shallow bunker. Littler hit his iron to the back of the green. Mor­ ey played his difficult third stroke well and was left with a longish but in the cir­ cumstances thoroughly makeable putt for his 4. Littler then rose to Championship sta­ ture by running his twenty-footer directly into the hole for a birdie 3. So the match ended with three succes­ sive birdies and Littler the new Cham­ pion by a margin of a single hole, after playing the 36 holes in level par with two 71s. The 23-year-old Navy Airman, first class, will be a real Champion, too—as if he had not already proved it by his stun­ ningly brilliant and consistent play in the Walker Cup Match and in the Amateur, as well as by his modest and sportsman­ like demeanor. He is one of our most formful champions, with strong hands, a compact, modem style that rarely gets out of kilter and a great sense of touch and range on the greens. In addition to Littler, other young play­ ers attracted particular attention. They were two college boys, Don Albert, of Al­ liance, Ohio, and Bruce Cudd, of Port­ land, Ore. Albert is 21 and a junior at Purdue University. He won three match­ es in the Championship the previous year. Cudd is 20 and a sophomore at Portland University. While the galleries were con­ centrating on the better-known golfers, these two moved all the way to the semi­ final round, where Albert lost to Morey, 5 and 4, and Cudd bowed to Littler’s one- under-par play, 10 and 8. Spectators made much of the fact that only one member of the United States Walker Cup Team, Littler, went as far as the quarter-finals. Yet we cannot but won­ der how many, selecting a Team last spring, would have named a substantial number of the other quarter-finalists who proved themselves at Oklahoma City: Robert W. Kuntz, of Larchmont, N. Y., Albert, Morey, Angelo Santilli, of East Greenwich, R. L, Ted Richards, Jr., of Los Angeles, Cal., who won the Amateur Public Links Championship last July; 16 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 Raymond Palmer, of Grosse He, Mich., and Cudd. Actually, of the eight Walker Cup play­ ers who entered in addition to Littler, three, William C. Campbell, of Hunting­ ton, W. Va., James G. Jackson, of Kirk­ wood, Mo., and Sam Urzetta, of Roches­ ter, N. Y., played in the fifth round and lost only there to Morey, Palmer and San- tilli, respectively, in the closest sort of matches. Two others, Kenneth P. Venturi, of San Francisco, Cal., and Harvie Ward, of Atlanta, Ga., stayed into the fourth round, where they bowed to Arnold Pal­ mer, of Wickliffe, Ohio, and Kuntz, re­ spectively, in two other tight matches. Ward and Charles R. Coe, a member of the entertaining club, came together in the third round on Wednesday morn­ ing and engaged in one of the most stir­ ring matches in the Championship. The scoreboard showed that Ward won on the fifth extra hole, but as a practical matter neither, won. Ward did not have enough left after his victory to handle such a strong player as Kuntz and lost by a hole himself before the sun had set. In the Ward-Coe match, both players, good friends and past winners of British and USGA Amateur Championships, re­ spectively, were at the tops of their games. Ward started with a par, a birdie and a par to gain one hole. He became en­ tangled in an unplayable lie at the fourth and the match was even. Then, starting at the fifth hole, he made eighteen con­ secutive pars and, playing the 576-yard fifth hole for the second time, a birdie 4 to win. The finish was typical of the whole match, which Coe had squared after being 3 down with six to play. Both balls were about ten feet from the hole in three, and they had to measure to determine that Coe was away. His sidehill putt hit the lip of the cup and turned but did not drop. Ward holed, and that was the dif­ ference. The defending champion, Congressman Jack Westland, now 48, of Everett, Wash., fell with Coe in that third round. Arnold Palmer, who was to eliminate Venturi the same afternoon, beat him by a hole. Don Cherry, of Wichita Falls, Texas, recent winner of the Canadian Amateur, lost in the first round to Curtis Person, of Mem­ phis, Tenn. The British Walker Cup Team fared little better, although only four of its members were able to remain in this country for the Championship. John L. Morgan, of Streetly, England, who had won in both foursomes and singles at the Kittansett Club and had mastered the fearsome Pine Valley Golf Club course, in Clementon, N. J., by making a 70 after starting with a 7, went farthest. He was subdued finally by Littler in the fifth round. Joseph B. Carr, of Sutton, Eire, the British Amateur Champion, won a match and then lost to Edward Merrins, of Meridian, Miss., by two holes. The eliminaation of the better-known players, which started slowly and reached a crescendo in the two rounds on Wed­ nesday, may have been abetted somewhat by calm, hot weather on the first days of play. The Oklahoma City Golf and Coun­ try Club course measures 6,852 yards, but its perfect and close-cut bermuda fair­ ways play shorter than that would indi­ cate, particularly when long hitters gam­ ble successfully on the short routes of­ fered by its six dog-leg holes. It is not severely tight on a windless day, either. It apparently was designed by the late Perry Maxwell to accommodate play when the strong south wind sweeps across the flats. On the early, windless days, all men were more nearly equal. The surviv­ ors learned plenty about wind on Thurs­ day and Friday, however, when the course put up its more customary, vigor­ ous defense. Once again at the Amateur, the hospi­ tality and good-fellowship were outstand­ ing. The thrill and honor of winning un­ doubtedly is an important factor in at­ tracting top-notch players to this Cham­ pionship, but this growing tradition of sociability must also play an intangible role in luring many of the 1,284 who at­ tempted to qualify, this year. When a Championship is conducted in the spirit with which Harrison Smith, the Club’s General Chairman, and Kent B. Hayes, the Club’s President, imbued this one, a player may be beaten but he can hardly lose. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November. 1953 17 The Development of Mexican Golf By PERCY CLIFFORD Mexican Amateur Champion, 1928-1929-1930-1932-1933-1938 Member, Mexican Americas Cup Team, 1952 William Townsend, originally from Louisville, Ky., was one of an early group of immigrants who came to Mexico some sixty years ago. He and a few other Americans, Scots, English and Irish were responsible for the initiation and growth of sports in this country. One group started soccer football. Another built some tennis courts. Townsend headed the group which organized the first golf club. In 1897 nine holes were constructed on a barren piece of land in the suburb of Puebla, about forty-five minutes ride by street car to the southwest of Mexico City. The street cars, incidentally were hauled by a pair of mules. They erected a small tent near the first tee, and this also served as a clubhouse and refreshment stand. This first club was named the San Pedro Golf Club. Alex Smith, the USGA Open Cham­ pion in 1906 and 1910 and a brother of Willie and Macdonald, came from New York to visit Townsend a few years later. By this time the number of golfers had increased to the point where it had be- MEXICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONS 1926: Claudio M. Builin defeated Dr. 1944: Carlos Belmont defeated Percy James Vance, 1 up. Clifford, 4 and 3. Butlin, 2 up. 1927: Claudio M. Builin defeated Percy 1945: Wallace Ulrich defeated Carlos Bel­ 1928: Percy Clifford defeated Claudio M. 1946: Frank Stranahan defeated Earl 1929: Percy Clifford defeated Max Wright, 1947: Smiley Quick defeated Ollie Sleppy, 1930: Percy Clifford defeated Max Wright, 1948: Frank Stranahan defeated Charles 1931: R. R. Billings defeated John M. Joss, 1949: MacGregor Hunter defeated Earl 1932: Percy Clifford defeated Rafael El- 1950: Joe Conrad defeated Jack Culp, 1933: Percy Clifford defeated Max Wright, 1951: Frank Stranahan defeated Billy 1934: Gus Moreland defeated Percy Clif­ 1952: Al Mengeri defeated Henri de La- Clifford, 2 and 1. mont, 2 and 1. Stewari, 3 and 2. 2 and 1. Kocsis, 9 and 7. Stewari, 1 up. Jr., 8 and 7. Maxwell, 3 and 2. maze, 1 up. 4 and 3. 5 and 4. 3 and 2. guero, 1 up. 2 and 1. ford, 1 up. 10 and 8. 1953: Billy Maxwell defeated Frank Stranahan, 8 and 7. 1935: Ed White defeated John Dawson 1936: John Goodman defeated Percy Clif­ 1937: John Goodman defeated Don Schu­ 1938: Percy Clifford defeated Blaine Mc­ 1939: John Barnum defeated Robert F. 1940: John Barnum defeated Ellsworth 1941: Wilford Wehrle defeated Verne 1942: David Goldman defeated Percy ford, 10 and 9. macher, 6 and 5. Nutt, 1 up. Riegel, 2 up. Vines, 3 and 1. Stewart, 2 and 1. Clifford, 2 and 1. Clifford, 7 and 5. 1943: Robert F. Riegel defeated Percy Unofficial 1903: Robert Evertis. 1904: Dewitt Ham­ mond. 1905: A. C. Scales. 1906: C. H. Bartlett. 1907: C. H. Cummings. 1908: M. W. McLaughlin. 1909: L. H. Parry. 1910: J. C. Finningan. 1911: J. C. McDonald. 1912: J. C. McDonald. 1913: R. M. Tolin. 1914: A. Young. 1915-16. No tournaments. 1917: A. R. Dobson, 1918: No tournament. 1919: E. E. Danielle. 1920: C. M. Builin. 1921: C. M. Butlin. 1922: H. M. Van Zandt, Jr. 1923: James L. Stewart. 1924: C. M. Butlin. 1925: Max Wright. 18 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 come necessary to consider building a permanent golf course and clubhouse, and Alex’s advice was most helpful in this project. In 1907 construction was started on what is now the Mexico City Country Club. Willie Smith, who also had won the USGA Open in 1899, came from Chicago to serve as professional at this Club from the time of its institution until his death in 1915. He will always be remembered very dearly as a great player, a great teacher and the first golf professional in Mexico. Twice, as a representative of Mexico, he was runner-up in the USGA Open, and in 1908 he lost to Fred Mc­ Leod only in a play-off. Willie Smith and the Rebels Willie remained at the Country Club all during the 1914-15 revolution, refus­ ing to leave for safer quarters and risking his life for the Club he loved so much. The clubhouse was shelled and smashed by rebel troops. Armed bandits rode in on horseback, used the ballroom as a stable, ransacked the locker rooms, took the members’ belongings and used the wood to build bonfires at night. Defend­ ing troops on the river bank 1,500 yards to the north brought up small ar­ tillery and shelled the club again, trying to oust the rebels. Willie hid in the cellar and, when found, was in critical condi­ tion. During the following fifteen years, the political climate was not conducive to sports. Construction of other clubs was not to be considered, even though the number of foreigners was sufficient to warrant such undertakings. As soon as conditions became more favorable, Nelson Rhodes organized the Chapultepec Golf MEXICAN OPEN CHAMPIONS 1944: Al Espinosa ............................281 1945: Al Espinosa ............................290 1946: Al Espinosa ............................286 1947: Al Espinosa ............................292 Tony Holguin .......................... 201 1949: Tony Holguin ..........................289 1950: 1951: Roberto de Vicenzo .....------ 275 1952: Bobby Locke ................... 276 Robert de Vicenzo ................ 275 1953: Club, which by 1923 was as active as the Country Club. This eighteen-hole course was the work of Alex Smith. Golf in Mexico received its big lift in 1924. The Tampico oil boom was at its height. Dutch Shell, Standard Oil and other companies had hundreds of foreign employees. In Tampico alone three nine- hole courses were constructed. John Bredemus came from Texas and in his primitive but efficient way built some fine nine-hole courses. His best work was done for the Tampico Country Club, the Guadalajara Country Club, the Monterrey Golf Club and the Mexico City Country Club, which was remodeled. Mex­ icans took up the game, too, in sufficient numbers to warrant building additional courses, but these were built particularly in localities which attracted tourists. From 1925 to 1930 nine-hole courses were built in Torreon, Agua Caliente, Fresnillo and Cuernavaca. Other courses came later at Acapulco, Pueblo, Hermosillo, Tehuacan, Fortin, Laredo and Saltillo. In 1947 the most modern golf club in Mexico came into being. This is the Club de Golf Mexico, on the extreme south side of Mexico City. Here are 36 holes which are considered to be among the world’s best. It has been the scene of the Pan-American Open in recent years. Harry Wright, a Virginian who became president of the original Consolidated Rolling Mills, did more to promote golf than any other. He not only rebuilt the Country Club and carried it for many years but also gave all-out aid whenever it was requested to other clubs. Wright founded the Asociacion Mexi- cana de Golf, of which he was president for many years. The Mexican Amateur Championship owes its existence to Harry Wright because during its first few years he shouldered the entire responsibility for it. At his personal invitation came Walter Hagen, Joe Kirkwood, Robert T. Jones, Jr., and many other famous players. His book, Golf in Mexico, is the only com­ plete history of the game in this country and required many months of work. Its many historic photographs are priceless. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 19 Little is known about the professionals who came to Mexico in the early days, sometimes risking their lives, to teach the Mexican people this wonderful game. Thanks to their sacrifices we now have many hundreds of golfers all over the country. Some names deserve repeating, such as Willie and Alex Smith, Tom Hep­ burn, Harry Brown, Willie Lamb, Manuel Barrera, Al Espinosa, Olin Dutra, Al Escalante and Joe Belante. The first year in which visitors from foreign countries participated extensively in Mexican tournaments was 1934. Gus Moreland, a Texan and a Walker Cup player, had the honor of being the first visitor to win the Mexican Amateur Cham­ pionship. He defeated the defending champion, Percy Clifford, 1 up, in the 36-hole final. Following in Moreland’s footsteps came Ed White, in 1935; John Goodman, in 1936 and 1937; John Bar­ num, in 1939 and 1940. Other foreign winners have been Wilf ord Wehrle, Da­ vid Goldman, Bobby Riegel, Wallace Ulrich, Frank Stranahan, Smiley Quick, Mac Hunter, Joe Conrad, Al Mengert and Billy Maxwell, who defeated Frank Stran­ ahan, 8 and 7, in the 1953 final at the Churubusco Golf Club, in Mexico City, early this month. Maxwell won the medal with a 66 and scored a 64 in the morning round of the final. The Mexican Open Championship was inaugurated in 1944, and was won four times in succession by Al Espinosa. In 1949 Tony Holguin defeated a field which included Sam Snead, Lloyd Mangrum, Jimmy Demaret and other leading pro­ fessionals. Holguin won again in 1950. Roberto de Vicenzo, of the Argentine, tri­ umphed in 1951. Bobby Locke, of South Africa, won in 1952 and de Vicenzo re­ peated this year. The 1954 Open will be held at the Club de Golf Mexico, Febru­ ary 24 through 28. As competition increases and more courses are open to play, especially semi­ public or public courses, it will become easier for Mexican youths.to learn the game. The Americas Cup is the greatest incentive these boys have. They are anxi­ ous to become good golfers in the hope that they may one day be included on the Team which represents their country in international competition. This is the highest reward that any sportsman can acquire, regardless of what game he plays. Mexico offers the visitor 365 days of golf every year on a variety of courses from the sea shore at Tampico and Aca­ pulco to the mountains, 7,000 feet above sea level. It is truly a golfer’s paradise and visitors are assured a cordial welcome and real Mexican hospitality. MEXICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS 1926: Mrs. Marjorie Elguero defeated 1927: Mrs. Ralph L. Smith defeated Mrs. Mrs. Hugh Rose. J. J. Schissler. 1928: Mrs. Marjorie Elguero defeated Mrs. Harry Brown. 1929: Mrs. Ralph L. Smith defeated Mrs. 1930: Miss Martha Kinsey defeated Mrs. 1931: Miss Martha Kinsey defeated Miss Marjorie Elguero. Ralph L. Smith. Marjorie Conway. 1932: Mrs. J. J. MacGregor Mills defeat­ ed Mrs. G. A. Rodriguez. 1933: Mrs. Peggy Chandler defeated Mrs. O. R. Armstrong. 1934: Mrs. Peggy Chandler defeated Mrs. 1935: Miss Marion Miley defeated Mrs. 1936: Mrs. C. G. Newbold defeated Miss T. R. Finley. C. G. Newbold. Betty Jameson. 1937: Mrs. Peggy Chandler defeated Mrs. 1938: Mrs. Esther McMains defeated Mrs. Mary Carruthers. Helen Whittlesey. 1939: Miss Kathryn Hemphill defeated Mrs. Helen Whittlesey. 1940: Mrs. Esther McMains defeated Miss 1946: Miss Doi Kielty defeated Mrs. Ma­ de la Torre. rat von Hartz. 1947: Miss Sally Sessions defeated Mrs. 1948: Miss Bertha Navarro defeated Mrs. Aurora Olagaray. Esperanza Madero. 1949: Mrs. Aurora Olagaray defeated Mrs. Cristina P. de Garza. 1950: No championship. 1951: Miss Lesbia Lobo defeated Miss 1952: Miss Mary Ann Villegas defeated Bertha Navarro. Miss Lesbia Lobo. 1953: Miss Margaret Smith defeated Miss Luz de Lourdes, 7 and 6. 20 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 Changes in Rules of Golf By JOSEPH C. DEY, JR. USGA Executive Director It has been two years since the present world-wide code of Rules of Golf became effective. The Rules have had a thorough testing and have been the subject of close study by authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. There has been continuous cor­ respondence between the Royal and An­ cient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, and the United States Golf Association. No colossal flaws have come to light, and so the two authorities have reached a two-fold agreement, as follows: First, to make a few minor amend­ ments, mostly shadings in language, ef­ fective January 1, 1954. Second, to make no further changes until there is opportunity for personal conference between representatives of the R. and A. and the USGA. This will prob­ ably occur during the spring of 1955 when an American Walker Cup Team next visits Great Britain. Meanwhile, it appears that the Rules are somewhat better understood by the golfing public than were former codes. Before 1952 the USGA used to receive a great many questions and issue a great many formal Rules decision. In 1952, the first year of the new code, there were 102 formal decisions, and this year the num­ ber probably will be fewer than 75. One objective of Rules-making always must be to simplify the code to the point where the player can find the answer for himself just by reading the book, without requiring an official interpretation. Changes in Hazard Rules Of the changes effective January 1, 1954, the most important are concerned with hazards. Henceforth, a ball may not be lifted for identification in a hazard, under an amendment to Rule 23-2. (However, if the ball be covered by sand, fallen leaves or the like, the player still may “remove as much thereof as will enable him to see the top of the ball”, under Rule 33-le. Further, if he plays a wrong ball from a hazard, there still is no penalty—Rule 21-2,3.) A new clause 3 of Rule 22 will provide that “A ball lifted in a hazard must be dropped and come to rest in that hazard unless otherwise provided for in the Rules.” This merely puts in the Rules the substance of a principle of long standing. The definition of a lateral water haz­ ard has been clarified. Definition 14c will provide: “A ‘lateral water hazard’ is a water hazard or that part of a water haz­ ard so situated that it is not feasible to d.op a ball behind the water hazard and keep the spot at which the ball last crossed the hazard margin between the player and the hole. It is the duty of the Committee to define a lateral water hazard.” Rule 38-2 dealing with checking scores in stroke play has been changed in two particulars. It will now be obligatory upon the competitor to “ensure that the marker has signed the card.” Secondly, in handicap play the Committee will now have responsibility for “application of the correct handicap.” Among the other amendments for 1954 are: Definition 18—A marker “should not lift the ball or mark its position.” Rule 21-2, 3—Clarified to provide that strokes played with a wrong ball do not count in the player’s score. Rule 36-1—Combining match play and stroke play prohibited. Rule 37-3—Clarified to prohibit prac­ tice on course before starting in stroke play. All told, seven Definitions and 13 Rules have been somewhat altered for 1954. Those affected besides those named above are Definitions 17, 20, 21, 22 and 26; Rules 9, 27, 30, 32, 35, 40 and 41. Lest there be concern that the nature of the game may be affected, we would repeat that the amendments are mostly minor changes in wording, not in the substance of the Rules. Golf in 1954 will still be golf. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 21 Why Trial Form of Open Was Abandoned The system of double qualifying for the Open Championship which was used on a trial basis this year will not be repeated because of strong objections voiced by a substantial number of play­ ers. The Open will revert for the foresee­ able future to 36-hole Sectional Qualify­ ing Rounds followed only by the 72-hole Championship proper for 162 qualifiers and exempt entrants. The 1954 Cham­ pionship will be held over the Lower Course of the Baltusrol Golf Club, Spring­ field, N. J., next June. Before reaching this decision to return to the form which had been used for many years prior to 1953, the USGA Executive Committee polled 1,762 en­ trants, former Open Champions and mem­ bers of the Sectional Affairs Committee by mail after the 1953 Championship. The 520 who replied actually favored, by a ratio of approximately five to three, the 1953 plan under which a more gener­ ous quota of 299 sectional qualifiers and exempt entrants was allowed to go to the scene of the Championship and there en­ gage in a second qualifying round over two courses during which their number was reduced by approximately one half. A substantial number of the minority, however, took occasion not only to ob­ ject to the 1953 plan but to present com­ pelling reasons for their objections. It was, they wrote, unusually expensive in both time and money, requiring as it did two extra days of play plus extra practice over a second course. Club pro­ fessionals found an added financial sacri­ fice in having to be away from their shops over two week ends in a busy season. What They Said Pat Abbott, professional, of Mem­ phis, Tenn., said: “Takes too much time away from the club to learn two courses and then qualify.” Jim Barfield, professional, of Grand Rapids, Mich., said: “The expense and time element of the 36-hole qualifying at the site of the tournament is too great for the average golfer. To travel and practice, the time involved is over ten days, more nearly two weeks.” Bobby Cruickshank, professional, of Pittsburgh, Pa., wrote: “In many cases entrants had to travel great distances, with added expense, and it seemed like quite a gamble to take when they had to qualify another 36 holes to get in the 72-hole Championship.” Henry Lindner, professional, of Augus­ ta, Ga., offered: “The expense of this trip is too great to risk not qualifying upon arrival at the tournament site.” Ted Luther, professional, of Pittsburgh, Pa., commented: “As a club pro, I feel the 1952 plan is more desirable as it is not necessary to be away from the job quite as long as under the 1953 plan.” Cary Middlecoff, professional, of Mem­ phis, Tenn., believed: “Six consecutive rounds make the tournament too much of an endurance contest. A club pro must miss two week ends from his club.” Two amateurs also made telling points. Billy Joe Patton, of Morgantown, N. C., pointed out: “Some good golfers are not going to qualify under either sys­ tem. However, the 1952 plan does let you play in the Open, whereas the 1953 plan had one half the field spending their money and never participating in the Open.” Robert T. Jones, Jr., of Atlanta, Ga., one of nine former Champions who fa­ vored the 1952 form, added: “I do not believe it at all possible that the extra sectional qualifying places provided by the new system could include a winner. I see no reason to expand hotel, trans­ portation and club facilities to take care of people who have little if any chance to win.” The objective of the Association is to preserve the best interests of the game, and acceding to these objections after a fair trial would seem to carry out that objective. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November. 1953 THE REFEREE Decisions by the Rules of Golf Committees Example of symbol*: “USGA” indicates decision by the United States Golf Association. “R & A” indicates decision by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. “53-1” means the first decision issued in 1953. “R. 37-7” refers to Section 7 of Rule 37 in the 1953 Rules of Golf. Dispute Referred io Committee USGA 53-19 R. 4; 10-1; 11-1, 3; 25-1; 26-2a, b; 35-2d; 37-7 QI: In match play two players came to the eighteenth hole even. On A’s second shot he hit a tree and the ball caromed and hit his caddie. He told B that he had hit his own caddie and lost the hole and match. B told him to play the hole out, that he didn’t want to win the match that way. They played the hole out and halved same. Then A while still on green asked the Rules Committee to give a ruling. They informed him that his opponent would have to call the infraction. Al: The Committee should have ruled that A lost the hole under Rule 26-2a. Rule 11-3 provides in part that “in the absence of a referee, the players shall refer any dis­ pute to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.” In the case cited, the friendly dis­ pute between the players was referred to the Committee for a decision within the time limit specified in Rule 11-1. The Com­ mittee had no basis in the Rules for limiting its action to the requirement that A call the penalty. The Rules of Golf for match play do not require a player to call a penalty on his opponent; in fact, the sportsmanship of the game obliges the player to call penal­ ties against himself; see Rule 10-1. In the absence of a referee, a Committee has no authority to intervene in match play unless it is requested to do so, as in this case, or has reason to believe Rule 4 is being in­ fringed. Ball At Rest? Q2: Under Rule 35-2d, when is it consid­ ered “the opponent’s ball has come to rest?” I ask this especially when the oppon­ ent doesn’t think the ball has come to rest and claims that the ball is still in motion. What would be the time element? How would a Rules Committee rule if player claims ball had come to rest and he knocked same away, but his opponent claims it had not come to rest, it was on the lip but he thought same was still moving and had it not been knocked away would in all probability have fallen in? A2: Whether a ball has come to rest is a question of fact, and without agreement on the facts there is no way to interpret the Rules. The Note under Rule 35-2d entitles a player to only a momentary delay to deter­ mine whether or not his ball is at rest. There is no specified time limit. Since the player incurs a penalty under Rule 25-1 (with certain exceptions which are not pertinent in this case) if he plays while his ball is moving, he should be given the benefit of any doubt, but he must not delay play in contravention of Rule 37-7. In match play, when a player’s ball is at rest, there is nothing in the Rules which would prevent an opponent from knocking USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 23 it away as a means of conceding the next stroke. However, if a player’s ball were not at rest and an opponent knocked it away, he would violate Rule 26-2b and lose the hole. Questions by: C. H. Stewart Great Southern Golf Club Gulfport, Miss. Playing Two Balls When First Is in Water Hazard USGA 53-20 R. 21-2, 3; 33-2a Q: I hit a ball that looked as if it might be on the other side of a water hazard. I walked to the water’s edge, dropped a ball and hit it across. Then I walked to the other side, looked for my original ball, found it playable and played the original ball from the hazard. After I did this, I was told that I was not to drop a ball and play across the water unless I looked to see if I coidd find and play the original ball first. Must I walk all the way around this pond to see if I can find and play my original ball and then if it’s in the water or un­ playable walk all the way back to drop a ball? Question by: Mrs. Carl Klandrud Milwaukee, Wis. A: Yes. Since your first ball was in the hazard, you proceeded under Rule 33-2a when you dropped and played a ball be­ hind the hazard. You were therefore pre­ cluded from playing your original ball as it lay or proceeding under Rule 33-2b. When you then played your original ball, you played a wrong ball. There is no penalty for playing a wrong ball in a hazard (see Rules 21-2 and 3). However, if you played a stroke or strokes- with the wrong ball outside a hazard, you lost the hole in match play (see Rule 21-2) or you incurred a penalty of two strokes in stroke play and were required to play out the hole with the ball which was prop­ erly in play (see Rule 21-3). Determining Who Is Away both 170 paces from the hole. B then play­ ed, withdrawing his question about A’s pro­ cedure in having played first. Had there there been further question, would the referee have been obliged to take an exact measure in feet and inches? Question by: Horton Smith Detroit Golf Club Detroit, Mich. A: No. In view of the distance of the balls from the hole, the referee had used reason­ able means of measurement; he could not be expected to make a precise engineering survey. Under Definition 26 and Rule 11-2, a referee has authority to determine the means to be used in such a case, and his decision is final. After the referee had paced the distances, if B had protested, the referee would have been justified in tossing a coin or otherwise deciding the matter by lot, as provided for in Rule 20-1. No Measurement through Obstruction USGA 53-23 R. 31-2 Q: A wire screen protects our 13th tee from players approaching the 12th green. Your rule on obstructions does not state clearly whether or not a ball resting within two club-lengths of this screen may be drop­ ped either side of the screen, not nearer the hole. Can the ball be dropped through the screen, no nearer the hole? The rule is not definite as it is now written. Question by: Samuel Y. Boggs Jenkintown, Pa. A: In proceeding under Rule 31-2, the player may not measure through an immov­ able obstruction in determining where to drop within two club-lengths of that point of the obstruction nearest which the ball originally lay. Caddie Hands Player Wrong Club USGA 53-24 R. 3, 36-5 USGA 53-22 D. 26; R. 11-2, 20-1 Q: In match play, A and B drove to rough on opposite sides of the fairway. A played to the green, whereupon B question­ ed whether A was away (the referee had not designated wh® was away). The referee paced it off and found that their drives were Q: With caddies carrying double, after a player had made a shot he said, “Why, I’ve got the wrong club.” The kid had handed him a club out of the wrong bag. Another fellow in the group from whose bag the club was taken then said, “You are disqualified as you have used fifteen clubs.” The com­ mittee had a session and disqualified the fel­ 24 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 low who was handed the wrong club by the caddie. In view of the great amount of double­ caddying and the great possibility that there will be clubs of the same make in both bags the kid is carrying, it seems to me that there are going to be plenty of cases of this sort. It would be possible for a fellow who is a sterling stinker to slip a caddie a little bribe to hand a club out of the wrong bag to a player, who, after using the club, would be disqualified. What is the ruling in such a case? Question by: Herb Graffis Chicago, III. A: Although there was a technical viola­ tion of Rule 3, penalty for which is disqual­ ification, the Committee would be justified under the particular circumstances in invok­ ing Rule 36-5. Thus, the Committee could waive the penalty altogether or could mod­ ify it—for example, in stroke play the Com­ mittee might reduce the penalty to one or two strokes, and in match play to one stroke or loss of hole. It should be noted that this provision of Rule 36-5 applies only to exceptional individual cases. Alternate in Team Match USGA 53-25 R. 36-1 Q: Our Club is playing for a trophy with other clubs, and we abide by USGA Rules. The team is designated before each match. The teams, consisting of five members from each club, played a match (medal play). One member, through an unfortunate acci­ dent, had to discontinue on the sixth hole. She was unable to finish the match. (1) Can the score of another member who played at the same time be used as an alternate, in place of the one who withdrew? (2) Should the club of the member who withdrew default to the other club? Question by: Mrs. Edward Hill Towson, Md. A: The matter is not specifically provided for in the Rules of Golf and therefore is one for the Committee in charge to determine. Rule 36-1 provides in part: “The Committee shall lay down the conditions under which a competition is to be played”. You state that each team is designated before each match. You indicate that there was no advance provision for an alternate to substitute for a player who fails to com­ plete the stipulated round. Therefore, we are of opinion that an alternate’s score should not be counted and that the club of the player who did not finish the round should default to the opposing club. Defining Undue Delay USGA 53-28 R. 11-1, 37-7 Q: Will you be kind enough to clarify Rule 37-7 on undue delay? We have several offenders, especially among the younger promising golfers. As we have only three tournaments in which referees are used (and then in only the final rounds), we do not know what procedure to use in invoking the penalty, particularly in match play. Is the penalty invoked by an individual’s complaint or by a complaint of the field at large? In what way is it determined when the penalty is invoked and by whom1? I should judge that the penalty in stroke play is applied when the player turns in her score, but as the penalty in match play is loss of hole, the situation is a difficult one. Question by. Mrs. Peter M. Calvert Pittsburgh, Pa. A: In the absence of a referee, a player who considers that another is unfairly de­ laying play may appeal to the committee in stroke play or, in match play, may enter claim under Rule 11-1. The player is not the sole judge, however. Application of Rule 37-7 depends on judgment and a sense of fair play. As a general proposition, two players’ testimony would be adequate. In any case, the com­ mittee must weigh all available evidence in trying to arrive at a fair decision. Penalty for breach of Rule 37-7 should be applied to the hole or holes on which the Rule was breached, in both match play and stroke play. Where possible, committees are advised to have representatives on the course to see that play progresses promptly, as the cus­ tom of the game and good manners dictate. Such representatives should be sure of the facts before taking action; for example, sometimes a suspiciously long gap between groups of players is due to a lost ball or other untoward circumstances rather than to delay in play. It is considered advisable to deal with cases of undue delay in three stages—first, a warning; second, a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play; third, for repeated offense, disqualification. IjSGA Journal and Turf Management: November. 1953 25 Correspondence pertaining to turf management matters should be addressed to: USGA Green Section. Room 206, South Building, Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md. Western Office: Box 241, Davis, Cal.; Southwestern Office: Texas A. and M. College, College Station, Texas WATERING IN WINTER By MARVIN H. FERGUSON Southwestern Director, USGA Green Section How many times have you seen turf winterkill on high, well-drained areas? Did you realize that the grass died from drought? Have you heard wheat grow­ ers wish for a snow cover on their crops so that it would not winterkill? A snow blanket retards desiccation and the wheat or any other grass loses water much less rapidly. Therefore it does not fall victim to these winter droughts. Watering uf turf occasionally during the winter months is an effective means of prevent­ ing much winterkilling. Grass species vary a great deal in their ability to withstand cold. Some warm-season grasses, such as St. Augus- tinegrass, simply cannot tolerate extreme­ ly cold temperatures whereas grasses like ryegrass or bluegrass remain green through all except the very coldest winter periods. Cold appears to affect them very little. Physiological differences in grasses are responsible for the differential reactions of various species to cold. Most of these physiological differences are concerned with the ways in which water is taken up and held by the grass. Winter-hardy plants are said to contain a greater per­ centage of “bound” water, of “non-freez- able” water than do those plants which are not winter hardy. The ability of any- given species to withstand cold can he increased by a gradual “conditioning.” When soils are cold, plant roots are relatively inactive and water is taken up very slowly. Many times soils remain cold when the air temperature becomes warmer. Thus we have transpiration, or water loss, occurring from the leaves without an accompanying water uptake by the roots. The inevitable result is “wilting” or desiccation. Cold affects desiccation in another way. When grass is subjected to freezing tem­ peratures, the water contained in the liv­ ing plant cells is drawn out of the cells and is frozen in intercellular spaces. When the ice crystals thaw, the water does not go back into the plant cells. The living part of the grass has lost water during the freezing process and because the roots are not functioning nor­ mally in the cold soil, water is not being taken up for replenishment of the supply in the cells. 26 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 It has been found that plants “harden*’ quite rapidly when exposed to cold. Chemical and physiological changes in the sap occur which makes the plant more resistant to cold. These changes are often noticed after as little as three or four days of exposure to cold. Therefore, it is the rapid changes of temperature which do the most harm. The sudden dry “northers” which are accompanied by temperature drops of 30 or 40 de­ grees are extremely injurious to all plants. Sufficient moisture in the soil les­ sens the injury caused by rapid changes in temperature to some extent. Water temperature does not change as rapidly as air temperature and the plant has some opportunity, sometimes very slight, to harden itself against the cold. This discussion is the basis for one single point. It sometimes pays to water in the winter. In the Great Plains region where high knolls are exposed to drying winds, there is likely to be a great deal of drying-out of both the grass and the soil. Occasional watering will help to protect the grass from winter injury. When dry “northers” are forecast and the soil is dry, it’s a good idea to do some irrigation before the “norther” ar­ rives. The soil temperature will change more slowly, and the grass will not de­ hydrate so rapidly. Grass will be saved that otherwise might die from drought. FROM THE EASTERN OFFICE By ALEXANDER M. RADKO Acting Eastern Director, USGA Green Section The months of August and September are fast becoming known as the turf­ field-day months in the Northeast. Four major turf field days were held during these months, with a total attendance of more than a thousand. Following is a summary of some of the developments which attracted particular interest: Rutgers This year for the first time the aerated plots showed to better advantage than the unaerated plots. These plots are four years old. Previous reports indicated lit­ tle or no difference between treatments. . . . The cadminates and PMA formu­ lations showed to best advantage on put­ ting-green turf in the control of copper- spot. These fungicide trials are six years old. This year copperspot was the only disease which occurred in sufficient quan­ tity to warrant tests . . . Meyer (Z-52) zoysia had more clover infestation than at any previous time. The Kentucky 31 fescue looked good under and l-'Xf' heights of cut. Merion (B-27) bluegrass didn’t show to particular advantage over the other bluegrass selections. Dr. Ralph Engel was the leader. Rhode Island The PMA-treated putting-green turf was outstanding with regard to freedom from crabgrass. . . . Dr. Howard report­ ed that two PMAS treatments applied in April to bluegrass turf controlled Helmin- thosporium which causes leafspot. . . . The 2,4,5-T trials showed good clover control in late fall and in April, when ap­ plied at the rate of one pound to the acre. In June the control of clover was not good when 2,4,5-T was used at the same rate. . . . Renovation trials proved that success with spring renovation was difficult due to the problem of crabgrass encroachment before a good turf cover could be established. Dr. Jesse A. De France was the leadci. Penn State The creeping red fescue plots at Penn State suffered more this year than in pre­ vious years. The terrific heat and extend­ ed drought hurt the creeping fescues more than ever before. Plots of Kentucky 31 fescue and Merion (B-27) bluegrass looked excellent despite these adverse climatic conditions. They had beautiful color (almost looked as if the plots were USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 27 watered in comparison wjth those adja­ cent). ... A beautiful picture of dollar- spot control was seen on the putting- green turf plots. Excellent control was obtained with the cadmium fungicides, which were the only fungicides used on these plots. . . . On the watered creep­ ing red fescue plots the polycross creeping red fescue strain developed by Professor Musser looked far superior to the other creeping red fescue strains under similar conditions. There was noticeable lack of disease and cupping in the polycross creeping red fescue plots as compared with the other red fescues which are be­ ing tested. Professor Musser stated that polycross creeping red fescue seed will not be available commercially in any quantity before 1955. . . . The Merion bluegrass progeny test is quite an impres­ sive sight. Thousands of seedling Merion bluegrass plants set row on row. Chances are excellent for a superior bluegrass se­ lection being found, one even better than Merion. Joe Duich, graduate student, is working on this problem. . . . Miles F. Nelson, the third graduate student, to be selected for a USGA Green Section fel­ lowship at Penn State, reactivated the aeration, compaction and run-off tests and is going to study new phases of this problem. Prof. H. B. Musser was the leader. New York-Connecticut The Fourth Annual Turf Field Day and Equipment Show sponsored by the New York-Connecticut Turf Improvement Association was most successful. A rec­ ord number of commercial firms dis­ played their equipment to good advant­ age. Each piece of machinery was dem­ onstrated and the features were explained by commercial representatives. ... A dinner followed, with Marshall barnham as guest speaker. Ted Joswich was the chairman. Mid-Ailaniic News Mid-Atlantic superintendents met Sep­ tember 1 at the United States Naval Acad­ emy Golf Course, Annapolis, Md., where one of the most improved golf courses in this area was inspected. The outstanding NATIONAL TURF CONFERENCE The annual turf conference and show, sponsored by the Golf Course Superinten­ dents Association of America, will be held in Miami, Fla., January 3-9. The McAllis­ ter Hotel and the Municipal Auditorium will be headquarters. A golf tournament, an educational pro­ gram, exhibits of golf-course equipment and supplies and numerous business and committee meetings will comprise the week's activities. The tournament will be open to members of the Association. The first eighteen holes will be played at the Plantation Golf Club, Ft. Lauderdale, on the afternoon of Thursday, January 7, and the final eighteen holes at Miami Springs Country Club, Miami, on the af­ ternoon of Friday, January 8. All sessions of the educational program will be held in the Municipal Auditorium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan­ uary 7, 8 and 9. The Friday program will be divided into two sections. One section will be concerned with warm-weather grasses and one with cool-season grasses. The show will be open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Wednesday and Thursday and will close at 1 P.M. on Friday. All exhib­ its will be in the Municipal Auditorium. Features of the social activities will be a Get-Acquain’ed Hour at the McAllister Hotel on Tuesday evening and a banquet at . the Miami Shores Country Club on Friday evening, January 8. Ladies will be treated to a full week of entertain­ ment and sightseeing. Inquiries should be addressed to Golf Course Superintendents Association, Attn.: Agar M. Brown, Secretary, P. O. Box 106, St. Charles, Ill. feature of the Annapolis course is its beautiful bermudagrass fairways. Four years ago, when this association last met at Annapolis, the fairways had a high percentage of crabgrass and silver crab­ grass. Today the picture has changed; the fairways are approximately 65 per cent bermudagrass, with very little silver crab. Bermudagrass is making daily progress and even without chemical help it is tak­ ing over the silver crabgrass. In a few years silver crab will no longer be a nuisance at Annapolis. The bermudagrass fairways afforded beautiful lies. The pic­ ture presented in these unwatered fair­ ways in this area, where turf suffered greatly because of the drought, high hu­ midity and high temperatures this sum­ 28 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 mer as it has not in the past, was a strik­ ing contrast to many other golf courses in this area which have predominantly, or have had predominantly, cool-season grasses. Bob Williams, pro-superinten­ dent, is doing a wonderful job of vegeta­ tive planting of the winter-hardy bermuda strains on his fairways. Some golf-course superintendents in this region attribute the fast spread of bermudagrass selections in their fairways to the use of aeration and dragging equipment. FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN OFFICE By MARVIN H. FERGUSON Southwestern Director, USGA Green Section The USGA Green Section’s regional turf service program is meeting with the approval of many golf clubs in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexi­ co, Oklahoma and Texas. The program was introduced at a series of meetings in these states shortly after the Southwest­ ern Office was opened on July 1. At last count there were thirty-six applications for direct service. Many more club rep­ resentatives have expressed a need and a desire for the service. Water in the Southwest Water continues to be the great need of the Southwest. Drouth has caused a num­ ber of cities to restrict the use of water for turf irrigation again this year. Despite water shortages, a surprising number of superintendents continue to apply more water than is good for their turf. There is need for more widespread application of the proven principles un­ derlying the correct use of water. • In recognition of the fact that econom­ ical and correct use of water is of para­ mount importance in the Southwest, the Texas Turf Association has voted to make the subject of water the central theme for its annual turf conference in January. No other phase of golf-course mainten­ ance is so important nor so poorly under­ stood. Experimental Bermudagrass Greens Joe Smith, who formerly was asso­ ciated with Texas A. and M. College, has begun a cooperative effort with a number of East Texas golf courses whereby these courses will establish experimental put­ ting greens. The experimental greens will be made up of pie-shaped segments of a number of the selected strains of bermu­ dagrass being grown at Texas A. and M. College. The College will provide plant­ ing material and Mr. Smith will assist the clubs in planning their experiments. These putting greens will provide an op­ portunity for players to evaluate the vari­ ous strains under a given set of condi­ tions. It is felt that this is one way to de­ termine which of the improved grasses will be best to plant on the putting greens at any particular golf course. This type of testing work, which might be called “extended research”, is almost necessary because conditions vary so much from one golf club to another. Not only are there differences in climate, soil and fertility, but also in management prac­ tices. These differences often will deter­ mine whether or not a grass will be suc­ cessful. The cooperators in such a proj­ ect should be congratulated for their wil­ lingness to do some research on their own to determine which of these grasses will do better for them should they de­ cide to plant all their greens to an imr proved strain. It is expected that players will be given score cards whereby they may mark their choices. The results can be tabulated and the players’ preferences can be deter­ mined readily. The superintendent will have an opportunity to score the grasses and to indicate whether or not he has any particular trouble, such as disease or in­ sect attacks on any of these improved strains. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 29 FROM THE WESTERN OFFICE By CHARLES G. WILSON Western Director, USGA Green Section Golf course superintendents in the West are faced with a wide range of temper­ ature, moisture and soil conditions. Often these can occur within a very narrow geo­ graphical area. California alone, with its long temperature coastline, mountainous peaks and desert floors, offers every range and combination of climatic conditions found in the entire West. In this vast region we are credited with having both the hottest and coldest spots in the nation, and the diurnal cycle in a given area may be as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not uncommon during the summer in the northern interior val­ leys of California to have temperatures of 110 degrees or better during the heat of the day and nights with temperatures in the low 60s. On certain summer days a few seconds drive from Berkeley, Cal., through the mountain tunnel to Orinda, Cal., can bring a temperature change from 60 degrees to nearly 100 degrees. Along portions of the northwestern coastline rainfall normally may be more than 100 inches a year, and in parts of our interior valleys the amount of yearly precipitation may be so minute as to defy accurate measurement. Even in many of the high rainfall areas, the rains come from October to June, thus leaving a period of at least three months when ar­ tificial irrigation is necessary to maintain green color and good vigorous growth. In low rainfall areas irrigation is necessary twelve months of the year, and in the Rocky Mountain area supplemental water­ ing is needed even during the winter months to prevent desiccation and loss of the turf from drying winds that are practically devoid of moisture. Water-use rate by the turf as influenced by light intensity, temperature, humidity and wind varies greatly throughout the area. During the summer irrigation season it may exceed 2.5 inches per week in dry desert areas and be less than an inch per week along the coastal slopes. This means COMING EVENTS Nov. 16-20: American Society of Agron­ omy Meetings, Baker Hotel, Dallas, Texas. L. G. Monthey. (Marvin H. Ferguson, Chairman of Turf Division). Nov. 30-Dec.2: Oklahoma Turf Confer­ ence, Oklahoma A. & M. College, Still­ water, Okla. Bob Dunning, Program Chair* man. Jan. 3-9: 25th Annual Turf Confer­ ence and Show, Golf Course Superinten­ dents' Association of America, Municipal Auditorium, Miami, Fla. Agar M. Brown, Secretary. Jan. 5-7: Northeastern Weed Control Conference, Hotel New Yorker, New York. Walter C. Jacob, Secretary-Treas­ urer. Jan. 18-20: Eighth Annual Texas Turf Conference, Memorial Student Center, Texas A. & M. College, College Station, Texas. Marvin H. Ferguson, Program Chairman. Feb. 8-9: Annual Conference of Mid- Atlaniic Association of Golf Course Su­ perintendents, Lord Baltimore Hotel, Bal­ timore, Mr. E. N. Cory, Director. Feb. 15-18: Penn State Turf Confer­ ence, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. H. B. Musser. (Noon Feb. 15 io Noon Feb. 18.) March 1-3: Mid-West Regional Turf Conference, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. W. H. Daniel. that throughout much of the West we must use more water than is common to eastern irrigators. Present sprinkler equip­ ment is not entirely suited to watering our golf-course turf. Because it applies water too rapidly for most soils under turf to absorb moisture without excessive runoff, the practice has been to take the easy way out and water frequently at light rates. This is a fundamental cause of most of our turf problems. Soils range from highly acid to highly alkaline in reaction and, in texture, from gravel to some of the heaviest clay adobe in the world. Some of our heavier soils are known to be the most fertile in the nation. Conversely, some of our newly constructed desert courses are on light soils wrhere for all practical purposes the 30 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES' PROPAGANDA You have heard of the fellow who wears his sentiments on his sleeve. William H. Johnson, golf-course manager of the Los Angeles Municipal Golf Courses, wears his on his jeep, and hopes all golfers will heed. The men are, from the left, Ray W. Dii- more, park foreman; Allan G. Macdonald, assistant golf-course manager; and Mr. Johnson. soil serves no other benefit than to anchor the turf cover. Often the irrigation water available greatly influences soil reaction, and in many instances can be so high in total salts and chlorides as to adversely affect turf growth. This is especially true with bentgrass. This wide diversity of climatic, soil and water conditions that affect turf growth in the West naturally presents a wide range of problems. Yet our capable golf-course superintendents can and are growing better turf for the golfer’s en­ joyment of his game. Better turf is hap­ pening because of what he does, rather than in spite of his efforts. Our western golfers are rapidly advancing away from the thought that water and mowing alone will provide good turf. In subsequent issues we shall discuss some of the factors pertaining to turf management that are important in this area. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S SECTION Getting the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club’s golf course in condition for the Amateur Championship was not an easy job. Bob Ervine came to the club as superintendent late in 1951, and the conditions he found were rather dis­ couraging. Greens were layered and thatched and fairways were mediocre. Bob brought a great deal of experience with him, however, and he knew how to go about the task ahead of him. Bob has held a superintendent’s position for more than twenty years. He spent 17 years at The Oaks Country Club and three years at the Indian-Hills Country Club, both in Tulsa. His experience and knowledge have USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 31 been of value not only to his own club but also to many of his fellow workers and members of the Oklahoma Turf As­ sociation. Bob is one of the charter mem­ bers of that organization and its first president and has been an enthusiastic supporter of turf research efforts at Okla- home A. & M. College. He says he needed every bit of his knowledge and experience, as well as some luck and a great deal of help from the Giver of All Good Things to surmount the obstacles that he has encountered in the two years he has been at the Okla­ homa City Golf and Country Club. A considerable amount of remodeling was the first job to be done. Four greens and five tees required rebuilding. The re­ built greens were planted to a mixture of Arlington (C-l) and Congressional (C- 19) bentgrass. Practically all of the sand bunkers on the course were enlarged, re­ shaped and put into condition for cham­ pionship play. In the spring of 1952, Bob drilled his greens to a depth of eight inches, with an ingenious device which was designed and built for the purpose. He drilled 1% inch holes on four-inch centers. Holes were then filled with a coarse, granular soil mixture. Such a treatment was de­ cidedly helpful in overcoming the layered condition on the greens. Both in 1952 and in the spring of 1953, combs were used on the putting-green mowers to remove excess grass from the surfaces. It should be said that Bob was given strong support by Harrison Smith, Gen­ eral Chairman; Kent Hayes, President; C. P. Wendt, Secretary, and Harrell But­ ler, Professional. The Board of Directors and the membership as a whole displayed their confidence in Bob’s ability and made sure that he had the things he needed to do a first-class job. Some of the trouble that hampered all efforts was beyond human control. Drought contributed to the difficulties. The source of water for the golf-course turf contained a considerable amount of soluble salts. Suddenly, in the late sum­ mer of 1952, the salt content of the water became intolerable and the greens were damaged severely. Bob at this time was convinced that the chemical content of the water was causing the trouble and with the able assistance of Dr. Charles Sarthou, of Oklahoma A. & M. College, made the analyses necessary for proof that this was the trouble. He started by tiling all greens and laying a 6-inch water main connecting city water, thus provid­ ing a better source of supply. Then be­ gan the slow process of leaching out the accumulated salts by applying large amounts of water, letting the greens dry out thoroughly, then irrigating heavily again. His methods worked and by the spring of 1953 the greens were in re­ markably good condition. When Bob first came he found the aprons around all the greens approxi­ mately 75 per cent silver crabgrass (goosegrass), and this was corrected by a continuous spraying of gasoline which left large areas of bare ground. A fair­ sized nursery of U-3 bermudagrass had been planted, and this was used to fill in these bare spots. One would think that all his troubles would be over when the bare spots were sodded, the greens were restored and a supply of good water was available. But drought can be a serious thing. Water supplies in Oklahoma City ran low and the city banned the use of its water sup­ plies for golf courses. Bob says he walked past the lake on the golf course for two days before he realized it had water in it that could be used. A pump was set up and water from the lake was used to keep greens alive until a well could be drilled. In July, 1953, good rains fell, the water supply in the lake was replenished, fairway turf began to respond to the generous fertilizer applications that had been made, the bare spots where chunks of U-3 bermudagrass sod had been placed began to heal and the course really be­ gan to take shape. Ten days before the play began for the Amateur Champion­ ship, city water supplies again became available. The condition of the golf course dur­ ing this championship was a tribute to 32 USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 the ability of Bob Ervine. Greens and tees were in fine condition and the fair­ ways were superb. Bob, like many an­ other golf-course superintendent, has en­ abled his club to present a championship golf course, groomed to championship standards in spite of obstacles which would have spelled doom had the respon­ sibility of the course been in the hands of a less capable man. HIGH SALT CONTENT OF WATER NECESSITATES PERFECT DRAINAGE The water table has been receding steadily in parts of the western states for the past several years. The soils of this area are generally alkaline and some of them contain quite high amounts of sol­ uble salts, such as chlorides. As the water tables have receded, the water from wells as well as from rivers has become higher in its soluble salt content. Putting greens that once did fairly well under the condi­ tions prevailing at the time they were planted are now becoming poor because salts have begun to accumulate in the soil underlying them. The accumulation of salts accentuates the necessity for perfect drainage in putt­ ing greens irrigated with water of high salt content. If the soil underlying a putt­ ing green is porous and water drains through it rapidly, the salt contained in the water will be carried on through the soil and much of it will be carried away as water drains out. However, if the sub­ soil does not drain well and water stays in the soil for a long period of time, much of the salt may remain in the soil. The method of watering which is prac­ ticed has much to do with whether or not salt accumulates in the soil. If water is applied frequently and at light rates, the soil is never saturated sufficiently to allow gravitational water, or excess water, to percolate down through the soil and therefore none of the salt is ever leached out. Each irrigation adds a little more salt, the water is used by the plant or it evaporates and salt is left in the soil. On the other hand, when water is applied in rather large amounts but is applied in­ frequently, the salt that was left in the soil by the previous irrigation will be washed out and salt will not accumulate nearly so rapidly. Good drainage and proper watering practices will do much to permit the use of water that would be entirely too salty under the practices of some golf-course superintendents. Infrequent, heavy water­ ings will tend to prevent the accumulation of salt in the soil. Frequent, light water­ ings will invite trouble. Not only is more salt accumulated but roots tend to become more shallow and the stress of high salt content becomes even more pronounced. Where water is salty, good drainage and proper methods of water application are absolutely necessary for the growing of good turf. This discussion should not be inter­ preted to mean that light sprinkling should never be practiced. It is necessary in a great many cases to syringe putting greens lightly during the heat of the day in midsummer to prevent wilting. Greens may be lost by neglecting this practice. But putting greens should not be given a small amount of water each night and syringed the next afternoon. They should be wet thoroughly and then except for syringing to prevent wilting in the heat of the day, the soil should be allowed to become nearly dry before more water is applied. A more extensive root system will be built, a healthier turf will result and less water will be required. USGA Journal and Turf Management: November, 1953 33 IT’S YOUR HONOR Applause from Texas Sarazen Reconsiders To the USGA: We of course regret very much that Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson left the Texas Turf Association to renew his work with USGA Green Section. During the Texas Turf Association’s Field Day held here in August, we discussed at length the implications and possibilities of the new USGA turf set-up. The Board of Directors passed a unanimous resolu­ tion commending the USGA on its down-to-earth approach to the research program and to their consulting service. It is our belief that the golf courses in our section will get more and better attention through this program and that research will benefit greatly as it will be done in the area in which the prob­ lems occur. We realize that we will have to re-adjust our own program, as golf courses will not want to contribute heavily through our association while paying foi the services of USGA at the same time. We probably will concen­ trate more heavily on the membership dues, which are small, and on legisla­ tive appropriations, which of course are unlimited but most difficult to secure. We then took the program to the luncheon and business meeting and it met with approval after being explain­ ed by Dr. Ferguson and our President. Elo J. Urbanovsky. We pledge our co­ operation and will assist in bringing into operation your program. We of course will continue as a turf research organization, continuing to enlist legis­ lative and private aid for research in Texas. Our program has been one of progress and has had success in re­ search during the past eight years. We believe that this should be continued. To the USGA: I have your letter of September 22. I was one that voted for the new idea at the Open Championship, but, I must confess, it was too long drawn out and very expensive. I agree with you. When a man qual­ ifies for the Open he should be able to compete in the Open. I am delighted that you are going back to the 1952 sys­ tem. Gene Sarazen Germantown, N. Y. From a Semi-Finalist To the USGA: I would like to thank you for the wonderful time I had at this year’s Amateur Championship. I know that everyone in the tournament thoroughly enjoyed it, but certainly no one as much as I. Possibly it was because this was my first Amateur or because I was so very fortunate. In any case I would like to say “thanks again” for a wonderful tournament, one that I will look for­ ward to playing in for many years to come. Bruce Cudd Portland, Ore. As ihe Scot Said . . . To the USGA: I appreciate your courtesy in sending me the account in the July issue of the USGA Journal of my lucky finish in the final of the Crane Bowl at Dedham, Mass., last June. As my old Scottish pro said to me one day when he sunk a fifty footer on the last green to de­ feat me, “You can’t have bad luck all the time.” Joshua Crane Santa Barbara, Cal. Alfred B. LaGasse Secretary-Treasurer Texas Turf Association Wichita Falls, Texas Editor's Note: The USGA Journal invites comments on matters relating to the . welfare of the game and will publish them as space permits. USGA OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN PRESIDENT Totton P. Heffelfinger, Minneapolis, Minn. VICE-PRESIDENTS Isaac B. Grainger, New York, N. Y. Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C. SECRETARY John D. Ames, Chicago, III. TREASURER Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The above officers and: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. William P. Castleman, Jr., Dallas, Texas John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. Frederick L. Dold, Wichita, Kansas John W. Fischer, Cincinnati, Ohio T. R. Garlington, Atlanta, Ga. Charles B. Grace, Philadelphia, Pa. Lewis A. Lapham, New York, N. Y. Edward E. Lowery, San Francisco, Cal.. Corydon Wagner, Tacoma, Wash. GENERAL COUNSEL Fraser M. Horn, New York, N. Y. COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN RULES OF GOLF: Isaac B. Grainger, New York, N. Y. CHAMPIONSHIP: John D. Ames, Chicago, III. AMATEUR STATUS AND CONDUCT: Charles B. Grace, Philadelphia, Pa. IMPLEMENTS AND BALL: Charles B. Grace, Philadelphia, Pa. MEMBERSHIP: Lewis A. Lapham, New York, N. Y. GREEN SECTION: Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C. WOMEN'S: Mrs. Harrison F. Flippin, Ardmore, Pa. SECTIONAL AFFAIRS: Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass. PUBLIC LINKS: Frederick L. Dold, Wichita, Kansas HANDICAP: William O. Blaney, Boston, Mass. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. GIRLS' JUNIOR: Mrs. William R. Millar, Los Angeles, Cal. MUSEUM: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. PUBLIC RELATIONS: John D. Ames, Chicago, III. "GOLF HOUSE" FUND: Daniel A. Freeman, Jr., New York, N. Y. USGA HEADQUARTERS "Golf House" 40 East 38th Street New York 16, N. Y. Joseph C. Dey, Jr., Executive Director John P. English, Assistant Executive Director USGA GREEN SECTION South Building, Plant i’ndustry Station, Beltsville, Md. Alexander M. Radko, Acting Eastern Director USGA GREEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE Box 241, Davis, Cal. Charles G. Wilson, Western Director USGA GREEN SECTION SOUTHWESTERN OFFICE Texas A. and M. College, College Station, Texas Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson, Southwestern Director and National Research Coordinator