I SG I JOI KUL AND TURF MANAGEMENT WHAT CAME DO YOU PLAY? Dick Baxter, professional at the Taconic Coif Club on the Williams College campus at Williamstown, Mass., makes it clear to all and sundry that only “golf” is played there. Baxter is also coach of the golf team at Williams College, which will entertain the 1956 USGA Junior Amateur Championship. NOVEMBER 1955 .«=>, ® VS<>1 JOURNAL TURF MANAGEMENT Published by the United States Golf Association Permission to reprint articles herein is freely granted (unless specifically noted otherwise) provided credit is given to the USGA Journal VOL. VIII, No. 6 NOVEMBER, 1955 The Integrity of Golf Is At Stake _________________________ — Isaac B. Grainger 1 Through the Green _____________________________________________________ - 2 Changes in Rules Affect Play on Green -------------------- --- -------- Joseph C. Dey, Jr. 5 Woodie Platt First USGA Senior Champion -------------------- -------- Richard S. Tufts 7 Mission Fulfilled ____________________________ _____ _______John P. English 10 Whose Game Is It? _______ _ _________________________________ Innis Brown 13 Country Club Operations in 1954 ------------------------ ------ --------------------------------- 14 USGA Nominees for 1956 ___________________________ ;-------- ------------------------- 18 “Golf House” Fund _____________________________________________________ 19 The Referee: Decisions by the Rules of Golf Committees ________________:-------- 21 Turf Management: USGA Green Section Zoysia Seed Storage and Germination Tests___________ Alexander M. Radko 25 When You Build a Putting Green Make Sure the Soil Mixture is a Good One ___ __ ______ ____ _______________Marvin H. Ferguson 26 Sand Important in Topdressing Material ______________ Charles K. Hallowell 30 It’s Your Honor: Letter ____ _________________ __ ___ __________ ____ 33 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. Subscription: $2 a year. Single copies: 30c. Subscriptions, articles, photographs, and correspondence should be sent to the above address. Entered as Second-class Matter March 3, 1950, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 8, 1879. Edited by Joseph C. Dey, Jr., and John P. English. Managing Editor'. Frank C. True. All articles voluntarily contributed. USGA COMPETITIONS FOR 1956 International Matches CURTIS CUP—June 8 and 9 at Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, England. Women’s amateur teams: British Isles vs. United States AMERICAS CUP—October 27 and 28 at Club Campestre de la Ciudad de Mexico, D.F. Men’s amateur teams: Canada vs. Mexico vs. United States. Championships Entries Close May 18 Sectional Qualifying Rounds June 4 *June 1 JJune 17-23 July 13 None C hampionship Dates June 14-15-16 Team: July 7 Indiv: July 9-14 July 26-27-28 July 6 July 24 Aug. 8-11 July 20 Aug. 10 Aug. 7 None Aug. 20-25 Aug. 27-31 Aug. 10 Aug. 28 Sept. 10 15 Venue Oak Hill C. C., ■Rochester, N. Y. Harding Park G. C., San Francisco, Ca1. Northland C. C., Duluth, Minn. Taconic G. C., Williams College. Williamstown, Mass. Somerset C. C., St. Paul, Minn. Heather Downs C. C., Toledo, Ohio Knollwood C. Championship Open Amateur Public Links Women's Open Junior Amateur Senior Amateur Girls' Junior Amateur Women's Amateur Aug. 31 None Sept. 17-22 * Entries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. f Exact date in each Section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. (Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in the case of the Amateur Public Links Championship.) Lake Forest, Ill. Meridian Hills C. C., Indianapolis, Ind. The Integrity of Golf is at Stake By Isaac B. Grainger President United States Golf Association YOU probably recall press reports of a club's "invitation" four-ball golf tournament in September which was won by a visiting pair using handicaps of 17 and 18. The club later discovered that these were false handicaps, and that the members of the side actually had handicaps of 3 each at home. One of the winners played under an assumed name. A Calcutta betting pool was related to the tournament. It was reported that the total pool involved $45,000, that the holder of the ticket on the winning side received approximately $16,000, and that of this amount a member of the winning side received approximately $4,000. The club says it does not know how or by whom the winners were invited to the tournament. They were previously unknown to club officials. The incident has disgraced the good name of golf. It emphasizes some of the many dangers inherent in organized gambling. It emphasizes reasons why the United States Golf Association for many years has expressed unqualified disapproval of organized gambling in golf. Some clubs sponsoring gambling tournaments of various types have been in­ clined to feel that such things could not happen to them. The fact is that cheating can happen wherever there is a motive other than the play of the game for the game's sake. Golf is being used for ulterior purposes in some quarters. This is often reflected by such things as: (a) The attempt by some persons to keep their handicaps high. (b) "Soft" local rules such as so-called "winter rules" when there is no justification. (c) Over-commercialization of the game. (d) Winking at violations of the Rules of Amateur Status. These things all lower the standards of golf. Some seem innocent enough, some are actually evil, but all do violence to the concept that golf is a game of sportsman­ ship and should be an end in itself. Every Governing Board of every club and association should carefully evaluate their programs and policies in the light of one simple question: What direction do you want golf to take? When you answer that question, you answer such questions as to whether to eradicate organized gambling, to assign handicaps only when fairly earned, to play the ball as it lies under the Rules of Golf, to uphold the standards of amateurism and to report violations to the USGA. We would like to hear from you as to your point of view and as to any steps you may take on any of these subjects. We would like to give other clubs the benefit of helpful experiences and opinions. Let there be no minimizing of what is at stake. It is the integrity of the game of golf. The game is in the keeping of the clubs and their members. We bespeak your whole-hearted cooperation. USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 1 Now He’s Sir Many friends of Cary don Wagner, of Tacoma, Wash., are now addressing him as "Sir,” after years of somewhat less re­ spectful forms of salutation. The reason: The former member of our Executive Committee has won the Washington State Seniors’ Championship. Time Stands Still The USGA Golf Museum has received from Gilbert C. Tompkins, of New York City, a member of the USGA Museum Committee, a copy of the Laws of Golf, as adopted by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, published in 1895 by Horace E. Cox, of London. An excerpt from the booklet indicates that conditions sixty years ago in Scotland, in­ sofar as a thorough knowledge of the Rules was concerned, might apply to the United States today: "Some time ago the President of the Yorkshire Golfing Union, in the course of a speech, remarked that not half a dozen players knew the Rules of the game thor­ oughly. This at first blush seems a sweep­ ing statement, but serious consideration almost compels us to acquiesce. "The Rules of Golf, both written and unwritten, have come down to us in the quaint phraseology of our forefathers, and very rightly the Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, in revising the Rules some three years ago, did not deem it expedient in any material way to alter their wording, except where some slight amendment in the Rules ren­ dered alteration absolutely necessary. We do not lay claim to inclusion in the sex- temvirate referred to by the Yorkshire President, but we venture to say that a careful study of the Laws of Golf should make them perfectly clear to any individ­ ual of average intelligence who has mas­ tered the elementary principles necessary for playing the game.” Miss Lesser Honored The City Council of Seattle, Wash., has taken official recognition of the achieve­ ment of Miss Patricia Lesser in winning the Women’s Amateur Championship. A resolution adopted on September 19 states in part: "Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Seattle: That we pay official tribute to Miss Patricia Lesser, daughter of Seattle, who brings back from her east­ ern invasion the trophy emblematic of the Women’s Amateur Golf Championship of the United States.” It was significant that the tribute to Miss Lesser was contained in a joint reso­ lution which also honored the Seattle base­ ball club, which won the Pacific Coast League championship. Ever since she was a child, Miss Lesser has attended baseball games with her father, Col. Louis L. Lesser. Miss Lesser also has been selected by the Pacific Northwest Amateur Athletic Union as its choice for the Sullivan Award, national athletic honor conferred annually by a committee of nation-wide athletic leaders. 2 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 The Ryder Cup Match SPORTSMAN’S CORNER The amicable atmosphere and spirit of sportsmanship in which the Ryder Cup Match between British and United States Teams was played over the Thunderbird Country Club course at Palm Springs, Cal. comprised a further contribution of golf to good international relationship. The United States Team was forced to play some of the best golf in the thirty- three year history of the match to defeat the British Team, 8 to 4. This was the first year players on both teams had the option of using the Ameri­ can ball or the smaller British ball. Most of the players on both sides mixed them up, using the British ball on the long holes. The United States Team consisted of Chick Harbert, Captain; Tommy Bolt, Doug Ford, Sam Snead, Cary Middlecoff, Marty Furgol, Jackie Burke, Jerry Barber, Chandler Harper and Ted Kroll. The British Team included Dai Rees, Captain; Christy O’Connor, Sydney Scott, Harry Weetman, John Jacobs, Arthur Lees, Harry Bradshaw, Eric Brown, John Fallon and Ken Bousfield. Turning Back the Clock The Knollwood Country Club, of White Plains, N. Y., celebrated its 60th anniver­ sary recently in a setting reminiscent of the 1890s. Members and their wives drove to the club in Model T Fords and horses and carriages. A special four-hole tourna­ ment was played with gutta-percha balls and old-time wooden-shafted clubs. The participants were Willie Turnesa, Presi­ dent of the Metropolitan Golf Association; Al Brosch, Willie Klein and Johnny Far­ rell, Metropolitan district professionals, and Mike Turnesa, Knollwood professional. Fred McKenna, President of the club, was attired as Diamond Jim Brady. He escorted Mrs. Fred Lodes, who appeared as Lillian Russell. Knollwood was formally incorporated as a golf club on July 22, 189S. Rule 16 states that a ball shall not be touched purposely and must be played as it lies except as otherwise provided for in the Rules or Local Rules. Mindful of this basic Rule, the Association has been eyeing with concern the burgeoning habit of lifting and marking balls on putting greens, whether or not there was a possibility of interference or assistance. The revisions in the Rules of Golf for 1956 reflected this con­ cern. And measures were taken to break the habit during the Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Virginia. WYNSOL K. SPENCER On the first tee, each player was reminded that the Rules did not permit indiscriminate lifting of the ball on the putting green. After absorbing this information, in his turn, Wyn- sol K. Spencer, of Warwick, Va., commented appreciatively: “That is a mistake I could easily make.” Unfortunately, he exhibited prophetic vision. On the eighth hole during his first-round match against Arthur F. Butler, of Portsmouth, N. H., Spencer placed his ball five feet west of the cup and Butler placed his thirty-five feet south of the cup. Although Spencer was 3 down, the immediate situation seemed favor­ able and he walked optimistically to his ball, marked it and lifted it. Before he had straightened up, the realiza­ tion of what he had done broke over him. His ball had not interfered with Butler’s putt and only by the most remote stretch could it have been considered of assistance to Butler. “I’ve lost the hole,” Spencer said quickly, calling attention to an infraction of a Rule which, by habit, has been often honored in the breach. Spencer’s unwillingness to stretch the facts to accommodate his inadvertence emphasized not only a basic Rule of the game but also the wonderful spirit of sportsmanship in which the Amateur Championsnip is contested. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 3 51 Year Old Replica One of the most attractive and inter­ esting presentations made to the USGA Golf Museum in some time is the 51 -year- old replica of the Women’s Amateur Championship Trophy, received from Miss Georgianna M. Bishop, of Bridgeport, Conn. Miss Bishop was presented the replica by 150 of her friends after winning the Women’s Amateur Championship at the Merion Cricket Club, Haverford, Pa., in 1904. The original was donated by Robert Cox, M.P., of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1896, in time for the second Champion­ ship. In 1895 a silver pitcher was donated by R. D. Winthrop and W. H. Sands and won outright by Mrs. Charles S. Brown, of Southampton, N. Y. This pitcher also reposes in the Golf Museum, having been presented by Mrs. Brown’s son, A. M. Brown. Miss Bishop, whose victory over Mrs. E. F. Sanford in the final of the 1904 Championship came on her birthday, com­ peted in eighteen Women’s Amateur Championships between 1899 and 1923. She also played on the first United States women’s team to compete against the British in England in 1905, defeating Miss Lottie Dodd, British title holder. In 1926—also on her birthday—Miss Bishop won the United States Senior Women’s Golf Association Championship. Among other titles, she won the Connecti­ cut Women’s Golf Association Cham­ pionship four times between 1920 and 1927. Segregation Outlawed Racial segregation and the doctrine of "separate but equal” facilities on public golf courses and in other public recreation areas have been outlawed by the Supreme Court of the United States. In two cases this month, the Court unanimously applied the doctrine, proclaimed on May 17, 1954, that pupils in public schools could not be segregated on the basis of race or color. The Court did not issue instructions as to how and when segregation in public recreation areas should be ended. Presum­ ably, the question of procedure will be left to the lower Federal courts. A Pro’s Job They gave a big party for Bill Goldbeck at the Mount Kisco Country Club, in Mount Kisco, N. Y., on the occasion of his twenty-fifth year of intelligent and good-natured service to the club. The rea­ son why he merited such a display of affection, as well as a check for $5,000, was revealed in a conversation just before the dinner. "Things were not good here during the depression and the war years,” Bill remi­ nisced, "and I had several offers to move into better-paying jobs. "But I stuck it out. I always conceived of a pro’s job as helping to build up a club, especially when it’s in trouble, not running away to the first club that hap­ pens to offer a little more money.” Later in the evening Alex Watson, the fine old Scot who is professional at the Leewood Golf Club, in Tuckahoe, N. Y., hit the same key in lauding his bosom companion of the links: "It isn’t what we pros get out of the game that counts; it’s what we put into it.” New Captain Col. Sir Charles McAndrew, M.P., Dep­ uty Speaker of the House of Commons, has played himself into office as Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, by driving off the first ball in the Club’s Autumn Medal Meeting over the Old Course. He succeeds Viscount Bruce of Melbourne. Gilbert S. Arthur Gilbert S. Arthur, of Wilmington, N. C., a member of the USGA Green Section Committee in the Southeastern Region, passed away in September. He was deeply devoted to the Association and especially to its program of improving golf course maintenance. 4 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 CHANGES IN RULES by AFFECT PLAY ON GREEN JOSEPH C. DEY, JR. USGA Executive Director The practical value of international work on the Rules of Golf is borne out in the two major changes which be­ come effective January 1, 1956. One of these changes was suggested by the British representatives and the other by the USGA committee during conferences last May in Great Britain. The British proposal was designed to re­ duce the present excessive amount of lift­ ing the ball nearer the hole when it lies on the putting green and to speed play. The Americans as well as the British had been concerned with these matters ever since the stymie rule was abolished four vears ago, but it was the Roval and Ancient Golf Club committee which came up with a concrete proposal which has now been adopted. Similarly, there had long been prob­ lems on both sides of the Atlantic about handling the flagstick. Many players had become involved in confusing and some­ times unpleasant incidents. During the Rules meetings last spring the USGA com­ mittee presented a proposal which was the brainchild of its Chairman, Richard S. Tufts, and it comes into effect in January. It should produce a vast simplification of the matter. These two items reflect the cooperative spirit which has marked the R. and A.- USGA collaboration ever since the present basic world-wide code was drafted in the spring of 1951. They illustrate the fact that international conferences are not merely a polite, congenial business but that they produce valuable practical re­ sults. The British, with their background of centuries of playing golf, always bring wise experience to the meetings. However, when decisions are made on debatable points, it is not unusual for some Britons to side with some American, and vice versa. Thus, such divisions as occur are usually on doctrinal lines rather than on national, and the decisions are invariably made with the best interests of golf at heart. The Changes for J 956 The two main amendments for 1956 re­ late to events on or about the putting green, and they give the player of the stroke more control of the situation. Handling of the flagstick will be under the complete control of the player who is about to play the stroke, and the Rule will be the same for match and stroke play. The player alone will have the right to have the flagstick attended, removed or held up. At present in match play the opponent as well as the player may have the flagstick removed, but in 1956 the opponent (who is not playing the stroke) will have no such right. Only the player will be penalized if his ball strikes the flagstick when attended or removed, or if it strikes the person attending the flagstick. The penalty will be loss of hole in match play and, as be­ fore, two strokes in stroke play. At pres­ ent in match play if the opponent or his caddie attends the flagstick, the opponent loses the hole if he or his caddie or the flagstick is struck by the player’s ball. In stroke play as well as match play, there will be no penalty if the flagstick is struck when not attended and is in the hole. At present in stroke olay there is a two-stroke penalty for striking the flag­ stick from within 20 yards of the hole or whenever it is attended regardless of the distance. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 5 All those changes deal with Rule 34, which will comprise only five paragraphs compared with eleven paragraphs as in the 193 5 code. (b) Stroke play-two strokes for each hole in which a violation occurred. Present penalty in both cases is dis­ qualification. To reduce ball-lifting on the putting green and to speed play, several changes were made in Rule 3 5, and the net re­ sults are as follows: Rule 8-2: Between play of two holes, practice stroke is prohibited from any hazard or on or to putting green of any hole not yet played. (a) Match play: Only the player who is about to play may control temporary lifting of the opponent’s ball, and then only if he thinks it might interfere with his play. At present either the player or the opponent may have the opponent’s ball lifted if either thinks the ball might interfere with or might assist the player. (b) Stroke play: If the competitor (who is about to play) considers that the fellow-competitor’s ball might interfere with his play, the competitor may require the other player to lift or to play his ball, at the owner’s option. If the fellow­ competitor thinks his ball might assist the competitor, he may play first. The present Rule gives the competitor and the fellow­ competitor equal rights to have the ball nearer the hole lifted or played first, at the owner’s option, if either thinks it might interfere with or assist the competitor. Minor Amendments The other 1956 amendments in the Rules are of minor importance and do not af­ fect the basic nature of golf. Most of them are not likely to be invoked in everv-dav play. They are intended merely to clarify and to simplify certain Rilles and to in­ corporate in the code some technical de­ cisions which have arisen in past incidents. Among the minor alterations are the following: Rule 3: Penalty for violation of 14- club rule reduced to: (a) Match play—loss of each hole in which a violation occurred; pen­ alty may be applied after the round even though a claim has not been made within normal time limit; Rules 23, 27-2a, and 27-3: Ball should be lifted by owner, his partner or either of their caddies. In match play, if oppo­ nent or his caddie lifts player’s ball, pen­ alty is one stroke, under Rule 27-2a, not loss of hole under present Rule 23-1. In stroke play, if fellow-competitor or his caddie lifts player’s ball, there is no pen­ alty (Rule 27-3); present penalty is two strokes under Rule 23-1. Present Rule 23-1 ceases to be a Rule and becomes a preamble. Rule 24-la: Except on putting green, opponent’s ball may be temporarily lifted when within two club-lengths (presently one club-length) of player’s ball. Only the player may direct this; the opponent no longer has any say in the matter. Rule 28: Permission to replace a damaged ball is limited to a ball damaged during play of the hole. This prohibits changing after a ball known to be damaged is driven from the tee. Rule 30-1 a: A provisional ball must be identified as such before it is played. Play of a provisional ball covers all contingen­ cies except that player may exempt its application to a ball in a water hazard. Rule 3 5-1, Note: New recommendation for marking ball to be lifted on putting green by placing small coin immediately behind ball’s position; if it interferes with another player, it should be moved one or more putterhead-lengths to one side. Rule 3 5-2d: On putting green, player may knock away opponent’s ball at any time to concede next stroke. You can’t help a little child up the hill without getting nearer the top your­ self. 6 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 WOODIE PLATT FIRST USGA SENIOR CHAMPION by RICHARD S. TUFTS Chairman, USGA Senior Championship Committee IT may be stretching the imagination a bit to compare a senor golf event to a new-born baby, but now that the first USGA Senior Amateur Championship has been played, we assume that the first interest on the part of the golfing family will be about the appearance of the new arrival. Of course, it usually takes time for the new-born to develop permanent charac­ teristics. However, perhaps because this newcomer is already a senior, he seems to be showing pretty positive proclivities. It can be further stated with assurance that he does not in any way favor any of his seven older brothers and sisters in the USGA family of Championships. What, then, are the characteristics of this new arrival, born in September at the Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, Tenn.? In the first place, it was obvious that the contestants went to Nashville filled with a lot of youthful exuberance and a real enthusiasm for this new Cham­ pionship and left with these feelings fully fortified. In other words, the USGA has a popular event. Secondly, and this is a particularly sig­ nificant feature, it developed that a very large portion of the field at Belle Meade was made up of what might be termed the senior statesmen of golf. Many had enjoyed some official connection with the game, past or present, either as club offi­ cers or committee chairmen or as district or regional association officers. Casual con­ versations around the course and in the clubhouse were just as often related to the administrative problems of the game as they were to play in the tournament. It is obvious that one of the valuable by­ products of this Championship will be a closer cooperation and understanding NEW MEMBERS OF THE USGA REGULAR American Legion Golf Course, Ind. Hubbard Heights Golf Club, Conn. Beverly Hills Country Club, Texas Big Foot Country Club, Ill. Clock Country Club, Cal. Milton-Hoosic Club, Mass. Mustang Country Club, Texas Selfridge Air Force Base Association, Mich. Washtenaw Country Club, Mich. ASSOCIATE Ardmore Air Force Base Golf Course, Oklahoma Indian Canyon Golf Course, Texas Mar-O-Dell Golf Course, Ohio Northview Country Club, Kansas Shady Shores Golf Course, Tenn. among the USGA, its member clubs and the many other important governing bodies of golf. On one point there was at first some uncertainty. Most senior events are pri­ marily good-fellowship occasions, whether conducted by regional associations, by membership groups or on an invitational basis. Naturally, some of the contestants went to Nashville with a wrong impres­ sion of the purpose for which the USGA Championship was established. The USGA’s sole interest is to conduct a Senior Ama­ teur Championship for the qualified mem­ bers of its nearly 2,000 member clubs. The Association has no intention of com­ peting with established senior events. But there was great good-fellowship mingled with the serious golf at Belle Meade. The warm reception and hospi­ tality of the good people of the Club made it impossible to be a competitor or a competitor’s wife without having a won­ derful time. The Senior Championship can never hope to find a more delightful host. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 7 The First Senior Champion Richard S. Tufts, Chairman of the Senior Championship Committee, presents the Senior Amateur Champion­ ship Trophy to J. Wood Platt, of Philadelphia, the first winner of the event. Adolph Skinner was a most gracious and considerate General Chairman for the Club. Standard of Play Excellent The course provided a fair and inter­ esting test for senior golf. The standard of play was excellent, and a most capable Champion emerged in J. Wood Platt, of Philadelphia. Woodie Platt has long been one of the truly skilled players in amateur golf. As long ago as 1921 he was a member of a United States team which defeated a British team at Hoylake in a one-day match. The Walker Cup was not then in competition, but this match served as a prelude to establishment of the Walker Cup series the following year. Platt’s team- mates were the great players of the day: Chick Evans, Francis Quimet, Bob Jones, Jesse Guilford, Fred Wright, Dr. Paul Hunter and William C. Fownes, Jr., Captain. Woodie Platt has been Philadelphia Ama­ teur Champion eight times and has won 8 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 Martin M. Issler Peter M. Snekser William McWane Allen R. Rankin a host of other honors in golf. Now, at the age of 57, his most pleasing moment came when he received his first USGA Cham­ pionship gold medal. Indicative of the fact that the competi­ tive fires burn very brightly in the Seniors was Platt’s finish against Allen Rankin, of Columbus, Ohio, in the semi-final. Rankin was 1 up with six holes to go. At the 13 th Platt recovered from a bunker for a win­ ning par 4 to square. Then he reeled off three straight birdies to close out the match. He played brilliantly also in the final against George Studinger, former San Francisco City Champion. Platt won by 5 and 4 and was two under par. The medalist was Martin M. Issler, of Short Hills, N. J., who equalled par with a 72. He lost to Platt in the third round. The tournament attracted 370 entrants all aged 5 5 and more. Through 18-hole sectional qualifying in 24 centers, they were reduced to 120 for the Championship proper. At Belle Meade they played an 18- hole qualifying round to determine 32 qualifiers, followed by five 18-hole match rounds. The qualifying test at Belle Meade found 16 players tied for the last ten places with scores of 79. On the first hole there were five birdie 4s and 11 par 5 s—a great exhi­ bition of scoring in such a situation. The method of play worked well. The field is not yet strong enough to justify going directly into match play at the site of the Championship, and yet the impor­ tance of qualifying as many as 32 for match play is indicated by the fact that one of the finalists, George Studinger, had to win his place in the play-off. The geographical representation was ex­ cellent. Players qualified in the sectional rounds from 30 States and the District of Columbia. Representatives from 16 States qualified for the match play flight of 32. There was a consolation match play di­ vision for the defeated 16, and the winner was Eugene Bellville, of Kansas City, who in the final defeated Col. C. D. McAllister, of Orlando, Fla., 3 and 2. The non-qualifiers had a 36-hole stroke play competition over two days. It was won by William L. Goodloe, Sr., of Val­ dosta, Ga., with 153. There was a tie for second at 156 between Lt. Gen. Floyd L. Parks, of Chevy Chase, Md., and Chick Evans, of Chicago. General Parks won a toss for second prize. Chick Evans’ third-place medal made striking contrast with other honors this great player has won—and yet, in its own way, it typified the spirit of the Seniors. For as Woodie Platt said in objecting to the name "Senior”: "We’re all boys at heart.” Leslie B. Hoss George Studinger Edwin Watkins J. Wood Platt USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 MISSION FULFILLED by JOHN P. ENGLISH USGA Assistant Executive Director ONE of the requirements of beauty, ac­ cording to a common definition, is that the object exactly fulfill its func­ site, too, for a record number of 1,493 tried to qualify sectionally. The previous high was 1,416 in 1951. tion. In that sense the fifty-fifth Amateur Championship at the James River Course of the Country Club of Virginia, in Rich­ mond, was an object of beauty. The twin functions of the Amateur Championship are to develop an atmos­ phere of true sportsmanship and to deter­ mine an Amateur Champion. Richmond Gray, the general chairman for the Country Club of Virginia, labored for two years to groom the course and facili­ ties to meet exactly the requirements of the playing guests and to stimulate throughout the Club, and even the city and state, an appreciation of the friendly, sporting atmosphere in which it was hoped the Championship would be played. Normally, this constitutes a task of major proportions. In Virginia, where the USGA was conducting a Championship for the first time, it was perhaps some­ what easier. The comparatively unheralded James River Course, all 6,713 yards of it, proved to be one of the finest tests the amateurs have faced, even after a most humid sum­ mer followed by torrential rains. The fact that the course is five miles removed from the imposing main club­ house proved, if anything, an asset, for it meant that play was removed from pomp and luxury and centered around the little building that serves as a golf house at the James River Course. This setting and the warm Virginia hospitality combined to produce just the desired aura of sporting friendship and informality. There must have been some foreknowledge of the attractiveness of the Then there was the play. As Bob Jones, celebrating the twenty­ fifth anniversary of his Grand Slam, re­ marked during the dinner the USGA gives for the players, there are so many good amateurs and so many eigh teen-hole matches that it is getting to be just about impossible for anyone to win the Amateur these days. E. Harvie Ward, Jr., of San Francisco, was a good case in point. He had been playing for the nine years since 1947. At the age of 29, he had won the British and the Canadian Amateur Championships, he had played No. 1 on our Walker Cup Team and he had many times been re­ ferred to as "America’s best amateur player.” But he had never passed beyond the quarter-final round of the Amateur Championship. If justice were to be done, Harvie Ward would someday have to win our Amateur. Ward to Remain Amateur The fact that he did fulfilled to the satisfaction of almost all followers of the game the second function of the Cham­ pionship. It has been rare, in recent years, for any individual to be widely acclaimed as the best player and even rarer for such an individual to win, even though we have had a series of fine Champions. Equally satisfying was Ward’s assurance that he intended to remain an amateur golfer and to defend his honors. The possibility that this might be Ward’s year became evident on the sec­ ond day when, after a first-round bye, he tangled with Ray Palmer, of Detroit, a capable veteran who conceded nothing to Ward’s reputation. In order to subdue 10 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT; NOVEMBER, 1955 E. Harvie Ward, Jr. (left), of San Francisco, receives the Amateur Championship Trophy from Isaac B. Grainger, President of the USGA, as William Hyndman III, of Philadelphia, the runner-up, looks on at the Country Club of Virginia, in Richmond. him, Ward had to hole a putt of about thirty-five feet for a birdie 3 on the first extra hole, with Palmer’s ball lying only eight feet from the cup. A far more serious and less effervescent personality than in former years, he played superbly and had no trouble again until he ran into William A. Booe, of Bridge­ port, Conn., the old Yale place-kicker but a newcomer to championship golf, in the semi-finals. There was a feeling in some segments that Booe might be on the fore end of a rout, and among those who apparently recognized this possibility were Booe, him­ self, and Richard D. Chapman, of Pine­ hurst, N. C., a former Champion and Wal­ ker Cup player who lost in the first round and remained to spectate. Although they had met only during the week of the Cham­ pionship, Chapman loaned Booe clothing and balls as Booe’s supplies failed to keep pace with his golf successes, and now Chapman gave him a thorough lesson in preparation for the morrow. It was per­ haps the most effective lesson in history, for Booe, who had scored over 80 in win­ ning his quarter-final match, clung tightly to Ward for thirty-four of the thirty-six holes, losing only by 4 and 2 to a brand of golf just one over par. Ward’s opponent in the final was Wil­ liam Hyndman III, of Philadelphia, who has played a lot of fine golf around Penn­ sylvania during his 39 years. Hillman Robbins, the fine, 2 3-year old college player from Memphis, had been expected to dispose of Hyndman in the semi-finals and carry the challenge of youth right into the final. But Hyndman played his customary steady game, Robbins didn’t and Hyndman won, 4 and 3. The final was brief and decisive. The new, business-like Ward, with his goal USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 11 finally in sight, played the first nine holes in 31 to go 5 up and finished the round with an approximate 66, four under par, to stand 8 up. Hyndman never had a chance. The end came after Ward had played ten more holes in par, and the score was 9 and 8, but Hyndman, fol­ lowed every step of the way by his 15- year old son, had not a thing of which to be ashamed. Under Severe Pressure One other match rates mention. That was the terrific encounter between Rob­ bins and Edwin B. Hopkins, Jr., of Abi­ lene, Texas, in the quarter-final round. Robbins played the course in 67, the next best round of the Championship, but he won only by making a 2 under the most severe pressure on the 215 -yard seventeenth to go ahead and a 4 on the big, 460-yard eighteenth to hold his advantage. Hop­ kins, you see, was making a 68. Willie Turnesa, of White Plains, N. Y., recaptured in the second round the bril­ liance that won him the title in 1938 and 1948 and, with a great wedge shot from a bunker by the nineteenth green, ousted Robert Sweeny, of New York, the runner- up last year to Arnold Palmer. Palmer had become a professional and could not defend. Lt. Joseph W. Conrad, of San Antonio, Texas, soon to become a civilian, lasted all the way into the fifth round, as befits the British Amateur Champion, but he lost there to Charles Kunkle, Jr., of Johns­ town, Pa. Despite the fact that Charles Evans, Jr., was playing in his forty-third Amateur Championship and winning a match at the age of 65, the field as a whole seemed younger than usual. There seldom have been so many fine young college players among the qualifiers. The most conspicuous of these were, of course, Robbins, a semi-finalist, who at­ tends Memphis State and won the 1954 collegiate championship; and Joe E. Camp­ bell, of Purdue, the present collegiate champion, and James C. McCoy, of the University of Florida, both of whom went to the quarter-finals. In addition, Rex Baxter, Jr., who lost to Ward in the fourth round; James R. Hiskey and Frank Wharton attend the University of Houston, and Wallace I. Bradley was graduated there last spring. Florida Representation Donald M. Bisplinghoff, Doug Sanders and Ralph G. (Pat) Schwab, like McCoy, represented the University of Florida last spring. John W. Veghte, who won three matches, attends Florida State. Robert Brue, who got to the third round, goes to the University of Miami. Ronald E. Wenzler, like Robbins, at­ tends Memphis State, and Edward L. Brantly was transferring there from the University of Tennessee. Don Albert, now a marine, played on the Purdue team with Campbell last spring. The South also was represented by Jake Howard, Jr., of the University of Georgia, who beat Charles R. Coe, Charles Evans, Jr., and James G. Jackson, all past members of Walker Cup Teams; Johnny Pott, of Louisiana State; Marvin C. Fitts, of the University of Alabama; Aubrey A. Roth­ rock, Jr., of the University of North Carolina; Wayne Jackson, of Randolph- Macon; and Gerald T. McFerren, of the University of Maryland. Ned Vare, who eliminated Bruce Cudd in the second round, is captain-elect of the Yale golf team and a son of the former Glenna Collett. Charles W. Adams, Jr., attends the University of Pennsylvania. Perky Cullinane goes to Georgetown. Cameron Quinn is a student at Providence University. Herbert Klontz, Jr., attends the Uni­ versity of Iowa, Thomas A. Hadley goes to the University of Minnesota and Fred Rick Jones represents Ohio State. Cudd is, of course, a student at the University of Portland. Joel E. Spinola goes to West Contra Costa Junior College. Bernard Magnussen is a freshman at Stan­ ford. Bob Goetz goes to Oklahoma A. and M. And Jack Nicklaus, 15, is still in high school at Columbus, Ohio. 12 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 WHOSE GAME IS IT? by INNIS BROWN Former Editor, The American Goljer There is a disposition in some quarters to view with concern the alacrity with which outstanding young amateur golfers are chucking their amateur status for a plunge into the whirlpool of professional­ ism. The movement in that direction has in the past few years reached an all-time high throughout the long history of the game. To this observer of the game and its development over a considerable period of years, two aspects of this situation appear worthy of consideration, as it concerns the welfare of the game. They are, first, the importance of amateur competitions and their place in the field of competitive sports, and, second, the scope of expansion and the probable point of saturation in the field of professionalism. Golf is essentially a game for the player, as contrasted with certain other sports which lend themselves readily to produc­ tion for the spectator. And even a hurried glance back over the history of its devel­ opment in this country will show what an important part the chronicles of the do­ ings of amateurs have had in building up interest in the game. Ouimet Started It Francis Ouimet’s triumph over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in their famous play-off for the Open Championship at Brookline, Mass., in 1913 put golf on the front pages of the newspapers of the coun­ try. Even so recently as the 1954 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, the play of Billy Joe Patton, who finished a stroke back of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, featured practically all reports sent out on the tournament. Meanwhile, INNIS BROWN sectional, district, state and municipal championships for amateurs are being given numberless columns of publicity. Who can say whether the movement has reached its zenith or how long it will continue? But in any event it seems fairly sure that the future popularity and pros­ pects for this phase of the game depend in large measure on how golf as a whole continues to hold the interest and esteem of the public. Certainly those who are committing themselves to following the game in making a living have a personal stake in seeing that this interest and es­ teem are continued. I wonder if it would be asking too much of the next youngster—and his successors —if it were suggested that an amateur champion continue his amateur status at least as long as his title is valid. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 13 COUNTRY CLUB JOSEPH H. NOLIN, C.P.A. OPERATIONS IN 1954 Member of the firm of Horwath & Horwath Our sixth annual study of country clubs shows the extent to which they have grown since the early days when facilities were rather primitive and costs very low. Operating data are presented for the fol­ lowing three groups of clubs: 18 small country clubs, each with membership dues income of under $150,000 (including regular assess­ ments in five clubs). 14 large country clubs, each with membership dues between $150,000 and $2 50,000 (including regular as­ sessments in three clubs). 2 very large clubs, each with mem­ bership dues of more than $2 50,000 (including a regular assessment in one club). The foregoing classifications are being used for the first time this year. The size and scope of the study have been expanded because of the need for operating data applying more specifically to clubs of vari­ ous sizes. Past studies showed, for example, that country clubs with annual dues and assessments of $50,000 have little in com­ mon with those having $600,000 of such income. When such extremes are included in the same group, the resulting averages are heavily weighted towards the top amounts. Following the conclusion of this article is a summary of operations of two groups expressed in relation to membership dues and assessment income. Since dues are the principal source of club income, they make the most common, acceptable basis for comparing operating data. Income from regular, or recurring, assessments has been included with dues because it is simi­ lar in nature to dues. Condensed from The Horwath Hotel Accountant, June, 1955. More detailed data are available in the original report. The two clubs with dues of over $2 50,- 000 were handled separately because their operating figures are of such magnitude that they would disproportionately affect the group averages if included with the 14 large country clubs. Comments on some of the principal findings of our study of country club op­ erations in 1954 follow: The small clubs were better off, be­ fore rehabilitation and depreciation ex­ penses, than in 195 3, but because those expenses were considerably higher in 1954, the final result was that the small clubs lost ground financially. The large clubs, on the other hand, except for a decrease in rehabilitation and depreciation expenses, did not fare as well as in 1953. The final result, how­ ever, was that the large clubs lost less ground financially than the small clubs. How Dues Dollar Was Spent Breaking down the dues dollar of the small clubs, we find that it was spent in the following ways: clubhouse operations, 30.5^ in 1954 compared with 3 5.5^ in the preceding year; grounds and golf course, 36.0^ compared with 33.8^; other outside activities, 1.3^ compared with fixed charges, 16.2^ compared with 16.7^. The remaining 16.0^ is a commendable improvement over the 12.3^ result of the preceding year. The average 25.6^ of each dues dollar expended for depreciation and rehabilitation is distorted by the heavy improvement and rehabilitation programs of three clubs, all of which spent more than 50^ of their dues dollar for that purpose. The funds for such heavy expen­ ditures came from special gifts, assess­ ments and other sources. The median aver­ 14 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 age for this item is 17.5^, compared with 17.0^ for 1953. On the basis of the median average, which is a more realistic one since it elimi­ nates the aforementioned distorton, there would be a slight deficiency of approxi­ mately 1.5$ in each dues dollar, as against a deficiency of 4.7$ a year ago. Thus the dues income is not yet sufficient to cover cash operating expenses and depreciation and provide a reserve for emergencies or an increase in members’ equity. A similar breakdown of the dues dollar of the large clubs is as follows: clubhouse operations, 41.9$ compared with 38.9^ in the preceding year; grounds and golf course, 29.4$ compared with 29.1$; other outside activities, 2.3$ compared with 2.9$; fixed charges, 15.4^ compared with 15.9$; dues available for depreciation and rehabilitation, 11.0$, compared with 13.2^; depreciation and rehabilitation, 12.2^, compared with 13.7$. The lower payroll ratios in the small clubs made it possible for them to have higher departmental profits from sales of food and bevareges and from rooms. Pay­ roll took 36.3% of total income, includ­ ing dues, in the small clubs, compared with 40.8%' in the large clubs. Food and bever­ age departmental operations in the small clubs showed a payroll cost of 2 8.7% of food and beverage sales, and yielded a profit of 17.8%', compared with payroll of 34.0% and profit of 11.8%, compared with pay­ roll of 34.0% and profit of 11.8% in the large clubs. The five-point rise over 195 3 in the ratio of food and beveraee profit to total dues income of the small clubs was at­ tributable principally to better food re­ sults. The profit of the rooms department was 2.6 points higher in 1954 than in 1953. The large clubs had a decrease of 1.8 points in the food and beverage departmental re­ sult and one of 1.2 points in the profit derived from rooms. Of the clubs reporting dues as to classes, the small clubs reported that the "regular” members who constituted 63% of their membership contributed 72%' of the dues income. The large clubs reported that the "regular” members constituted 54% of the membership and contributed 76% of the dues income. Golf Course Maintenance The cost per hole of the upkeep of golf course and grounds averaged $1,891 for the small clubs last year, compared with $2,486 for the large ones. It was 24% less dollarwise but 9 points greater in rela­ tion to dues income in the small clubs than in the large ones. We wish to point out that this cost per hole does not include any fixed asset costs (those connected with improvements, additions, replacements or depreciation), nor any fixed charges, such as real estate taxes and interest on borrowed capital. The average food checks reported by 14 clubs were: $3.69 3.00 2.99 2.88 2.88 $2.38 2.26 2.22 1.66 $2.80 2.79 2.68 2.64 2.49 Dues, fees and assessments were increased during the year by several clubs. The an­ nual dues were raised in seven clubs by $12, $20, $25, $36, $40, $40 and $50. Initia­ tion or entrance fees were increased in four clubs by $50, $150, $200 and $250. Annual assessments were increased in five clubs by $25, $28, $100, $100 and $190. Two clubs reduced their annual assessments by $50 each. In conclusion, we wish to point out that the value of this study to any one particu- clar club is entirely dependent upon the ways in which the data are used. To that end, we make two observations. First of all, since the "Uniform System of Accounts for Clubs” is followed in compiling the study, the results of those clubs already following the system will be most easy to compare with the operat­ ing results shown in the study. Secondly, club managers and committees should take note of the group averages of either the small or large clubs, depending uoon the classification in which their own club belongs. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 15 Summary of Operations, 1954 and 1953 14 Large Country Clubs (Dues of $150M to $250M) Ratios to Dues and Assessments 1954 1953 Membership dues_________________ . 93.5% Assessments _____________________ _ 6.5 95.1% 4.9 Amounts 1954 $2,287,922 157.975 Increase or Decrease from 1953 Amount Percentage $ 101,281 45,987 4.6% 41.1 Total _____________________ .100.0 100.0 2,445,897 147,268 6.4 Deduct net cost of operations Clubhouse (detail below) ________ - 41.9 31.7 Golf, grounds and outside activities Total _____________________ . 73.6 Net before fixed charges __________ Rent, taxes and insurance, and interest Dues* available for depreciation ____ Depreciation and/or rehabilitation reserves or expenditures ________ 26.4 15.4 11.0 11.4 Dues* available for members’ equitv r.4% Detail of clubhouse operation Food and beverage net departmental profit _______________________ . 15.1% Rooms, locker rooms and other sources of income—net ________ . 5.1 Total _____________________ _ 20.2 Undistributed operating expenses Clubrooms _____________________ . 15.0 Entertainment ___________________ 2.5 Administrative and general ______ _ 29.7 Heat, light and power____________ _ 7.8 Repairs and Maintenance ________ _ 7.1 Total _____________________ _ 62.1 38.9 32.0 70.9 29.1 15.9 13.2 12.9 .3% 1,023,785 775,925 1,799,710 646,187 377,642 268,545 130,113 40,499 176,612 r23,344 11,485 14.6 5.5 10.5 r3.5 3.1 r34,829 rll.5 278,160 rI7,198 5.8 $ r9,615 $ rl7,631 r219.9% 16.9% $ 369,954 $ rl7,453 r4.5%- 6.6 23.5 15.2 2.5 29.7 8.1 6.9 62.4 125,568 495,522 366,623 60,751 727,675 191,577 172,681 1,519,307 r26,574 rl7.5 r44,027 r8.2 16,596 4,333 45,390 6,540 13,227 86,086 4.7 7.7 6.7 3.5 8.3 6.0 Net clubhouse cost—above ________ _ 41.9% 38.9% $1,023,785 $ 130,113 14.6% Restaurant sales Food _________________________ Beverages _____________________ Total _____________________ Total sales and other incomet______ Payroll $2,017,882 1,129,106 $ 37,957 36,384 $3,146,988 $ 74,341 $3,911,698 $ 82,573 Restaurant ____________________ $1,071,105 Total club _____________________ 2,591,543 $ 35,039 112,188 1.9% 3.3 2.4% 2.2% 3.4% 4.5% M—thousands. r—red figure. 16 * Dues plus assessments in eight clubs. t Excluding income from dues and initiation and transfer fees. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 Summary of Operations, 1954 and 1953 18 Small Country Clubs (Dues under $150M) Ratios to Dues and Assessments 1953 1954 Membership dues__________________ Assessments _____________________ 88.5% . 11.5 90.5% 9.5 Total ______________________,100.0 100.0 Deduct net cost of operations Clubhouse (detail below) _________ 30.5 Golf, grounds and outside activities.... 37.3 Total ______________________ 67.8 32.2 Net before fixed charges __________ Rent, taxes and insurance, and interest.. 16.2 Dues* available for depreciation _____ 16.0 Depreciation and/or rehabilitation reserves or expenditures _________ 25.6 35.5 35.5 71.0 29.0 16.7 12.3 17.0 Amounts 1954 $1,314,886 170,116 1,485,002 453,069 553,473 1,006,542 478,460 241,580 236,880 Increase or Decrease from 1953 Amount Percentage $ 45,824 36,389 3.6% 27.2 82,213 5.9 r44,133 55,286 r8.9 11.1 11,153 71,060 7,074 63,986 1.1 17.4 3.0 37.0 59.5 379,904 141,756 Dues* available for members’ equity__ r9.6% r4.7% $rl43,024 $ r77,770 r 119.2% Detail of clubhouse operation Food and beverage net departmental profit _______________________ 30.0% 25.3% $ 445,830 $ 91,604 25.9% Rooms, locker rooms and other sources of income—net _________ 6.6 Total ______________________ 36.6 Undistributed operating expenses Clubrooms ______________________ 13.4 2.9 Entertainment ___ ______ ___ Administrative and general _______ 31.4 Heat, light and power____________ 9.9 Repairs and Maintenance _________ 9.5 Total ______________________ 67.1 6.2 31.5 14.0 3.8 31.6 9.4 8.2 67.0 97,456 543,286 199,100 42,913 466,121 146,693 141,528 996,355 9,821 101,425 2,479 r9,591 23,253 14,560 26,591 57,292 11.2 23.0 1.3 rl8.3 5.3 11.0 23.1 6.1 Net clubhouse cost—above _________ 30.5% 35.5% $ 453,069 $ r44,133 r8.9% Restaurant sales Food _________________________ Beverages ______________________ Total ______________________ Total sales and other incomet_______ Payroll Restaurant _____________________ Total club _____________________ $1,498,220 1,000,608 $ 128,236 72,198 $2,498,828 $ 200,434 $3,130,477 $ 278,399 $ 717,367 1,676,318 $ 62,719 143,569 M—thousands, r—red figure. * Dues plus assessments in eight clubs. t Excluding income from dues and initiation and transfer fees. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 9.4% 7.8 8.7% 9.8% 9.6% 9.4 17 USGA NOMINEES FOR 1956 The USGA Nominating Committee has presented its nominations for the offi­ cers and members of the Executive Com­ mittee for 1956. If the nominees are elect­ ed at the 62nd annual meeting in the Vanderbilt Hotel, New York, N. Y., at noon on January 28, Richard S. Tufts, of Pinehurst, N C., will succeed Isaac B. Grainger, of New York, as President. Mr. Tufts has been a member of the USGA Executive Committee since 1946, was Secretary in 1950 and 19 51 and has been a Vice-President since 1952. He is now Chairman of the Rules of Golf and the Senior Championship Committees, and he has been chairman of five other sub­ committees — the Handicap Committee, the Implements and Ball Committee, the Championship Committee, the Junior Championship Committee and the Green Section Committee. As a member of the negotiating com­ mittee which met with representatives of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1951 and again last spring, Mr. Tufts has had an important part in the development and maintenance of the first uniform code of Rules. He successfully laid the groundwork for the present activities of the Handicap, the Junior Championship and the Senior Championship Committees as first chair­ man of those committees. During his ten­ ure as Chairman of the Green Section Committee, the Regional Turf Service program was instituted. Mr. Grainger has been a USGA official since 1945 and served as President during the last two years. John D. Ames, of Chicago, Ill., has been re-nominated to be a Vice-President. Tohn G. Clock, of Long Beach, Cal., has been nominated to be a Vice-President. Charles L. Peirson, of Boston, Mass., has been nominated to be Secretary to suc­ ceed Charles B. Grace, of Philadelphia. He is now Treasurer. Mr. Grace has asked to be relieved as a member of the Execu- Fabian Bachrach Photo RICHARD S. TUFTS tive Committee because of the pressure of business. J. Frederic Byers, Jr., of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been nominated to be Treasurer. C. W. Benedict, of White Plains, N. Y., and Richmond Gray, of Richmond, Va., have been nominated to the Executive Committee to succeed Messrs. Grainger and Grace. Emerson Carey, Jr., of Denver, Colo., Thomas H. Choate, of New York, N. Y., John W. Fischer, of Cincinnati, Ohio, T. R. Garlington, of Atlanta, Ga., Gor­ don E. Kummer, of Milwaukee, Wis., Edward E. Lowery, of San Francisco, Cal., F. Warren Munro, of Portland, Ore., and John M. Winters, of Tulsa, Okla., were renominated for the Executive Commit­ tee. Fraser M. Horn, of New York, N. Y., was nominated for a seventh term as Gen­ eral Counsel. The following have been nominated for the 1957 Nominating Committee: James D. Standish, Jr., Detroit, Mich., Chair­ USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT; NOVEMBER, 1955 man; Hord W. Hardin, St. Louis, Mo.; Chapin P. Hunt, San Francisco, Cal.; El­ bert S. Jemison, Jr., Birmingham, Ala.; and William P. Turnesa, Elmsford, N. Y. Totton P. Heffelfinger, of Minneapolis, Minn., is Chairman of the Nominating Committee, and the other members are Fabian Bachrach Photo C. W. Benedict Richmond Cray Charles W. Adams, of Seattle, Wash., Ben­ jamin F. Jaques, of Boston, Mass., M. K. Jeffords, Jr., of Orangeburg, S. C., and Robert W. Willits, of Kansas City, Mo. USCA FILM ON ETIQUETTE There have been more than 435 book­ ings thus far of the USGA motion picture entitled “The Rules of Golf—Etiquette.’’ The film, which was awarded a Recog­ nition of Merit by the Film Council of America, is a 16 mm. Kodachrome with a runnig time of 17% minutes. The im­ portance of etiquette is emphasized visually through portrayal of various violations cf the code in the course of a family four- ball match. Robert T. Jones, Jr., makes the introductory statement. Ben Hogan appears in several scenes. The shipping of prints is handled by National Educational Films, Inc., 165 West 46th Street, New York 16, N. Y., which produced the film in cooperation with the USGA. The rental fee is $15, which includes the cost of shipping the print to the renter. “GOLF HOUSE” FUND TIhe "Golf House” Fund has been increased within recent weeks by $5,8 JO, bringing the total to $108,705. There were 228 additional Founders during this period, making a total of 5,926. We now need only $1,300. The Fund is for the purchase and equipment of "Golf House.” Those who have enrolled as Founders recently are: INDIVIDUALS Charles Afong Hung Soo Ahn Philip M. Aitken Dr. R. William Alexander Ernest S. Allie W. C. Allsopp Larry Amazaki Ed Anderson Eberhard Anheuser M. L. Armanko G. Norman Bacon Charles U. Banta Mrs. John E. Barbey Miss Sally Conover Barnes William Barnes III H. B. Bartlett Daniel W. Bellman George C. Bellman Paul W. Bellman, Jr. Donald B. Benedict Carl J. Berst Mr. & Mrs. Andrew A. Bertoni Sam G. Biggs, Jr. Sidney M. Bird H. M. Blinn Rodney Bliss, Jr. Mrs. Rebecca P. Blunt Robert W. Bode Mrs. Edith N. Bowes Taylor Boyd G. Clymer Brooke Dr. E. R. Brubaker E. Forrest Buchanan S. L. Burtless Thomas G. Butler Roy E. Campbell Babe Carter Brace Carter Clem S. Castleberry W. F. Catlett Louis W. Chapin II Jack Chun Samuel J. Coccodrilli Charles R. Coe Mrs. Fred H. Cole Mrs. H. S. Covington C. Lyman Crane J. D. Croxton James Cullo Robert H. Cavis Mr. 8C Mrs. H. Mason Day William H. Diddel Mr. & Mrs. Paul Dye, Jr. B. W. Earnhardt Mrs. J. Victor East Van Hom Ely, Jr. C. McD. England, Jr. Frances C. Fenn Mrs. Thomas Findley Robert J. Foley A. B. Foutz Robert L. Fritsche Jimmie D. Gauntt W. High Geib Mrs. Alexander A. George Walter B. Gerould W. French Githens Guv Goodness C. P. Goss USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 19 Herb Graffis Joe Graffis E. Marshal Graves Alex Greer Humboldt J. Greig Albert R. Gurney James L. Haines Herman A. Hale Dr. Herman N. Hangen Robert Bruce Harris Joseph Harrison, Jr. N. D. Harter Swan Hartwell Henry O. Havemeyer J. H. Hawkins Erwin N. Heieck W. L. Herrington Mrs. Paul Hoagland Robert K. Howse Miss Pedee Hosier Harvey J. Humphrey George A. Hurd John Gillespie Jackson Mrs. Elbert S. Jemison, Jr. Edward Hull Jewett, IV Miss Jacqueline B. Jewett Robert Trent Jones Raymond Jordan Marlin G. Kachel William J. Keltz Frank E. Kenny, Jr. William D. Kerr George J. King Charles Kishinami Mr. & Mrs. Wm. W. Knight, Jr. In memory of William Kuist (by Seniors Golf Associa­ tion of Southern Calif.) Andy Lafter H. Alfred Langben Henry C. Legge In memory of Mrs. O. M. Leland (by O. M. Leland) Frank M. Linsay J. Couper Lord Mrs. Fred J. Mackley Frank J. Maguire John J. Maher, Jr. Charles Makaiwa A. B. Marcus David H. Marx Hideo Matsuo Mr. & Mrs. David I. McCahill, Jr. David I. McCahill, III Miss Patricia K. McCahill John L. McCann E. J. McCarthy Lloyd F. McCarty Allen G. McDowell W. Raymond McGonigle L. Bruce McLean Elmer J. Michael Mrs. George S. Miles Ralph W. Miller Gilson Miltenberger Thomas F. Monaghan, Jr. Thomas F. Moody, Jr. Mrs. R. H. Morris Robertson G. Morrow John E. Murphy Robinson Murray O. J. Noer Warren I. Noll Mr. & Mrs. J. K. Norris Leo O’Grady Richard W. Ollivierre George E. O’Neill Francis Ouimet Richard M. Palmer Joe T. Parkinson Robert R. Parry Roy W. Parry Miss Lois M. Penn Mrs. Warren B. Pond Carl B. Post Arthur Prager James J. Purcell Mr. 8C Mrs. Frank G. Raichle, Robert M. Ramsay Neil Ransick J. C. Rardin Jacques Reider Mrs. E. F. Ristine A. Thomas F. Roberts Mrs. Carl Rohman Ralph Rooks Webster Rooks Emil B. Rohrer ASSOCIATIONS Earl A. Ross Harry R. Rowland Earl L. Rumbaugh Frank Rutkiewicz Al St. John Toshio Santoki Robert Schume Mrs. Frances Snyder Sherman Colin C. Simpson Wilton A. Simpson M. L. Sperry W. R. Stevens Roy Stevenson Robert Lord Stevenson Louise Lord Stevenson Charles P. Stevenson, Jr. Wade Stevenson, II Hugh Stewart John L. Surdam Walter B. Stewart Dr. & Mrs. Arthur W. Swanson T. Suffern Tailer Charles G. Terry George E. Thomas Mr. & Mrs. James E. Thomas Mrs. Calvin Tilden D. S. Tuttle Frederick R. Twelvetrees Ellis W. Van Gorder Mrs. William M. Walker, Jr. Edwin H. Walter Hez G. Ward Jack A. Weaver Nelson W. Webb Paul E. Weiss W. Byron Whitman Paul S. Williams Lee G. Wilson Mrs. Francis A. Winchenbach Herman F. Winger Archie Won Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Woodward Clinton R. Wyckoff III C. R. Wyckoff, Jr. Kevin M. Wyckoff Peter G. Wyckoff George L. Yocum, Jr. Mrs. Robert M. Young Harold U. Zerbe Edward K. Zuckerman California Seniors’ Golf Association Cleveland District Golf Association Illinois Women’s Golf Association Jacksonville Amateur Golf Association Junior District Golf Association of Detroit Junior Girls’ Golf Association of Colorado Kansas City Golf Association Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents The Missouri Golf Association Senior Golf Association of Northern California Southern Golf Association Country Club of Virginia Lehigh Country Club Newport Country Club CLUBS Oahu Country Club Sea Island Golf Cub Southward Ho Country Club 20 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 THE REFEREE Decisions by the Rules of Golf Committees Example of symbols: "USGA” indicates decision by the United States Golf Association. "R & A” indicates decision by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. "55-1” means the first decision issued in 1955. "D” means definition. "R. 37-7" refers to Section 7 of Rule 37 in the 1955 Rules of Golf. Caddie Throwing Ball May Violate Cleaning Rule USGA 5 5-44 R. 23-1, 23-3, 37-2 Q.: If the caddie marks the player’s ball in match play and throws the ball to the player, does the player get a penalty for catching the ball? Or does he get a pen­ alty if he makes an attempt to clean or tamper with it? Question by Al Alvarez Wichita, Kan. A.: Rule 23-1 allows a caddie to lift his player’s ball. There is no prohibition of itself against throwing and catching a ball but such action could well result in cleaning a ball, which would be a violation of Rule 23-3. Whether a ball is cleaned is a question of fact. In case of doubt, the Rules of Golf Committee would be in­ clined to resolve the doubt against the player in a case such as this. The player is responsible for the actions of his caddie under Rule 37-2. Handicaps for 36 Holes USGA 5 5-43 Handicap Q.: We held a two-day two-ball (four­ some) handicap tournament, The members of a team had handicaps of 10 and 9. I gave them 10 as we were using one-half of combined handicaps. I deducted the handicap of 10 from each day’s play as I have always done in this type of tourna­ ment. Example — 78-10-68; 80-10-70; total 13 8. One of the contestants claimed we should take the two days’ gross and de­ duct 19, this being the full total of the individual handicaps of the two partners who were handicapped at 10 and 9. What is the proper method? On the schedule the tournament was listed as follows: July 30, Medal play, Two Ball Handicap Tournament, First Round. July 31, Medal play, Two Ball Handicap Tournament, Final Round. Question by: C. T. MacMaster Pikesville, Md. A.: The fairer method is to allow 50% of the combined handicaps doubled for 36 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 21 holes. Thus, the combined handicaps of the partners for 36 holes total 3 8, and 50% thereof is 19. It is unnderstood that the competition was at 36 holes and that there was no 18-hole competition. The USGA recommends an allowance of 50% of the partners’ combined handicaps in foursomes stroke play (not four-ball). Also, it is recommended that one-half or any larger fraction should count as a full stroke. These recommendations are in­ tended to apply to 18-hole competitions. For a longer competition the recommenda­ tion concerning fractions of a stroke could produce inequities, as the present case proves, to cite an extreme example, in a 72-hole competition the side in question would be allowed 40 strokes if an allowance of 10 were given for each 18-hole round individually, whereas if the four-round handicaps of the partners were combined they would be 76, and 50% thereof would be 38. The latter, in our opinion, would be the proper handicap. We therefore recommend that local committees take any necessary action to insure fair apportionment of handicaps, and that the decision be published in ad­ vance. In any form of handicap competition where individual hole play is a factor (such as four-ball play), if a player or a side is entitled to an odd number of strokes for 36 holes, the odd stroke should be allowed in the first 18 holes. Score On Conceded Hole USGA 55-31 R. 11-2; 36-1 Q.: In match play, when a hole is con­ ceded, how is it scored? For example, player B holed out in six strokes and thereupon conceded the hole to player A, who had played two strokes and whose ball lay 20 feet from the hole. Question by: N. C. Morris Denver, Col. A.: Rule 3 6-1 provides in part: "Cer­ tain special rules governing stroke play are so substantially different from those gov­ erning match play that combining the two forms of play is not practicable and is not permitted. The results of matches played and the scores returned in these circum­ stances shall not be accepted.” The Rules do not require recording scores hole by hole in match play. The custom of the game is for the loser to report the result of the match. A score card has no official status in match play, although it may be a factor as evidence in the event of a claim. In the case cited, technically player A’s next stroke was conceded and from a literal standpoint he could be presumed to have won the hole in 3. However, the matter is one for the referee of the match to de­ termine if a determination must be made on such a point—see Rule 11-2 as to the finality of a referee’s decision. USGA Championship referees usually approximate the score which a player might reasonably have been expected to make, and in the instant case it is likely that the player would have been scored a 4; the matter, however, is a personal one with each referee. We emphasize the extract originally quoted from Rule 36-1 and the fact that scores have no significance in match play, once the result of the hole has been determined. Play-off Is Separate Phase of Competition USGA 5 5-29 D. 29; R. 3, 38-1, 2 Q.: An incident occurred at the Taconic Golf Club, at Williamstown, Mass., which, rortunately for the committee in charge, did not require a decision. However, in dis­ cussing it later on, we cannot find a rule to cover it and are submitting the question to you for the correct solution. During the final round of stroke play, a boy in a fit of temper over several missed putts broke his putter on the eighth green. Under Rule 3, the willful breaking of a club means that he must continue without replacement. This he did, using his driver as a putter, and ended in a tie for last place. After all the scores were in, a play-off was necessary, and this individual played an extra hole with one opponent. 22 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 Was this a continuation of the regular round and therefore must he continue play­ ing with thirteen clubs, or is it a separate round and is he entitled to replace the broken putter? Question by: James H. Hunter North Adams, Mass. A.: The play-off is a separate phase of the competition, and therefore the boy was entitled under Rule 3 to replace his broken putter before competing in it. Competitors in a stroke competition have completed any scheduled round when their cards have been attested and returned to the committee as called for in Rules 3 8-1 and 3 8-2. See also Definition 29. Any sub­ sequent play-off, whether on a hole-by- hole basis or at eighteen holes, is a separate phase of the competition made necessary by the fact that it has ended in a tie. Another aspect of the same principle was enunciated in Decision 5 5-13. Player Reports Wrong Handicap USGA 5 5-37 R. 11-1, 36-5, 38-3, 41-7 Q.: In our departmental golf tourna­ ment we all have handicaps figured by our handicapper. Previous to the start of a match the four participating players were asked their handicaps, and the game was played with these handicaps in mind. The next morning it was discovered one player gave an incorrect handicap in error. Does the score stand as played or should the score card be adjusted to the correct handicap? Question by: Robert Schaal Newark, N. J. A.: Match Play: If the player reported his handicap to be higher than it actually was, he put the opposing side at a disad­ vantage. The opposing side would be justi­ fied in claiming the match even after it had been completed. Although Rule 11-1 provides for a time limit for claims in match play, it further sanctions later claims based on newly discovered facts if the player making the claim had been given wrong information by the opponent. If the player reported his handicap to be lower than it actually was, the match stands as played. Rule 37-4 requires each player to check his handicap from the of­ ficial list and, in match play, to inform himself of the holes at which strokes are given or taken. Rule 11-1 precludes him from making a claim after the match. It is a basic principle of match play that both sides are entitled at all times to know ex­ actly how the match stands. Stroke Play: If the player reported his handicap to be higher than it actually was, he should be disqualified under the prin­ ciples of Rule 3 8-3 and 41-7 in four-ball play. If the player reported his handicap to be lower than it actually was, the score should stand as played, under the principle of Rule 38-3. For the Committee’s, right to waive or to modify a disaualification penalty in ex­ ceptional individual cases, see Rule 36-5. Caddie Picks Up Opponent’s Ball USGA 5 5-30 R. 27-lb, 27-2a Q.: My drive landed in the rough, so I played a provisional ball. During search for the original ball, my opponent’s caddie picked up a ball which I identified as mine. On being asked where he found the ball, the caddie crawled on his hands and knees under a scrub bush, reached in as far as possible, and placed the ball against the bush. I had reprimanded him for picking up the ball and he was angry. None of us saw where he actually picked the ball up, although during search he was not crawl­ ing around. The ball was unplayable after the caddie placed it by hand. I abandoned the ball and played the provisional ball, counting myself three off the tee. I took 8 for the hole; my opponent 6. I claimed the hole on the grounds that my opponent’s caddie had picked up my ball and had illegally replaced it. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 23 (a) Did the opponent lose the hole or should she have been penalized one stroke? (b) Did I have to accept the penalty of strokes and distance, under Rule 29-2a, on my provisional ball? Question by: Mrs W. A. Couch Altus, Okla. A.: (a) The Opponent sustained a one- stroke penalty under Rule 27-2a. If her caddie had merely moved your ball during search, there would have been no penalty —see Rule 27-lb; however, this Rule does not authorize an opponent or an opponent’s caddie to pick up the player’s ball. (b) Yes, as you decided to abandon the original ball and play the provisional ball. It was a question of fact as to where your original ball lay, and only those involved in the match could determine the fact. If you had wished to play the original ball, you would have been obliged, under Rule 27-2a, to drop it as near as possible to the spot from which it had been moved by the opponent’s caddie. Bunker Filled With Casual Water USGA 5 5-36 R. 32-lb Q.i A question came up regarding the intent of Rule 32-lb. Player A’s ball lies in a sand trap com­ pletely filled with casual water. At one end of the trap the water is 1 foot deep, at the other end of the trap the water is ¥2 inch deep. Can Player A drop his ball, which lies in 1 foot of water, not nearer the hole in ¥2 inch of water so that he may avoid the penalty stroke for removing the ball from the hazard? Player B claims unless there is ground not covered bv casual water on which Plaver A can drot> his ball in the confines of the hazard, not nearer the hole. Player A most either plav from 1 foot of water or dron ball outside the hazard in keeping with Rule 32. A.: Player A may lift his ball without penalty and drop it in the hazard in the shallowest casual water as near as possible to the spot where the ball first lay, but not nearer the hole. This would afford the maximum relief provided for in Rule 32-lb. The object of the Rule is to assure as much relief as possible from casual water but not necessarily to permit changing the line or other characteristics of the stroke to be played. Wrong Hole Is Played USGA 5 5-33 D. 28, 29; R. 13-2, 36-5, 38-2 Q.: During our tournament, the lead­ ing foursome played the wrong hole. This foursome, upon holing out the sixth hole, teed off on the 12 th, believing it was the seventh (unintentional, of course). The leading foursome was on the 12 th green and two players on the second foursome had teed off on the 12 th before discovery of their error. The club’s Rules Committee penalized the players involved in playing the wrong hole, the penalty being in accordance with Rule 13-2. Was the Committee’s action fair? Question by: Jack Okuda Chicago, Ill. A.: Assuming the competition was at stroke play, each competitor who errone­ ously teed off on the 12 th hole was re­ quired by Rule, 13-2 to count all strokes played on the 12 th hole and then to play from the teeing ground of the 7th hole. Failure to do so would have entailed dis­ qualification, unless the Committee waived or modified the penalty as provided for in Rule 36-5. See also Rule 38-2. It is a duty of the Committee to insure that the holes of the stipulated round (Definition 29) are properly marked. Question by: Warren Ormck For meaning of "foursome,” see Defi­ Orchard Lake, Mich. nition 28. 24 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 ZOYSIA SEED STORAGE AND GERMINATION TESTS By ALEXANDER M. RADKO • Northeastern Director, USGA Green Section The propagation of Zoysia grasses in the United States has depended chiefly upon the use of vegetative material. This relatively expensive method has limited plantings of Zoysia to turf areas of high value. There are many more extensive and less valuable areas where Zoysia would make a desirable turf cover and where it would likely be used if costs were reduced. Investigations by Ian Forbes, Jr., and Marvin H. Ferguson1 have shown that suitable treatment of seeds produces satis­ factory germination of seeds and that good stands can be obtained when seeds are planted in clean, well prepared seedbeds and given reasonable attention during the period of establishment. Inasmuch as some selections of Zoysia produce seed abun­ dantly, it seems likely that in the future Zoysia turf may be established by the use of seed. It also appears likely that seed will be quite expensive until adequate domestic supplies have been developed. These considerations led the USGA Green Section to undertake a study of the effect of storage conditions upon Zoysia seed in order that valuable seed would not be lost unnecessarily as a result of im­ proper storage. The purpose was to determine the opti­ mum storage conditions for best germina­ tion of common Zoysia japonica seeds. In the summer of 1949 common Zoysia japonica seed was harvested from plots at the Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md. The seeds were ripened, hulled, counted and stored under the following conditions: A. In unsealed vials at temperatures of 5 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C. B. In sealed vials at temperatures of 5 °C, 15 °C, and 2 5 °C. C. In sealed vials into which calcium chloride was placed—also stored at tem­ peratures of 5 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C. Nine grams of CaCls to one liter of space was used. It was found that vitality of the seeds could be lengthened materially by use of calcium chloride with seeds stored at the freezing point.2 Three replications of each test were stored under conditions indicated above. The experiment was designed to run eight years. Germination counts were made ap­ proximately every 60 days for the first year; every six months for the second year; and yearly thereafter. Five years’ results are presented in this report. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 25 5°C. 15 °C. A. B. C. A. B. C. In March, 1950, a sample lot of seed used for this test gave a germination of 82.33 per cent. Following are the results: at 15° to hold up for as long as one year. This cannot be explained except to say that perhaps storage conditions were at fault. Treatment Per Cent Germination — Average of Three Replications 4/10/50 81.3 78.0 80.3 7/10/50 76.3 78.0 75.7 11/20/50 81.0 75.6 79.0 2/1/51 75.6 75.3 73.3 6/11/51 70.0 73.0 69.0 10/2/51 68.1 71.0 67.3 7/29/52 12.6 13.3 14.3 2/2q53 48.3 32.0 25.3 2/1/55 12.6 13.6 15.0 75.0 76.0 76.0 60.3 72.7 75.0 64.6 77.6 74.6 38.3 30.0 76.3 25 °C. A. B. C. 79.6 77.3 74.6 A = unsealed vials. B = vials sealed with paraffin. C = Cach added befire sealing vials with paraffin. 77.0 84.6 82.3 67.0 72.3 69.6 73.0 70.7 70.0 Statistical analysis performed on the foregoing data indicates significance for all the following sources of variation: tem­ perature, condition of storage, temperature x condition of storage, date counts made, and date counts made x temperature. The only source of variation that did not show significance was date counts made x con­ dition of storage. Seeds stored at 5° centrigrade held up slightly better than seeds stored at other temperatures. However, all seeds dropped considerably in germination in the third year of tests. The greatest source of variation arose from the failure of the unsealed vials stored 13.0 70.0 70.7 60.0 61.0 63.7 12.0 55.0 47.0 52.7 49.0 61.0 00.7 43.3 38.3 22.3 35.3 26.0 00.3 33.3 37.0 24.0 33.3 35.0 00.0 18.0 14.3 01.3 06.3 20.0 Other tests at 150 performed rather con­ sistently except for the 2/1/51 sampling date of the sealed vials. At the 25° temperature, only the seed stored with CaCl2 compared favorably with samples stored at the lower tempera­ tures after five years. Under the conditions of storage set forth in this experiment, common Zoysia japo- nica seed reduces sharply in germination after two and one-half years. 1 Effects of Strain Differences,, Seed Treatment, and Planting Depth on Seed Germination of Zoysia Spp. Agronomy Journal 40:8 (1948). * Verret; page 33 Growth of Plants” by William Crocker. Statistical analysis performed by Dr. E. J. Koch, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Md. WHEN YOU BUILD A PUTTING GREEN MAKE SURE THE SOIL MIXTURE IS A GOOD ONE By MARVIN H. FERGUSON USGA Green Section Southwestern Director and National Research Coordinator There are many factors one must con­ sider in the building of a putting green. Among these are location, slope, exposure, design, contour, water outlets, soil mix­ ture, type of grass, and many others. Prob­ ably no other factor is as important in building a putting green as is the soil mix­ ture. The soil mixture is important to the ultimate welfare of the putting green be­ cause it must be of such a nature that it will drain quickly, that it will resist com­ paction, and that it will be resilient enough to hold a properly played shot and yet not so spongy that it will hold a shot played poorly. The surface of the putting green should resist deep pitting when balls are played to it. Moisture content of the soil as well as the amount of turf present affects the type of putting that will occur. The foregoing requirements of a put­ ting green soil are peculiar requirements but in addition there are the basic require­ ments that any soil must provide to sup­ 26 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 port plant growth. There are normally five functions of an agricultural soil. It pro­ vides to plants: support, nutrients, oxygen, water and a favorable temperature. All of these attributes of a soil can be altered to varying degrees by the management. The ideal soil is one which would meet all the needs of plant growth; those special re­ quirements imposed by putting green main­ tenance, and which would resist the ill effects of poor management. No soil will do this but putting greens are valuable enough that we can afford to build a synthetic soil, and we must come as close to the ideal as possible. We know that we must sacrifice nutrient and water supplying power of the soil in order to meet other requirements such as rapid drainage, compaction resistance and aera­ tion. No "Ideal" Mixture Where do we reach the point at which the various considerations are most nearly in balance? Much research has been done on the subject and no one has yet proposed an "ideal” soil mixture for putting greens. However, we must have putting greens in the meantime. Many are rebuilt annually and each builder has to make a decision concerning the properties of his mixture. A putting green builder must work with materials available to him within a reason­ able distance. Most builders use a mixture of sand, soil and peat. If coarse, sharp sand and reed and sedge peat are used there will be little variation in the way they will be­ have. Very often, however, little is known about the soil which is incorporated into a mixture. It is important to know the percentages of clay, silt, and sand which make up a soil. Studies are continuing and it is likely that our ideas will change as our knowl­ edge increases. At the present time, how­ ever, it is believed that there is sufficint information available to permit a better job of building putting greens than is presently being done in many cases. Studies at Oklahoma A. & M. College and elsewhere indicate that 20% of peat, by volume, is the maximum that ever TURF MANAGEMENT The book “Turf Management,” sponsored by the United States Golf Association and edited by Prof. H. B. Musser, is a complete and authoritative guide in the practical development of golf-course turfs. This 354-page volume is available through the USGA, 40 East 38th Street, New York 16, N. Y., the USGA Green Section Re­ gional Offices, the McGraw-Hill Book Co., 350 West 42nd Street, New York 36, N. Y., or local bookstores. The cost is $7. should be used. Fifteen percent is probably better. From 5% to 8 %< of clay is suffi­ cient to permit soils to be fairly effective suppliers of nutrients. When the clay con­ tent of a soil rises above 10% it tends to become plastic and the soil compacts read­ ily. Silt and very fine sand particles are large enough that they do not form aggre­ gates as readily as clay particles, yet they are so small that they tend to clog pore spaces and drainageways among sand par­ ticles and soil aggregates. Therefore, we should like to have as low a silt and very fine sand content as possible in soils. Table 1 at the conclusion of this article shows the percentages of the various sizes of soil particles found in three different soil types. The sandy loam soil described in this table approaches the type generally thought to be most desirable for putting greens. If 15% of peat or other slowly decomposable organic matter were added to this sandy loam, one would have a mixture containing 56.1%< coarse sand, 19.89% fine sand and silt, 7.23% clay, and 15% organic matter. If we look at the second soil type, a loam, we see that the clay content is con­ siderably higher. In order that this soil should supply from 5 % to 8 % of clay we would need to mix it in the proportion of approximately 15%' peat, 3 5% soil, and 50% coarse sand. Such a mixture would then show an analysis of approximately 59.49%' coarse sand, 17.68% fine sand and silt, 6.75% clay and 15% organic matter. If a putting green were to be built using heavy clay as the soil component, one would only be able to use about 10% of USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 27 the soil, 15% peat and 75 %< of a coarse sand. Such a mixture would consist of 6.5 8% clay, 75.09% coarse sand, 2.85% fine sand and silt and 15 %< organic matter. This mixture will come very near to sup­ plying all the needs of a putting green soil. Now let us look at these three mixtures together in Table 2. We find that they are similar in many respects. Perhaps the most important consideration is that the organic matter and clay contents be similar. The clay and organic matter provides great surface area to hold moisture and nutrients. A small variation in these components can produce a very great effect on the be­ havior of the finished mixture. These three mixtures appear to have similar qualities, even though of the original soils 8 5%' soil went into the first mixture; 3 5 % into the second; and 10% into the third. Drainage and Aeration We cannot be sure, however, that these soils will be equally good in a putting green. The silt and very fine sand content of soil No. 1 is 19.89% while that of No. 2 is 17.68%. Contrast these figures with soil No. 3, which has a silt and very fine sand content of 2.85%<. Number 3 mix­ ture will have adequate nutrient and mois­ ture supplying power and it will also drain promptly. Good drainage and ample aera­ tion go together. It is an excellent soil. Mixtures No. 1 and No. 2 have good nutrient and water supplying ability but their drainage and aeration characteristics probably are not so good because of the presence of relatively large amounts of very fine sand and silt. It would be neces- sarv to reduce the peat content a great deal to insure adequate water infiltration and percolation rates. Thus we may see that it is important to get a mechanical analysis of the soil one intends to use, and to modify it by the addition of sand and organic matter ac­ cording to the needs determined from the analysis. Relatively small deviations from the optimum mixture may be critical. All the foregoing discussion has con- COMING EVENTS 1955 Dec. 7-9: Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference, Oklahoma A. & M. College, Stillwater, Okla. Dr. Wayne W. Huffine. Dec. 12-14: Texas Turfgrass Conference, Texas A. & M. Col­ lege, College Station, Texas. Dr. Ethan C. Holt. 1956 Jan. 16-20: Rutgers One-Week Turf Conference, Rutgers Uni­ versity, New Brunswick, N. J. Dr. Ralph E. Engel. Jan. 17-18: Mid-Atlantic Annual Turf Conference, Lord Balti­ more Hotel, Baltimore, Md. Dr. E. N. Cory. Feb. 5-10: Golf Course Superintendents 27th National Turf­ grass Conference and Show, Long Beach, Cal. Agar M. Brown. February 13-14: Third Arizona Turfgrass Conference, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. Joseph S. Folkner. Feb. 20-23: Penn State Turf Conference, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. Prof. H. B. Musser. cerned the matter of obtaining a proper soil mixture. It is also important that a good foundation be prepared before the soil is placed on the putting green. The following steps will insure that the sub­ grade and drainage will be adequate: 1. Contour the subgrade just as the finished surface will be contoured. The base will be about 14 inches below the putting surface. 2. Lay tile in a suitable pattern on the subgrade in broad shallow trenches, using the soil from these trenches to create a slope between tiles, so that water will drain to them readily. 3. Place a layer of clean gravel (ap­ proximately aggregate) over the tile, covering it completely. This layer of gravel will average 3" in thickness though it will be about 5" thick over the trenches in which the tile is laid. 4. Place a layer of coarse sand, approxi­ mately 1%" thick over the gravel. This sand will filter into the gravel to some extent but it will provide a zone of inter­ mediate texture which will prevent the 28 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 topsoil particles from being washed down into the gravel. 5. The topsoil mixture should be mixed off the green. A layer 10" to 12" thick should be applied. After settling, the top- soil layer should be thick enough to allow a cup to be cut out without cutting into the sand layer below. It is important that the top soil mixture be thoroughly firm before the grass is planted. One method of doing this is by tramping it under foot until the soil is firm. This method is called "footing.” After tramping the entire sur­ face of the green it will be rather uneven and rough. It should be raked smooth and then the "footing” process should be re­ peated. When the soil is as firm as one is able to get it using this process it should be watered sufficiently to settle the sur­ face and so that one may avoid any pockets or low spots that need to be filled. 6. Only after the surface is thoroughly firm and smooth should grass be planted. Either seed or stolons may be used. The improved strains which are nearly all plant­ ed vegetatively have been shown to be much more resistant to many of the put­ ting green troubles such as disease and weed infestation than are the seeded types. After one goes to all the trouble necessary to build a putting green properly, it seems worthwhile to obtain the best grass avail­ able for planting. As our knowledge of soils increases it is quite likely that we will find better mixtures and better building methods. At the present time we feel that the sugges­ tions offered herein will permit the build­ ing of much better putting greens than many of those which have been built in the past. Classification of Soil Particles According to System of International Society of Soil Science, and Mechanical Analysis of Three Soils* TABLE 1 Fraction Diameter millimeters Joarse sand . _____ 2.00-0.20 fine sand _____ 0.20-0.02 Silt _______ _ -- -- --- —_____ 0.02-0.002 Clay ______—_____ Below 0.002 - - - - - *From Lyon and Buckman, 4th ed., p. 43. Sandy loam, per cent 66.6 17.8 5.6 8.5 Loam, per cent 27.1 30.3 20.2 19.3 Heavy clay, per cent 0.9 7.1 21.4 65.8 Note: The figures do not add up to 100%. It is assumed that soil materials, such as gravel particles, made up the soil fraction and that these were not included in the analysis. Percentages of Various Components in Putting Green Soil Mixtures Using Sand and Peat in Combination with Soil Types Shown in Table 1. TABLE 2 No. Mixture 1 2 3 Sandy Loam Peat Loam Peat Coarse Sand Heavy Clay Peat Coarse Sand 85% 15% 35% 15% 50% 10% 15% 75% Coarse Sand (2.00-0.20 mm.) Very fine Sand and Silt (0.20-.002 mm.) Clay O.M. 56.1 59.49 75.09 19.89 17.68 2.85 7.23 6.75 6.58 15 15 15 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 29 Superintendent Chats With Champion Elmer Border, superintendent at the Olympic Country Club, in San Francisco (left), chats with Jack Fleck, the Open Champion, as they inspect the Open Trophy. Elmer did a fine job in preparing the course for the 1955 Open Championship. He gives credit to members of the various committees for excellent teamwork and says they were a great help to him. SAND IMPORTANT IN TOPDRESSINC MATERIAL By CHARLES K. HALLOWELL USGA Green Section Mid-Atlantic Director npHERE may be a difference of opinion J- about topdressing greens, but when topdressing is used there is full agreement that the soil mixture be only the best. Plant growers always want a light, well- drained soil having a liberal amount of good organic material. It is sharp sand that lightens soil and makes it easy to work the material in and around the grass. Soils high in sand not only drain readily but are less likely to bake. Such soils are less subject to compaction. The reasons for applying topdressing on greens are to level the putting surface, to provide fresh material for the stems of the grass and often to improve the existing soil. The topdressing material, to be effec- 30 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 SUBSCRIBERS TO USGA GREEN SECTION RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FUND, INC. American Agricultural Chemical Co., New American Cyanamid Co., New York, York, N. Y. N. Y. Eberhard Anheuser, St. Louis, Mo. William F. Bell, Pasadena, Cal. Clapper Company, West Newton, Mass. Connecticut Golf Association Cooperative Seed & Farm Supply Service, Richmond, Va. C. L. Cornell Co., Bethesda, Md. Davison Chemical Co., Baltimore, Md. E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Wilming­ Bob Dunning-Jones, Inc., Tulsa, Okla. Elmwood Country Club, White Plains, ton, Del. N.Y. Ferti-Soil Co., Rahway, N. J. William F. Gordon Co., Doylestown, Pa. Robert Bruce Harris, Chicago, Ill. James Gilmore Harrison, Turtle Creek, Pa. Robert Trent Jones, New York, N. Y. Kellogg Seed Co., Milwaukee, Wis. T. C. King, Auburn, Ala. P. H. Kylander, West Hartford, Conn. Lafkins Golf & Lawn Supply Corp., White Plains, N. Y. George F. Lineer, San Francisco, Cal. Maine Golf Association Massachusetts Golf Association J. Press Maxwell, Dallas, Texas J. Charles McCullough Seed Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Arthur M. Mohler, Lebanon, Pa. New England Golf Association New Hampshire State Golf Association New York-Connecticut Turf Improvement Association, Scarsdale, N. Y. Northrup, King & Co., Minneapolis, Minn. J. C. Oliger Seed Co., Akron, Ohio Philadelphia Toro Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Philco Corp., Sandusky, Ohio Rhode Island State Golf Association Bernard H. Ridder, Jr., Duluth, Minn. W. H. C. Ruthven, Canada Wm. G. Scarlett & Co., Baltimore, Md. Sewerage Commission of the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wise. D. G. Scott Farm, Marysville, Ohio Standard Manufacturing Co., Cedar Falls, Summit Hall Turf Farm, Gaithersburg, Toro Manufacturing Corp., Minneapolis, Iowa Md. Minn. Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Mich. Vaughan’s Seed Co., Chicago, Ill. Vermont Golf Association Warren’s Turf Nursery, Palos Park, Ill. West Point Products Corp., West Point, Pa. Western Pennsylvania Golf Association William H. Wilmot, Gaithersburg, Md. F. H. Woodruff & Sons, Inc., Milford, Conn. Worthington Ball Co., Elyria, Ohio tive, has to be worked down in and around the stems so that it makes contact with the soil. This is usually done with a steel mat and with rakes. Greens having ideal soil high in sand content produce a turf with a spring and provide an ideal surface for holding the ball coming onto the green. Seldom is the turf on the green injured severely by the dropping of the golf ball if the topsoil in the green contains a high proportion of sand. Where there is injury to the turf there will be rapid growth in a sandy loam that will heal the injury. Soils selected for the topdressing mate­ rial that are classified as a silt loam are usually lacking in sand. Topdressing mate­ rials rated as good have sand readily visible. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Question: We have been told that fer­ tilizers resulting from urea-formaldehyde reaction would be valuable to turf growers. However, it seems to us that the prices are completely out of reason. Can we afford to pay from $400 to $$00 a ton for this kind of fertilizer? Answer: The answer to this question depends upon how much premium you can afford to pay for a fertilizer that releases nitrogen slowly. Urea-formaldehyde reac­ tion products yield a fertilizer containing about 3 8 per cent nitrogen. Thus a ton contains 760 lbs. of nitrogen. At $$00 per ton you will pay a little more than 6$ cents per pound for nitrogen. This should be compared with the cost per pound of USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 31 nitrogen in other fertilizers containing slowly available forms of this element. This cost is considerably greater than that of the quickly available nitrogen con­ tained in ammonion nitrate or ammonium sulfate. In this form nitrogen sells in some areas for less than 15 cents per pound. As stated in the beginning, the answer to the question depends upon the worth of slowly available nitrogen to your particular opera­ tion. Question: Are dieldrin and aldrin suit­ able for the treatment of soil-inhabiting insects? Answer: Aldrin has been used to some extent in the control of such pests as sod webworms and cutworms. These insects live in burrows under the turf but feed on the leaves. Aldrin is a very quick acting mate­ rial and is highly effective at rates of 6 oz. of 25 per cent wettable powder per 1,000 square feet. Dieldrin is gaining favor as a residual soil .nsecticide for control of beetle grubs. Dieldrin has been found to be a long last­ ing material and it appears to retain its effectiveness even in alkaline soils. Six pounds of technical dieldrin per acre is the recommended rate of application. Question: What is chelated iron? Answer: "Chelate” (pronounced kee- late) means claw. The chelate, or claw, is a type of large organic molecule with a peculiar arrangement of atoms. Such a molecule is able to hold onto a metal such as iron, zinc or manganese. EDTA is the abbreviation for a compound (ethylenedia­ mine tetraacetic acid) which is used as the claw for holding iron. Chelated iron will stay in a water soluble form in the soil and is available to the plant. Other iron com­ pounds become insoluble in the soil and are not available to the plant. The process of chelation is relatively new in the field of plant nutrients. Thus far chelated iron compounds work better in acid than in alkaline soils. Unfortunately most chlorosis on grass caused by iron de­ ficiency occurs in alkaline soils. It appears likely that in the near future "claws,” which will hold iron in the soluble form, even in alkaline soils, will be developed. USGA GREEN SECTION REGIONAL OFFICES Correspondence pertaining to Green Section matters should be addressed to the nearest office below: USGA Green Section Northeastern Office. Lipman Hall, College of Agriculture, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J. USGA Green Section Mid-Atlantic Office. Room 206, South Building, Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md. USGA Green Section Southeastern Office, Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Ga. USGA Green Section Southwestern Office, Texas A. and M. College College Station, Texas. USGA Green Section Western Office, 1709 West Eighth Street, Los Angeles 17, Cal. Question: How often are soil tests necessary? Answer: Soil tests should be made by state laboratories every three or four years in order to keep up with the nutritional status of your soil. If something appears to be wrong in the growing of your turf, perhaps tests should be made more fre­ quently. If you have a quick soil testing kit available it probably should be used much more often because it will allow you to get some indications more frequently when you may have something lacking in your soil. Question: It is practical for a superin­ tendent to make his own quick soil tests? Answer: With some practice almost anyone can become quite proficient in making soil tests. The accuracy of these tests will depend upon the freshness of reagents that the user has available and, of course, the value of the test will depend on a correct interpretation of the results obtained. It is well to send samples to a state laboratory frequently so that one may check himself and be sure that he is not being misled by his own soil tests. 32 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 IT’S YOUR HONOR The Senior Championship To the USGA: May I take this opportunity to congratulate you for the fine way in which you handled the Senior Cham­ pionship at Nashville. It is a credit to your organization. All the players, I am sure, had a fine time and there is no reason why this Championship will not become an outstanding event in the golf schedule. Allen R. Rankin Columbus, Ohio To the USGA: I greatly approved the Senior Ama­ teur Championship. You will be proud­ er of it each year for the honor and credit it will give the United States Golf Association and the grand old game. Charles Evans, Jr. Chicago, Ill. To the USGA: I have talked with many Club mem­ bers since the first USGA Senior Ama­ teur Championship, and they stated they have never had a finer crowd of ladies and gentlemen at the Club than the Seniors and the executives of the United States Golf Association. They were happy to have them as their guests. Adolph Skinner Belle Meade Country Club Nashville, Tennessee good Lord smiles down again some­ time in the future. Barbara Romack Sacramento, Cal. Junior Founders To the USGA: We are pleased to enclose a check as a contribution to the "Golf House” Fund, from the Junior District Golf Association of Detroit, Mich. Junior District Golf Association of Detroit is proud to be numbered among the Founders of "Golf House” and wishes the committee complete success in its undertaking to establish and equip this building as a place all golfers can think of as their National Headquarters. Mrs. Lance Skinner Detroit, Mich. Spirit of the Rules To the USGA: This wonderful game of golf has a great many Rules of which the aver­ age player is completely ignorant or too indifferent to study. Although I’ve heard many criticisms of the USGA in its strict enforcement of the Rules of Golf, yet I, for one, think all you fellows are doing a fine job in sticking to the life and spirit of the Rules. I agree that no game is worth playing unless it is played properly. Harry Maxwell, Jr. Philadelphia, Pa. A “Nice Job" A Vote in Favor To the USGA: To the USGA: Last year and this was a wonderful experience and I’m very grateful for having had the good fortune to have been the Amateur Champion. It’s really a job—but a nicer one couldn’t be found. I sure hope the The firm request of the USGA that golfers who enter amateur champion­ ships declare their intentions is reason­ able. Will Connolly San Francisco, Cal. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1955 33 USGA OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN PRESIDENT Isaac B. Grainger, New York, N. Y. VICE-PRESIDENTS John D. Ames, Chicago, III. Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C. SECRETARY Charles B. Grace, Philadelphia, Pa. TREASURER Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The above officers and: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. Emerson Carey, Jr., Denver, Colo. Thomas H. Choate, New York, N. Y. John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. John W. Fischer, Cincinnati, Ohio T. R. Garlington, Atlanta, Ga. Gordon E. Kummer, Milwaukee, Wis. Edward E. Lowery, San Francisco, Cal. F. Warren Munro, Portland, Ore. John M. Winters, Jr., Tulsa, Okla. GENERAL COUNSEL Fraser M. Horn, New York, N. Y. COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN RULES OF GOLF: Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C. CHAMPIONSHIP: John D. Ames, Chicago, 111. AMATEUR STATUS AND CONDUCT: John W. Fischer, Cincinnati, Ohio IMPLEMENTS AND BALL: Charles B. Grace, Philadelphia, Pa. MEMBERSHIP: John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. GREEN SECTION: T. R. Garlington, Atlanta, Ga. WOMEN'S: Mrs. Harrison F. Flippin, Ardmore, Pa. SECTIONAL AFFAIRS: Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass. PUBLIC LINKS: Edward E. Lowery, San Francisco, Cal. HANDICAP: William O. Blaney, Boston, Mass. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C. GIRLS' JUNIOR: Mrs. John Pennington, Buffalo, N. Y. MUSEUM: Gordon E. Kummer, Milwaukee, Wis. BOB JONES AWARD: Totton P. Heffelfinger, Minneapolis, Minn. "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 USGA GREEN SECTION MID-ATLANTIC OFFICE South Building, Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Md. Charles K. Hallowell, Mid-Atlantic Director USGA GREEN SECTION NORTHEASTERN OFFICE Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J. Alexander M. Radko, Northeastern Director USGA GREEN SECTION SOUTHEASTERN OFFICE Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Ga. B. P. Robinson, Southeastern Director USGA GREEN SECTION SOUTHWESTERN OFFICE Texas A. and M. College, College Station, Texas Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson, Southwestern Director and National Research Coordinate USGA GREEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE 1709 West Eighth Street, Los Angeles 17, Cal. William H. Bengeyfield, Western Director