IS G1.1111RIIL AND TURF MANAGEMENT INSIDE “GOLF HOUSE Winners of thirty-one USGA Championships were represented by eight of those who participated in making the motion picture “Inside ‘Golf House’.” Standing, from the left, Miss Margaret Curtis, Francis Ouimet, Isaac B. Grainger, former President of the USGA; Lindsey Nelson, who introduced the participants; Ben Hogan, Joseph C. Dey, Jr., Mrs. Edwin H. Vare, Jr., Findlay S. Douglas, Gene Sarazen and Charles Evans, Jr. Robert T. Jones, Jr., is seated. FEBRUARY 1956 I'SGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT Published by the United States Coif Association Permission to reprint articles herein is freely granted (unless specifically noted otherwise) provided credit is given to the USGA Journal VOL. VIII, No. 7 FEBRUARY, 1956 Gambling and Golf Tournaments _______________________________Richard S. Tufts Through the Green _____ ___________________________________________________ Auspicious Premiere For “Inside Golf House” ___________ _______________ Honors for the Ladies—and For Bill Campbell__________________ John P. English For Every Chiseler, a Hundred Contributors__________________ Lincoln A. Werden The Senior’s Golf Challenge _______________________________ Dr. Anthony Bassler Golf Professional of the Year _______ _________________________________________ “Golf House” Fund Attains Its Goal ___________________________________________ The Referee: Decisions by the Rules of Golf Committees ___________ ____________ Turf Management: USGA Green Section USGA Green Section—Its Work—How It Is Done_________________________ 1954-55 Course Maintenance Costs for 35 Clubs ___________________________ Annual Index ______________________________________________________________ It’s Your Honor: Letters _____________________________________________________ 1 5 8 9 13 14 16 17 19 23 30 31 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 Coif 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 Sectional Qualifying Rounds Championship Dates June 4 June 14-15-16 Entries Close May 18 *June 1 tjune 17-23 July 9-14 Championship Open Amateur Public Links Women's Open July 13 None July 26-27-28 Junior Amateur July 6 July 24 Aug. 8-11 Senior Amateur July 20 Aug. 7 Aug. 20-25 Girls' Junior Amateur Aug. 10 None Aug. 27-31 Aug. 10 Aug. 28 Sept. 10-15 Location Oak Hill C. C., Rochester, N. Y. Harding Park G. C., San Francisco, Cal. 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. Lake Forest, Ill. Women's Amateur Aug. 31 None Sept. 17-22 Meridian Hills C. C., Indianapolis, Ind. Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in the case of the Amateur Public Links Championship. For possible exceptions in dates of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, see entry forms. — ~ * Entries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. t Exact date in each Section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. GAMBLING AND GOLF TOURNAMENTS By Richard S. Tufts President, United States Golf Association The Position of Clubs and Associations The following resolution by the USGA Executive Committee was favorably received by the Member Clubs’ Delegates to the 1956 Annual Meeting: The United States Golf Association disapproves of gambling in connection with golf tournaments because of the harm it can do to the best interests of the game. Golf is a game to be played pri­ marily for its own sake, especially amateur golf. When it is played for gambling motives, evils can arise to injure both the game and individual players. Therefore, the United States Golf Association urges its Member Clubs, all golf associations and all other sponsors of golf competitions to pro­ hibit gambling in connection with tournaments. This refers to all forms of gambling, including Calcutta auction pools, pari­ mutuel betting, lotteries and other de­ vices. The USGA has received many letters on golf gambling from individuals, clubs and associations suggesting various courses of action for dealing with the problem. Extreme suggestions called for expulsion of Member Clubs which do not agree with the USGA policy. The majority more tem­ perately favored continued educational ef­ forts. Almost without exception, the com­ ments endorsed the Association’s long­ standing disapproval of gambling in con­ nection with tournaments. The Executive Committee feels at pres­ ent that the Association should not at­ tempt disciplinary action against Member Clubs which disagree with USGA policy. There can be so many kinds and degrees of gambling that it would be impossible RICHARD S. TUFTS to draw a fair line between the harmful and the seemingly harmless. Further, the Committee is reluctant to intrude in the private affairs of a club, which theoreti­ cally is an extension of the homes of its members. However, some clubs do not fully ap­ preciate the evils inherent in gambling. Too frequently gambling tournaments com­ ing to the Committee’s attention have spawned some unpleasantness, if not dis­ honesty — such things as falsification of handicaps and scores, evasion of Rules of Golf, pay-offs to players (so-called amateurs), attraction of persons of ques­ tionable motives, chicanery in various forms. These things seem almost inevitable where the object is not golf but money. Even in the small, seemingly well-con­ trolled Calcutta, the prospect of financial return has undoubtedly influenced some competitor to "negotiate” for a higher handicap. Golf should be played for its own sake and not for profit. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 1 We therefore urge all clubs and asso­ ciations to give utmost attention to the matter, and to consider the interests of the game of golf. We respectfully request governing boards to take clear, positive actions by means of resolutions. Following is a suggested sample resolution (based upon one recently adopted by the Maidstone Club, East Hampton, N. Y.): Resolved, that in support of the stand taken by the United States Golf Association, this Club shall neither hold nor permit to be held Calcutta pools or any other form of gambling in connection with any golf tourna­ ment on the Club course, and the officers of this Club are hereby em­ powered to adopt such rules as may be required to put this resolution into effect; and be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the United States Golf Association. Beyond the fact that organized gam­ bling is bad for golf, there can be prac­ tical reasons for clubs to adopt a resolu­ tion similar to the above. Many State and local laws prohibit gambling, and some are very specific with respect to gambling on the premises of liquor licensees. Federal in­ come tax exemptions of non-profit clubs might be jeopardized by gambling tourna­ ments, according to a representative of the Internal Revenue Service. But the sure and better way to avoid trouble is for clubs and associations to prohibit gambling and to conduct tourna­ ments solely as golf for golf’s sake. The Position of Individual Golfers Although the USGA Executive Com­ mittee is reluctant to interfere in the private affairs of a club, it has a clear duty to decide whether an individual golfer is or is not an amateur. The USGA Definition of an Amateur Golfer is as follows: An amateur golfer is one who plays the game solely as a non-remunerative or non-profit-making sport. The Association will deny amateur sta­ tus or refuse entry for USGA Champion­ ships to players whose activities in con­ nection with golf gambling are considered by the Association to be contrary to the best interests of golf. The USGA urges all other golf associations to take a simi­ lar position in connection with their tour­ naments. USGA teams for international matches will be selected from among players who are considered by the Association to have conformed generally with the foregoing policies. The following new Rule 1-13 of the Rules of Amateur Status is an example of a violation of the Definition of an Amateur Golfer which causes forfeiture of amateur status: 13. Conduct Detrimental to Golf Any conduct, including activities in connection with golf gambling, which is considered detrimental to the best interests of the game. The USGA appeals to individual ama­ teurs to avoid participation in gambling tournaments. A sure way to eliminate such tournaments is to withdraw support from them. In the last analysis, the welfare of golf is in the hands of the players of the game. SOME COMMENTS RECEIVED BY THE USCA On the subject of Calcuttas, we have abolished them at Pine Valley and I think every club in the country should do like­ wise. John Arthur Brown, President Pine Valley Golf Club, Clementon, N. J. Our Board of Governors and our mem­ bership know the fight the USGA is car­ rying on against organized gambling and trying to uphold the integrity of golf. The Board has voted unanimously to do everything in their power to help. We are having our nineteenth annual invita­ tion tournament and Seniors invitation 2 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 tournament in March, and we have con­ ducted a Calcutta every year in the past. We are happy to inform you that this year there will be no Calcutta in either event. Raymond Salmen, Chairman, Golf and Grounds Committee New Orleans Country Club, New Orleans, La. We have always felt that gambling has no place in golf. In both our club and invitational events we have never offered prizes or encouraged betting which would involve anything more than nominal amounts. You may be assured that our club will continue the policy which you commend and which we think is in the best inter­ est of the game. Harold A. Moore, President Exmoor Country Club, Highland Park, Ill. At the Annual Meeting of Western Golf Association it was voted to include the following paragraph in all Western Golf Association tournament contracts: "The Championship shall not sponsor any form of gambling, including Cal­ cutta pools and pari-mutuel betting.” This is merely a reiteration of an un­ written policy of WGA. Please be sure we of Western will join with the USGA and others in golf in eradicating the evils of gambling. Milton Woodard, Executive Vice-President Western Golf Association, Golf, Ill. I agree entirely that there has devel­ oped a weakening of the moral fiber of officials of some clubs in their failure to play the game as it should be played and to assign handicaps in an honest and care­ ful manner. Golf is too fine a sport to be spoiled by anything less than our finest efforts to maintain its integrity and the integrity of all golfers. It is more than recreation, it is re-creation. Robert O. Conant, Secretary Hanover Country Club, Hanover, N. H. The Southern California Golf Associa­ tion wishes to reaffirm the position it has taken for many years. The Directors feel that organized gam­ bling has no place in golf, particularly amateur golf. We feel that Calcutta pools are a form of gambling which is detrimen­ tal to golf and is unnecessary for the success of any golf tournament. Where there is big money at stake and handicaps involved there is no possible control to prevent a dishonest player from building up a handicap for this occasion. While fortunately there are very few dis­ honest players we all know they are there and the temptation to get the big money is always present when there is such as a Calcutta offers. The pleasure of playing with friends and the thrill of winning a match or tournament are all the reward a true golfer expects. The game of golf is too good in itself to permit anything to spoil it. Brig. Gen. Stanley E. Ridderhof, President Southern California Golf Association, Los Angeles, Cal. The Country Club of Virginia outlawed monetary pools of any kind in connection with its annual member-guest four-ball tournament. I am sure the event is more enjoyable for all concerned. Richmond Gray, Richmond, Va. We do not permit any Calcutta pool type betting. We are also most fortunate in having a course that is at all times in excellent condition and we therefore do not have to resort to "winter rules.” Out­ side our pro shop on the way to the first tee we have a sign which clearly indicates that there will not be permitted any "pre­ ferred lies.” We are entirely in sympathy with your concept that golf is a game that should be played for the game’s sake. Charles A. Poehl, Jr., President Taconic Golf Club, Williamstown, Mass. The Invitational Tournament of the Menlo Country Club is the oldest in Northern California, and the holding of a Calcutta pool in connection with this tournament was discontinued fifteen years ago. Gambling of any sort including Cal­ cutta pools has no place, particularly in an amateur tournament, and we are whole­ heartedly in accordance with your current campaign of the USGA to eliminate any form of gambling in connection with golf. Brace Carter, San Francisco, Cal. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 3 The Vermont State Golf Association heartily endorses your stand in this mat­ ter and we stand ready at all times to cooperate with you to the fullest extent in keeping the game of golf at the high­ est standards possible. Leslie W. Mercer, President Vermont State Golf Association In a tournament in connection with which there was a fairly sizeable Calcutta pool, the final was won by an "outsider.” A rumor gained some circulation that the favorite had been "bought off” by the owner of the winning "horse.” The fact that this rumor was completely without foundation is beside the point. That such a thought could occur to anyone in the first place is an indication of the poten­ tial danger of the Calcutta. Gerald H. Phipps, Denver, Colo. Member-guest tournaments should be discontinued if they are to be connected in any way with Calcutta or other sub­ stantial financial pools. The guest handi­ cap is beyond the control of the club acting as host and the temptation to es­ tablish high handicaps in this connection has not always been resisted. "Member­ member tournaments” are not open to the same abuse as the handicapping committee of the club can control all their members in this connection and also their handicaps. Henry A. Goode, New York, N. Y. Golf tournaments which feature Cal­ cutta pools have all but died a natural death here in Indiana. Although popular a few years ago, practically all have been discarded because of the ill-feeling which usually develops in this type of event. Vern R. Dimond Elks Country Club, Lafayette, Ind. I think the holding of Calcuttas is a disgrace to the game and a reflection upon those who are interested in the preserva­ tion of pure amateurism. Alfred C. Ulmer, Jacksonville, Fla. Canoe Brook Country Club heartily subscribes to the principles which you have outlined and we have been operat­ ing our golfing activities in line with your suggestions for many years. E. Mulford Birdsall, President Canoe Brook Country Club, Summit, N. J. It seems to me that a Calcutta pool serves as a good foot in the door for a class of people that most certainly do not have a place in golf. These pools are em­ barrassing for the player and frequently place him in a position that could be ex­ ceedingly tempting. There are, no doubt, critics of the rules concerning amateur status, but in my opinion the rules are just and fair. We have an amateur code which is unsurpassed and you are to be complimented for your strict enforcement of it. Bill Webb, Kansas City, Mo. The Titleholders Association will not condone a Calcutta in connection with the Titleholders Association Championship, nor will it accept any donation which is derived from the proceeds of any Calcutta. Miss Eileen Stulb, First Vice-President Women’s Titleholders Golf Association Augusta, Ga. Our Board unanimously adopted a reso­ lution that henceforth Calcutta pools be discouraged in harmony with your rec­ ommendation; further, if this action is inadequate to eliminate Calcutta pools at our Club we will probably take more pointed action to proscribe such pools. Charles L. Nichols, President Bel-Air Country Club, Los Angeles, Cal. The Executive Committee of The Mas­ sachusetts Golf Association unanimously voted that the Massachusetts Golf Asso­ ciation wholeheartedly subscribe to this (USGA) policy. The Massachusetts Golf Association will, as it has in the past, cooperate with the United States Golf Association in denying amateur status to individuals who violate the applicable Rules. This Association will also refuse entry for Massachusetts Golf Association Championships to players whose activities in connection with golf gambling are con­ sidered by the Association to be contrary to the best interests of golf. John W. Goodrich, President 9 Massachusetts Golf Association, Boston, Mass. 4 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 The “Newest” Course Golf Illustrated tells this one: An American lady came to St. Andrews and went into a shop to buy a post card of a Scottish golf course as requested by a golfing friend. She was shown a post card with the wording "Old Course, St. An­ drew’s,” written across it. She looked at it for a minute, then said to the assistant: "Honey, take that old one away. It’s a pic­ ture of your newest course I want.” Players — Not Horses One way of combatting organized gam­ bling in golf was graphically illustrated by some of the contestants in a recent invitation tournament. After the quali­ fying round it was discovered that there had been an auction pool. Thereupon six of the qualifiers for the first round flight suddenly "got sick” and defaulted their matches. Many golfers resent being used as "horses”. A Helping Hand A student at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J., who is studying to be a golf course superintendent is the bene­ ficiary of scholarship aid resulting from excess funds from the annual award din­ ners of the Metropolitan Golf Writers’ As­ sociation of New York. The young man is Charles Herbert Fatum, who is a junior in the college and a student of agronomy. He is a former caddie and a member of both the golf and the cross-country teams. The award by the Metropolitan Golf Writers’ Asso­ ciation will benefit not only the individ­ ual student but, indirectly, will be of future benefit to the game of golf. Rule Explanation As golfers begin operating under the revised code of Rules, the question is raised as to why the principle of the new Rule 3 5-2a has not been extended to Rule 40-lb on the putting green. Rule 3 5-2a grants, to the player only, in singles match play the right to have the opponent’s ball lifted if it might inter­ fere with his play, but the opponent now has no corollary right to lift his ball if it might assist the player. Rule 40-lb, which governs in three- ball, best-ball and four-ball match play, permits any player to have any ball lifted or played if the player consider that it might interfere with or be of assistance to a player or side. One reason for keeping the multi-ball rule unchanged is that, otherwise, the player might have too much opportunity to use other balls, as to carom off one ball at the side of the hole or to be stopped by a ball beyond the hole. Conceivably a real injustice could be worked on the opponents by tying their hands and not giving them the right to have a ball lifted. In singles the situation is materially dif­ ferent since only one other ball, and not three, is involved. USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 5 New York Awards SPORTSMAN’S CORNER Harvie Ward, Jr., of San Francisco, Amjateur Champioln and a member of the 19S3 and 19SS Walker Cup Teams, received the Gold Tee from the hands of Billy Joe Patton, the 195S winner, for his achievements in golf at the annual dinner of the Metropolitan (New York) Golf Writers Association. The Ben Hogan Trophy, awarded annually to an individual who has proved an inspiration by overcom­ ing a physical handicap, was accepted by Representative Jack Westland, of Everett, Wash., in behalf of President Eisenhower. Westland was Amateur Champion in 1952. "Harvie proved he has changed by be­ ing the hardest worker on shipboard when the Walker Cup Team sailed for Europe last year”, said William C. Campbell, Cap­ tain of the Walker Cup Team. "Five years ago he wouldn’t have done that. He’s a man with a purpose now. You might see in him, in spite of the present-day com­ petition in golf, the start of a new Jones era.” Ward was the low-scoring amateur in the Open Championship, with a 72-hole score of 296, finishing seventh. He was also low amateur in the Masters Tourna­ ment. Two Books "A History of Golf”, by Robert Brown­ ing, is a valuable contribution to the his­ torical lore of golf. This scholarly book presents an over-all picture of the develop­ ment of the game from its early begin­ nings and shows the evolution to the present scientific era. The publisher is E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc., New York. Mrs. Mildred (Babe Didrickson) Za- harias, one of the women golfers Browning discusses in his book, has recorded her autobiography, which is entitled "This Life I’ve Led.” It is a conventional autobiog­ raphy pulled out of the stock class by the powerful record of its subject. It is inter­ estingly written and compiled by Harry Paxton and published by A. S. Barnes and Company, New York. In the 1955 Metropolitan Golf Association Open Championship at the Fenway Golf Club, White Plains, N. Y., Claude Harmon, Winged Foot Golf Club professional, led the field at the end of the first round by three strokes with a 67. This figure tied the competitive course record. One of his playing partners, Jay Hebert, matched him stroke for stroke until the 15th hole, where he drove 290 yards into a trap guarding the green. Confronted with the pros­ pect of a possible birdie and a sure par, he missed two easy sand shots and took a duffer’s 7. He finished the round with a 70 in a tie for second place, three strokes behind Har­ mon’s 67. CLAUDE HARMON The wise thing for Harmon to have done at this stage would have been to go home and rest for the following day’s second round, but he realized only too well the agony his playing partner had gone through in piling up seven strokes on that 15th hole and de­ cided to try to help him, even if it cost him a chance to win the tournament. For the next hour he and Hebert stood in a trap a few yards from the 18th green, bang­ ing explosion shots to a practice green nearby. The next day Hebert’s 72 for a total of 142 left him still in second place. Harmon, with a 79, played himself right out of the championship. Both volumes are highlighted with color­ ful and historic pictures and will interest both the golfer and non-golfer alike. 6 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 NEW MEMBERS OF THE USGA REGULAR Chicago Women’s Golf Club, Chicago, Ill. Coffin Golf Club, Indianapolis, Ind. Eastern Hills Country Club of Garland, Texas Healdsburg Men’s Golf Club, Healdsburg, Cal. Meadow Brook Golf Club, Reading, Mass. Meadowbrook Country Club, Tulsa, Okla. Palm Beach Country Club, Palm Beach, Fla. Philipsburg Country Club, Philipsburg, Pa. Robins Air Force Base Golf Course, Ga. Sebring Golf Association, Sebring, Fla. Spotswood Country Club, Harisonburg, Va. Sunset Valley Tee Club, Highland Park, Ill. Western Illinois State College Golf Course, Macomb, Ill. Wildwood Golf and Country Club, Cape May Court House, N. J. ASSOCIATE International Paper Company Course, Georgetown, S. C. Lions Municipal Golf Course, Austin, Texas Warning from Middlecoff Speaking at a Sports Achievement Din­ ner in Dallas, Tex., Cary Middlecoff warned that gambling may cause a scan­ dal in golf equal to that in basketball several years ago. Middlecoff revealed that he had been offered a bribe to lose a minor golf tour­ nament seven years ago by a man he had never seen before or since. "If it was like that then, I would say it is probably worse now,” said Middlecoff. Calcutta pools that are held at many of the tournaments were the quickest means of getting golf into disrepute and causing a scandal, he added. Leighton Calkins We record with regret the passing of Leighton Calkins, originator of the old Calkins Handicap System, at his home in Plainfield, N. J. He was 87. Mr. Calkins was a member of the USGA Executive Committee in 1907 and 1908. He also served as President of the New Jersey Golf Association in 1907 and 1-908 and was Secretary of the Metropolitan Golf Association in 1905, 1906, 1907 and 1908. The Calkins System for Calculating Handicaps was introduced in 1905 and was adopted by the USGA in 1911 when the Executive Committee resolved to pre­ pare a handicap list of men who were members of Member Clubs. Handicaps were determined by averaging a player’s three best scores and applying that aver­ age to Calkins’ handicap table in the col­ umn under the par figure for the course played. Calkins’ principal contribution was the development of the handicap table which took into account not only the difference between the player’s average best scores and par but also the degree of improve­ ment which could be expected of players at different handicap levels. The Calkins system was generally discontinued in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. From 1915 to 1920 he served three terms as Mayor of Plainfield. He was a member of the Plainfield Country Club. S. Davidson Herron Golf lost another former Champion in the passing of S. Davidson Herron, at Pinehurst, N. C. He was 59. His home was in Sewickley, Pa. In 1919, at the age of 20, Mr. Herron met Robert T. Jones, Jr., who then was only 17, in the final of the USGA Ama­ teur Championship at the Oakmont Coun­ try Club, Oakmont, Pa. In defeating the Atlanta, Ga., youngster, who was destined to become one of the great golfers of all time, Mr. Herron played brilliantly, being four under 4s when he achieved a 5 and 4 triumph. By his victory, Mr. Herron be­ came one of the few to win a major title on his home course. In 1923 he was a member of the United States Walker Cup Team which met Great Britain at St. An­ drews, Scotland. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 7 AUSPICIOUS PREMIERE FOR “INSIDE GOLF HOUSE” Delegates and guests at the Annual Meeting of the USGA responded with enthusiasm to the premiere showing of the new USGA motion picture entitled "In­ side Golf House.” Produced for the USGA by National Educational Films, Inc., the motion picture is on 16 mm. black and white film with sound and runs for 27 minutes. Findlay S. Douglas, who was Amateur Champion in 1898 and President of the USGA in 1929 and 1930, is the central figure and Lindsey Nelson, Assistant Sports Director of the National Broadcasting Company, the narrator. They guide the audience through the interesting historical exhibits in "Golf House.” Subsequently Miss Margaret Cur­ tis, Francis Ouimet, Chick Evans, Bob Jones, Mrs. Glenna Collett Vare, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan join them to rem­ inisce over some of their own clubs and trophies and to view again, with the au­ dience, newsreels portraying dramatic parts they played in golf history. The cast, quite probably the most dis­ tinguished ever gathered together for a golf film, had won jointly thirty-one USGA Championships and innumerable other golf titles here and abroad. The picture proved not only highly educational to those of the younger gen­ eration, who were somewhat vague on the details of golf triumphs of the past, but also nostalgic to those of the older generation who could see through the eyes of the cameras the greats of yester­ day as they are today and as they were walking across the fairways to make his­ tory. The picture is the second sponsored by Miss Margaret Curtis, of Boston, who appears in "Inside Golf House" in the type of clothing she wore in winning the Women's Amateur Champion­ ship in 1907, 1911 and 1912. the Association. The first was "The Rules of Golf—Etiquette,” which was released a little more than a year ago and was awarded a Recognition of Merit by the Film Council of America. It has been viewed by more than 450 golf groups. "Inside Golf House” is available to golf clubs and any other groups upon request to National Educational Films, Inc., 165 West 46th Street, New York 36, N. Y. The rental is $15. Groups desiring both "Inside Golf House” and "The Rules of Golf—Etiquette” for the same day may take advantage of a combination rate of $25. "The Rules of Golf—Etiquette” is a 16 mm. Kodachrome with a running of 17^2 minutes. The importance of etiquette is emphasized visually through portrayal of various violations of the code in the course of a family four-ball match. Robert T. Jones, Jr. makes the introductory state­ ment. Ben Hogan appears in several scenes. 8 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 HONORS FOR THE LADIES —AND FOR BILL CAMPBELL by JOHN P. ENGLISH USGA Assistant Executive Director The USGA honored a group of the leading players of golf in the course of its Annual Meeting, even as it came to grips with less tangible problems which are discussed on page one. Seven young ladies were selected to rep­ resent the United States in the ninth match with the British Isles for the Curtis Cup. They were: Miss Mary Ann Downey Baltimore, Md. Miss Patricia Lesser Seattle, Wash. Miss Jane Nelson Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Scott Probasco, Jr. (Betty Row­ land) Chattanooga, Tenn. Miss Polly Riley Fort Worth, Texas Miss Barbara Romack Sacramento, Cal. Miss Margaret (Wiffi) Smith St. Clair, Mich. Mrs. Harrison F. Flippin, of Ardmore, Pa., was again selected as non-playing Captain. She was also Captain of the 1954 Team which defeated the British at Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa., by a score of 6 to 3. Having thus honored a group of ladies, the Association presented the Bob Jones Award for distinguished sportsmanship in golf to William C. Campbell, of Hun­ tington, W. Va. COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN FOR 1956 Richard S. Tufts, President, has ap­ pointed the following USGA Committee Chairmen for 1956: RULES OF GOLF John M. Winters, Jr., Tulsa, Okla. CHAMPIONSHIP John D. Ames, Chicago AMATEUR STATUS AND CONDUCT John W. Fischer, Cincinnati IMPLEMENTS AND BALL Charles L, Peirson, Boston MEMBERSHIP Gordon E. Kummer, Milwaukee HANDICAP William O. Blaney, Boston GREEN SECTION T. R. Garlington, Atlanta WOMEN’S Mrs. Harrison F. Flippin, Ardmore, Pa. SECTIONAL AFFAIRS F. Warren Munro, Portland, Ore. PUBLIC LINKS Edward E. Lowery, San Francisco JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh GIRLS’ JUNIOR Mrs. John Pennington, Buffalo SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. MUSEUM Thomas H. Choate, New York BOB JONES AWARD Totton P. Heffelfinger, Minneapolis FINANCE J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh The Bob Jones Award was established in 1954 to provide a vehicle for honor­ ing individuals displaying real sportsman­ ship and for commemorating the exemplary sportsmanship, as apart from the skill, of Robert T. Jones, Jr. Francis Ouimet, of Boston, was the first winner and Mr. Campbell the second. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 9 In presenting the replica of the bronze plaque which hangs in "Golf House,” Tot- ton P. Heffelfinger, Chairman of the Bob Jones Award Committee, read the follow­ ing extract which had accompanied Mr. Campbell’s nomination: "The first award was made for dis­ tinguished sportsmanship over a long period of time. In order to establish the scope of the award, I believe that the second should be made in recognition of a single and recent example of sports­ manship. "Bill Campbell’s leadership of our Walker Cup Team last spring was the outstanding accomplishment of the year. His personal leadership and example so inspired a team of young players that we obtained a great win under adverse conditions, and the personal conduct of the members of the team must have strengthened the feeling of international good-will between all those who wit­ nessed the matches. Bill’s unselfish act, as a playing captain, of refusing to play himself in any of the matches was typical of the spirit in which he car­ ried out his responsibilities as Captain.” Four Newcomers Although Mr. Campbell, and previously Mr. Ouimet, have set an exceptionally high standard for the conduct of inter­ national relations through golf, Mrs. Flip­ pin and the young ladies who will accom­ pany her abroad for the Curtis Cup Match next spring have all the necessary quali­ fications to maintain that standard. Mrs. Flippin is not only a fine player, as witnessed by the fact that she holds the United States Senior Women’s Golf Association Championship, but she also is a devoted servant of the game, as wit­ nessed by the fact that she has been Chair­ man of the USGA Women’s Committee since 1954. As Captain of the United States Team, when the match was held at her home club two years ago, she dis­ played outstanding leadership and tact. Four members of the Team will be playing in their first international team match. These are: Miss Downey, the 195 5 Eastern Ama­ teur Champion; Miss Nelson, runner-up in the Women’s Ama­ teur Championship last summer; Mrs. Probasco, semi-final­ ist in the Women’s Amateur Championship and Winner of the Women’s Southern Championship last summer; and Miss Smith, the baby of the team at 19 but the 1954 Girls’ Junior Champion, a semi-final- its in the Women’s Amateur Championship in 1953 and a quarter-finalist in 1954 and 195 5. Richard S. Tufts President The Misses Lesser, Riley and Romack were members of the 1954 Team, and Miss Riley is a member for the fifth time, having been selected for every team since 1948. Miss Lesser, of course, holds the Women’s Amateur Championship. Miss Romack was her predecessor and also was runner-up in the British Women’s Cham­ pionship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim, Ireland, last year. Miss Riley was runner-up in the Women’s Ama­ teur Championship in 1953, a semi-finalist last year and she has made at least the round of sixteen in every one of the last nine years. The Team will sail from New York on May 26 in the SS America, and the match will be held at the Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, England, June 8 and 9. In the event that any of the girls chosen for the Team should be unable to parti­ cipate, the following would be invited, in the order named: Mrs. Philip J. Cudone, Montclair, N. J., Miss Jacqueline Yates, Honolulu, T. H., and Miss Anne Quast, Marysville, Wash. These alternates are not considered members of the Team unless and until they have been invited to re­ place an original member, however. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 John D. Ames Vice-President John C. Clock Vice-President Charles L. Peirson Secretary |. F. Byers, Jr. Treasurer The principal business of the Annual Meeting was, of course, the election of the new officers and the Executive Com­ mittee. The slate of officers presented by the Nominating Committee was elected. It consisted of: President, Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C.; Vice-President, John D. Ames, Chicago, Ill.; Vice-President, John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal.; Secretary, Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass.; Treasurer, J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. Isaac B. Grainger, of New York, N. Y., retired after the customary two years as President, and Charles B. Grace, of Phila­ delphia, also retired as Secretary, having requested that his name not be considered for re-election. The two new members of the Execu­ tive Committee are C. W. Benedict, of White Plains, N. Y., and Richmond Gray, of Richmond, Va. Two Special Events For the first time the Annual Meeting was preceded by two special events of considerable interest to the delegates and guests. The first was an educational program presented by the five Regional Directors of the Green Section. The program was designed to describe the objectives and the functioning of the Regional Turf Ser­ vice and it seemed apparent that those who attended were keenly interested. The second was the premiere of the new USGA official film entitled "Inside Golf House” which had been made for the Association by National Educational Films, Inc. This feature, too, earned an enthu­ siastic response and is described in more detail on page eight. Also, during the meeting, Lincoln A. Werden, representing the Golf Writers’ As­ sociation of America, turned over to "Golf House” the Ben Hogan Trophy, a two- and-one-half foot bronze statuette of Ho­ gan at the completion of his swing. This award was established in 1953 by Robert A. Hudson, of Portland, Ore., and is awarded each year by the Golf Writers’ Association of America to the golfer mak­ ing the greatest comeback from a physical disability, thereby inspiring others to keep swinging. The 195 5 winner was President Eisen­ hower, and Rep. Jack Westland, former Amateur Champion, had accepted a rep­ lica in his behalf at the Awards Dinner of the Metropolitan Golf Writers’ Asso­ ciation in New York two evenings earlier. The 1954 winner was Ed Furgol, and the 1953 winner Mrs. George Zaharias. In accordance with custom, the Com­ mittee Chairmen reported orally to the delegates. In the course of these presen­ tations it was brought out that: Membership had increased by 13 5 clubs and courses to a new high of 1,977. The Green Section is providing Regional Turf Service for 413 courses, compared with 312a year ago, through five Regional Offices and is sponsoring research without abatement, in spite of the fact that the operation has resulted in a net expense of $41,293 because some regions do not have USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 11 full quotas of subscribing clubs and travel costs are larger than had been expected. The combined operations of the Asso­ ciation during the fiscal year ended No­ vember 30, 195 5, had resulted in an excess of income over expenses of $23,246, com­ pared with $69,528 in the previous fiscal year. The revised Rules of Golf, still uniform with the Rules of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, of St. Andrews, Scotland, ex­ cept in the size of the ball, had become effective on January 1 and initial reactions had been generally favorable, particularly as they affected speed of play. Code is Broadened The revised Rules of Amateur Status also had become effective in the United States and, for the first time, accommo­ dated industrial golf, under certain con­ ditions, and made provision for action against individuals whose activities in con­ nection with golf gambling were considered detrimental to the best interests of the game. New entry records had been established for the Amateur, the Junior Amateur and the Girls’ Junior Championships, and the downward trend of entries in the Amateur Public Links Championship had been re­ versed in 1955. The new Senior Amateur Championship had been enthusiastically received by lead­ ing senior golfers and had given the Asso­ ciation a broader and closer contact with a group that includes leaders and sup­ porters of the game in clubs and district associations. Prize money for the Open Champion­ ship had been increased to approximately $25,000. In the last two years the fixed total had been approximately $20,000 and a bonus of 20 per cent had been added just before the Championship. Prize money for the Women’s Open Championship had been reduced from $7,500 to $6,000. USGA PUBLICATIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST THE RULES OF GOLF, as approved by the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. Booklet, 25 cents (spe­ cial rates for quantity orders). USGA GOLF HANDICAP SYSTEM FOR MEN, containing recommendations for comput­ ing Basic and Current Handicaps and for rating courses. Booklet, 25 cents. Poster, 10 cents. THE CONDUCT OF WOMEN'S GOLF, containing suggestions for guidance in the conduct of women's golf in clubs and associations, including tournament procedures, handi­ capping and course rating. 25 cents. HANDICAPPING THE UN HAN DICAPPED, a reprint of a USGA Journal article explain­ ing the Callaway System of automatic handicapping for occasional players in a single tournament. No charge. TOURNAMENTS FOR YOUR CLUB, a reprint of a USGA Journal article detailing vari­ ous types of competitions. No charge. PROTECTION OF PERSONS AGAINST LIGHTNING ON GOLF COURSES, a poster. No charge. MOTION PICTURES: "The Rules of Golf—Etiquette," an official USGA film (16 mm. color, with sound, runs 1714 min. Rental $15). Descriptive folder. No charge. "Inside 'Golf House'," an official USGA film (16 mm. black and white, with sound, runs 27 min. Rental $15. In combination with "The Rules of Golf—Etiquette," $25.) Descriptive folder. No charge. List of films on golf available from other sources. No charge. List of films on golf course maintenance available from other sources. No charge. HOLE-IN-ONE AWARDS. No charge. AMATEURISM IS IN THE HEART, a reprint of a USGA Journal article by E. G. Grace. No charge. MISTER CHAIRMAN, a reprint outlining the duties of the Chairman of the Green Com­ mittee. No charge. BETTER LAWNS TO COME, a reprint of a USGA Journal article. No charge. TURF MANAGEMENT, by H. B. Musser (Mc­ Graw-Hill Book Co., Inc.), the authorita­ tive book on greenkeeping. $7. USGA CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD BOOK. De­ tailed results of all USGA competitions since their start in 1895. $2. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT, a 33-page magazine published seven times a year. $2. a year. TYjWtf publications are available on request to the United States Golf Association, 40 East 38th Street, New York 16, N. Y. Please send payment with your order. 12 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 FOR EVERY CHISELER, A HUNDRED CONTRIBUTORS by LINCOLN A. WERDEN Golf Writer, The New York Times In opening the Fourth Annual Awards Dinner of the Metropolitan Golf Writers’ Association, at the Plaza Hotel, in New York., on January 26, Lincoln A. Werden did so in a positive and constructive vein which we feel merits wider circulation. Mr. Werden is president of the MGWA. Excerpts from his remarks follow: Welcome to the Fourth Annual Awards Dinner of the Metropolitan Golf Writers’ Association. This is not scheduled as a black tie dinner, nor as a black eye dinner. This is an Awards Dinner to mark achievements in golf. We have heard a lot about a black eye golf has received during the past year. It’s awfully easy to get a black eye. Tonight, however, practically everyone in this room has made some sort of a con­ tribution to golf. And those who haven’t are here with friends who have. I can’t help thinking that for every chiseler or racketeer in golf, it’s possible to name a hundred who have done some­ thing for the good of the game. There’s President Eisenhower, one of the nation’s great golfing enthusiasts, who came back to the White House after his illness and signalled to the world he was on the road to recovery by swinging a golf club on the White House lawn. That was an inspiration to many. There’s Jack Westland, here to repre­ sent the President tonight, who has a fine record in golf and who won the National Amateur in 1952 . . . There’s Harvie Ward, this year’s Gold Tee winner . . . But contributions to golf are not lim­ ited to the players. Through various caddie funds more than four hundred seventeen young men are now in college on caddie scholarships. Only this evening we learned that the newest one in our area, the Reinach-Turnesa Foun­ dation, is ready to receive applications to send five young men on their way this year to a four-year college course at either Fordham or New York University. By your attendance this evening and at previous dinners of our organization you have helped establish a scholarship at Rutgers for a young man to study agron­ omy. The Metropolitan Golf writers plan to continue and expand this program. It happens that the young man, a former caddie who is studying to become a golf course superintendent, is here. I wonder if Charles Fatum would be kind enough to stand up and take a bow? Possibly through your efforts more young men will be permitted to caddie. The child-labor laws in many states pre­ vent youngsters from caddying until they are sixteen; others until they are four­ teen. We don’t believe in overloading youngsters with bags weighing one hun­ dred pounds and making them carry dou­ ble. But possibly some way can be found in the general drive against so-called ju­ venile delinquency to bring more young­ sters out into the fresh air and onto golf courses at an earlier age. Finally, it will be possible for us to have more dinners of achievement if we all work and plan our projects together to attain a goal. The USGA and PGA must cooperate with each other. So must you men of influence in business, politics, industry and journalism who are inter­ ested in contributing toward the solid progress in golf. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 13 THE SENIOR’S by GOLF CHALLENGE ANTHONY BASSLER, M.D. The opinions expressed herein by Dr. Bassler, a member of the Westchester Country Club, Rye, N. Y., are presented as a matter of general interest. They do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of the USGA. You will have to give up playing golf,” said the doctor, "because it now would take more out of you physically than you can get back in health.” Up to recently, Jones felt fine for two days after a round of golf, but lately he got very tired before the round was over. After a round, his leg muscles pained so deeply that he did not get over the pain and the tiredness for several days. The fatigue toxines that seized him made him want to rest a great deal for several days, much more than seemed to be necessary. His breathing tightened on exertion, and he became jumpy and irritable for no good reason. The fact was that his age was taking its inevitable toll, even without having had an illness. Yet, before he started, he felt able and wanted to play the game he had enjoyed for fifty years, but it was not until he had played a few holes that this feeling of charging ability began to wither and finally he became painfully aware that it seemed he could go no farther. He used to be able to walk up those hills and on that long hilly eighteenth hole he went up with sprightly step and chest out. Now it was a painful struggle. There are not many men at three-score- and-ten who have the physical stamina to play golf with comfort. Many younger than he cannot do it at least more than once or twice a week. As the study of members in the locker-room will prove, golf is not an "old man’s game.” The older men you used to see around on week-ends have gradually disappeared and, unlike "the soldier who never dies,” he gradually fades away unhappy, and dies DR. ANTHONY BASSLER the sooner because he gets no exercise. From the club he had helped establish and maintain for many years, he gets no special consideration. Most Popular Outdoor Game Golf club organizations owe the older men an obligation even if many of the young fellows, who commonly are poor financial assets of the club as compared to the older member, feel that the oldsters should give up the game. Golf is probably the most played outdoor game of any. In the ages of its members today, it is going through a most important transitional period. The population of senior citizens 14 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 has increased four-fold in the last twenty years. As in the subjects of health, con­ tentment, peace of mind and a justifica­ tion for continued existence, modification in the game of golf will have to forego many of the old traditions of the past. The teaching of geriatrics is more and more accepted as the normal order, and things are changed accordingly. But a full round of golf takes at least three hours, during which the actual swinging of a golf club comprises only ten or fifteen minutes of the time. This three or more miles of walking and climb­ ing hills is too much exercise for most older people, especially when taken only once or twice a week. It is not uncommon for people to die on the golf course. Of course they die in bed, too, but not from the acute effects of exercise on the heart muscle or blood vessels. That exhaustion figures in such cases has been definitely establisned, because most of those stricken get "hit” on the last few holes of the round due to having become exhausted. Old age should not be a curse, and is a far different thing from senility. There are many members over the age limit, and even in the seventies, who should play some golf. Preparation should be con­ sidered now for the inevitable increase of old people in the next twenty years. This brings up the question as to what should be done to meet the changes in age of our members so they can play golf longer and with benefit instead of harm to them­ selves. The two things that suggest a worth­ while change are the use of the golf mobile and to shorten the game of golf to less than eighteen holes. The golf mobile is being used more as time goes on. A num­ ber of courses in the South, Southwest and Northwest are using them more and more. Being used when the course is not crowded, a round of golf can be played in a couple of hours with a minimum of physical exercise. It permits a full game of eighteen holes, allowing for both social and tournament play. Often more than eighteen holes may be played without too much strain. Objection to the golfmobile’s use has been raised, in that play is speeded up so that the front players are pushed and back players are on top of the foot players ahead. Others object to the looks of them on the golf course and their running around from side to side, as well as "pick­ ing up” wet grass with the wheels. All of these points are poorly taken and are more particularly the criticisms of young and vigorous men, and the opposition of members of the Green Committee. As time goes on, more and more of these carts are being used, and the demand now is quite an insistent factor. Cost of Play Increases Unfortunately the cost of their use has increased the cost of a game of golf, which today is much more expensive than it should be. The cost of a golfmobile or its rental, the charge for the batteries, etc., makes the cost approximately ten dollars a round. Most clubs demand that a caddie also be employed, so it makes golf a costly affair indeed. However, unlike the auto­ mobile, the cost of the luxury of a golf- mobile will keep their use down so they will not be a nuisance on a golf course. The next item necessary for the reten­ tion of senior members is that some type of tournament or game be devised, such as nine or 12-hole tournaments. It would seem that special tournaments could easily be provided. Or a special age rule could be allowed, say for persons over 70 years. To make this possible, the ninth and eighteenth holes should finish somewhere near the club house. Where this does not exist and, if not possible, "cutting in” would have to be arranged for instead of having the prohibitive rule on all players. Age must be regarded as a period of opportunity no less than youth, even though it be in another dress. This, then, is one of the major challenges of the mid­ twentieth century in golf. Every yesterday should be a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day. Such is the salutation of the dawn. USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 15 GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR William Gordon, of Whitinsville, Mass., former professional at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club, Niles, III., (right), is presented the PGA's first annual "Golf Professional of the Year" award by Harry L. Moff it, President of the PGA, at the annual meeting at Atlantic City, N. J. CONTRIBUTIONS to golf, other than playing ability, are to be recognized annually through the PGA’s "Golf Pro­ fessional of the Year” award, not to be confused with the "Professional Golfer of the Year” award, which is based on achievements in tournaments. William C. (Bill) Gordon, of Whit­ insville, Mass., inaugural winner of the former award, was professional at Tam O’Shanter Country Club, in Niles, Ill., for seventeen years. Now 5 8 years old, Gor­ don’s work in caddie and community in­ terests, golf charities and veterans’ re­ habilitation during his career earned him a national reputation. He also was active in the promotion of junior golf and was a member of the PGA Teaching Committee. of junior golf, encouraging women’s play, service to the home club, the devotion of one’s life to golf, promotion of public re­ lations, tournament play (not necessarily as a top player in national tournaments or even a participant in such events), dedi­ cation to fair play, interest in caddies, all- around service to the community, chari­ table endeavors in behalf of those who are handicapped and constant effort in im­ proving one’s ability as a teacher. The basis of selecting the winner was his contribution in any one, any combina­ tion, or in all of the foregoing categories. Gordon, a native of Massachusetts, is a former vice-president of the PGA and was President of the Illinois Section for seven years. Eleven factors were involved in select­ ing the winner, including the promotion The "Professional Golfer of the Year” for 195 5 was Doug Ford, of New York. 16 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 “GOLF HOUSE” FUND ATTAINS ITS GOAL Golf House” Fund has attained its goal, and solicitation to complete the purchase and equipping of "Golf House” izations have contributed $110,216 to pro­ vide a home for the USGA Museum and Library and a headquarters for the Asso­ ciation. has^ceased. As a token of gratitude, the name of each Founder will be published in an ap­ propriate volume which will always be open for inspection, as is "Golf House” itself. Recent Founders were: James N. Pulliam Mrs. Burnelle Pursell F. C. Rabold Mrs. John J. Radigan Mr. SC Mrs. Frank G. Raichle, Mrs. Paul Hoagland J. D. Howell Robert K. Howse Edwin Hoyt Chapin P. Hunt George E. Johnson Jack Jolly In Memory of O. B. Keeler The "Golf House” Fund Committee, under Daniel A. Freeman, Jr., of New York, began to function in March, 1950. During the ensuing years 6,031 individ­ uals, clubs, associations and other organ- Douglas Andrews Charles U. Banta Erwin S. Barrie Mr. & Mrs. John J. Boland, Jr. Julius Boros Mrs. Joseph A. Brower A. Willis Browning F. R. Brugler Jean Wood Brydon Robert Carter Brydon Mr. & Mrs. Robert Brydon, III Dr. Leon E. Buck John G. Burton Edward J. Casey Dr. George W. Chamberlin Hollis F. Cobb Ernest Collingham John K. Conneen Dr. Jesse A. DeFrance C. M. Denise Miss Virginia Dennehy Edward Knapp Dey Joseph C. Dey, Jr. Francis H. Disbrow Miss Jill Dooley Bob Dunning Mrs. J. Victor East Miss Frances C. Fenn John W. Fischer John W. Fischer, III Everett Fisher A. B. Foutz Daniel A. Freeman, Jr. Lane Fulenwider Mrs. Evelyn Glick Alex Greer Hord W. Hardin Dr. Victor P. Hauser Otto S. Hirschoff from a friend. David Kendrick William M. Kendrick P. S. Killian Gene Krautter Lynford Lardner, Jr. C. Charles Latour Robert F. Lawrence Robert F. Leach J. Couper Lord Paul MacDonald John L. McCann Martin F. McCarthy Pat McGonagill Wayne McGonagill William McWane Harvey Mackay W. M. Mayberry Nelson Maynard Miss Rita Mendelsohn C. Edmund Miller Gilson Miltenberger Harry L. Moffitt Mrs. Guy E. Morrison Mr. 8c Mrs. Robert J. Myers A. J. Mylrea Thomas P. Newcomb Perry E. O’Neal Robert G. Payne Howard C. Pousette Col. R. Otto Probst Jr- Joseph J. Reller Daniel H. Ridder John Anderson Rockwood, Jr. Earl A. Ross John M. Schaeffer Clarence J. Schoo Mr. SC Mrs. Thomas Rogers Shepherd Arthur M. Shifman Earl Shock Mr. SC Mrs. George G. Smith C. E. Snyder W. H. Stanley Charles P. Stevenson, Jr. Louise Lord Stevenson Robert Lord Stevenson Roy Stevenson Wade Stevenson, II Ken 8C Lenore S. Summerhays Ted G. Summerhays John L. Surdam Frank True Frederick R. Twelvetrees Ellis W. Van Gorder Robert L. Wickser Paul S. Williams Elizabeth Gail Wilson Walter H. Wolford C. R. Wyckoff, Jr. Clinton R. Wyckoff, III Kevin M. Wyckoff Peter G. Wyckoff Edward K. Zuckerman ASSOCIATIONS Cleveland District Golf Association District of Columbia Golf Association Kansas City Golf Association King County Public Links Golf Association Memphis Golf Association Metropolitan Club Managers’ Association Women’s Eastern Golf Association Women’s Senior Golf Association of Southern California Colwood Golfers Association Country Club of Virginia Edgewood Country Club CLUBS Klutter Klub San Francisco Golf Club In honor of E. Harvie Ward, Jr. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 17 USGA COMPETITIONS FOR 1957 International Match WALKER CUP—August 30 and 31 at Minikahda Club, Minneapolis, Minn. Men’s amateur teams: Great Britain vs. United States Championships Championship Open Women's Open Junior Amateur Amateur Public Links Girls' Junior Women's Amateur Amateur Senior Amateur Entries Close Sectional Qualifying Rounds May 17 June 3 June 14 June 14 None July 2 Championship Dates June 13-14-15 June 27-28-29 July 17-20 *June 20 tjuly 7-13 July 29-Aug. 3 July 26 Aug. 2 Aug. 9 None None Aug. 12-16 Aug. 19-24 Aug. 27 Sept. 9-14 Aug. 30 Sept. 17 Sept. 30-Oct. 5 Location Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio (not determined) Manor C. C. Norbeck, Md. Hershey Park C. C. Hershey, Penna. Lakewood C. C. Denver, Colo. Del Paso C. C. Sacramento, Cal. The Country Club Brookline, Mass. Ridgewood C. C. Ridgewood, N. J. Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in the case of the Amateur Public Links Championship. For possible exceptions in dates of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, see entry forms. * Entries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. f Exact date in each section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. Architects Elect Robert F. Lawrence, of Miami Beach, Fla., has been elected President of the ROBERT F. LAWRENCE American Society of Golf Course Archi­ tects. William F. Bell, of Pasadena, Cal., was elected Vice-President and Howard Watson, of Quebec, Canada, was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Ralph Plummer, of Dallas, Texas, was elected to membership in the Society, bringing the total to seventeen. Philadelphia’s Champion Seniors Philadelphia golfdom has paid signal honor to two of its most distinguished golfing citizens who gained national cham­ pionships last year. Mrs. Harrison Flippin and J. Wood Platt are pretty young seniors, but in 195 5 Mrs. Flippin won the Championship of the United States Senior Women’s Golf Asso­ ciation and Mr. Platt won the USGA’s first Senior Amateur Championship. This resulted in the award of honorary life memberships in the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Golf Association of Philadelphia, respectively. 18 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 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. “56-1” means the first decision issued in 1956. “D” means definition. “R. 37-7” refers to Section 7 of Rule 37 in the 1956 Rules of Golf. Only Aggrieved Player May Recall Stroke USGA 5 5-46 R. 12-2a Q.: In a three-ball match A, B and C were scheduled to play in that order from the 18th tee. However, B inadvertently drove first, out of turn. C requested that the stroke be recalled under Rule 12-2a (Rule 12-3a in the 1956 Rules of Golf) but A did not want to exercise this option. Whose rights govern? Question by: Harold Callaway Pinehurst, N. C. A.: A’s rights are paramount since only he was aggrieved by the fact that B played out of turn. C was to play last in any case. If A did not wish to have the stroke recalled under Rule 12-2a (Rule 12-3a in the 1956 Rules of Golf), B’s stroke should stand as played and A should play second from the teeing ground. There would be no penalty. Dropping Ball From Obstruction in “Rough" USGA 5 5-38 D. 34; R. 31-2, 32-la Q.l : A golf course has water outlets on practically all holes, which are placed from two to three feet in the rough. I recognize that the Rules of Golf do not distinguish between rough and fairway. It often hap­ pens that a player is entitled to relief from these obstructions under Rule 31, Section 2. A ball thus may be dropped, in most cases in the fairway, and be entirely within the Rule. Do you consider such procedure entirely ethical, as well as legal? A.l : No. We are sympathetic with the attitude of sportsmanship implied by the question, and we believe that a conscien­ tious player would not seek an undue ad­ vantage even though the Rule might tech­ nically permit it. However, the object of Rule 31-2 is to relieve the player from interference by an immovable obstruction. As long as this object is attained, the Rule cannot regard any advantage or disadvantage which may incidentally result for the player. This is true generally as well as in the specific case cited because, as has been noted, the Rules of Golf do not distinguish between rough and fairway, both being covered by "through the green” in Definition 34. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 19 This is the technical side and, to a lim­ ited degree, it must also be the ethical side, since the Rule is neutral and could well result in either a good break or a bad break for the player. Since he must accept the isolated bad break when it befalls him, he may also take the isolated good break. It would appear, however, that the situ­ ation described could result in an excess of good breaks. We therefore recommend that the Committee do either of the fol­ lowing: (a) Adopt a Local Rule requiring that a ball be dropped in the "rough” when lifted under Rule 31-2 be­ cause of interference by a water outlet in the rough, or (b) If feasible, extend the rough so that a ball must always be dropped in the rough. Dropping Ball from Casual Water in Road Q.2: The same question is asked in con­ nection with casual water which lies at the side of a roadway, relief from which is allowed under Rule 32, Section 1-a. In most cases, the ball would have to be dropped on the side of the water away from the hole, in order not to be nearer the hole, though in some cases this would not be necessary. Do you consider it ethi­ cal for a player to disregard any possibility of dropping in the road, but to choose in­ stead to drop on grass? A.2: The principles here are the same as in Answer 1. Questions by: J. Simpson Dean Wilmington, Del. Tractor Ruts Not Ground Under Repair USGA 5 5-48 Et. 7; Def. 13; R. 32-1,-2-4; 35-lb,-ld Q.l : During a tournament a question was raised in regard to ruts made during wet weather by a tractor while mowing fairways and rough. Although many ruts had been repaired some in the rough re- 20 mained and were quite deep. These ruts had been made several months prior to the tournament. If a ball settled in one of these deep ruts, making it almost impossible to play the ball, is there any relief for the player? One rule in the Rule book gives relief for a ball lying in a hole made by the greenkeeper. Would this include ruts made by tractor tires used in maintaining the golf course? A.1 : No. Any other interpretation might create a precedent for lifting with­ out penalty from any incidental and minor disturbance of the turf by greenkeeping equipment. For ground under repair, see Definition 13 and Rule 32. Marking Ground Under Repair Q.2 : I am interested in any comments you might give me on the proper way to circle ground under repair. We use lime to make the circle, and my question is how much area should be included within the circle. If the circle contains only the ground under repair, it would be quite possible for the ball to lie just outside the circle, but it would be impossible to play the ball if the stance had to be taken within the ground under repair. A.2: The area marked as ground under repair need be only that from which relief should be given under Rule 32. After a ball is dropped under Rule 32-1, if the ground under repair interfere with the player’s stance, further relief is afford­ ed by Sections 2 and 4 of Rule 32. Ball Marks Not In Line of Putt Q.3: Can ball marks be repaired on the green before putting if the ball mark is not in the line of the putt? Do you have any suggestions to make about a local rule to permit repairing ball marks before put­ ting? A.3: If a ball mark is so far removed from the line of play that it could not USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 possibly affect subsequent play of the hole, no penalty would result from its repair by a player before the play of the hole is completed, provided the putting green sur­ face is not tested in violation of Rule 35- id. We recommend, however, that players avoid the possibility of any question being raised by deferring repair until play of the hole is completed. See Etiquette, sec­ tion 7. Rule 35-lb prohibits touching the line of putt (with certain exceptions which do not apply here). Questions by: Delbert H. Talley Terre Haute, Ind. Ball in Drain Pipe Under Course USGA 5 5-51 R. 29-2, 31-2, 32-la Q.l: My partner hit a ball which ap­ parently went out of bounds. The ball struck a bank of a roadway which was definitely out of bounds and bounced into a ditch beside the roadway which was also out of bounds. After a diligent search, the ball was found resting in a metal drain pipe leading from the aforementioned ditch underneath the golf course. Although the entrance to the drain pipe was out of bounds, the ball had traveled some two or three feet in bounds in the drain pipe, but underground some six feet. In other words, the ball was under the golf course in a metal drain pipe. It was ruled that he was entitled to drop from the metal drain pipe without penalty even though he had to go out of bounds to retrieve the ball. The ball was dropped immediately above its resting place in the drain pipe and subsequently was holed out for a birdie 4. Did we rule correctly on this unusual situation? A. I: No. In obtaining relief under Rule 31-2, the player may not measure through an obstruction or through the ground. To obtain relief under Rule 31-2 under the circumstances described, the player must drop the ball within two club-lengths of the opening of the obstruction nearest to where the ball lay, and it must come to rest not nearer to the hole than the place where the ball lay. Since the Rules do not give relief from obstructions which are out of bounds, the player may not use any part of an ob­ struction which is out of bounds as the beginning point in the application of Rule 31-2. Therefore, if the opening of the drain pipe nearest to where the ball lay is out of bounds, Rule 31-2 does not apply, and the only recourse is for the player to declare the ball unplayable and proceed under Rule 29-2. Ball in Gopher Hole Under Course Q.2: A player slices a drive which is temporarily out of bounds. The ball enters a gopher hole, which is out of bounds about six inches. However, the gopher hole runs underground toward the golf course, and the ball rolls through this underground passage until it is back inside the line of boundary stakes but below the ground of the golf course. Is the ball out of bounds since it is below ground level? A.2: No. The ball is technically in bounds. Rule 32-la applies. However, in the ap­ plication of the Rule the player may not measure through the ground in order to determine the place at which the ball is to be dropped, and must therefore measure along the underground passage of the gopher hole to the opening nearest to where the ball lay. This opening therefore becomes the nearest ground which avoids the conditions existing where the ball lay. As the opening is out of bounds, it is ob­ vious that relief cannot be obtained under Rule 32-la, and the only recourse is for the player to declare the ball unplayable and proceed under Rule 29-2. Ball Unplayable in Water Hazard USGA 55-52 R. 29-2, 33-2 Q.: This question arose on Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 course, on the sec­ ond hole. A player hit his tee shot across the water. The ball came to rest on the other side. The player’s second shot hit a USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY. 1956 21 tree and entered the water hazard and came to rest against the bank. The player chose to play the ball from the hazard on his third shot. Upon hitting the ball, it became imbedded and unplayable. The player declared the ball unplayable and proceeded to play the ball under Rule 29- 2b. The player’s fellow-competitors in­ sisted this was incorrect and said he must take the ball back to the other side of the water hazard to play the ball under Rule 33-2. The player insisted he was playing under Rule 29-2 wherein it states a player may declare his ball unplayable anywhere on the course. 1. May a player declare his ball unplay­ able under Rule 29-2b when it is in the water hazard if he so desires, whether it is to his advantage or not? 2. Can the water-hazard rule be applied after the player has taken a stroke in the hazard, and if so from where would the next stroke be played in this particular case? Question by: Louis Steirer Oak Park, Ill. A.l: Yes. Rule 29-2 provides that the ball "may be declared unplayable at any place on the course”. Rule 3 3-2a permits a lesser penalty than Rule 29-2b and is intended specifically for a ball in a water hazard, but Rule 3 3-2a is not a manda­ tory rule. 2: Yes. In the 1956 Rules a note to Rule 33-2 provides: "If a ball has been played from within a water hazard and has not crossed any margin of the hazard, the player may drop a ball behind the hazard under Rule 3 3-2a”; in such a case, a ball would be dropped so as to keep the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard between the player and the hole. In the case described, after the player’s second stroke rebounded into the water hazard, the player could have, under Rule 3 3-2b, put a ball in play, under penalty of one stroke, at the same place in front of the hazard from which the second stroke was played. STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF AUGUST 24, 1912, AS AMENDED BY THE ACTS OF MARCH 3, 1933, AND JULY 2, 1946 (Title 39, United States Code, Section 233) SHOWING THE OWNER­ SHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULA­ TION OF USGA Journal and Turf Manage­ ment, published seven times a year at New York, N. Y., for October 1, 1955. 1. lhe names and addresses of the pub­ lisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher, United States Golt Association, 40 East 38th Street, New York 16, N. Y. Editor, Joseph C. Dey, Jr., and John P. English, 40 East 38th Street, New York 16, N. Y. Managing editor, Frank C. True, 40 East 38th Street, New York 16, N. Y. Business manager, none. 2. The owner is: (If owned by a corpora­ tion, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a partnership or other un­ incorporated firm, its name and address, as well as that of each individual member, must be given.) President; Isaac B. Grainger, 40 East 38th St., New York 16, N. Y. Vice- President: Richard S. Tufts, 40 East 38th St., New York 16, N. Y. Vice-President: John D. Ames, 40 East 38th St., New York 16, N. Y. Secretary: Charles B. Grace, 40 East 38th St., New York 16, N. Y. Treasurer: Charles L. Peirson, 40 East 38th St., New York 16, N. Y. 3. The known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: None. 4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 include, in cases where the stockholder or security holder ap­ pears upon the books of the company as trus­ tee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting; also the statements in the two paragraphs show the affiant’s full knowl­ edge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and se­ curity holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner. 5. The average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid sub­ scribers during the 12 months preceding the date shown above was: (This information is required from daily, weekly, semiweekly, and triweekly newspapers only.) John P. English, Editor Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of September, 1955. (signed) Gotfred Pearson, Notary Public State of New York. (My commission expires March 30, 1956) 22 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 Better Turf for Better Golf TURF MANAGEMENT ■ from the USGA Green Section THE USCA GREEN SECTION: ITS WORK AND HOW IT IS DONE 'JPhe WORK of the USGA Green Section has been greatly expanded since the establishment of the Regional Turf Service in 1953. There are now five Green Section Regional Offices located in various parts of the United States. The duties of the Green Section fall into several categories. The primary objec­ tive is to render direct service to golf clubs which are subscribers to the USGA Re­ gional Turf Service. This function con­ sists of individual visits to the clubs by the Regional Directors, written reports summarizing the discussions and findings of those visits, help by correspondence and telephone, and group meetings where rep­ resentatives of clubs with similar interests come together to discuss mutual problems. The Green Section also has the respon­ sibility of providing certain publications having to do with the maintenance of golf courses. One type of publication is the Regional Turfletter. Regional Turfletters are published in each of the five Regional Offices. They are more or less informal and informative letters which have as their purpose the discussion of topics of timely nature which primarily are of interest to the respective regions. The other publica­ tion is the Turf Management section of the USGA Journal. Articles appearing in the USGA Journal generally have a some­ what broader appeal and are written with the thought that club members, as well as green committee chairmen and golf course superintendents, will read them. The third phase of the Green Section’s work is that of research and education. The Green Section sponsors research grants at state institutions. It supports fellowships or research assistantships. This is a form of grant-in-aid whereby research is done and a student is trained for advance work in the field of turf management at the same time. Another part of the research and educa­ tion program is the coordination of turf­ grass research efforts at various institu­ tions throughout the nation. This is large­ ly a matter of keeping up with the work that is being done and passing the infor­ mation from one station to another, more or less acting as a clearing house to prevent duplication of effort. In this capacity thv Green Section cannot dictate, but it can suggest. Another important part of educa­ tion is the participation of Green Section staff members in the numerous turfgrass conferences that are held throughout the country. The group meetings which were USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 23 mentioned in connection with Regional Turf Service also provide an excellent op­ portunity for passing on information to superintendents and green committee chairmen. Visits to Clubs The heart of the direct service of the Green Section is visits to each club. Start­ ing this year, it is planned to visit each club twice a year where possible. On such a visit the regional director goes over the problems with the superintendent and the green committee chairman. Notices are sent to the clubs ten days to three weeks in advance of the regional director’s visit. Notices are sent to the superintendent and to the chairman of the green committee. These persons may invite anyone they wish to accompany them and the regional di­ rector on the tour of the course. It should be pointed out that the regional director never invites anyone else except the super­ intendent and the green committee chair­ man. It is believed that in some cases the superintendent and green committee chair­ man would like to talk over their problems in private with the regional director. If they wish to do this, they certainly should be given the opportunity. The regional director considers that the period he spends at each course actually is time spent as an employee of the club. The time is to be spent in accordance with the wishes of the superintendent and the green committee chairman at the club he visits. Most likely the superintendent and the green committee chairman will leave the matter of procedure to the regional director. If this is done, the regional di­ rector usually chooses to go over the holes in order, beginning with No. 1, so that he will better be able to remember the features of the holes and so that he will be able to make notes in a more easily re­ membered order. There are times when the superintendent will take the regional director immediately to any troubles that he might have. If a club is experiencing difficulty it is well for the regional di- 24 rector to spend as much time as possible on the phases of maintenance which are giving the superintendent trouble. There are times, however, when the superintendent will tend to guide the re­ gional director away from trouble spots. This usually is because of a mistaken idea as to the purpose of the visit. The regional director must avoid leaving the impression that his visit is an inspection in which shortcomings are to be highlighted. The director must win the confidence of the superintendent if he is to be of any help whatsoever. As soon as the superintendent recognizes that the visit is in the nature of a helpful mission, and that he is not going to be criticized unduly for any shortcomings, he begins to discuss his dif­ ficulties more fully. It is then that the regional director may be of greatest help to the club. The regional director almost always takes numerous notes on his visits. It has been found that it is well to point out to the golf course superintendent that notes are being made in order that one may better be able to remember the features of his golf course. The regional director who visits two courses a day for five days a week encounters so many different golf holes on so many courses that he some­ times finds it necessary to refer to his notes to refresh his memory on a condition pertaining to any given hole at a particular golf course. If the regional director can recall the conditions which prevail in con­ nection with a particular hole or feature of hole, he is in a much better position to provide help when requests come by correspondence or telephone. Perhaps the factor most important in determining the success of a service visit is tact and a helpful attitude on the part of the regional director. It is seldom that one visits a course where he can find nothing to criticize, but it is also seldom that he visits a course where he can find nothing to praise. Reports of Visits An integral part of the new Regional USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 Turf Service is the written report. This document ties the discussion and thoughts of the yearly service into permanent rec­ ords of the golf course superintendent and club official. The suggestions made, the problems encountered that year, proposed changes in course design and other im­ provement undertakings are recorded here for future use and a permenent history is provided. When Regional Turf Service was in the planning and early operational stage, many persons had the feeling that a service visit and written report would take the form similar to a military inspection report where all discrepancies and failures would be listed. This, of course, was never the purpose of Regional Turf Service and such feelings have proved to be unfounded. The written report has come to be, in many cases, the greatest aid a superintendent and green chairman have when dealing with the budget committee. Rather than distract from the superintendent’s well thought-out conclusions, it supports his thinking in most cases where he needs support—before club officials. If a superintendent is queried as to why tees have no grass, why the greens putt slow or why new traps are not being built, any answer he gives probably will sound more like an excuse for not accom­ plishing the work than a sound evaluation of the problems he faces. However, if the Regional Turf Service report points out that a manpower shortage exists at the club — and the needed tee enlargement program, more frequent green mowing and general course improvement operations are curtailed because of manpower—then the superintendent has an opinion from an outside source and the querying club mem­ ber receives a sound, substantiated reason and no longer can look upon the super­ intendent’s reply as a defensive excuse. This is not a hypothetical situation; it has occured numerous times. Does this mean that all turf managers are always right in the eyes of the Re­ gional Turf Service report? Not so, for 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. a spade must be called a spade—and par­ ticularly in turf work. If proven recom­ mendations have been suggested one year and, in the following years, no honest effort has been made by the superintendent to try any of these proven recommenda­ tions on his course, then, in all honesty to the club, the regional director is duty bound to call this situation to the atten­ tion of club officials in the report. Fur­ ther visits and reports would be largely a waste of time and money under these cir­ cumstances. Of course, there are all de­ grees between the immediate acceptance of a suggestion and the absolute, complete and final rejection of one. If a superin­ tendent (or anyone else) is completely closed to new ideas, new approaches and new methods, then extension work is up against a difficult situation and little may be expected from it. There must be at least a slight degree of open-mindedness before a demonstration or suggestion will be accepted. Incidentally, open-mindedness must also be present in the regional di­ rector because sometimes the superintend­ ent is justified in his rejection of a sug­ gestion. The Regional Turf Service reports should openly congratulate superintend­ ents who are efficient managers and who have tried new ideas and devised new methods of their own. At the same time, reports should be critical when criticism seems warranted after considering all of the facts. In other words, honesty is the primary ingredient in report writing. As any college freshman soon learns, some professors grade their students by USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 25 NEW SUBSCRIBERS TO USGA RESEARCH FUND Goldthwaite’s Texas Toro Co., Fort Worth-Housont-Dallas, Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California Golf and Lawn Grass Nurseries, Atlanta, Ga. Malinckrodt Chemical Works, New York, N. Y. Ranelagh Golf Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina Vineland Chemical Co., Vineland, N. J. the weight of the document turned in rather than by the content. Regional Turf Service reports should not be so judged. They should contain the highlights of the visit and need not go into great detail. The one or two most important points discussed during the visit could make up the bulk of the report. One and a half to two pages of single spaced copy should prove adequate in most instances. Mail and Phone More requests for help by correspond­ ence and telephone are received in the Regional Offices than one might imagine. They often come from clubs which face an urgent and immediate problem, such as a sudden disease or insect attack. These urgent calls usually are telephoned requests. One of the interesting things about such calls is the fact that they most frequently come from outstanding golf course super­ intendents. The man who does a good job is the man who also takes advantage of all the help available to him. Perhaps this is not a surprising revelation. In an earlier paragraph, the need for taking notes concerning golf course fea­ tures was mentioned. The regional director can be much more helpful if he has a mental picture of the area under discus­ sion. The regional director is a scientist who is trained to consider the environ­ mental factors which may contribute to a particular difficulty. The untrained per­ son who may report symptoms of his troubles over the phone frequently fails to recognize the significance of contrib­ uting factors. Requests which are made by corres­ pondence are usually concerned with less urgent problems. They usually pertain to long-range plans or the availability of grasses, soil test data and matters of a similar nature. Group meetings are sometimes held with representatives of many clubs (although such meetings are being reduced this year). Group meetings may have represen­ tatives from as few as three to as many as 25 clubs, depending upon the number of golf courses in a localized area. The primary purpose of group meetings is to permit superintendents and green com­ mittee chairmen to ask questions concern­ ing management of their golf courses and solutions to their problems. Usually, representatives of clubs in a more or less localized area will have problems of mu­ tual interest to be discussed. There is one difficulty that is sometimes associated with these group meetings. This difficulty is in getting the superintendents to enter into the discussion. This reticence or reluctance to enter the discussion usually calls for some advance planning on the part of the regional director to promote participation by the group. A meeting may take many different forms. In the case of an evening meeting, a regional director may use slides to bring to mind some of the outstanding problems of an area. In talking about slides pertaining to particular problems, considerable com­ ment is apt to be elicited from the audi­ ence. Sometimes meetings are held during the day and in this case the matter of dis­ cussion takes care of itself because when superintendents and green committee chair­ men meet at a golf course and look at a few greens and fairways, problems will naturally come to mind and be discussed. Group participation ceases to be a prob­ lem after the first few meetings. A group 26 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 whose members are well acquainted dis­ cuss their work freely. Some meetings are more or less formal in nature. If they do take such a form, staff members of local colleges or turf associations may be called upon to par­ ticipate in the meetings. This kind of meeting usually allows greater opportunity for educational features to be brought in. While the purpose of the meeting is not primarily one of education, it seems de­ sirable to introduce this kind of discussion when it can be done without obscuring the primary purpose of the meeting. Periodical Publications The Green Section presently is respon­ sible for two important periodical turf­ grass publications that relate to golf course management and maintenance. The first is that which appears regularly as the Turf Management section of the USGA Jour­ nal. The USGA Journal is published seven times yearly and copies are mailed to all USGA Member Clubs. Its content is na­ tional in scope and the Turf Management section, naturally, is slanted in that direc­ tion. On the other hand, the second Green Section periodical, the Regional Turf letter, places emphasis on turf matters within each individual region. Each Turf letter deals with local problems as seen through the eyes of each regional director, and offers suggestions about what to do about them. Each regional director publishes six individual Turf letters annually which are sent to persons designated by each club subscribing to Regional Turf Service. Usually the green chairman and the golf course superintendent are the designated recipients. Published golf turf management and maintenance information first became available in the United States through the publication of The Bulletin of the Green Section of the United States Golf Asso­ ciation when the Green Section was formed in 1921. Later Green Section pub­ lications were Turf Culture and Timely Turf Topics. This represents a substantial 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. amount of information issuing from the Green Section on golf turf culture for 3 5 years. During the year 195 5, the Turf Manage­ ment section of the USGA Journal con­ tained thirty-five articles of importance pertaining to golf course turf. These in­ cluded fourteen articles which dealt with advice and management, thirteen articles on research, two articles on club relation­ ships, and six articles dealing with an­ nouncements and administration. Regional Turfletters published during 195 5 con­ tained some seventy articles on matters of local interest in management and main­ tenance. These included articles on grass selection, nursery establishment, disease, weed and insect control, water manage­ ment, fertilizer management, soils and soil testing, conference announcements and highlights, and questions and answers. The Regional Turf letter is a chatty, informal publication which serves our Member Clubs as follows: (1) It brings timely turf information to club officials (green committeemen and superintendents) interested in golf course management. (2) It brings new developments of re­ USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 27 search to golf course officials. (3) It conveys practical information that each regional director picks up in his travels that he believes will be helpful to others. (4) It emphasizes specific golf turf prob­ lems found within each Region, and tries to encourage some search on these prob­ lems. (5) It contains information of the nature that club officials could use for their individual club bulletins for locker room and club house bulletin boards. (6) It directs attention of club officials to the important turf meetings and conferences that take place nationally and within each Region. (7) It helps strengthen the golf turf program within each region, thus benefitting each member club, locally and on a national basis. The combination of national and re­ gional publications now emphasized by the Green Section covers a broader field than was possible before. It keeps each regional director ever alert for informa­ tion which may better enable the Green Section to serve USGA member clubs on a regional and national basis. Research and Education Research and education received the primary consideration during the first 30 years of the Green Section’s life. It is an extremely important part of the work. The emphasis has now been shifted to direct service through the Regional Turf Service plan, but the importance of re­ search and education has not been minim­ ized. As a matter of fact, research and education efforts have been increased since the beginning of the Regional Turf Serv­ ice program. The regional offices are very helpful in the carrying on of a well- balanced research program. This is because regional directors are operating in the field and are better aware of the many problems facing golf course management throughout the nation. Because of this in­ timate contact with golf course problems, the Green Section is able to do a better, job of placing its limited funds advanta­ geously in order to get the most research done for the money. How does the Green Section carry out its responsibilities in the matter of re­ search and education? Funds are rather limited in view of the extremely large number of problems that face golf courses throughout the country. Recommendations concerning the use of these funds are based upon the premise that funds from golf sources should support studies of those problems that are peculiar to golf, or should support work in an area where specific knowledge is particularly needed. Grants-in-aid made to state institutions are one of the ways in which research is sponsored. These grants usually are in amounts of $500 to $1,000. They usually are made for some special purpose or for the study of a specific problem. There are several advantages to research grants. When a college or a state experiment sta­ tion accepts a grant-in-aid, it must assign its own personnel to the study of the problem at hand. The funds from a grant- in-aid usually are not sufficient to allow their use for the payment of salaries, though in some cases additional labor is hired from these funds. By using its own personnel, paid for by its own revenues, the experiment stations or colleges often spend several times the amount of the grant-in-aid in order to get the studies completed. The experiment station officials are aware of the fact that they must spend much of their institution’s money when they accept grants-in-aid; however, they continue to accept grants-in-aid because they feel an obligation to work on the problems presented to them. When a group or an interest has a great enough need for a bit of research that they are willing to pay for it from private funds, the agency directors then feel an obligation to spend some time and effort toward the solution of that problem. Sometimes grants-in-aid may be used to stimulate interest. As soon as a state institution makes a contribution to the knowledge of a particular subject, in this case turfgrass management, inquiries begin to flow in. As the personnel of state in­ 28 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 stitutions learn of the great amount of interest in the work that they have done, they are inclined to continue the work and to seek appropriated funds from public sources. Many of the state and regional turf research programs that are currently contributing much to our knowledge were started by small Green Section grants. Another from of grant-in-aid is a fel­ lowship or research assistantship. This kind of grant serves a two-fold purpose. It assures the completion of a significant bit of research, and it provides for the advanced training of a student in the field of turfgrass management. The com­ pletion of a significant research project is a requirement that all colleges make upon students who are working toward ad­ vanced degrees. Therefore, when a student accepts financial aid through an assistant­ ship he obligates himself to a thorough study of the problem which he attacks. In 195 5 the Green Section disbursed funds in support of research assistantships to six institutions. An assistantship at Rut­ gers University was established for the study of thatch control in putting green turf. This is one of the great troubles in putting green turf all over the United States. An assistantship at Rhode Island University supported the study of Poa annua control. Poa annua is one of the most widespread and troublesome weeds in the United States today. An assistant­ ship at the Florida Agricultural Experi­ ment Station was established for a study of nematode problems in turf. It is known that parasitic nematodes are found in much of the turf in the southern half of the United States. It is not yet known how much damage nematodes are doing. This study has as its purpose the discovery of the extent of nematode damage in turf. A research assistantship at Texas A. & M. College supports a study of soil physi­ cal properties of putting greens. Much valuable information already has come out of this study and it promises to contribute much to our knowledge of putting green construction. At Purdue Univerisity a re­ COM I NG EVENTS 1956 Feb. 20-23: Penn State Turf Conference, Pennsylvania State University, Stale College, Pa. H. B. Musser. Feb. 27-28: Southern Turfgrass Association Conference, Ridge­ way Country Club, Memphis, Tenn. Reg. Perry. Feb. 28-29-Mar. 1: Cornell Turf Conference, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. John F. Cornman. Feb. 29-Mar. 1-2: Minnesota Turfgrass Conference, Curtis Hotel, Minneapolis, Min. Roy Nelson. Mar. 5-7: Midwest Turfgrass Conference, Purdue Univer­ sity, Lafayette, Ind. W. H. Daniel. Mar. 12-13-14: Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association Turf Conference, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa. H. L. Lantz. Mar. 15-16: Michigan State Turfgrass Conference, Michigan State College, East Lansing, Mich. James Tyson. search assistantship supports a study of nutritional requirements of turfgrasses. The asssitantship at the University of Cal­ ifornia at Davis supports a study of ir­ rigation needs of turfgrasses. All of these studies are expected to yield significant contributions to our knowledge of turf- grass management. Another part of the research and edu­ cation program of the Green Section is the coordination of the research that is being carried on at many state institutions throughout the country. The Green Sec­ tion supports financially a relatively small part of this research, yet the fact that the Green Section has had an interest in the initiation of the programs in many of the states places it in an excellent position to inquire about the research being done at the various institutions. By keeping aware of the research efforts of various state institutions, it is possible to suggest appropriate problems needing study and to prevent duplication of effort. Another contribution of the Green Sec­ tion to turfgrass education in the United States is through the participation of the various regional directors in turfgrass con­ ferences. Green Section personnel appeared USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 29 in the program of practically every turf- grass conference held in the United States in 1955. In addition, all the regional di­ rectors attended the national Golf Course Superintendents Association Turf Confer­ ence and Show and a part of the staff attended the National Agronomy Society Meetings in Davis, Cal. The fact that Green Section personnel are able to at­ tend these national meetings enables them to gather information which they may pass along to individuals at the various USGA member clubs. Education in mat­ ters of turf management may be done in individual conversations or in group meetings. It is believed that the USGA Green Section has never carried on a more comprehensive program of research and education than it is doing at the present time. 1954-55 GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR 35 CLUBS Compiled by Harris, Kerr, Foster & Company, Accountants and Consultants An analysis of the golf course maintenance costs for 35 clubs located in all sections of the country indicates that for 1954-5 5 the average cost per hole amounted to $2,204, an increase of slightly more than 2 per cent over the preceding year’s average for these same 3 5 clubs. The highest costs were recorded by clubs in the West Coast area, with an average of $2,750 per hole, due principally to greater payroll costs in that section. The costs for all other areas, eastern, southern and mid-western, were stable, however. The 1954-5 5 actual expenditures for greens maintenance for these 3 5 clubs totaled nearly $1,500,000, the average for each club amounting to approximately $42,000. For comparative purposes, the costs shown in the schedule below have been expressed in terms of one hole, since a number of the clubs included maintain 27 or 36-hole golf courses, as against the usual 18-hole course common to most clubs. In all areas, the salary and wage cost for the greenkeeping staff was slightly higher than in the preceding year and generally accounted for about two-thirds of the total cost of golf course maintenance. A breakdown of the costs: Average All 35 Clubs (666 Holes) East (17 Clubs 351 Holes) South (6 Clubs— 99 Holes) M id-West (7 Clubs 126 Holes) Far West (5 Clubs 90 Holes) AVERAGE COST PER HOLE, 1954-55 Salaries and Wages -------------- 1_______ $1,538 Course Supplies and Contracts „________ 356 Repairs to Equipment, Course etc. ___________________ Buildings, _________ 181 All Other Expenses----------------_________ 129 $1,493 397 203 109 $1,507 339 $1,450 372 $1,873 190 162 135 111 62 211 296 Total --------------------------_______ $2,204 $2,202 $2,143 $1,995 $2,570 PERCENTAGE VARIATIONS, 1954-55 BASED ON 1953-54: ________ +3.1% + 1.2% Salaries and Wages--------------- Course Supplies and Contracts ..________ — .5 Repairs to Equipment, Course etc. ______________________ Buildings, _________ +1.8 All Other Expenses---------------- ________ +1.5 + 8.8 + 1.6 —11.4 Percentage + 6.3% + 6.7% + 2.4% + 2.3 — 3.9 —23.7 —14.9 +10.7 +18.8 — 6.1 —18.6 +20.1 Total ------------------------- ___ _____ +2.3% + 1.8% + 2.9% +> 6.0% — .5% 30 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 ANNUAL INDEX TO USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT VOLUME VIII — APRIL, 1955, THROUGH FEBRUARY, 1956 Issue Page AMATEUR STATUS AND CONDUCT Integrity of Golf Is at Stake ....................... Nov. Place of Intent in Amateur Golf .................Aug. Reinstated Amateurs ........................................ June Watch Your Amateur Status ....................... July Whose Game Is It? ........................................ Nov. Will Calcuttas Eventually Let Scandal Infest Golf ..........................Sept. 13 AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORTATION Electric Golf Car Survey ................................June How Carts Affect Courses ........................... Apr. Putting the Golf Before the Cart ............ Apr. What Clubs Can Do About Motorized Carts ........................................ Apr. BOOKS Two Books ............................................................ Feb. CHAMPIONSHIPS 1956 Amateur Championship ....................... Apr. Another Kocsis to the Fore ......................... Aug. Latest Entry, the Newest Reason ............Sept. Mission Fulfilled .................................................Nov. New Champion and New Inspiration ..... July Open Championship ........................................ Apr. Overheard At the Open .................................. July Scene of the Open Championship ............June Two More USGA Competitions ................... Sept. CLUB OPERATIONS Country Club Operations in 1954 ............ Nov. Club President Looks At His Manager ....July Country Club’s Restaurant Problem ........Sept. Is Your Club Ready For The Family ....Aug. COURSES Golf In a Hurry ...............................................Aug. Increase In New Courses ..............................June “GOLF HOUSE” AND GOLF COLLECTING Auspicious Premiere for “Inside Golf House” .......................Feb. Clubs of Champions ........................................ Sept. 51 Year Old Replica ..................................... Nov. “Golf House” Fund .......................................... June “Golf House” Fund ..........................................Aug. “Golf House” Fund .......................................... Sept. “Golf House” Fund ..........................................Nov. “Golf House” Attains Its Goal ...................Feb. Time Stands Still ...............................................Nov. Two-Week-Old Founder ..................................Apr. 8 1 5 2 3 13 4 5 4 7 6 2 14 1 10 8 1 1 9 2 14 5 8 11 4 1 1 4 2 3 18 19 17 2 1 HANDICAPPING “Score” or “Card”—We Still Want It ....June 20 USGA Handicap System Adopted ............Apr. 3 Wanted: A Score For Every Round Apr. 10 HISTORICAL Another Long Span ........................................ Aug. Record Qualifying Score ................................Sept. Sarazen Most Durable Performer in Open ............................................... June Turning Back the Clock ................................Nov. Youngest Qualifier ...........................................Sept. 13 INTERNATIONAL Captain’s Choice in the Walker Cup ..... June Dignified Students of Auld St. Andrews..Apr. Joe Conrad’s Victory in the British Amateur ........................................ July Furgol Makes His Report ........................... Aug. New Captain ..................................................... Nov. Ryder Cup Match .............................................Nov. 4 1 3 2 5 18 16 2 4 3 St. Andrews Tests the Total Golfer ..........Apr. Uniform Ties for Walker Cup .................June Walker Cup By-Play ........................................ July Walker Cup Team Sails May 5 .................Apr. Issue Page 11 4 2 12 JUNIOR Girls’ Junior Championship ......................... July Girls’ Junior Goes to the Northwest, Too..Sept. Junior Program That Lasts All Year ....Apr. Westerners Again Dominate Junior ..... Sept. MISCELLANEOUS Ace Is Lucky For Two ..................................Aug. Architects Elect ...............................................Feb. Do You Know Your Golf? ............................ Apr. Do You Know Your Golf? ............................ June Do You Know Your Golf? .............................July Do You Know Your Golf? ............................ Aug. Do You Know Your Golf? ............................Sept. English Returns ................................................. June Golf Business ........................................................June A Helping Hand ...............................................Feb. Honors for the Ladies and for Bill Campbell ...............................................Feb. How Many Golfers ? ........................................ July Indoor Practice Area ...................................... June It Wasn’t Long Ago ........................................ July Intercity Competition ...................................... Aug. National Golf Day .............................................Apr. The “Newest” Course ...................................... Feb. New Western G. A. Headquarters ............ July New York Awards .......................................... Feb. Pro’s Job ..............................................................Nov. Scores By the Thousands ..............................June Sign of the Times .............................................June USGA Nominees for 1956 ............................. Nov. USGA Etiquette Film Given National Award ........................................ Apr. Washington Debates “D. S.” ....................... Apr. WGA Appoints McGuigan ........................... June NECROLOGY C. Dewey Allen ................................................... Apr. Gilbert S. Arthur ...............................................Nov. Morton G. Bogue ...............................................Aug. Lady Katherine Cairns .................................. June Leighton Calkins ...............................................Feb. Frank H. Chapman .......................................... July Francis B. Dickinson ...................................... July S. Davidson Herron .......................................... Feb. William C. Hunt ...............................................July Shirley M. Liscomb ........................................ Sept. Clarence Overend ...............................................Apr. Fitzwilliam Sargent ........................................ Apr. PLAY OF THE GAME Bob Hope on “Manners” ................................July British Pro Suggestions ..................................Aug. Easiest Way Becomes a Habit ..................... July For Every Chiseler, a Hundred Contributors ...................................... Feb. Gambling and Golf Tournaments ..............Feb. Golf Professional of the Year .....................Feb. He Also Is a Good Golfer ..............................June How Jack Fleck Beat Jack Fleck .............. Aug. Liberal Genealogy .............................................Aug. My Most Memorable Golf Experience (Westland) ........................................June My Most Memorable Golf Experience (Chapman) ........................................Sept. Philadephia’s Champion Seniors .................Feb. Players—Not Horses ........................................ Feb. Partners Shoot Aces On Same Hole ....... Apr. Retaliation ............................................................Sept. Segregation Outlawed .................................... Nov. Stymied By Calendar ...................................... July Warning From Middlecoff ............................. Feb. What Is a Second Chance Worth? ..........June Would-Be Pro in Every Game ..................... Sept. 13 19 17 19 19 16 14 2 18 18 12 18 16 16 4 3 5 9 1 2 2 20 2 5 7 5 4 4 1 18 3 2 3 3 4 4 3 7 4 4 7 4 4 3 3 4 1 14 1 16 1 17 3 18 5 3 4 4 20 7 15 10 31 USCA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 Issue Page Issue Page RULES OF GOLF (not The Referee) Changes In Rules Affect Play on Green..Nov. 5 Fruitful Meeting on the Rules .................June 8 Rule Explanation ...............................................Feb. 5 RULES OF GOLF DECISIONS 22 19 20 Ball Marks Not in Line of Putt.................... Feb. Ball in Drain Pipe Under Course.................. Feb. Ball in Gopher Hole Under Course..............Feb. Ball Unplayable in Water Hazard................ Feb. Ball in Salamander Mound ........................... Apr. Ball Moving ..........................................................Apr. Ball Dropped in Wrong Location..................June Ball Rolls Off Tee .............................................June Ball Knocked Off Tee By Practice Swing..Aug. Bending Bush To Take Stance ...................Aug. Caddie Indicates Line For Putting ............ Apr. Clubhouse Is Obstruction ................................Apr. Committee Should Correct Its Handicap Error ................................ July Device For Measuring Shots ....................... Apr. Dropping Ball From Obstruction in “Rough” .........................................Feb. Dropping Ball From Casual Water in Road ................................................. Feb. Error In Handicap ...........................................Apr. “Green” Committee .......................................... June Groupings In Play-Offs .................................... July Holes Made By Animals ..................................July Honor After Claim .......................................... June Lateral Water Hazard ....................................June Legitimate Hole-in-One ..................................Apr. Local Rule Conflicts with Rules of Golf ..Apr. Low Ball Determines Honor in 4-Ball Match .......................................Aug. Marking Ball on Putting Green .................June Marking Ground Under Repair .................Feb. Modifying Penalty for Disqualification ....June Net or Gross Prize? ........................................ Aug. No Practice Before Play-Off ....................... July Obstructions and Impediments ...................June Only Aggrieved Player May Recall Stroke ...................................... Feb. Original and Provisional Balls in Water Hazard .................................... June Player Falls, Touches Hazard ...................... Apr. Practice Shot With Plastic Ball Is Violation ............................................... July Putting From Wrong Spot ........................... Aug. Relief From Lateral Hazard After Unsuccessful Stroke ....................... July Relief From Obstruction ................................Apr. Smoothing Footprints With Ball 23 19 24 23 22 Still in Bunker .................................. July Striking Branch to Move Ball Is Breach..July Stroke Outside Teeing Ground ...................July Tractor Ruts Not Ground Under Repair....Feb. Two Balls Hit Out of Bunker ...................Aug. Two Penalties On One Stroke .....................Aug. Unplayable Lie In Hazard ........................... June 23 SENIORS New Senior Amateur Championship ........Aug. The Senior’s Golf Challenge ......................... Feb. When Is A Senior Really Old? ................ Sept. Woodie Platt First USGA Senior Champion .............................................Nov. 7 SPORTSMAN’S CORNER Miss Patty Berg ................................................. Sept. Thomas Cunningham ........................................ Aug. Claude Harmon ................................................... Feb. Harry Glick ..........................................................July 20 21 21 21 20 22 21 22 21 23 21 22 22 20 22 21 24 23 22 22 21 24 20 24 23 21 23 22 22 22 24 23 20 22 21 22 19 14 12 3 3 6 3 James G. Jackson ...............................................Apr. Robert M. Joyce ................................................. July Bruce McCormick ............................................... June Gus Manganello..................................................July Wynsol K. Spencer ...........................................Nov. TOURNAMENTS Amputee Tournament ...................................... Sept. Junior Goes On .................................................July Now He’s Sir ..................................................... Nov. WOMEN Girlish Inspiration .............................................Aug. Luck To The Babe .............................................July Miss Crocker Caps Unusual Record ........Aug. Miss Lesser Honored ........................................ Nov. Miss Lesser’s Reactions Under Adversity ............................................. Sept. 5 Old Club, New Course For Women’s Championship .................June 17 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 4 8 2 e/o TURF MANAGEMENT Behavior of Zoysia Japonica Meyer 25 30 28 in Cool-Season Turf ......................June Bengeyfield Succeeds Wilson .......................July Better Turfgrass Can Be Produced By Breeding ............................................... Aug. Control of Algae ...............................................Apr. Factors Limiting Growth of Turf Grasses ............................................... Sept. Fertilization of Turf Grasses ....................... Aug. Further Expansion of Turf Service ..........Apr. Green Section Research Program .............. Apr. Green Section Grant For Bentgrass Studies in Oklahoma ..................... July Keeping Tees in Good Condition .................June Losses of Ammonical Fertilizers From Sprinkler Jets .................................... July Make Hay In Early Autumn ....................... Aug. Merion Bluegrass Seed Production .............. Apr. Mister Chairman ............................................... Sept. 1954-55 Course Maintenance Costs 31 28 for 35 Clubs .........................................Feb. 29 Practical Training for Scholarship Recipients .............................................July 31 Everett Queen: His Golf Course and His Methods ...................................... Aug. Questions and Answers ..................................July Questions and Answers .................................. Nov. Sand Important in Topdressing Materia]..Nov. Subscribers To Research and 24 Education Fund .............................. June Subscribers To Research and Education Fund ................................July Subscribers To Research and Education Fund .............................. Aug. Subscribers To Research and Education Fund ...............................Sept. Subscribers To Research and Education Fund ................................Nov. 27 29 29 32 31 USGA Green Section—Its Work— How It Is Done ............................... Feb. USGA Research Grants—1954 .....................Apr. USGA Research Grants—1955 ...................Apr. When You Build a Putting Green Make 23 32 29 30 23 25 32 32 27 25 32 31 30 26 27 Sure the Soil Mixture is a Good One..Nov. 26 32 Worth-While Meetings ....................................July Zoysia Seed Storage and Germination Tests ......................................................Nov. 25 32 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 IT’S YOUR HONOR Integrity in Golf To the USGA: In the USGA Journal of November, 195 5, I read "The Integrity of Golf is at Stake,” and as a golfer and newspaper editor I commend your attitude. I have none but reading information on the operation of such gambling as the Calcutta betting pools, but I can readily appreciate how this may help undermine the integrity of golf. I have, however, personally observed some of the other af­ flictions, such as attempts by players to keep their handicaps high and soft local rules, to which you refer. I do not profess to know the answers, but I do feel that they lie deep in the attitudes of those who play, or try to play, the game. And, in this respect, I also feel, in the light of my own experi­ ence, that an attitude is a sort of indoc­ trination which must begin early in the life of a golfer. I believe I was fortunate in learning the game as a young boy, and a caddie, in the days when the Rules of Golf and its etiquette really stood for something. It became almost a passion, for instance, to stand immobile when a shot was being played, never to stand back of but at the side of a player, to hold the pin with the flag touching the ground, never to play out of turn, never to play ahead of the tee markers or farther behind than the Rules permit, and never to sole a club in a bunker. But, today, I observe many a golfer violates all of these Rules. Years ago, I played in Hudson River Golf Association tournaments, and any player who violated one of these Rules would be out of the tournament or would take or have im­ posed upon him a fitting penalty. In my own case, for example, I never knew "winter rules” (except actually in winter) until I played golf in this area. When I first played the game, at least forty years ago, we played the ball where it lay, at times even blasting it out of the middle of the fairway when it was in deep due to soft condition of the turf. Actually, we had no other attitude toward the game. As most of us know, today that philosophy in many respects either has de­ teriorated or does not exist. As for handicaps, there was keen rivalry for the lowest. Playing out of the Dutchess Golf and Country Club, I once had an MGA rating of eight. That I viewed with pride. I never played in an MGA tourna­ ment to test the rating, but I still have among my souvenirs that handicap rat­ ing card. It is possible, it seems to me, that clubs do not inform their members as much as they should about the Rules and etiquette, which latter is important, too. I feel sure that in many instances there is ignor­ ance of these Rules and that, if the players were better informed, they would be glad to comply with them. In many cases, too, I believe, there is a total absence of knowledge of the real philosophy of golf, but this may present a more difficult problem. Such a philoso­ phy, I feel, can come only from long years of playing the game, together with at least some knowledge of the game’s historical background. At any rate, I hope your article has come to the attention of many players and others interested in the game. If it has, I am sure it will be helpful. I have always contended that golf, perhaps of all sports, is one which scandal ought not to touch. I hope that my contention is on a firm basis. George A. Yaeger Sullivan County G. & C. C. Liberty, N. Y. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: FEBRUARY, 1956 33 USGA OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN PRESIDENT Richard S. Tufts, Pinehurst, N. C. VICE-PRESIDENTS John D. Ames, Chicago, III. John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. SECRETARY Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass. TREASURER J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The above officers and: C. W. Benedict, White Plains, N. Y. Emerson Carey, Jr., Denver, Colo. Thomas H. Choate, New York, N. Y. John W. Fischer, Cincinnati, Ohio T. R. Garlington, Atlanta, Ga. Richmond Gray, Richmond, Va. 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: John M. Winters, Jr„ Tulsa, Okla. CHAMPIONSHIP: John D. Ames, Chicago, III. AMATEUR STATUS AND CONDUCT: John W. Fischer, Cincinnati, Ohio IMPLEMENTS AND BALL: Charles L. Peirson, Boston, Mass. MEMBERSHIP: Gordon E. Kummer, Milwaukee, Wis. GREEN SECTION: T. R. Garlington, Atlanta, Ga. WOMEN'S: Mrs. Harrison F. Flippin, Ardmore, Pa. SECTIONAL AFFAIRS: F. Warren Munro, Portland, Ore. PUBLIC LINKS: Edward E. Lowery, San Francisco, Cal. HANDICAP: William O. Blaney, Boston, Mass. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. GIRLS' JUNIOR: Mrs. John Pennington, Buffalo, N. Y. MUSEUM: Thomas W. Choate, New York, N. Y. BOB JONES AWARD: Totton P. Heffelfinger, Minneapolis, Minn. FINANCE: J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. 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 Coordinator USGA GREEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE 1709 West Eighth Street, Los Angeles 17, Cal. William H. Bengeyfield, Western Director