U S (ii JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT VS«A JOURNAL TURF MANAGEMENT Published by the United States Golf Association 1959 by United States Golf Association. Permission to reprint articles or material in the USGA © Journal and Turf Management is granted to publishers of newspapers, periodicals and books (unless specifically noted otherwise), provided credit is given to the USGA and copyright protection is af­ forded. Neither articles ncr other material may be copied or used for any advertising, promotion or commercial purpose. VOL XII, No. 2 JUNE, 1959 Through the Green ____ ______ __ ______________________ __________ 1 Gallery Guidance in the Open ------------ ------------ .“L"j^epiTa”Dey”’jr. 5 A Bonus of Values in the Walker Cup ____ _____ __ ________ Joseph C. Dey, Jr. 8 Putting Green Rules Revision Proposed ____ ___ _________________ _____ 12 Your Questions on the Open Answered _____ __ _______ ________ Bill Inglish 13 Pensacola’s Thriving Junior Golf Program _____ _________________________ 17 Winged Foot’s Superintendent _______ _________ ___ _______ a. M. Radko 18 Handicaps Analyzed for Chapman Foursomes __ __ __ ____ William O. Blaney 19 The Referee: Decisions under the Rules of Golf ________ __________________ 22 Turf Management: Golf Course Rebuilding and Remodeling— Design with Respect to Play ------------------ ------- Robert Trent Jones 25 Design with Respect to Maintenance Practices .. .... William F. Gordon 27 Financing the Remodeling Job --------- ----- ----- Dr. Andrew P. Virtuoso 29 The Time Factor in Remodeling ___ __ __________ T. t. Taylor 30 It’s Your Honor: Letters . .. . _________ _______ ___ 33 Published seven times a year m February, April, June, July, August, September and November by the UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION 4.0 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‘ Additional entry at the Post Office in Pinehurst, N. C. Edited by Joseph C. Dey, Jr., and John P. English. All articles voluntarily contributed J USGA COMPETITIONS FOR 1959 Championship or Team Match Entries Close Sectional Qualifying Dates of Ev Rounds ent Location Open Closed Held June 11-12-13 Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N. Y. Women's Open June 11 None June 25-26-27 Amateur Public Links •June 4 tJune 21-28 July 13-18 Junior Amateur July 1 July 21 Aug. 5-8 Girls' Junior July 31 None Aug. 17-21 Women's Amateur Aug. 6 None Aug. 24-29 Amateur Aug. 12 Sept. 1 Sept. 14-19 Senior Amateur Sept. 2 Sept. 22 Oct. 5-10 Churchill Valley C. C., Pittsburgh, Pa. Wellshire Golf Course, Denver, Colo. Stanford G. C., Stanford University, Stanford, Cal. Manor Country Club, Norbeck, Md. Congressional C. C., Washington, D. C. Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado Springs, Colo. Memphis Country Club, Memphis, Tenn. Dates entries close mean last dates for applications to reach USGA office, except in Links Championship, the case of the Amateur Public For possible exceptions in dates see entry forms. of Sectional Qualifying Rounds, Re Amateur Public Links Championship: »—Entries close with Sectional Qualifying Chairmen. t—Exact date in each Section to be fixed by Sectional Chairmen. Slow? ‘ Slow? I took 126 for a round. Stroke for stroke, I was playing much faster than you were!” How True! Claude Harmon, professional at the Winged Foot Golf Club, in Mamaroneck, N. Y., looked out his window this spring and commented. “Look at that West Course. Iving there like a treacherous old crocodile. “it’s not making a move now, but just wait until we tee up for the Open Cham­ pionship. Then it will be showing its sharp teeth and lashing out with that long tail.” New Leaders Our congratulations, belatedly, to Elmer G. Border and to Daniel M. Layman, who have been elected to the presidencies of two sister associations for which we have the highest respect and affection. Mr. Border, superintendent of the Las Posas Countrv Club. Camarillo. Cal., is the new president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, succeeding Bnb Williams of the Bob O’Link Golf Club, Highland Park, Ill. Mr. Layman, manager of The Union League of Philadelphia, is the new presi­ dent of the Club Managers Association of America, succeeding Rovce Chaney of the Northwood Club, Dallas, Texas. Additionally, the Golf Course Superin­ tendents Association, which now has 1,339 members, has chosen Dr. Gene C. Nutter as its new executive director, suc­ ceeding Agar M. Brown. Dr. Nutter has been assistant turf technologist in the Department of Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Florida. British Amateur The British Amateur Championship, held from May 25 through 30, at the Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, England, had a qualifying entry of 362 who competed for 175 places in the Championship proper. The field of 200 was completed by inclusion of exempt players, among them, six members of the United States Walker Cup Team, and the British Walker Cup Team. The United States Walker Cup Team members who entered were: Thomas D. Aaron, Gainesville, Ga.; Deane R. Beman, Silver Springs, Md.; Charles R. Coe, Oklahoma City, Okla.; William Hyndman, III, Abington, Pa.; Jack Nicklaus, Colum­ bus, Ohio, and William J. Patton, Mor­ ganton, N. C. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, also granted ex­ emptions to Peter M. Grant, Jr., of Phoenix, Ariz., and John J. Penrose, Jr., of Miami, Fla. Other American entries were: 1st Lt. Robert W. Magee, U. S. Army, Germany; Capt. Ernest M. Vandeweghe, Jr., U.S.A.F., Germany: Truman F. Connell, Jupiter, Fla., and Kenneth G. Foster, Jr., Atherton, Cal. USGA JOURNAL ANO TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 1 Never-Win Tournament Cherry Hills Country Club, in Denver, Colo., concludes the women’s golf season with a Never-Win Tournament. At the beginning of the season each lady pur­ chases ten keys to an Italian jewel chest and its contents. All season the keys change hands as they compete for them in various summer events. Only one of the hundreds of keys will fit the chest. At the final event, each lady will try her keys in the lock. The successful key­ holder wins both chest and cache. What Does A Member Pay? Study of a survey conducted by the Club Managers’ Association of America brings to light information on individual members of clubs. For example, an indi­ vidual member pays $212 dues per year as a national average, varying from $163 in the South to $239 in the North Central area. He eats or entertains at his club 81 times a year. He spends an average of $3.84 per person served each time, on food and beverage. 1960 Senior The 1960 USGA Senior Amateur Cham­ pionship will be held at the Oyster Har­ bors Club, Osterville, Mass., on Cape Cod, in September. It will be the sixth USGA Senior and the first in New England. Washington Juniors The Interclub Junior Golf League in Washington, D. C., has added five more clubs since we last discussed this thriv­ ing young organization in the April and June, 1958 editions. There are now seventeen clubs op­ erating in four divisions. Bethesda Coun­ try Club won the league title in 1958, taking the division play-off at the Burn­ ing Tree Club, a neutral course. Columbia Country Club had been the winner in 1956 and Kenwood Golf and Country Club in 1957. The late Lt. Gen. Floyd T. Parks was chairman of the league and his position will not be filled for the time being. Joseph M. Gambate-g is secretary and now carries out the chairman’s duties. A new championship trophy, to be named in honor of General Parks, will be given to the winning club each year for permanent possession. The Frank M. Pace trophy will continue to be awarded on a rotating basis. Caddies Win $1.25 Minimum The New York State Industrial Com­ missioner, Isador Lubin, has signed an order increasing wages in the state­ wide amusement and recreation industry, effective March 1. The order raises the minimum from 75 cents to $1 an hour until Oct. 1, when it will become $1.05. Special rates were set for golf caddies of $1.25 for each bag carried up to nine holes, and $2.25 for 10 to 18 holes. Bethpage Plant One of the great public golf plants of the world is the Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., where more than 236,000 rounds were played on five 18-hole golf courses during 1958. Play for 1957 was 215,000 rounds. Beth­ page added its fifth 18-hole course in May, 1958. All facilities have been built at no cost to the taxpayer. Construction is now underway on addi­ tional .ocker space and increased park­ ing space. When completed, there will be about 1,000 lockers (80 per cent for men) and parking space for 680 automobiles. Green fees are, weekdays, $1.75; week­ ends, $2.75. Students play for 75 cents on weekdays only. "Right Hands" Honored The Lotos Club, in New York,, estab­ lished an attractive precedent with a party for members’ secretaries, “as an expression of gratitude for the assistance so frequently and generously given the Club by members’ secretaries.” Women's Open The Women’s Open Championship at the Churchill Valley Country Club, in Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 25, 26 and 27 will be the first USGA Championship to be hosted by that club. Many of the women, however, will not find the course a strange one, as the Ladies’ PGA Cham­ pionship was held there last year. The course will have a special appeal to Miss Mickey Wright, the USGA Women’s Open Champion, for it was at Churchill Valley that she captured the first leg of her famous “big double” by winning the 1958 LPGA Championship. 2 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 Another Old Cup Another old golf trophy has come to our attention recently and should be added to the record which was published in the USGA Journal of June, 1953. It is the Barstow Cup, which has been in competition at the Reservation Golf Club, Mattapoisett, Mass., since 1899 and is still in competition. For the last thirty The Barstow Cup years golfers have competed for this cup by qualifying at stroke play, the low six­ teen qualifiers then continuing at match play with handicaps. The oldest trophy still in competition of which we have knowledge is the Hunter Medal, which has been in continuous com­ petition at the Richmond County Country Club, Staten Island, N. Y., since 1895. The inscription on the Barstow Cup reads: “Reservation Golf Club, Matta­ poisett, Men’s Tournament.” (The name “Barstow Cup” must mean that it was donated by a person named Barstow, a name prominent in the town of Matta­ poisett.) It was first won by a Thomas P. Batelle on September 2, 1899. Dates and names on the cup and silver bands show that it was competed for from 1899 through 1906, 1919 through 1941 and 1946 through 1958, a total of forty-four years. The original cup stands approximately eight inches high. Through the years two pedestals with silver bands have teen added, and the cup now stands ap­ proximately eighteen inches. Fee Courses Increase There are at present more than 1,900 privately owned, profit-motive daily fee courses in the United States, as against 700 in the early 1930s. This indicates that a golf course can be a good investment. The most rapid growth has been in this type of golf-course operation. Just Thirty Years New Yorkers, and especially Winged Footers, would be taken back with a jolt if they could peruse one of the rare copies of the Souvenir Book published by the Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaro­ neck, N. Y., in connection with the 1929 Open Championship. Among the advertisers were the Hicko­ ry Golf Shaft Association, Stutz and Franklin cars and the 75c ball. Autoists, in that era before parkways, were advised to take the following route from New York to the Club: Grand Boule­ vard and Concourse to Boston Post Road, follow to Fenimore Road, Mamaroneck. Or one could take the now extinct Westchester and Boston Railway. Charles C. Nobles was president of the Club and general chairman for the Championship. Fred E. Williamson was vice-president, Edward A. Arnold, secre­ tary and William T. Barrington, treasurer. Mike Brady was the professional, Wil­ liam A. Austin, manager, and John Elliff was superintendent. And, as everyone knows, Bob Jones was the winner, beating Al Espinosa by 23 strokes in the 36-hoIe play-off. Jones tied Espinosa at 294 only by holing that USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 3 Officers of American Society of Golf Course Architects During its annual meeting in Point Clear, Ala., this spring, the American Society of Golf Course Architects elected the above officers for 1959: J. Press Maxwell, Dallas, Texas, vice-president; David VV. Gordon, Doylestown, Pa., president; and William B. Langford, Chicago, secretary-treasurer. “impossible” 12-footer on the last green. Jones’ six Championship rounds on the West Course were: 69-75-71-79-72-69. and later as an ex-President he exercised a most constructive influence on the game of golf. The course measured 6,786 yards and carried a par of 36-36—72. Necrology It is with deep regret that we record the deaths of: George Holmes, Hamilton, Bermuda, president of the Bermuda Golf Associa­ tion, a founder and past president of the Bermuda Senior Golfers’ Society and vice-president of the Bermuda-Canada- United States Golfing Society. John G. Jackson, New York, N. Y., President of the United States Golf As­ sociation in 1936 and 1937 and Chairman of the USGA Rules of Golf Committee from 1931 through 1935. As a President Eugene L. Larkin, Bronx, N.Y., mem­ ber of the USGA Green Section Commit­ tee and a past president of the West­ chester County Golf Association. H. B. (Dickie) Martin, New York. N. Y., member of the USGA Museum Committee, author of the definitive his­ tory of the Old Apple Tree Gang under the title “St. Andrew’s Golf Club, 1888- 1938” and later “Fifty Years of American Golf,” and prominent golf writer and promoter. Clifford E. Wagoner, Indianapolis, Ind., a member of the USGA Sectional Af­ fairs Committee until 1955 and for many years secretary of the Indiana Golf As­ sociation and the Indianapolis District Golf Association. 4 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 GALLERY GUIDANCE IN THE OPEN BY JOSEPH C. DEY, JR. USGA Executive Director The Open Championship stirs memories of galloping galleries, in other days, and two unimportant little incidents stand out with special clarity. First Scene: The 1930 Amateur Cham­ pionship, at Merion, near Philadelphia. The young lady was athletic and very keen, but petite. She tried standing on tiptoe, she tried racing along behind the tightly packed rows of spectators, she tried almost everything to seek a vantage point except crawling to the front row between spectators’ legs—and all unsuc­ cessfully. After an hour or so of this, the young lady hauled her husband away. “Come on, Al, let’s go home,” she said. “Let’s go home and buy a paper and see how Bobby Jones is doing.” She had precious few glimpses that day of Bob Jones finishing off his Grand Slam. Second Scene: The 1951 Open, at Oak­ land Hills, near Detroit. Ben Hogan was in the midst of his final-round surge of 67 that brought him one of his greatest victories. Ben was walking off the seventh tee. Spectators were scampering every which way in the fairway in front of him. “Golf fans surely put up with an awful lot, don’t they?” Ben mused, then answered his own question: “They park their cars a good distance away, then have to run around, and sometimes get pushed around by officials and police­ men, in order to see us play.” Need for Fixed Control Both charges, in 1930 and 1951, were perfectly true. Golf gallerying was a problem, and not so long ago. It was a problem for players and officials, too, for galloping galleries could be heedless of players and courses and marshals. Five years ago the USGA’s eyes were opened to a better way of doing things: Enclose every hole completely within a fixed barrier of rope, starting behind the tee and continuing behind the green, far out in the rough, on both sides of the hole. In other words, establish permanent gallery lines of rope attached to metal stakes outside the perimeter of every hole, roping off each hole as a unit. Thus, give spectators the largest possible areas from which to see, keep them off the fairways and leave the playing areas to the players. This was an adaptation of plans used for British Championships at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National and for the 1953 PGA Championship at Birmingham Country Club, near Detroit. It was proposed in the planning for the 1954 Open at the Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N. J., by the golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones. A crucial test occurred promptly in the 1954 Open. A gigantic gallery following Ben Hogan, the defending Champion, broke down the lines at one point and poured out over the course, as in former days. But Baltusrol’s Gallery Committee pulled things together, under the able chairmanship of John C. Smaltz, now President of the Club, and the original plans were firmed up. A similar incident came about in the 1955 Open play-off between Hogan and Jack Fleck at the Olympic Country Club, in San Francisco, and as a result the answer now is that play is to be halted until spectators return behind the fixed lines. So a new pattern of guiding spectators has emerged in late years as an important part of major tournaments in America. It is being used during this year’s Na­ tional Open at the Winged Foot Golf Club, in Mamaroneck, N. ¥., and National Amateur at the Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado Springs, Colo. It takes about ten miles of rope and 2,500 metal stakes to prepare a course. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 5 A CONTROLLED GALLERY Control of a gallery within fixed barriers of rope reserves the playing area for players, permits maximum viewing for spectators and keeps the course in a more normal and uniform condition. This is the fourth hole at Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla., during the 1958 USGA Open. Gary Player of South Africa is driving. Some courses are so tight in land area that variations from the basic scheme must be used. For instance, sometimes two parallel holes are roped as a unit and spectators are not permitted between the holes. Sometimes, where bottlenecks occur on adjoining holes, spectators are either restrained from entering blind alleys or are sent across from one side of the fairway to the other on narrow chalk-lined walkways after shots have been played. But the old pattern of spec­ tators forming arcs in the fairways while strokes are being made is passe in the big events. In a word, gallery guidance is now pre-arranged and fixed, where formerly it was movable and had to be flexible, depending on where shots came to rest. Wild shots today sometimes require taking down small sections of the ropes and stakes temporarily. « In considering gallery control, the in­ terests of three groups have to be borne in mind: players, spectators and tourna­ ment management. The present system has manifold advantages for all three groups. From the players’ standpoint, course conditions are maintained at a relatively high level because of absence of specta­ tors’ footprints in playing areas, es­ pecially fairways and approaches to putt­ ing greens where delicate strokes are made. There is no interference with play. Players without large galleries, fol­ lowing immediately behind star attrac­ tions, are not disturbed and delayed by thoughtless spectators who, in the past, have been so absorbed in watching the stars that they have paid scant heed to players following and have interfered with their play. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1W» Golf has a great virtue in being the only popular sport in which players and spectators commingle, to some extent, but sometimes this can be a great nuisance to players. Immediately after the 1954 Open ex­ periment at Baltusrol, Claude Harmon, Winged Foot’s professional, voiced the views of players generally when he said: “Under the old system, in trying to get through the crowds you had to break your stride numbers of times, and that is annoying when you are concentrating. Besides, spectators frequently came up and recalled the time you played their course back in 1941. “The new system at Baltusrol was a joy for the players, and I know all of us felt that way. We had the playing area to ourselves, and the course was not pock-marked by thousands of footprints. “It was a great pleasure to play under such conditions.” casionally for other USGA events. Roping of tees and greens is usually done for all other USGA competitions. The USGA owns three sets of ropes and two sets of stakes (as a USGA offi­ cial once said, “Enough rope to hang all of us!”). A new lightweight yellow rope made of Marlex, a plastic, was used for the 1958 Open Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club, in Tulsa, and in the 1958 Amateur Championship at the Olym­ pic Country Club in San Francisco. It was loaned by the Phillips Chemical Company, American Manufacturing Com­ pany, Samson Cordage Works and Puri­ tan Cordage Mills, Inc. It has since been acquired by the USGA and will be used for the 1959 Amateur at the Broadmoor Golf Club, in Colorado Springs, Colo. From the spectators’ standpoint, more play can be seen more easily with less walking and general effort, as the areas of visibility are the widest possible. Racing down fairways for preferred posi­ tions is not necessary. As spectators are generally off the course, the danger of being struck by golf balls is minimized. For the tournament managers, the formerly thankless job of shepherding spectators is simplified by fixed control, where formerly new controls had to be established after every shot. It is easier to maintain the course in good condition. The testing qualities of the course are kept more nearly normal and uniform. Rough-immediately adjacent to the fair­ way is not trampled by thousands of feet, and so serves its true purpose of testing and rewarding accuracy in play. Fair play is furthered because lucky and unlucky breaks caused by balls striking spectators are kept to a mini­ mum. The pace of play is helped—or should be. Used in Major USGA Events This system of completely roping each hole as a unit, where feasible, is followed for both the Open and the Amateur Championships of the USGA, and oc­ AN EASY GAME Everyone knows how to play golf. Once a player has mastered the grip and stance, all he has to bear in mind, in the brief, two- second interval it takes to swing, is to keep his left elbow pointed in towards the left hip and his right arm loose and closer to the body than the left and take the clubhead straight back and low along the ground until his hands are past his right knee and then break the wrists at just the right instant while the left arm is still traveling straight back from the ball and the right stays glued to the body and the hips come around in a perfect circle, and meanwhile everything will be mucked*up un­ less the weight is 60 per cent on the left foot, and 40 per cent on the right at the start, not an ounce more or less, and at just the right point in the turn the left knee bends in to­ wards the right in a dragging motion until the left heel comes off the ground, but not too far, and be sure the hand's over the right foot, but not on the toe, more on the heel, except that the left side of the right foot is tilted off the ground, but not too far, and be sure the hands at the top of the swing are high and the shaft points along a line parallel with the ground and if it's a downhill lie the shaft is supposed to be pointed downhill, too, and pause at the top of the swing and count one and jerk the left arm straight down like a bell ringer yanking a belfry rope and don't uncock the wrists too soon and pull the left hip around in a circle, but don't let the shoulders turn with the hips, they have to be facing the hole, and now transfer the weight 60 per cent to the left foot and 40 per cent on the right, not an ounce more or less, and tilt the left foot now so the right side of it is off the ground, but not too far, and keep the left leg straight, that's the one you hit against, and watch out for the left hand it's supposed to be extended, but not too stiff or the shot won't go anywhere and don't let it get loose or you'll hook, and let the wrists uncock, but don't force them or you'll smother the shot and don't break them too soon, but keep your head down AND HIT THE BALL. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 7 A BONUS OF VALUES IN THE WALKER CUP By JOSEPH C. DEY, JR. USGA Executive Director A Walker Cup Match when played in Great Britain, once every four years, has values beyond the immediate event, so far as the American visitors are con­ cerned. The record book will show a 9-3 victory for the United States in this year’s Match, but it cannot reflect the full meaning of the occasion, especially for the four young college students who were making the trip for the first time. This Walker Cup Match was played at Muirfield, east of Edinburgh. To visit there is to have a sort of spiritual re­ newal in the fine things of golf. To play before 8,000 spectators there is to learn how truly appreciative and well-man­ nered a golf gallery can be, for all of those 8,000 play and know golf keenly and they applaud the stroke rather than the stroke-maker or his country. Just to be at Muirfield is to breathe the atmosphere of historical golf, for Muirfield is the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, and the Honourable Company is the oldest golf club in the world, with a recorded his­ tory dating to 1744. They played then on the links at Leith, moved to Mussel­ burgh in 1836, and finally located at Muirfield in 1891. (Golf has been played at St. Andrews more than 400 years, but the Royal and Ancient Golf Club is younger than the Honourable Company by about ten years.) To play Muirfield is to have your game examined by perhaps as fine and fair a test of golf as exists anywhere in the world. It is a truly great course, laid over pure linksland near the Firth of Forth, though there are no water hazards; it has wonderful, close-cropped turf, beautiful putting greens, tight bunkering with brown sand, exceedingly heavy rough, and length enough in its 6,806 yards. When the wind sweeps over the links­ land, as it usually does, Muirfield can be an ever-changing test, but it was un­ usually quiet and balmy and kind to the Americans last month. Muirfield has Walker Cup Personnel — or What's in a Name? E. Harvie Ward, Jr., has many attri­ butes in golf, and one seems to be his ability to find nicknames for his friends. Here are his appellations for the 1959 American Walker Cup Team: Captain Charles Coe—Wyatt Earp. Thomas D. Aaron—Cottonmouth. Deane R. Beman—Bee Bee Eyes. William Hyndman, III—The Praying Mantis. Jack Nicklaus—Snow White. William J. Patton—White Lightning (with reference to his backswing). Dr. Frank M. Taylor, Jr.—Bulldog Drummond. H. Ward Wettlaufer—Babyfat. E. Harvie Ward, Jr.—E. Mickey Mouse, the Playing Pro from Disneyland. been kind to other Americans—to Jess Sweetser when he became the first American to win the British Amateur in 1926, and to Walter Hagen in his victory for the 1929 British Open. But our Curtis Cup ladies lost there in 1952, and Big Bill Campbell was the defeated finalist in the 1954 British Amateur at Muirfield. A Walker Cup Match overseas is also an occasion for exchange of views be­ tween representatives of golf’s legislative bodies, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association. There is warm friend­ ship between them, and since they both approach their responsibilities from the simple standpoint of what is best for golf, their conferences are meaningful. Finally, a Walker Cup match abroad can weave another strand in the fabric of friendship among nations. Our affinity 8 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 BRITISH WALKER CUP TEAM Members of the British Walker Cup Team which was defeated by the United States, at Muirfield, Scotland, are, seated from the left: Arthur H. Perowne, Joseph B. Carr, Gerald H. Micklem, Captain, R. Reid Jack, Guy B. Wolstenholme; standing from the left: Douglas N. Sewall, Alec E. Shepperson, Michael F. Bonnallack, Michael S. R. Lunt, David M. Marsh, W. Dickson Smith. with Britain needs little reassurance, but every meeting of friends is a good thing, and the Walker Cup Match is a meeting of friends. Our nearness in time was pointed up recently when John Beck, former British team Captain, played nine holes at Berkshire, near London, in the morning and 15 holes at Piping Rock on Long Island the same afternoon, thanks to a jet-powered airplane. Series of Close Matches This was the seventeenth match for the Walker Cup, presented by the late George Herbert Walker, former USGA President; it produced the sixteenth American vic­ tory. The final score, 9-3, was not an ac­ curate mirror of the closeness, for six of the twelve matches went to the 35th or the 36th green, and America won five of those six. Despite the British loss, there were obviously good results from the develop­ ment program undertaken in recent years by Gerald Micklem, the team Captain; Raymond Oppenheimer, Tony Duncan, Mortie Dykes and others of the RandA Selection Committee. They had brought along a team which had actually defeated a strong side of British professionals. In all quarters the British were thought to have skill enough to score their first vic­ tory since 1938. It very nearly turned out that way, and Messrs. Micklem, Oppen­ heimer and their colleagues are to be ap­ plauded. But the United States has its own development program in the form of USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 9 junior competition, and it bore abundant fruit at Muirfield. Four of our nine players are college students who have come up through the USGA Junior Ama­ teur Championship and other events for boys. Three of the “Whiz Kids” won in singles. They helped account for two of our foursome points. (The Match com­ prises four foursomes and eight singles.) It had been expected that the Ameri­ can youngsters might be at a disadvantage in the windy, moist weather expected at Muirfield, for the low-flying, run-up game is normally the game to play there. But the weather was mild, on the whole; further, Charlie Coe was not our Captain for nothing. He helped gear his team of five veterans and four youngsters so well that they were fit and ready technically and mentally. They had to be so when six of the twelve matches went at least as far as the 35th and we won five of those six. The ability to finish the game strongly has long been a characteristic of Ameri­ can amateur golfers, and it was so at Muirfield. Their firm play on and around the greens helped swing the scales in their favor. Americans Sweep Foursomes Foursomes golf is an every-day game in Scotland but a rarity in the United States. Most Americans think a foursome is a four-ball match, rather than the alter­ nate-stroke style which it is. Foursomes is the best form of team golf. It is a tribute to the team spirit developed by Captain Coe, and to his acumen in pairings, that the foursomes at Muirfield sent his side into an over­ powering lead. They swept all four matches the first day. Harvie Ward holed a long putt for a birdie 3 on the 36th green to give him and Dr. Frank Taylor a point against Reid Jack and Douglas Sewell. Next came William Hyndman, a veteran, and Tommy Aaron, a freshman, with a similar 1-up victory over Joe Carr, the British Amateur Champion, and big Guy Wol- stenholme. It was a classic foursome most of the way; the Americans played the morning round in a great 70, two un­ der par, to 71 for their opponents and a lead of 2 up. Captain Coe and Billy Joe Patton won by 9 and 8 from Michael Bonallack and Arthur Perowne. Then the “Whiz Kids,” Ward Wettlaufer and Jack Nicklaus, came through by 2 and 1 over two Bri­ tish youngsters, Michael Lunt and Alec Shepperson. 5 to 3 in the Singles It is a tribute to the Scottish affection for fine golf that the second day’s play, in singles, drew another huge gallery even though the British were trailing, 4 to 0. They were well rewarded. Much of the day was gray, with a thin, chill mist off the sea (the Scots call it a haar). The Britons, at home in this weather, took three of the eight singles, including two of the top three matches. The national Champions met in the No. 1 match, Charlie Coe vs. Joe Carr, and the delightful Irishman won by 2 and 1, for his first Walker Cup singles victory since 1951. Coe did not strike his stride until the turn in the morning, and by that time he was 5 down. He retrieved four holes in the next nine, but Carr was not to be denied in the afternoon. Carr’s putter was broken when a spectator step­ ped on it at the 11th hole in the after­ noon. He could have replaced it, but pre­ ferred to putt with a No. 3 iron, as he used to do. Next came Harvie Ward, and he was held to 2 up in the morning by Guy Wolstenholme. Ward’s putter could do no wrong in the afternoon, and he went out in 33 for an 8-up lead which promptly turned into a 9 and 8 victory. Reid Jack, former British Champion, squared accounts for a 1957 defeat by turning back Billy Joe Patton, 5 and 3. His third nine of 34 was decisive. Billy Hyndman evened the singles for America, leading practically all the way against Douglas Sewell, who succumbed by 4 and 3, but not until a splendid third-nine struggle in which both players did 33. The four remaning singles were en­ trusted by Captain Coe to his four “Whiz Kids,” and three of them came through. Tommy Aaron just failed against young Alec Shepperson of Britain, who won by 2 and 1 in a tremendous rally after being 4 down with 9 to go. Little Deane Beman, who did not play in foursomes, never stopped trying even though Michael Bonallack threw a 69 at him in the morning to be 2 up. Deane hung on gamely and won on the home hole, 2 up. io USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 Wai’d Wettlaufer turned in the most spectacular golf of the day, being five under par for 31 holes; he was around in 69 in the morning. Neither Michael Lunt nor anyone else could have stood up against that, and the Buffalo boy won by 6 and 5. The other “Whiz Kid,” 19-year-old Jack Nicklaus, was a great anchor man. He whirled off the morning round in 70 to be 5 up against W. Dickson Smith, and he ended it by the same margin, 5 and 4. The Match was beautifully organized, by a pair of clubs with some slight ex­ perience in such matters—theRandAand the Honourable Company. It was the last appearance of N. C. (Bob) Selway as Chairman of the RandA Championship; Committee; he has been one of the most effective and forward-looking officials in golf for a number of years. Much credit for the conduct of the Match i.s due also to the RandA Secretary, Brig. Eric Brick- man and to two officials in particular of the Honourable Company—Ronald M. Carnegie, the Captain, and Col. Brian Evans-Lombe, the Secretary. Future of the Series For some years there has been public questioning as to the future of the Wal­ ker Cup series in view of Britain’s fre­ quent defeats. Officially, there appears to be no doubt as to its continuance. Here is how it was expressed by Frank Pennink, British journalist and a former Walker Cupper, in the official program at Muirfield: “Since its institution in 1922, the Wal­ ker Cup match has built a tradition of the friendliest rivalry. The preparation for it is serious, few putts of more than a foot are conceded during it, but any problems that this imponderable game habitually creates have been solved promptly, amicably and without leaving any unpleasant taste in the mouths of either side . . . “Whilst the result is important, es­ pecially to us, there is no question of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and the United States Golf Association deciding to end this fixture. Apart from the im­ mense amount of good it does, it would be grossly unfair to coming generations, for it has always been the summit of am­ bition of every golfer, Briton or Ameri­ can, to play for his country in this match.” And if you doubt, just ask any of the “Whiz Kids.” 1959 INTERNATIONAL MATCH FOR THE WALKER CUP Held at the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Muirfield, Scotland May 15 and 16 GREAT BRITAIN UNITED STATES FOURSOMES R. Reid Jack and Douglas N. SeweU_________ 0 Joseph B. Carr and Guy B. Wolstenholme___ 0 Michael F. Bonallack and Arthur H. Perowne 0 Michael S. R. Lunt and Alec E. Shepperson _ 0 E Harvie Ward, Jr., and Dr. Frank M. Taylor, William Hyndman, III, and Thomas D. Aaron Jr. (1 up) (1 up) .. 1 1 WUliam J. Patton and Charles R. Coe (9 and 8) 1 H. Ward Wettlaufer and Jack W. Nicklaus (2 and 1)1 Total ______ ___ ___ ___________ 0 Total „........................ ~4 SINGLES Joseph B. Carr (2 and 1) ....... 1 Guy B. Wolstenholme 0 R. Reid Jack (5 and 3)1 Douglas N. SeweU 0 Alec E. Shepperson (2 and 1)__ _______________ 1 Michael F. Bonallack 0 Michael S. R. Lunt 0 W. Dickson Smith --------------------------------------------- 0 Charles R. Coe ______________________________ 0 E. Harvie Ward, Jr. (9 and 8) ________________ 1 William J. Patton 0 WUliam Hyndman, III (4 and 3)1 Thomas D. Aaron 0 Deane R. Beman (2 up) _1 H. Ward Wettlaufer (6 and 5)________________ 1 Jack W. Nicklaus (5 and 4)1 Total__ ________ 3 Total_____ Grand Total — Great Britain________________ 3 Grand Total — United States 9 Non-playing Captain—Gerald H. Micklem Reserve—David M. Marsh Captain—Charles R. Coe USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 11 PUTTING GREEN RULES REVISION PROPOSED R&A-USGA Conference Recommends 1960 Amendments Important amendments of the Rules of Golf relating to the putting green have been drafted jointly, by negotiating committees representing the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scot­ land, and the USGA. The proposals are subject to approval by the General Committee and the mem­ bers of the RandA, and by the Executive Committee of the USGA. Any final ac­ tion cannot be taken until mid-Septem- ber. Changes approved would become ef­ fective January 1, 1960. Two of the more substantial proposals concerning the putting green would per­ mit (1) cleaning the ball and (2) repair­ ing ball marks anywhere, by any method except by stepping on the damaged area. Further, if a ball were moved in mov­ ing a loose impediment on the putting green, there would be no penalty, where­ as there is now a penalty of one stroke. The proposed alterations were agreed during several days of meetings at North Berwick, Scotland, just before the Wal­ ker Cup Match at Muirfield. A quadren­ nial British-American conference on the Rules has become customary, starting in 1951. By agreement of both parties, the USGA negotiating committee will recommend to its Executive Committee amendments for trial in the United States of the Rules dealing with a ball out of bounds or un­ playable and a provisional ball. Most of the proposed amendments re­ sulting from the North Berwick confer­ ence would deal with technical aspects of the Rules for the purpose of clarifica­ tion. Changes in the substance of the code would be comparatively few. One proposal would require the player to decide before playing his stroke whether the flagstick were to be attend­ ed or removed. At present this may be done at any time. To preserve traditional aspects of the game and to combat tendencies toward introduction of “gadgets,” the RandA- u On Gamblers .. . To correct misstatements and misin­ terpretations which have been pub­ lished in the press, the Executive Committee has not, as of the press time for this issue, considered a sug­ gestion, received from a source out­ side the USGA, that entries for the Open Championship in future be ac­ cepted only from players who, in the language of the suggestion, “have not participated in tournaments sponsored by known gamblers.” Any USGA action could have no application to the 1959 Open Cham­ pionship. The USGA has long been on record as disapproving of gambling in con­ nection with golf tournaments. USGA alterations would require that the flagstick be straight and circular in cross-section—that is, round—and would prohibit artificial devices for gauging or measuring distance or conditions which might affect a player’s play. If the flag­ stick were not straight and round, the way would be open for introduction of offset and flat-sided flagsticks that could be used as backstops for the ball. The meetings at North Berwick were, like their predecessors, conducted in a most friendly atmosphere, with great un­ derstanding of differing problems pre­ vailing in Great Britain and the United States in respect of Rules-making. The Chairman of the conference was G. Alec Hill, of the RandA, and his Bri­ tish colleagues were David F. McCurrach, David F. Simpson, Derek MacLeod, Rob­ ert M. McLaren, and Brig. Eric Brick­ man, Secretary. Chairman of the USGA Committee was John M. Winters, Jr., and his fellow-member.s were Wm. Ward Foshay, Isaac B. Grainger, Richard S. Tufts and Joseph C. Dey, Jr. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE OPEN ANSWERED By BILL INGLISH The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Okla. Bill Inglish works on the copy desk in the news department of The Daily Oklahoman. In his spare time he researches the records of major golf championships and digests the results. There follows a sampling of various facts he has developed concerning the Open Champion­ ship through 1958. We publish only a sampling solely because space does not permit us to pub­ lish more, but there is a good deal more. We consider the painstaking effort which Bill has put into the development of these statistics a tremendous service to the game of golf and to its press corps. SCORING RECORDS Scoring, General Nine Holes—30 by *James B. McHale, Jr. at St. Louis, 1947. First Round—64 by Lee Mackey, Jr. at Merion, 1950. Second Round—66 by *John Goodman at North Shore, 1933; Jimmy Thomson at Oakland Hills, 1937, and Johnny Bulla at Merion, 1950. Third Round—65 by *McHale at St. Louis, 1947. Fourth Round—65 by Walter Burkemo at Inverness, 1957. First 36 Holes—138 by Sam Snead at Riviera, 1948; Ben Hogan at Northwood, 1952; Dick Mayer and *Billy Joe Patton at Inverness, 1957. Last 36 Holes—136 by Gene Sarazen at Fresh Meadow, 1932, and Cary Middle- coff at Inverness, 1957. First 54 Holes—207 by Hogan at Ri­ 72 Holes—276 by Hogan at Riviera, viera, 1948. 1948. * Denotes amateur. 281 by Ralph Guldahl at Oakland Hills, 281 by Julius Boros at Northwood, 281 by Cary Middlecoff at Oak Hill, 1937. 1952. 1956. 282 by Tony Manero at Baltusrol, 1936. 282 by Lew Worsham at St. Louis, 1947. *282 by Sam Snead at St. Louis, 1947. *282 by Bobby Locke at Riviera, 1948. *282 by Boros at Oak Hill, 1956. *282 by Hogan at Oak Hill, 1956. 282 by Dick Mayer at Inverness, 1957. *282 by Middlecoff at Inverness, 1957. * Did not win title. Subpar 72-Hole Totals Ben Hogan and Sam Snead have three subpar 72-hole totals to their credit, a record. The first man to break par for 72 holes was Alex Smith, who turned the trick at Onwentsia in 1906. Chick Evans was the first amateur to do so, at Minikahda in 1916. In all, par has been broken 32 times for the full distance. Nine men broke par at Canterbury in 1946, another high. 36-Hole Cutoffs The all-time low for the 36-hole cut is 148, the figure needed at Riviera in 1948. The modern high is 155, the total re­ quired at Olympic in 1955. Scoring, Miscellaneous Scoring, Amateur individual 72 Holes—285 by Marvin H. Ward at Spring Mill, 1939. Scoring, Foreigners 72 Holes—282 by Bobby Locke at Ri­ viera, 1948. Ten Lowest 72-Hole Scores 276 by Ben Hogan at Riviera, 1948. *278 by Jimmy Demaret at Riviera, 1948. *280 by Jimmy Turnesa at Riviera, 1948. Most 72-hole scores under 300—16 by Sam Snead, the last 15 of which were in succession (1939-57). Most 72-hole scores under 290—11 by Ben Hogan, in successive appearances (1941-56). Most subpar 18-hole rounds—15 by Hogan and Snead. Most par or better 18-hole rounds—22 by Hogan. (He has played 62 rounds in 17 Open starts.) USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 13 Most rounds under 70—11 by Hogan. Exceptional performance—Gene Sara- zen played the last 28 holes in 100 strokes at Fresh Meadow, 1932. Exceptional performance—Hogan had at least one round of par or better in 12 straight Open appearances (1940 56). Most subpar rounds, one Open—3 by Harry Cooper at Baltusrol, 1936; Ralph Guldahl, Snead and Ed Dudley at Oak­ land Hills, 1937; Byron Nelson and Ed Oliver at Canterbury, 1946; Snead at St. Louis, 1947; Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Jimmy Turnesa and Bobby Locke at Ri­ viera, 1948. FIELD Most 72-hole scores over 300—61 at Columbia in 1921 and Oakmont in 1935. (There were 59 at Baltusrol in 1903 and at Fresh Meadow in 1932.) Most 72-hole scores under 290—14 at Canterbury in 1946. (There were 13 at Riviera in 1948.) Most subpar rounds—42 at Canterbury in 1946. AMATEUR RECORDS Outstanding Performances Robert T. Jones, Jr. won the Open in 1923-26-29-30, Francis Ouimet in 1913, Jerome D. Travers in 1915, Chick Evans in 1916 and John Goodman in 1933. Jones also was second in 1922-24-25-28, fifth in 1921 and eighth in 1920. Only cnce (1927) did he finish out of the first 10 in his 11 Open starts. Ten Lowest Scores By Amateurs 285 by Marvin H. Ward at Spring Mill, 286 by Chick Evans at Minikahda, 1916. 287 by Robert T. Jones, Jr. at Inter­ lachen, 1930. 287 by John Goodman at North Shore, 287 by Ward at St. Louis, 1947. 289 by Jones at Skokie, 1922. 289 by Billy Joe Patton at Baltusrol, 289 by Ken Venturi at Oak Hill, 1956. 290 by Goodman at Oakland Hills, 1937. 290 by Patton at Inverness, 1957. Amateurs Completing 72 Holes Twelve amateurs completed the 72 holes at Baltusrol in 1903, a record. Ten were around all the way at Merion in 1934 and St. Louis in 1947. Chick Evans completed the 72 holes 12 1939. 1933. 1954. times, a record for an amateur. Bob Jones stood at 11, in successive years, when he retired following his “Grand Slam” in 1930. The leaders among the actives are Billy Joe Patton and Harvie Ward with 5 complete Opens to their credit. MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS Fate of Pacesetters 18 HOLES Sam Snead led the field four times at the 18 hole mark (1939-40-46-51) but did not win the title. Willie Anderson (1897- 99-1903-04-06) led five times, winning in 1903-04. (He also won in 1901-5). The man who led the field at the 18- hole mark, however, won 12 of the 58 Opens, approximately one-fifth. 36 HOLES Alex Smith led the Open five times at the halfway mark in 1901-5-6-10-12. He won in 1906-10. The man who led the field after 36 holes won 17 of the previous 55 Opens at 72 holes. 54 HOLES Robert T. Jones, Jr., led the Open at the 54-hole mark six times, winning three of his four titles in this manner (1923- 29-30). The man who led at 54 holes won 27 of the 55 Opens at 72 holes, more than half. Continuity Starting in 1920, Gene Sarazen teed off in 31 successive Opens. His streak was interrupted in 1955 when he assisted with the telecasting at Olympic. Sarazen played through 22 Opens in a row from 1920 through 1941, a feat matched by Walter Hagen in 1913-36. Sam Snead has appeared in 18 straight Opens dating from 1937, the high among the moderns. His 72-hole string came to an end at Southern Hills in 1958 when he failed to qualify for the last 36 holes. Sarazen, also, did not survive the cut at Southern Hills, but extended his career span to 39 years. Finishes In First Ten Walter Hagen finished in the first 10 in 16 Opens, a record. Gene Sarazen is next with 14 and Ben Hogan third with 13. Willie Anderson and Alex Smith have 14 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 11 finishes in the first 10, and Bob Jones and Sam Snead 10 each .(Jones played in only 11 Opens.) Highs And Lows By Champions BEST START 67 by Ben Hogan at Riviera, 1948, and Oakmont, 1953. WORST START 91 by Horace Rawlins at Newport, 1895. Modern high—76 by Hogan at Oakland Hills, 1951, and Jack Fleck at Olympic, 1955. Previously—78s by Walter Hagen at Brae Burn, 1919, and Tommy Armour at Oakmont, 1927. BEST ROUND 66 by Gene Sarazen at Fresh Meadow, 1932, and John Goodman at North Shore, 1933. WORST ROUND 91 by Rawlins at Newport, 1895. Modern high—76 by Hogan at Oakland Hills, 1951, and Fleck at Olympic, 1955. Previously—79s by Bob Jones at Scioto, 1926, and Winged Foot, 1929. BEST FINISH 66 by Sarazen at Fresh Meadow, 1932. Modern low—67 by Hogan at Oakland Hills, 1951, and Fleck at Olympic, 1955. WORST FINISH 84 by Fred Herd at Myopia, 1898. Modern high—75 by Cary Middlecoff at Medinah, 1949. Previously—79 by Jones at Winged Foot, 1929. Lefthanders In The Open Loddie Kempa is believed to be the only lefthander to play through 72 holes in the Open. Kempa, an Oklahoma pro­ fessional, did it twice. He shot 306 at Merion in 1950 after a 71-74 start, and 310 at Baltusrol in 1954. Champions Who Led All The Way Tommy Bolt, the 1958 champion, is the seventh man in Open history to have led from start to finish. The others are Willie Anderson, 1903; Alex Smith, 1906; Walter Hagen, 1914; Chick Evans, 1916; Jim Barnes, 1921, and Ben Hogan, 1953. Bolt, Evans and Smith were tied for the lead after 18 holes. Anderson won in a playoff. Barnes won by nine strokes, Smith seven, Hogan six, Bolt four, Evans two and Hagen one. Ages of Champions Horace Rawlins, the first champion at Newport in 1895, also was the youngest, being only 19. Ted Ray, the Briton who triumphed at Inverness in 1920, was the oldest, being 43. Francis Ouimet was 20 when he won at Brookline in 1913 and Gene Sarazen 20 when he succeeded at Skokie in 1922. Macdonald Smith was 20 when he lost in a playoff at Philadelphia in 1910. Bob Jones was 21 when he took the first of his four Opens at Inwood in 1923 and Walter Hagen 21 when he excelled for the first time at Midlothian in 1914. The youngest champion since Jones is Johnny Goodman, who was 23 when he prevailed at North Shore in 1933. Youngest of the post-World War II win­ ners is Cary Middlecoff, who was 28 when he won for the first time at Me­ dinah in 1949. Oldest of the recent champions is Ben Hogan, who was 40 when he won for the fourth time at Oakmont in 1953. Tommy Bolt, the 1958 champion, was 39. Longevity Gene Sarazen has played through 26 Opens, a record. He began his amazing string as an 18- year old at Inverness in 1920 and pro­ ceeded to play through 22 straight Opens, the last in the series being at Colonial in 1941. His streak came to an end at Canter­ bury in 1946 when his 152 failed by one stroke to qualify for the final 36 holes. However, he came back to add to his record in 1947-50-51-52 and still takes his swings in the Championship every year. Only two others in Open history have 20 or more complete Opens to their cre­ dit. Walter Hagen notched 22 from 1913- 36, all in succession, and Alex Campbell got in 20 from 1899 through 1924. Under-70 Finishes By Champions The following champions broke 70 on the final round; Jack Fleck at Olympic, 1955; Ben Hogan at Oakland Hills, 1951, and Riviera, 1948; Byron Nelson at Spring Mill, 1939; Ralph Guldahl at Cherry Hills, 1938, and Oakland Hills, 1937; Tony Manero at Baltusrol, 1936; Gene Sarazen at Fresh Meadow, 1932, and Skokie, 1922. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 15 COURSES Comparison of Scoring Canterbury yielded the most subpar 18-hole rounds, 42, and the most subpar 72-hole totals, nine, both in 1946. Baltusrol gave up 14 subpar rounds in the first round and 12 in the second in 1936, both records. St. Louis yielded 10 subpar rounds in the third round in 1947 and Canterbury 12 in the last round in 1946. Riviera yielded the lowest 72-hole score, 276, to Ben Hogan in 1948, Chica­ go the highest, 393, to John Harrison in 1900. Home Course Players Horace Rawlins, a young assistant at Newport, won the first Open over his home course in 1895. He was an assistant to W. F. Davis, the Newport professional, No home course player has since won. Only one home course player has finished in the first 10 since 1921—Frank Souchak at Oakmont in 1953. Course Length Longest course on which the Open has been conducted is Oakland Hills, which was 7,037 yards for the 1937 Champion­ ship. Shortest course on which the Open has been played in modern times is St. Louis, which was 6,532 yards for the 1947 Cham­ pionship. MONEY WINNINGS Ben Hogan has finished in the money in 13 Opens, winning $25,711.11. Cary Middlecoff earned $13,451.15 in 10 Opens, Julius Boros $13,280 in nine, Sam Snead $10,835.84 in 16, and Tommy Bolt $10,745 in six. Walter Hagen finished in the money 19 times, a record. Snead finished in the money 15 straight years, Hogan 13 times in successive appearances. The oldest money winner was Bobby Cruickshank, who was 55 when he tied for 25th place and earned $100 at Merion in 1950. The youngest money winner was John Shippen, a 16 year-old caddie, who tied for fifth and won $10 at Shinnecock Hills in 1896. The winningest foreigner is Bobby Locke, who won $5,060 in six Opens. PLAYOFFS Playoffs occur at the rate of approxi­ mately once every three Opens. There have been 20 in the 58 Championships. Three-way playoffs resulted in 1910-11- 13-39-46-50. Two men were involved in 1901-03-08-19-23-25 27-28-29-31-40-47-55-57. The champion at playoffs is Bob Jones, who took part in four within seven years. He won two and lost two. Jones averaged 72.7 for seven playoff rounds, his scores ranging from 69 to 76. Most won—Two by Willie Anderson (at Myopia, 1901, and Baltusrol, 1903) and Jones (at Inwood, 1923, and Winged Foot, 1929.) Most lost—Two by Mike Brady (at Chi­ cago, 1911, and Brae Burn, 1919) and Jones (at Worcester, 1925, and Olympia Fields, 1928.) Most in which a participant—Four by Jones (in 1923-25-28-29.) Most decisive victory—23 strokes by Jones at Winged Foot in 1929. He shot 141 to 164 for Al Espinosa, a difference of more than a half-stroke per hole. Longest playoff—72 holes at Inverness, 1931. Billy Burke defeated George Von Elm, 297 to 298, after a tie at 292. Lowest score—68 by Byron Nelson and Craig Wood at Spring Mill, 1939. FOREIGNERS’ RECORDS Outstanding Performances Harry Vardon and Edward “Ted” Ray are the only foreign players ever to win the Open. Vardon won at Chicago in 1900, Ray at Inverness in 1920. Both lost in a playoff to Francis Oui­ met at Brookline in 1913. Vardon and Ray represented England. Ten Lowest 72-Hole Scores 282 by Bobby Locke at Riviera, 1948. 285 by Locke at St. Louis, 1947; Peter Thomson at Oak Hill, 1956. 287 by Gary Player at Southern Hills, 1958. 288 by Locke at Baltusrol, 1954. 289 by Locke at Medinah, 1949. 290 by Roberto de Vicenzo at Inver­ ness, 1957. 291 by Locke at Oakland Hills, 1951; Rudy Horvath at Baltusrol, 1954. 2°4 by Thomson at Inverness, 1957. 16 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 PENSACOLA’S THRIVING JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM Public Schools Joined Golf Groups annual affair. May 13 was again Junior Golf Day. One of the most successful and popular junior golf programs is the Pensa­ cola, Fla. program initiated in 1958 un­ der the sponsorship of the Pensacola Sports Association assisted by the Pensa­ cola Recreation Department, the Escam­ bia County Department of Public Instruc­ tion, the Pensacola Professional Golfers Association and the Fiesta of Five Flags Association. The program, designed for youths twelve through seventeen, consists of three phases: presentation, instruction and a tournament. Presentation of the program was ac­ complished by the Mayor’s proclamation establishing the first day of the Fiesta of Five Flags as Junior Golf Day. Interested juniors registered at their respective schools and were given time off to at­ tend the golf demonstration presented by the Pensacola PGA. About 1700 children attended the first annual Junior Golf Day event a year ago. Transportation was provided by school buses from the schools to the demonstration and back to the schools. The Ladies’ Golf Association pro­ vided refreshments. The second phase, instruction, was ac­ complished by professional golfers giving free group lessons. These were conducted at a driving range four days each week. Balls and clubs were furnished, and each group received twelve lessons. After each lesson the children were permitted to play free on the city’s newly renovated Osceloa Golf Course. One hundred and fifty juniors took advantage of the golf instruction program. Climax of this program was a stroke play tournament at the Osceloa Golf Course in which 121 juniors participated. Business­ men provided prizes which ranged from one-year scholarships at the Pensacola Junior College to golf equipment, tro­ phies, clothing and gift certificates. Due to the outstanding success in its initial year, Pensacola has made this an USGA FILM LIBRARY "St. Andrews, Cradle Of Golf," a 14- minute, full color, 16m.m. travelogue of his­ toric St. Andrews, Scotland, its Old Course and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club club­ house. "First World Amateur Team Champion­ ship for Eisenhower Trophy," a 14-minute, full color, 16m.m. film of the first World Amateur Team Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland. Twenty-nine countries compete for the Eisenhower Trophy. "On the Green," a 17-minute, full color, 16 m.m. presentation filmed at the Mid-Ocean Club, Bermuda, illustrating correct pro­ cedures under the Rules of Golf governing situations arising on the putting green. "Golf's Longest Hour," a 16 m.m. full color production, running for 17^ minutes, depict­ ing the closing stages of the 1956 Open Championship. Filmed at the beautiful Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, N.Y., it shows the eventual winner, Cary Middlecoff, set a target at which Ben Hogan, Julius Boros and Ted Kroll strive in vain to beat. "Play Them As They Lie," a 16 m.m. color production, running for 16Vz entertaining minutes, in which Johnny Farrell, the Open Champion of 1928, acts as intermediary be­ tween Wilbur Mulligan, a beginner of un­ impeachable integrity, and Joshua P. Slye, a past master in the art of breaking the Rules. The film was made at the Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N. J., where Farrell is professional. "Great Moments In Golf," gives the viewer an opportunity to see the many interesting ex­ hibits in "Golf House," USGA headquarters in New York, and to re-live golf triumphs of the past with many of the game's immortals. The film is a 16 m.m. black and white pro­ duction and runs 28 minutes. "The Rules of Golf—Etiquette" also has proved popular. The film stresses the im­ portance of etiquette by portrayal of vari­ ous violations of the code in the course of a family four-ball match. Ben Hogan ap­ pears in several scenes, and Robert T. Jones, Jr., makes the introductory statement. A 16 m.m. color production, the film has a running time of 17Vi minutes. The distribution of all seven prints is handled by National Educational Films, Inc., 165 West 46th Street, New York 36, N. Y., which produced the films in cooperation with the USGA. The rental is $20 per film; $35 for two; $50 for three, $60 for four and $’0 for five, in combination at the same time, including the cost of shipping prints to the renter. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 17 WINGED FOOT’S SUPERINTENDENT By ALEXANDER M. RADKO Eastern Director USGA Green Section Sherwood A. Moore’s youthful looks be­ lie his experience as a golf course superintendent. Those who meet him for the first time express surprise, for one expects to meet someone considerably older, principally because of the fine reputation he holds in the golf turfgrass field. His interest in an outdoor profession began at an early age when he visited nursery and greenhouse establishments in and around his native Northampton, Mass., and became fascinated with the world of growing plants. There was no wavering from his chosen field during his high school years, and after graduation he enrolled as a horticulture major at the University of Massachusetts. There, influenced by Professor Lawrence Dickinson, founder of the Turf School, he transferred to the Stockbridge School for turfgrass majors. It is interesting to note that, at the time, there were only three other students enrolled. Upon completion of his studies, he moved to New Jersey and began his training period at the Passaic County Golf Club in Paterson. After several years of experience in practical work there, he went on to hold the position of superintendent at the following New Jersey clubs before coming to Winged Foot: Lake Mohawk Golf Club, Crest- mont Country Club, and Hollywood Golf Club. Like many other superintendents, Mr. Moore’s continuity of work in the golf course field was interrupted by World War II, during which he spent four years in the Armed Forces. While serving in England, he made a special effort to visit and talk with superintendents at courses in that country, and among the most memorable were his visits with Mr. An­ drew Corstorphine of the famous St. An­ drews course and Dr. R. B. Dawson of the St. Ives Research Station in Bingley. In the Northeast Mr. Moore is well known at agricultural experiment sta- Sherwood A. Moore tions engaged in turfgrass research. He legularly attends field day meetings, turf- grass conferences and superintendents’ meetings on a local and national level, which attests to his continued interest in the latest technical and practical de­ velopments in the field. Mr. Moore is ac­ tive in several turfgrass organizations. He has been a member of the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of America since 1939 and presently is a member of the board of directors of that organization. He is a director of the newly organized Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents’ Association. He held the position of secretary and also was a presi­ dent of the New Jersey Golf Course Superintendents Association. This year he was appointed to the USGA Green Section Committee. 18 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 HANDICAPS ANALYZED FOR CHAPMAN FOURSOMES By WILLIAM O. BLANEY Chairman USGA Handicap Procedure Committee The Chapman style of foursome play has become increasingly popular, es­ pecially on a mixed basis. Under this form of play, both partners drive from each tee, both play a second shot with each other’s drive and then select the ball which will be used to complete the play of each hole on an alternate-stroke basis. In recent years, I have had opportuni­ ties to study at least five different methods of handicapping Chapman four­ somes and to compete under at least three of them. Due to the popularity of this form of play, a review of the various methods, with some comments and cri­ ticisms, seems in order. To simplify matters, I am going to letter each system A, B, C, D, E and F. For comparison, the same handicaps for partners, 10 and 45, will be used as ex­ amples under each system. System A: Partners are allowed a handicap equal to 50 per cent of their combined individual handicaps. Example: 10 plus 45 equals 55. 55 divided by 2 equals 27.5, or a foursome handicap of 28. This is the same as the handicap al­ lowance recommended by the USGA for alternate-drives, alternate-strokes four­ some play. When both partners drive and play second shots, the 50 per cent allow­ ance tends to favor a partnership of one good player with a rather poor player. Such a partnership seems to have a good chance of scoring below the theoretical average of their combined abilities, more so than a partnership of two fairly equal players. Also, a pair of low-handicap players has an advantage over a pair of poor players because the former can be expected to have a selection between two good alternatives, while the latter may have to choose between the lesser of two evils. System B: Partners are allowed a handicap equal to 50 per cent of their NEW MEMBERS OF THE USGA REGULAR Adams Park Golfers Association Ga. Ascarate Golf Course Association Texas Delphos Country Club Ohio Pa. Eagles Mere Country Club Farmington Country Club Mich. N. Y. Gouverneur Country Club W. Va. Green Hills Country Club Highland Country Club III. Kendrick Municipal Golf Course Wyo. Oak View Country Club III. s. C. Oconee Country Club Santa Anita Women's Golf Club Cal. Fla. Scenic Hills Country Club S:lver Bay Country Club Minn. So Par O Van Golf and Country Club Nev. Ariz. Thunderbird Country Club Ga. Town Creek Country Club Whitford Country Club Pa. ASSOCIATE Vanity Fair Foundation Golf Course Ala. Woodland Hills Golf Club W. Va. combined individual handicaps, except that when the difference between the two handicaps is more than 15 strokes, the poorer player’s handicap is automatically reduced to a figure 15 strokes higher than his partner’s handicap before the 50 per cent factor is applied. Example: Reduce 45 to 25 (10 plus 15). 10 plus 25 equals 35. 50 per cent of 35 is 17.5, or a foursome handicap of 18. In attempting to correct inequities in System A, this creates other inequities. It limits the maximum foursome handi­ cap when a low-handicap player com­ petes with a much poorer player; a 10- handicap player receives the same four­ some handicap of 18, whether he plays with a 25-handicap partner or a 50-handi- cap partner. Also, the automatic reduc­ tion of the higher handicap is the same whether the lower-handicap partner is of good, medium or indifferent ability, and I doubt if a 25-handicap player can off­ set the poorer play of a 50-handicap part­ ner to the same extent as a scratch player can offset the poorer play of a 25-handi­ cap partner. Furthermore, a good player USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 19 receives a larger percentage of the com­ bined handicaps when he plays with an­ other good player than when he plays with a much poorer player. System C: Partners are allowed a handi­ cap equal to 50 per cent of their com­ bined individual handicaps, except that when the difference between the two handicaps is more than 15 strokes, the poorer player’s handicap is automatically reduced to a figure that is but 15 strokes higher than his partner’s handicap before the 50 per cent factor is applied and then the resulting handicap is increased by 25 per cent of the number of strokes the higher handicap was reduced. Example: Step 1 — Reduce 45 to 25 (10 plus 15). 10 plus 25 equals 35. 50 per cent of 35 is 17.5, or 18. Step 2 — 45 minus 25 leaves 20. 25 per cent of 20 is 5. Step 3 — 18 plus 5 equals a foursome handicap of 23. This is called the Hodgson-Nye System. It i.s a refined version of System B and it partly corrects some of the latter’s faults, so that the criticisms of that sys­ tem apply but in a lesser degree. While it is more complicated, the computations are handled by a chart. System D: Partners are allowed a handicap equal to a varying percentage of their combined handicaps ranging from 35 per cent for combined totals of 0 through 5, to 50 per cent for the maxi­ mum allowable combined total of 80. (The maximum individual handicap al­ lowed is 40, the minimum 0). For each succeeding higher combined total over the 5 level, the percentage allowance is increased two-tenths of one per cent (0.2 per cent). The computation of dif­ ferent percentage allowances is handled by a chart. To illustrate, a combined total of 6 is given 35.2 per cent, 7 is given 35.4 per cent, 8 is given 35.6 per cent, and so on up the ladder. Examnle: Reduce 45 to 40, 10 plus 40 equals 50. 44 per cent (per chart) of 50 gives a foursome handicap of 22. This is the latest revision of the method devised by Richard D. Chapman, of Pinehurst, N. C. It corrects the fault of the decreasing percentage allowance as the handicap spread increases, with the result that the better the playing ability of the two partners, the lower the allowed percentage of their combined handicaps. Conversely, as the combined abilities of the partners worsen, the larger the percentage of their combined handicaps becomes. This is a correction in the right direction, but experience in­ dicates the correction has gone too far and does not give a partnership of two poor players enough of a percentage al­ lowance. Copies of the Chapman chart are avail­ able by writing to Mr. Chapman in Pine­ hurst, N. C. System E: Partners are allowed a handi­ cap equal to 50 per cent of their com­ bined individual handicaps, except that when the difference between the two handicaps is more than 5 strokes, 5 is deducted from the difference and the result is applied as a percentage to re­ duce the average of the two handicaps. Example: Step 1 — 10 plus 45 equals 55. 50 per cent of 55 is 27.5. Step 2 — 45 minus 10 equals 35. 35 minus 5 equals 30, or 30 per cent. Step 3 — 30 per cent of 27.5 is 8.25. Step 4 — 27.5 minus 8.25 is 19.25, or a foursome handicap of 19. This is the original Pinehurst System, according to Richard S. Tufts, of Pine­ hurst, N. C. It was originated some years ago by Charlton L. Becker. Mr. Tufts says that it “has given successful results right along.” However, it seems to have faults common to the previously dis­ cussed systems, and it requires a substan­ tial amount of paper work which cannot be handled by a chart because the chart would be too unwieldy. General Comments: The main aim of each system seems to be to penalize — if that is the proper word — a partnership of two players with individual handicaps quite far apart. The feeling must exist that such a combination has a distinct ad­ vantage over two players of fairly equal ability. To my way of thinking, these penalties have either missed the boat or have created additional inequities. An equitable handicap system should have the following aims: 1. Any combination of two players, re­ gardless of their individual handicaps, should have an even chance of producing a net score equivalent to that of any other two partners. 2. Any advantage a combination of two low-handicap players have over the rest of the field should be leveled out by re­ 20 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 ducing the allowed percentage of their combined individual handicaps. 3. Any advantage the low-and-high handicap combinations have should be leveled out by a similar reduction in the percentage allowances. 4. Any reduction in the percentage al­ lowances should be aimed solely at the low-handicap players, and the extent of the reduction should not depend on the spread between the handicaps of the two partners. 5. The percentage reduction should be more for the low-handicap player than for a medium-handicap player. 6. If the mechanics of attaining the above aims are at all complicated, the system should have a ready-made chart so that handicaps for foursome play can be assigned easily and quickly on the first tee. I have considered several ways of ac­ complishing all of the above aims, and the following seems to do it best: System F: Partners are allowed a handicap equal to 50 per cent of their combined individual handicaps, except that when the individual handicap of either partner is 15 or less, their four­ some handicap shall be determined by applying the total of their combined handicaps to the chart developed by Richard D. Chapman and referred to un­ der System D. The maximum allowable individual handicap shall be 50 and the minimum plus 3. Example: 10 plus 45 equals 55. 45 per cent (per chart) of 55 is 24.75, or a four­ some handicap of 25. (This is more than allowed under the Chapman System (System D), because under the latter, the higher handicap (45) had to be re­ duced to the maximum of 40 before the combined total was applied to the chart.) Under my suggested system, the per­ centage allowance is reduced only when one partner has a handicap of 15 or less and the reduction is greater for a player near the scratch level than for one near the 15 level. Also, the percentage grad­ ually increases as the handicap of the poorer partner increases, and when neither partner has a handicap of 15 or less, they are allowed the full 50 per cent of their combined handicaps in four­ somes play. While this system is untried and still in the realm of theory, I firmly believe it will produce more equitable results than any of the systems discussed above. Should any club have the nerve to try it, I would greatly appreciate a full report on the results, every criticism as well as compliment. Scores to Be Used for Handicaps Handicap Decision 59-2 References: Men: Sect. 4-2 Women: Sect. 14-2 Q: A member had his handicap com­ puted from his last 25 scores, 15 made during 1958 and 10 during 1957. As of April 1, 1959, which is the start of our handicap season, should the scores made in 1957 be dropped and the mem­ ber penalized until he has made 10 scores in 1959 or should the 1957 scores be dropped gradually as the member posts his 1959 scores? Under the USGA Golf Handicap System for Men, Section 4-2, the plural of the word “years” and “seasons” is used. Question by: Ray Lawrenson Adelphi, Md. A: Section 4-2 of USGA Golf Handi­ cap System for Men (Section 14-2 of The Conduct of Women’s Golf) states: “Scores must have been made during the current and the last previous play­ ing seasons or years.” The plural of the words “seasons” and “years” is used to embrace both “current” and “last previous.” The intent is to in­ clude only scores made during “the current playing season or (calendar) year” and during “the last previous playing season or (calendar) year.” The word “calendar” will be added to future printings of our handicap booklet. As your “current playing season” commenced on April 1, 1959, the player’s handicap at that time should be based only on scores made in 1958, which is the “last previous playing season or calendar year,” and the table in Section 6-2b(l) should be used. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 21 THE REFEREE Decisions by the Rules of Golf Committees Example of Symbols: "USGA” indicates decision by the United Slates Golf Association ”R & A” indi­ cates. decision by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Scotland. "59-1” means the first decision issued in 1959. "D” means definition. “R. 37-7” refers to Section 7 of Rule 37 in the 1959 Rules of Golf. Ball Not "Other Equipment" USGA 5844 R. 26-2, 3; 27-2, 3; 40-1,2,3; 414 Q: Do you consider a golf ball part of the player’s equipment? Question by: J. W. Altman Chicago, Ill. A: No. The term “other equipment” in Rules 26-2a and b and Rule 26-3a was not meant to cover a ball. This is indicated by Rule 26-3b, where the phrase “ball and other equipment” is used. Compare also Rule 27-2a with Rules 27-2b, 27-3 and 414; also Rules 40-2a and b and 40-3b, c and e with Rule 40-lc. Mat May be Used As Tee USGA 59-3 D. 31, R. 174 Q: I have for a long time been unhappy with the hard dirt tees on the course which I play. Several weeks ago I found on old tufted bath mat at home, cut it down to approximately a 15” x 30” size and have since been using it as a portable base from which to hit my tee shot. To me, it is an immense psychological aid since it is green in color and helps to cushion my shot as grass would if there were any on the tee. My friends say that it is illegal to use such a mat. Question by: Bruce R. Sherman Nek York, N. Y. A: The Rules of Golf do not prohibit the use of a mat for teeing a ball. See Definition 31. However, a player would violate the provisions of Rule 174 if he were to stand on the mat while playing his stroke. Provisional Ball Played After Wrong Ball USGA 5843 R. 21-3, 30-2 Q: A player in stroke play competition, after hitting his tee shot, elects to play a provisional ball. On his next stroke he plays what he thinks is his original ball. After playing this stroke, he discovers that he has played a wrong ball. He re­ turns to the approximate location of his original ball and, after searching declares it a lost ball. He then plays his provi­ sional ball. Should he: (a) Play the provisional ball with the prescribed stroke and distance penalty? 22 USGA JOURNAL ANO TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1*59 (b) Play the provisional ball with the prescribed stroke and distance penalty plus an additional two strokes for having played a wrong ball? (c) Or has he, by having played what he thought to be his original ball, de­ clared his provisional ball out of play? (This would then necessitate his return­ ing to the tee and playing his fifth stroke.) Question by: Dr. Jose R. Davila Richmond, Va. A: Alternative (b) is correct. As the original ball was lost, the provisional ball became the ball in play; see Rule 30-2. The player must add to his score a two-stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball (assuming it was not played in a hazard); see Rule 21-3. Ball Near Hole in Stroke Play USGA 59-8 R. 4, 35-3b Q: In a stroke-play competition, I am in a hazard less than 20 yards from the hole and my fellow-competitor’s ball is near the hole. Can I request the fellow­ competitor to leave his ball where it is under Rule 35-3 so that it may assist me in my play of the hole? Question by: Don Collett Coronado, Cal. A: It is a basic principle of stroke play that one ball shall not assist another. When a fellow-competitor’s ball might, assist a competitor, as in the circum­ stances cited, the fellow-competitor has a moral obligation to the rest of the field to exercise the option given him in Rule 35-3b and play first. . If a competitor and fellow-competitor were to agree to violate this basic prin­ ciple, we would invoke Rule 4 and dis­ qualify both. Honor Decided by Net Score USGA 59-9 R. 12-la Q: A and B are playing match play, B to receive strokes according to handi­ cap. A wins the toss for honor at the first tee and retains the honor at the second tee. Both A and B get 5s on the second hole, but B gets a stroke on this hole, thereby reducing his score to a net 4. Does B get the honor at the third? Question by: Lee Phillips Miami Beach, Fla. A: In any handicap match the honor is determined by the net score of the pre­ ceding hole. This is in accordance with Rule 12-la which provides that the side which wins the hole shall take the honor at the next teeing ground. B won the second hole ac­ cording to the terms of the match. Putt Deflected by Ball Marker USGA 59-10 R. 35-1 Q: In Honolulu scholastic league matches, A requested B to lift his ball, A being away and both balls lying on the putting green. B marked his ball with a wooden tee because he didn’t have a coin. A then proceeded to putt and his ball struck B’s marker (the tee) and was seriously deflected. Both players played out the hole, although A at­ tempted to dispute the hole on grounds B marked his ball with a tee. Would a player’s tee be considered “other equipment” under Rule 26-2b? Question by: Edward F. Chui Honolulu, Hawaii A: Not under these circumstances. A could have asked B to move the tee farther from his line of putt, in accord­ ance with the note under Rule 35-1. Since he did not exercise this privilege he must accept the consequences. Play Completed When Putt Conceded R&A 58/63/55 R. 35 2d QI: On the putting green A has played his third stroke and the ball stops near the hole. His opponent B concedes the next stroke and instead of lifting the ball or knocking it away strikes it and holes out. Can A consider that he has holed out vzith his third stroke? 2: In the same situation, after B has conceded the next stroke, A instead of lifting the ball plays it towards the hole USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 23 and misses. Can B consider that A has completed an extra stroke? 3: In the same situation, B concedes the next stroke but after conceding it and before either of the players have reached the ball to lift it, the ball falls into the hole. Can A consider that he has holed out in three strokes? In general, as will be seen, the gist of the question is whether the ball is to be considered out of play at the very mo­ ment that B has conceded the next stroke, so that anything that happens af­ ter that moment will not affect the game. A: A player to whom a putt has been conceded has completed the hole and his ball is no longer in play. It is, therefore, immaterial what happens to his ball af­ ter the concession has been made. In each of the three cases you men­ tion, A’s score for the hole was 4. (In the third case, it is assumed that the ball had come to rest before the con­ cession was made.) Loose Impediment Portly in Hazard R&A 58/71/56 R. 33-1 Q: In match play A’s ball is in a sand bunker. A tree branch about two yards from the ball is partly in the bunker and partly outside and does not interfere with A’s stance or play of his ball. A’s caddie takes hold of that part of branch lying outside of bunker and removes the branch. What penalty, if any, has A incurred by reason of his caddie’s action? A: The branch is a loose impediment (Definition 17). A’s caddie, by removing the branch, violated Rule 33-1. A suffers the penalty of loss of hole. Disqualification Decides Match R&A 58/83/59 R. 37 Q: A and B and X and Y are drawn to play in the first round of the club four- ball knock-out. The times and order of play are arranged by the committee. A and B are at the starting point on time and after having waited five or six minutes for X and Y agree to play a friendly four-ball with two other mem­ bers who are looking for a game. All four players hit off the tee. As the players walk toward their drives, X and Y arrive at the starting point. A and B and the other two players then return to the tee. A and B and X and Y then play their four-ball knock-out without claim or pro­ test. X and Y win the match. This matter was drawn to the attention of the committee by a non-player in the match and the committee, prior to reach­ ing a decision, would like to have your interpretation as to the correct solution to the situation. At this moment the fol­ lowing queries have come to mind. 1. It appears that X and Y are disquali­ fied under Rule 37-5. 2. It would appear that both pairs might be disqualified under Rule 4 by agreeing to waive the Rules of Golf, i.e. agreeing to play the match after X and Y were late. 3. In the event of X and Y being dis­ qualified under Rule 37-5, is the match thereupon at an end and the further pos­ sibilities of penalty and/or disqualifica­ tion abandoned? A: X and Y by failing to arrive at the starting point at the appointed time should be disqualified and A and B de­ clared the winners. The match was then decided and any agreement to play could not affect the issue. No disqualification under Rule 4 arises. Back of Club May Be Used R&A 58/93/64 Rule 2-1, 2; 19-1 Q: One of our members who is more or less ambidextrous has on several oc­ casions got out of a difficult lie by play­ ing a shot left-handed with the back of his club. The club in question is a putter with a heavy flange on the back of the head, a very useful implement for ob­ taining loft. Should he suffer any penalty for using the back of a club which is quite legal as far as the correct face goes? A: There is no Rule of Golf which pro­ hibits a player striking the ball with the back of his club, either through the green or on the green, but the stroke must count. M USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 GOLF COURSE REBUILDING AND REMODELING- DESIGN, FINANCING AND TIME FACTORS TO CONSIDER The USGA Green Section conducted its third annual Educational Program at the Biltmore Hotel in New York on January 30, 1959. The Chairman was Mr. William C. Chapin, Chairman of the USGA Green Section Committee. The Vice-Chairman was Mr. Edwin Hoyt, Northeastern District Chairman of the USGA Green Section Committee. The moderators were, Mr. William H. Bengeyfield, Western Director of the USGA Green Section and Mr. Charles K. Hallowell, Mid-Atlantic Director of the USGA Green Section. Also participating were, Mr. James M. Latham, Jr., Southeastern Agronomist, and Mr. James L. Holmes, Mid-Western Agronomist of the USGA Green Section. The morning session was devoted to the topic, Basic Agronomic Considerations in Rebuilding. The talks delivered by the principal speakers were summarized in the previous issue. The afternoon session was devoted to the topic, Factors Pertaining to Design, Financing and Timeliness in the Rebuilding Operation. The following summarizes the talks delivered by the prin­ cipal speakers: Design With Respect To Play BY ROBERT TRENT JONES Golf Course Architect, New York, N. Y. Every golfer cherishes a fondness for certain courses. Even though he may not stop to analyze why, he recognizes that he has derived a special enjoyment from playing those layouts. It is the business of the golf course architect to discover and to utilize the features that make a course so superior that any golfer playing it instinctly feels the glow of approval and pleasurable excitement. Many courses are designed for penal value alone. In his effort to construct an exacting course the designer completely ignores the average golfer who pays the bills. The prime purpose of any golf course should be to give enjoyment to all golfers, regardless of their playing ability. As far as possible, there should be problems for each class of golfer to solve according to his mechanical skill and mental keenness. These problems should be interesting; there should always be something for each golfer to do, and that something should lie within the realm of his particular repertoire .There is nothing quite so disheartening to the high-handi­ cap golfer as to see before him a problem that is beyond his game and no alternate route open for him to follow humbly. In a situation like this, he can do nothing but play short or head for trouble. Since his game is short enough as it is, to necessitate his playing deliberately short is sufficient ground for labeling inept the strategy design of the architect for that course. Whenever there is a carry, there must USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 25 be a way around the hazard for those un­ willing to take the risk, and there must be a just reward for those taking the heroic route. Without the alternate route, heroic carries are unfair. Without the re­ ward, heroic carries are meaningless. The ideal course, as earlier stated, should demand alertness of mind as well as playing skill, for otherwise the players wall not become absorbed in meeting the series of tests and challenges a golf course should offer. There are two ways of punishing the tee shots, for instance. One is to exact a penalty for a missed tee shot by involv­ ing the golfer in immediate trouble—a bunker or some other form of hazard. The other way is to exact a penalty at the green because the golfer, in playing his drive, has not taken into considera­ tion the ideal way to play to the pin. The reward for the golfer who has thought the hole out and placed his tee shot intelligently is an excellent angle for approaching the green. The contours in the green area always favor him. From another position he would have had to take into account playing his shot past guarding bunkers and avoiding mounds that might have deflected his ball. A course laid out with strategic sound­ ness of this order is bound to be interest­ ing. No matter how many times it is played, it is always a new and refreshing challenge. St. Andrews in Scotland is such a course; its longevity as a Championship course layout fathered on its seemingly eternal verity of its strategy. The longer a person plays St. Andrews, the better he comes to understand the common sense behind its charm. Ted Blackwell, for example, had played the Old Course for 35 years when he sud­ denly came to see that the 16th hole, which he had always considered unfair, was, in truth, as strategically sound as the holes he adored. Blackwell’s grudge against the 16th had been that the fair­ way traps were so positioned that by avoiding them a golfer automatically placed himself in such a position that he had the poorest opening to the green. A long hitter, he had habitually played his tee shot full and well to the left of the key trap called the “Principal’s Nose,” until he discovered two facts in rapid succession. First, there was a SUBSCRIBERS TO U.S.G.A. GREEN SECTION RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FUND, INC. Augusta National Golf Augusta, Ga. Club, Catto & Putty, Bob Dunning, Lionel MacDuff, Metropolitan Golf Writers' Association, National Golf Fund, Inc., New England Golf Association, San Antonio, Tex. Tulsa, Okla. Lynn, Mass. Manhasset, N. Y. Dunedin, Fla. Boston, Mass. Association Connecticut State G< Maine State Golf Association Massachusetts State Golf Association New England Golf Association New Hampshire State Golf Association Rhode Island State Golf Association Vermont State Golf Association Bernard H. Ridder, Jr., St. Paul, Minn. J. H. Watson, Marietta, Ohio subtle pocket, no more than 10 yards long, at the left-center of the fairway. Secondly, after a drive that was placed in this pocket a golfer studying the con­ tours of the slippery green in the dis­ tance could discern from that angle a very, very subtle but nontheless real channel leading to the center of the green. How he could have played the course for so many years with such apparent blindness was something that mystified Blackwell, but he thought that he had at length found the almost hidden key to the 16th. His performances on that hole from that day on appeared to bear out this belief, for once he had placed his drive in that all but invisible pocket, Blackwell almost never failed to play his approach shot dead to the pin through that all but invisible channel. The modern theory in golf course archi­ tecture is to create a balanced hole for various classes of golfers. In the past, a majority of players, who may have been termed average golfers, were punished far out of proportion to their playing skill. Traps were profusely placed in all areas of the fairway so as to catch a shot only slightly in error. Since the tech­ nique of the average golfer’s swing is subject to flaw more often than the good or expert golfers’, he was constantly in trouble. As a result, he was denied many of the satisfactions of golf, and the game last its appeal for him. An analysis of the situation disclosed that, as far as the crack golfer was con­ 26 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 cerned, traps under 200 yards usually of­ fered little or no concern, whereas those same traps were always punishing the average golfer. It, therefore, was judici­ ous to move these traps so as to make the play less rigorous for the average golfer and still not weaken the character of the course for the expert. It was found that in the green area a master trap could be so correlated with the putting area that the hole could be tightened or eased to the extent that the pin was placed behind the trap. In the old penal type of architecture, where the greens were flat and sur­ rounded by a jumble of clam shell traps, the golfer had no choice other than try to play the perfect approach required to reach the green. Since the shot demanded was often not in the average golfer’s repertoire, he realized that he was doomed before he started. With diagonal trapping, wide green tongues and alternate routes to the green, the average golfer can play a shot which he feels is within his range. He must think before he shoots. He must vary the manner in which he plays a hole on any particular day according to how well he is hitting the ball or, in the case of tour­ nament play, according to the circum­ stances of the match. Design With Respect To Maintenance Practices BY WILLIAM F. GORDON Golf Course Architect, Doylestown, Pa. For the past few years there has been a great movement toward lower maintenance costs. Some of the items that are causing the additional costs on our courses today are steep slopes and banks around greens, tees and bunkers, extreme undulations on greens, greens too large or too small, poor soil mixtures on greens, improper surface and sub­ drainage, too little or too much teeing area, improper construction, faulty seed and turf mixtures, and bunkers and drain­ age. If it is a new course and you have secured a reliable architect, you can be assured that he is aware of all these and many other conditions not mentioned, and that he will furnish his client with complete plans and specifications which will start them off on the right track. Topdressing and Limestone Dr. J. A. DeFrance, of the Uni­ versity of Rhode Island, is an advo­ cate of topdressing and the use of limestone in the prevention of thatch buildup. Dr. DeFrance says: “A little limestone is needed each year, even when pH reading is good. Dolomitic limestone is preferred in magnesium deficient soils, also com­ post (topdressing) each year to help control thatch.” Regarding steep slopes and banks, all outside slopes on greens, tees and bunkers should not be steeper than 4:1 ratio and in many instances you can increase this to 6:1 ratio. This means that your fair­ way or rough units can then mow these areas with comparative ease. Extreme undulations on greens can and do cause much trouble in green mainte­ nance. It is impossible to get sufficient cup placement area on greens with ex­ treme contours unless the size of the green is increased considerably, increas­ ing the cost of chemicals, mowing and fertilizing. All greens should be designed of suffi­ cient size to receive the shot that should be played to them. The size should vary from 4,500 square feet to 7,000 square feet. This should be the target for the player to shoot at and should include a collar of not more than three feet for turning of mowers. The putting green bunkers should tie directly into this area and leave no area for fairway mowers, heavy equipment, electric, gas, or hand driven caddy carts. Rules should be set up controlling use of both power and hand drawn carts, so there will be a minimum of damage. If a study of your greens is made with this in mind you will show a great saving in your mainte­ nance costs. Poor soil mixtures on greens are a cause of costly maintenance. On a new course be sure of your mixture and go USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 27 ahead with it. On the old courses if these conditions exist do not fool with them any longer. Set up a plan to change them as soon as possible. Improper surface and sub-drainage cre­ ates problems. You can solve your turf problems and allow for greater cup place­ ment area if, on surface drainage, you adhere to the following: surface slopes and gradients should not exceed one foot in thirty-five feet, or be flatter than one foot in fifty feet; green surfaces should drain off in two or more areas; avoid all pockets and low areas. Some exceptions are terraces and un­ dulations to protect green bunkers. Here again, they should be gentle slopes. A putt properly stroked should not gain or pick up speed due to the gradient, except in the case of a terrace and then it should be at normal speed around the cup. Sub-drainage should be used only if your soil conditions demand it. Good drainage will be a cure for many ills. Do not hesitate to go onto existing greens and lift a strip of sod, dig a ditch, or in­ stall tile and stone to correct areas that are giving trouble. Teeing areas give clubs a great deal of trouble and all courses should make every effort to establish ample sized tees properly located and constructed. Every hole should have at least 3,000 square feet of teeing area. It would be better if they could have 4,000 square feet—3,000 square feet in regular tee, 500 square feet in ladies tee and 500 square feet in cham­ pionship or long tee. With 4,000 square feet of teeing area there should be no unusual problems, and a minimum of maintenance. Tees should be constructed as near to the existing ground level as possible, and should be surface drained. The gradient should not be greater than one foot to one hundred feet, falling to the front if shot is downgrade, and falling to the back if shot is uphill. If a tee has to be raised, all outside slopes should be 4:1 ratio. A great deal of the trouble on our 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, Scot­ land. Booklet, 25 cents (special rates for quan­ tity orders, more than 500). USGA GOLF HANDICAP SYSTEM FOR MEN, containing recommendations for computing USGA Handicap and for rating courses. Book­ let, 25 cents. USGA Slide Rule Handicapper, 25 cents. Poster, 10 cents. THE CONDUCT OF WOMEN'S GOLF, contain­ ing suggestions for guidance in the conduct of women's golf in clubs and associations, in­ cluding tournament procedure, handicapping and course rating. 25 cents. USGA Slide Rule Handicapper, 25 cents. Poster, 10 cents. HANDICAPPING THE UNHANDICAPPED, a reprint of a USGA Journal article explaining the Callaway System of automatic handicap­ ping for occasional players in a single tour­ nament. No charge. TOURNAMENTS FOR YOUR CLUB, a reprint of a USGA Journal article detailing various types of competitions. No charge. PREPARING THE COURSE FOR A COMPETI­ TION, a reprint of a USGA Journal article by John P. English. No charge. PROTECTION OF PERSONS AGAINST LIGHT­ NING ON GOLF COURSES, a poster. No charge. HOLE-IN-ONE AWARDS. No Charge. LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE AMATEUR CODE, a reprint of a USGA Journal article by Joseph C. Dey, Jr. No charge. GAMBLING IN GOLF TOURNAMENTS, a re­ print of a USGA Journal article by Richard S. Tufts. No charge. WORK OF A CLUB GREEN COMMITTEE, a re­ print of panel discussions conducted by the USGA Green Section Committee. No Charge. HOW TO MEET RISING COSTS OF GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE, PARTS I & II, re­ prints of panel discussions conducted by the USGA Green Section Committee. No charge. MISTER CHAIRMAN, a reprint of a USGA Journal article outlining the duties of the Chairman of the Green Committee. No charge. ARE YOU A SLOW PLAYER? ARE YOU SURE? A reprint of a USGA Journal article by John D. Ames. No charge. A JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM FOR YOUR CLUB AND DISTRICT, a 16-page booklet on organizing and developing iunior golf programs at different levels by the USGA Junior Cham­ pionship Committee. No charge. TURF MANAGEMENT, by H. B. Musser (Me Graw-Hill Book Co., Inc.), the authoritative book on turf maintenance. $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. These 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. 28 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 older courses and on many of the new ones can be labeled “poor construction.” The reason for this is inexperienced men, attempts to save money, lack of funds, and a great many “do it yourself” jobs. When you remodel, get clear and concise specifications and you will not run into trouble. Seed and turf mixtures are giving some clubs a great deal of trouble. Get to­ gether with your superintendent and the USGA agronomist and discuss the situa­ tion and make plans to change to good turf. There is no use maintaining turf not suited to your area. Bunkers, if designed and constructed properly, can be maintained with a mini­ mum of hard work and cost. A study should be made at your course. Remove bunkers that penalize only the high handicap player. Re-locate bunkers to fit the play of low-handicap players from long tees. Check the work needed to maintain inside slopes of your bunkers. I do not recommend that they be deeper than four feet. Sand should be washed up on all slopes. Faces of bunkers should have a slight over-hang or revetment to require a well played shot for recovery. All bunkers should be either surface or tile drained. All outside slopes should not be steeper than 4:1 ratio. Dense wooded areas contribute to poor air circulation and cause a great deal of trouble today. The sad part of this con­ dition is that, in most clubs, to take a tree down requires almost an “Act of Congress”—it makes no difference if the trees are bad trees in need of pruning or repairs, or that they are growing into and spoiling many fine specimen trees. If these bad areas were cleaned out of all underbrush and poor trees, there would be bettei’ circulation of air, which in turn would be a great help to the growth of turf in those areas. Many courses have low areas, pockets and swales which hold water in the spring and fall during storms. These should be corrected either by open swales properly graded or the installation of tile drains. The above problems are responsible for increasing maintenance costs. I would say, make a study of your course and do something about it. A good plan is for the superintendent to make a list of his problems, the professional to make a list of his suggestions, and the chairman and members of his committee should walk the course—not while playing—and make up their own list. Then decide on a pro­ gram to follow and go through with it. If there are problems you cannot solve, get professional advice. Financing the Remodeling Job BY DR. ANDREW P. VIRTUOSO President. Whippoorwill Club, Armonk, N. Y. Very few golf and country clubs have readily available funds for remodel­ ing and reconstruction work. Yet there are certain necessary im­ provements on which the membership can be “sold” even when the money is not readily available. Ways can be found to finance badly needed improvements without endangering the stability of the club. To finance a remodeling project pro­ perly it is first necessary to make a thorough study and cost analysis. Even the most careful estimate will often un­ dershoot the final accounting. Therefore, allowances should be made for contingen­ cies and unforeseen expenses. Since these cannot be accurately estimated in the be­ ginning, an allowance should be made which will cover, at least in part, the costs over estimate. Normally 10 to 15 per cent is reasonable allowance for un­ predicted expenses. Correct timing in reconstruction is all- important, and added expense may re­ sult from poor timing. Remodeling should be undertaken at a time when play is least inconvenienced and when best work results can be expected. Pro­ jects undertaken during periods of heavy play or unfavorable climatic conditions oftpn lead to delay and extra expense. It is important to decide, also, whether it would oe more advantageous to under- USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 29 take the work in one or in several stages. The cost of each method requires care­ ful study, and the program best suited to all requirements should be chosen. Last year, the Federal Excise Tax Technical Changes Act was passed. This should prove of substantial aid to clubs undertaking improvement projects. In brief, it provides that assessments for the construction or reconstruction of any so­ cial, athletic, or sporting facility (or any capital addition thereto) or for the con­ struction or reconstruction of any capital improvement of any such facility are ex­ empt from the 20 per cent dues tax. Therefore, an assessment for remodeling or reconstruction of $16,000 now will be the equal of $20,000 in dues, so far as the impact on the membership is concerned. Other methods of saving or raising money are: (1) short term bank loans, with notes endorsed by at least two re­ sponsible members or officers of the club, (2) bonds issued to members (this method has not proved successful at aK clubs as the bonds usually bear low in­ terest and are often paid by assessments), (3) assessments, levied for a fixed amount as a monthly charge and labeled in many different ways, such as “new projects”, “fertilizing program”, “water system” and “caddie service fund.” There are also voluntary assessments, where members are asked to donate for a specific project or fund. Many times those that derive the most benefit do not donate. Another source of income is a small charge of perhaps 25 cents per round of golf. With a possibility of 13,000 to 20,000 rounds of golf per year on an 18 hole course, this can raise a fair sum. Green COMING EVENTS August 4 U.S.D.A. Turf Field Day Plant Industry Station Beltsville, Md. Dr. Felix V. Juska August 6 Rutgers Turfgrass Field Day Rutgers University New Brunswick, N. J. Dr. Ralph E. Engel September 17 and 18 28th Annual Golf Course Superintendents' Turfgrass Field Day University of Rhode Island Kingston,, R. I. fees also can provide a substantial sum for lesser projects such as extension of tees and path and road improvements. Regardless of the scope of the remodel­ ing projects, the course superintendent and the green committee chairman should cooperate in establishing the agenda for the program. If drastic changes are to be made, consult a golf course architect. A word of caution: Be most careful in wording letters that refer to assessments, so that they strictly conform with the Excise Tax Technical Changes Act. Many club officials will recall the mixup over the tax on lockers. Some clubs tried to get around the dues tax by reducing the cost of membership but compensating for it by charging more foj? lockers. Many of these clubs today are still paying fines and back taxes because of this attempt to circumvent this tax law. The club must be certain that it com­ plies strictly with the new tax law, other­ wise it may endanger its very existence. The Time Factor In Remodeling BY T. T. TAYLOR Northeastern Agronomist, USGA Green Section In considering time as a factor in the remodeling of a golf course, it brings to mind two concepts of time, (1) time as it relates to the duration of the pro­ ject as a whole, or the completion in its entirety of a master plan, and (2) time as it relates to the occurrence of any par­ ticular phase of the project, in other words, timing or scheduling. How duration and timing or scheduling contribute to the success of the master plan is the purpose of this discussion. The master plan may be divided in­ to several parts such as architectural changes desired, financing, preliminary or investigational phases, and the actual construction and planting. The construc­ tion and planting phases of the master 30 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 plan of remodeling are the culmination of the program. Before undertaking the actual work program, those responsible for the work, the superintendent and chairman of the green committee, should be intimately familiar with the problems peculiar to their own conditions and what should be done for the solution of those problems. Some preliminary work or investigation may be advisable in obtaining the maxi­ mum amount of information possible. What grass or grasses are best adapted to the climatic conditions? What should be the physical composition of the soil? What peculiarities of management are required under existing conditions? These are examples of the kind of in­ formation needed. If the answers to these questions are lacking, then the establish­ ment of an observational and test area may be desirable. A putting green, a tee, or even part of a fairway should be suit­ able as a testing area. Several sources of information avail­ able for the initial selection of grass types include experiment stations, golf courses in the area, and the USGA Green Section. The testing of grasses takes time, and it may require a period of several years in advance of the scheduling of the plant­ ing dates to obtain desired information. However, during this period, answers to other questions relating to soil composi­ tion and management may be acquired simultaneously. If it has been determined that it is feasible and economical to grow planting material in a nursery on the property, timing again becomes a factor, both as to duration and time of the planting. To have one’s own source of planting ma­ terial may save time and money, and the uniformity of materials may better be as­ sured, but this may be offset by the necessary delay in carrying out your pro­ ject. Timing is just as important in the con­ struction work as it is in the planting phase of the project, but the scheduling of some of the construction work is more flexible than that of the planting schedule, and much of the rough work or foundation of construction may be ac­ complished during the off-season of play and regular maintenance. This flexibility offers several important aspects: it may be done in progressive stages; it may be done in a late or early season, with perhaps some seasonal limi­ tations such as rain or cold weather; and again, at a time when play is at a mini­ mum. As much of the construction as possi­ ble should be accomplished without dis­ rupting the normal habits of the players and the maintenance crew. Only through orderly procedure can the final stages of construction and planting be accomplished on schedule and within the time limits determined and regulated by weather. It is because nature determines how and when much of the construction and plant­ ing work is to be accomplished that timing becomes so important a factor. Thus, thorough planning is very im­ portant. Having determined certain require­ ments through early planning, one may progress to the procedures less hampered by the limitations of weather and play: establishment of a nursery as soon as the type of grass has been selected and it has been decided to either stolonize or sod, would assure ample planting material when the greens or other areas are to be turfed; the preparation of topsoil, in­ corporating the ingredients of sand, soil and humus in the proportions previously determined; sterilization of the soil and stockpiling at or near the site where it is to be used, if possible, would certainly expedite the final stages of construction and planting; preparation of areas to be used for temporary play would relieve the pressure of work and reduce the in­ convenience to the players if properly timed; the spreading of gravel on the finished sub-grade of greens may be de­ sirable. These are only a few illusrations of the jobs which may be done in between 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 de­ velopment 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 Regional Offices, the McGraw-Hill Book Co., 350 West 42nd Street, New York 36, N. Y., or local bookstores. The cost is $7. USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 31 the more important tasks for which the time requirement is less flexible. Reference has been made to duration as one concept of time in the remodeling program. The order of the two concepts of time has been purposely reversed in this discussion, with the accent on timing or scheduling, since it is in this area of the master plan that organization and ability to execute the time schedule are of greater importance. However, the du­ ration of the construction and planting period may have a decided influence on the solution of several important prob­ lems most certainly to be encountered: (1) Are temporary greens a part of the plan? (2) Is the work to be completed during the period of one season? (3) Is the work to be done in separate stages of four, six, or nine holes at a time spread over several seasons? (4) What is the case for and against temporary greens? (5) Can sodding “cancel out” the turf establishment time factor? These are questions which have a direct bearing on the time element involved in the accomplishment of the master plan, and they are worthy of consideration. A positive approach to the answers to these questions may more readily provide the solutions. In most cases where terrain permits, temporary greens can be established and they can be made sufficiently satisfactory so as not to antagonize the membership. With the help of the architect, tempo­ rary greens can be made interesting and a challenge to the golfer, with the mini­ mum of inconvenience. Much can be done to lessen opposition from the mem­ bership by the officials and the green committee by stimulating an enthusiasm for the program, and by doing a good job of keeping members informed of plans and progress. Doing nine holes at a time is usually a fairly satisfactory way of handling this problem. The case against temporary greens seems to resolve itself into inconvenience and frustration to the player, increased cost, and loss of revenue. Temporary greens are not usually as puttable as are regular greens and they are sometimes frustrating to the exacting golfer. Tempo­ rary greens must be maintained with the labor which may be urgently needed to keep up with the construction and plant­ ing schedule. Loss of revenue from out­ side tournaments and guest fees, and a possible drop in membership play, also may be disadvantages. As to whether or not sodding can be used to cancel out the turf establishment time factor, it would seem, from the standpoint of duration of time, that it would normally take as long to establish turf in the nursery as it would on the green; but, and this is the all-important factor, from the standpoint of timing and the work schedule, sodding definitely has advantages. Turf density, growth and root development have already been es­ tablished, and therefore the finished greens may be opened for play sooner than if seed or stolons had been planted and turf not been fully established. It also reduces to a minimum, wash-outs and expensive repairs. On this basis the answer is a preference for sodding. Thorough planning with respect to time can help immeasurably in carrying out a reconstruction program that will deny members the use of the golf course the fewest possible number of days. $ * * The fourth annual USGA Green Sec­ tion Educational Program will be held in New York, Friday, January 29, 1960. De­ tails will be announced later this year. What Is Penneross Creeping Bentgrass? Numerous inquiries have been made about the parents of Penncross bent. The following statements have been made by Professor H. B. Musser: ‘Penncross creeoing bpnterass is the first generation (Syn-O) SEED only, pro­ duced by random crossing of three vege­ tatively prooagated strains of creeoing bentgrass selected for this purnose bv the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station. Parent strains for Penncross seed production are identified under the fol­ lowing accession numbers: 10( 37)4—Pennlu creeping bentgrass 9( 38)5 11( 38)4 NOTE: The only name strain used is the IOC 37)4, which has been aporoved and released by the Penn State University as Pennlu. 32 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 IT'S YOUR HONOR | Bermuda Adopts t USGA Handicap System | To The USGA: For your information, the Ber- x 4 muda Golf Association adopted the handicap system with the basic and $ current handicaps in March 1954, A and recommended its use among its ¥ member clubs. A modified version a of the same system was also adopted x for women in April, 1954. The sys- a> tern was not too successful as, even X with our all year round playing ,sea- a son, many members had difficulty in x turning in 50 scores. <•> As soon as it was practical we x adopted the new handicap system <| for both men and women, and the a member clubs are all well satisfied x with the change. The new system a appears to be working most satis- T factorily and players are more con- a tent with the one handicap. % Mrs. T. Christopher Smith, Secretary X Bermuda Golf Association X Hamilton, Bermuda S Handicap Championship | To The USGA: X Recently we formed a new golf or- x ganization here and I was made chair- a man of the Handicap Committee. Af- x ter taking a little out of each system & and using some of my own system, a X monster was created. I must have X gone over 1,500 score cards, hole by x hole. When the smoke cleared away, a I decided to use the only sensible sys- x tern, the USGA. It certainly is the A easiest to apply. x The reason for trying different sys- <•> terns was to see if I could eliminate x any possible edge one may use to keep his handicap higher than it a should be. Of our 500 members only x a few were out of line. I was amazed a and pleased to know that 90 per cent X of the members were interested only in playing in our weekly tournaments x and hope to lower their handicaps. a 1 have an idea I’d like to try. I want to hold a Handicap Champion- a ship of America here in Miami, v The eligible players must have their a handicaps certified by their Handi- x cap Chairmen, and it must be at least X five. I know what a big job I have be- x fore me, but I’d like to give it a go. A a x Frank Strafaci Miami Beach, Fla. 7 NX <♦> To The USGA: Van Zandt Family % | In the November, 1958 issue of A the USGA Journal mention is made a of the late Wynant D. Vanderpool, x of Newark, N. J. a In the history of the Van Zandt 4 family, of New York City, there is an a entry that reads: “Margaret Van x Zandt, wife of Johannes, was born at A Fort Orange. She was the daughter x of Wynant Vanderpool. They were a married on the 20th of October, x $ 1681.” Wynant was used as a first name a for many generations in the Van $ Zandt family. I am the seventh of A x that name. Also in the account of the World a Championship appears the name of x Prince Ruspoli, of Italy, as a member a of the Council’s Administrative Com- x mittee. A Rosalie Van Zandt mar- a ried a Ruspoli, of Italy, many years x ago. A It seems that a dedication to golf x runs through the years, and I in my A scrambling way am trying to main- a tain the record. A Perhaps golf may yet bring the a people of various nations to a com- x mon meeting ground where disputes a may be settled through golf matches, x May the day be near at hand. a Wynant Van Zandt a Mill Valley, Cal. i USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1959 33 USGA OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN PRESIDENT John D. Ames, Chicago, 111. VICE-PRESIDENTS John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. John M. Winters, Jr., Tulsa, Okla. SECRETARY Clarence W. Benedict, White Plains, N. Y. TREASURER Emerson Carey, Jr., Denver, Colo. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The above officers and: Fred Brand, Jr.. Pittsburgh, Pa. William C. Chapin, Rochester, N. Y. Charles C. Clare, New Haven, Conn. Wm. Ward Foshay, New York, N. Y. Harry L. Givan, Seattle, Wash. Richmond Gray, Richmond, Va. Hord W. Hardin, St. Louis, Mo. William McWane, Birmingham, Ala. Harold A. Moore, Chicago, III. Bernard H. Ridder, Jr., St. Paul, Minn. HONORARY MEMBER J. Frederic Byers, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. GENERAL COUNSEL Philip H. Strublng, Philadelphia, Pa. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joseph C. Dey, Jr., New York, N. Y. John P. English, Assistant Executive Director USGA HEADQUARTERS "Golf House", 40 East 38th Street, New York M, N. Y. COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN RULES OF GOLF: John M. Winters, Jr., Tulsa, Okla. CHAMPIONSHIP: B. H. Ridder, Jr., St. Paul, Minn. AMATEUR STATUS AND CONDUCT: John G. Clock, Long Beach, Cal. IMPLEMENTS AND BALL: Clarence W. Benedict, White Plains, N. Y. MEMBERSHIP: William McWane, Birmingham, Ala. GREEN SECTION: William C. Chapin, Rochester, N. Y. WOMEN'S: Mrs. Henri Prunaret, Natick, Mass. SECTIONAL AFFAIRS: Hord W. Hardin, St. Louis, Mo. PUBLIC LINKS: Emerson Carey, Jr., Denver, Colo. HANDICAP: Richmond Gray, Richmond, Va. Handicap Procedure: William O. Blaney, Boston, Mass JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Hord W. Hardin, St. Louis, Mo. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: William McWane. Birmingham, Ala. GIRLS' JUNIOR: Mrs. John Pennington, Buffalo, N. Y. MUSEUM: Clarence W. Benedict, White Plains, N. Y. BOB JONES AWARD: Wm. Ward Foshay, New York, N. Y. FINANCE: Emerson Carey, Jr., Denver, Colo. USGA GREEN SECTION EASTERN REGION Northeastern Office: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J. Alexander M. Radko, Director, Eastern Region T. T. Taylor, Northeastern Agronomist Mid-Atlantic Office: 711 West Ave., Jenkintown, Pa. Charles K. Hallowell, Mid-Atlantic Director Southeastern Office: Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. James M. Latham, Jr., Southeastern Agronomist MID-CONTINENT REGION Southwestern Office: Texas A. and M. College, College Station, Tex. Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson, Director, Mid-Continent Region and National Research Coordinator James B. Moncrief, Southwestern Agronomist Mid-Western Office: Room 241, LaSalle Hotel, Chicago 2, III. James L. Holmes, Mid-Western Agronomist Western Office: P. O. Box 5S7, Garden Grove, Cal. William H. Bengeyfield, Director, Western Region WESTERN REGION