GOLF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 305, 17 May 1913, Page 7

GOLF.

THE NEW RULES. BUSINESS SPIRIT OBTRUDING. (By D. G. Soutar, in the Sydney Sun). During the last ten years the rules of golf have been very materially altered or amended, and in looking for the cause one cannot but recognise that it is mainly because of the different class of men who now play golf as compared with those who played, say, twenty years ago.

At that time golf was mostly played by the wealthy class in England and the artisan classes in Scotland; the middle-class had not the inclination to play the game. But with the coming of Taylor and Vardon the game was' given a tremendous fillip in England, and the middle-class became very enthusiastic and clubs sprang up like mushrooms all over the country. At that time the different railway companies had the places where golf was played marked in red, but after a few years so many clubs had come into existence that it was either a question of marking the whole map red or discontinuing, the system altogether, and they decided to do the latter, as almost every seaside resort, and town of any importance had its golf links. The middle-class, being composed mostly of business .and professional people, "were naturally keener than the average wealthy or artisan player, and, perhaps unconsciously, they applied their business methods to their golfing recreation, with the result that the commercial, spirit was introduced into the game, and there is no gainsaying the fact that it is becoming more pronounced as time goes on. This applies to golf in Australia as i well as the Old Country, and I have no doubt it is so wherever golf is played. It is a great pity that it is so, as a great deal of pleasure is taken out of a game of golf when a match is lost or.won by an accidental or unconscious breach of one of the many rule-i. This applies to all games, and I think will be endorsed by a big majority of players of the respective games. There is no doubt that there are far too many rules governing the game of golf, and they c'ould easily be simplified and consolidated so that a great deal of the old golfing spirit would be reintroduced into the game. At the present time it is conspicuous by its absence. On looking up the questions and decisions by the Rules of Coif Committee in my "Golfer's Hand; ook," I could not but help noticing that a very big percentage of the submitted were from clubs whose 1 isle ry could only he traced back to the l-egmiing of the golfing boom about tw, n(y years ago. That is a fact tint",'peaks for itself, as up to that time .her.-, was very little necessity for a.Rule: of Coif Committee, and while I do not ci usider myself a conservative by any me ins, [ have no hesitation in saying tin t if players played the game of golf i 1 the true golfing spirit, there would t, it be the same necessity for new rules and the questions submitted to the Rub i of Golf Committee would be reduced o a minimum, and in all probability w; '.ild only refer to very technical points Of course 1 do not wish to convey the idea that all the ph ;ers of twen i;y or more years ago play, d the game .n the true golfing spirit, but there is no doubt that there was less quibbling ti.cn as compared to the pre* ;nt day. ,S jmc of the players of thosi days even played "all they knew," as the following little story will show:

Some thirty odd years ago the Carnoustie (Scotland) course consisted of twelve holes, and it was often the case that one player woul ( challenge another to a round, and s imetimes only six holes. One day a match was arranged between two local w irthies, Jockie —— , the local joiner, ami Slater . On the seaside links ;. i Home there are often deep hollows w icre one player cannot see what his opj onent is doing, and Carnoustie is no ex- eption to the rule. It so happened tha . in laying one of these hollows, and 1 he Slater, not being in sight, and his bail not: having too good a lie. he promptly t -cd it up, forgetting or ignoring the fa.a that one of the "spectators" was watching him. The "spectator" promp' ly went and told the Slater what Jockie had done, but got the surprise of his life when the Slater said to him, "Ha .id yer tongue, uion. I'm cairryin' mine " There is no doubt that there must 1 mvc been some "great" matches in those ilavs.

Another thing that 1 noticed while looking over the decisions was that at first the Rules of Golf Committee were inclined to give decisions rather on the equity side, but bitterly they had been more inclined to give a'legal'interpretation, with the lesuh that they have given decisions vhich clash with each other. This m •,' be Accounted for by the inclusion of new i.lood on the committee with more of the middle-class ideas, or else the committee is trving to please all parties—a very dangerous tlrug to do. At present the Ruin of Oolf Committee >s selected from the members of the Royal and Ancient Club of St. Andrews, which is cs it should be, as the Roval and Ancjerit occupies a position in golf

as the Marylebone Cricket Club does to cricket, and the question submitted must be addressed to tbe secretary of the Rules of Golf Committee, who then forwards a copy to all the members of the .committee, f.nd they in turn give their replies by post. This is not altogether a satisfactory way of deci.'ing any knotty point, as no matter how well up in the rules a man may lie, there might be in the rules a point he overlooks, and which would in all probability be mentioned if the members met and talked the matter over in committee. Of course, I recognise that it would l)e very inconvenient for the members of the committee as at present i.onstituted to meet and decide every case submitted to them; hut if the number were reduced from Hi. the present number, to, hay, Ave or seven, and those appointed could find it convenient to meet once a. month, I feel certain that better results would be obtained. NOTES. J. A Clements has decided to go over to Australia in the spring for the Open Cham] lonship. The motor accident which put the coach D. Hood, hors de combat early in March was more serious than was lirst suppo .ed. So far Hood has been unable to do nny coaching, but he is hopeful of being quite fit again very shortly. Golf may appear for the first time in the Olympic Games in Berlin in l!)l(i. In arranging the preliminary schedule of events, the German committee, according to cable advices received in New York, decided to include golf after rejecting cricket.

The Witeora Club's links have been kept busy during the past week, although no competitions have been held. Many of the younger players arc showing good form, whilst several beginners have been shown through thenpaces. Mr. .Standish, president of the Club, is at present indisposed. It is hoped that he will be seen on the links again shortly. The Tarahua Club's links are in first class order. The membership of this club is increasing and many of the new members arc showing good promise. Matches with outside clubs are beiii" arranged. To-day a mixed foursomes'will be played, and on Thursday next there will be a men's bogey handicap, for which entries will close on Tuesday. This afternoon the first 18 of the 30hole bogey handicap for the Ngamotu trophy will be played for by the members of the New Plymouth Club. Members are reminded of the special meeting of the Club to consider alterations" to the rules, the most important relating to country members and the question of charges to visiting players. The grass is now very short, and the sheep are able to keep it down. On Thursday next twelve players will visit Inglewood, and on June 3 it is hoped to get a strong team away to Hawera. A flower garden is being made near the pavilion, which should enliven the enclosure and form a pretty background to the putting green, and' a number of trees are being planted near the sea to stop the sand from drifting. Through the generosity of a few of the members, .the work is being done without cost to the club.