GOLF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3628, 14 September 1912, Page 9

GOLF.

THE RULES OF COLF. IMPORTANT PROPOSALS BY THE COMMITTEE. (By “Niblick.”) Last May the Royal and Ancient Club, the governing body of golf, gave permission to the Rules Committee to submit certain suggested alterations in the rules of the game. The committee’s proposals are now announced. Perhaps the most important are those concerning ‘lost ball” and “ball out of bounds.” Under the present Rule 21, the penalty in match-play for a lost ball is the loss of the hole. For this it is proposed to substitute a penalty of stroke and distance. In regard to “out of bounds” the current penalty for which is loss of distance only, the committee suggests that the punishment ho inerc: reed to loss of stroke and distance. li this cannot he agreed to they recommend that the penalty be left to b cal rule. In a note the committee intimate that it appears impossible io Obtain (agreement of golfing opinion on tho subject of a suitable penalty for a ball which is “out of bounds,” as the conditions under which the penalty is incurred vary greatly. They are of opinion that the penalty should bo stroke and distance, unless modified by local rule. In the definition of a hazard the committee propose to delete “rushes, inasmuch as they are hard to detiue, and leave them to be legislated fo”, like trees, hedges, fixed seats, fences, gates, railways and walls, by local rule. They also’ suggest that a dub may make a local rule for grassy hollows, and with that end in view the words “unless excepted by local rule ’ are placed after the definition .of a ditch as a hazard. A new definition is proposed. It says: “An umpire decides questions of fact! a referee decided questions of gouing law.” The wording of Rule 2 is improved, without altering the meaning of the rule. The following addition to Rule 4 is recommended.

“A player is entitled at any time during the play of a hole to ascertain from his opponent the number of strokes the latter has played; if the opponent gives wrong information as to the number of strokes he has played he shall lose the hole, unless lie corrects his mistake before the player has played another stroke." It is suggested that Rule IS be altered to read as follows: “If a player’s ball, when in motion, be interfered with in any way by an opponent or bis caddie, the opponent's side shall lose the hole. If a player's ball, when at rest, be moved by an opponent or his caddie, the opponent’s side shall lose the hole, except as provided for in Rules 9 (2), IG, 22 (3), 31 (1), 32 (2), and 33.” The committee intimates that “interofered with’’ will cover the case of a player’s ball being struck by an opponent's ball through the green before the former has come to rest.

Paragraph 1, of Rule 23 (2), is redrafted, so as to avert misunderstandings, which have been numerous in the past . It- now reads: "In order to save delay, if a. player, after making a stroke, be doubtful whether his hall is out of hounds or not, he may at once play another ball, as provided for in paragraph (1) of this rule ; bin if it be discovered that the ball is not out of hounds it shall continue in play without penalty.” In Rule 2d, giving permission to remove stops or planks placed in a hazard by the Green Committee for access to or egress from such hazard, a clause is added giving permission to similarly remove any obstruction mentioned in Rule 11. In regard to disputes (Ride 35), the committee propose that “If the players have agreed to an umpire or referee, they must abide by his decision.” This, presumably, includes a reversal of such decision by the Rules Committee.

In the special rules for match-play competitions the Committee suggests that the punishment for wa:v : ng any penalty incurred by an opponent shall be loss of liole instead of disqualification. They consider that the hitter is too severe. In Rule 1 of the rules for threeball matches it is proposed that a player desiring a ball to bo going in an almost perfectly straight line bofoio any other ball is in motion. Tile rules for bogey play, foundei on the rules for stroke ccmpet-A'.o-i, are offered for accepta-no' by the Royal and Ancient Club, who v. ill consider all the suggestions mentioned above at their business meeting in September.

Belgian Open Championship. The competition for the Open Championship of Belgium was decided at Ivnock-sur-Mer. Many of tho loading British professionals- wero among tho competitors, and tho result was a tio between Edward Ray (Oxley), the British champion, George Duncan (Hanger Hill), and Tom Ball (Raynes Park), each with 144. Duncan led on tho first round with a- fine score of 69. This was the best return for

18 -holes ■during tlFe day. Kay did 71 in tho ftlorning, and 73 in the afternoon, while Ball took 74 for his first round, and 70 for Ills second eighteen holes. Braid, who played tfvo steady rounds of 71 and 74 respectively, was fourth with 145, and J. H. Taylor fifth with 147.

Open Champion Ray’s Individuality. Edward Ray is full of strong individuality, and he makes a most interesting, as well as a splendid chain-' picn. He cares nothing for the conventions. Like James Braid, ho has novor been seen in knickers, always in these days he is seen playing in dark trousers with a knitted jacket, the pocket of which appears to contain numerous tolls and an abundant supply of tobacco. Harry A r ardon is fond ef his pipe, but you very rarely see him smoking when he is playing tiio game. Ray, on the other hand, was never once seen at Muirfield without his pipe in his mouth, and lie smokes furiously all the time that he is playing. Sherlock, his partner on the last day, said that he smoked three pipes full of tobacco while he played tho first eight holes in the fourth round. Golf without tobacco would be an impossibility to him. Then again, ho is never seen playing with any other headgear than a soft felt hat, the brim of which is generally curled down.

Ho is no faddist in the matter of clubs, but he has his pet ideas. One of them concerns the value of steel faces for drivers. His are always oi that kind, and no doubt, considering the force that he applies, they suit his style.

If wo are to believe some of tho critics, Ray owed his victory in the Open Championship to the niblick. The niblick is an excellent tiling in its way. but it is meant to be used for purposes of recovery from a bad shot. That it should tove usurped the functions of the mashie, and in extreme cases, or tho medium iron, is due primarily to the character of the balls which we are obliged to use if we want to win matches against our equals in power and skill. Colossal as Ray s driving was at Aluirfield, and admirable the steadiness with which he laid the long putts dead and holed from a yard, or even two when necessary, the feature of his play was said to be the unfailing regularity with which he put his ball on the greens from any distance up to a hundred, or a hundred and twenty yards, with his niblick.

Skying the Ball, If . illicit processes ox the niblick were the sum total of evil manifest in golf fis now played in the highest circles, there would not be grounds for serious apprehension. But there is worse to come. A gentleman writing from Aluirfield, where he watched the play for the Championship, said that the professionals have discovered that under prevailing conditions the game which plays best is to hit the ball high from its tee both clown and against wind, and to play the long approaches with the most lofted club which will compass the required distance. In fact, it is hardly an exaggeration to say, that they play a succession of swipes with a niblick from tee to hole, since they loft the ball unrestrainedly on each and every occasion,