ALTERATIONS TO RULES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 5

ALTERATIONS TO RULES

Approval At St. Andrews <N.Z Press Association—Cownahti LONDON, Sept. 15. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, Scotland, tonight approved a number of alterations to the rules of golf. The changes, which have already been approved by the United States Golf Association, will come into effect on January 1, 1960. The main changes affect Rule 35 as it applies to the putting greens. The amended rule will permit the cleaning of a ball, the repair of pitch marks, the abolition of the penalty for touching the green to test it and the abolition of the penalty for moving a ball accidentally. It will also extend the penalty of two strokes for striking a competitor’s ball to cover the case where both lie on the putting green, regardless of distance from the hole. Other amendments state that the flagstick must be straight and circular in cross-section. The rule governing dropping and placing has been recast so that a ball dropped in error or in the wrong place may be withdrawn without penalty. A player who has played at an unattended flagstick will now be unable to call upon his caddy or partner to remove it after the stroke has been played. AVONDALE LADIES CLUB.— Avondale foursomes final: Misses E. and M. Moore beat Mesdames A. H. Bissett and E. D. Chambler 1 up. Mid-week flag match: Silver. Mrs C. B. McNatty took the flag to the 18th green. Bronze: Mrs B. Rollinson took the flag to the 19th hole. Best scores: Silver, Mrs A. H. Claydon, 86, 14— 72; Mrs D. A. Gunn, 91. 18—73; Mrs C. B. McNatty. 88, 15—73; Mrs Z. Sowden, 90, 16—73. Bronze: Mrs B. Rollinson. 97. 30—67: Mrs O. Turpin. 93, 23—70; Mrs D. Chambler. 102. 30 —72 WINDSOR LADIES’ CLUB.— Monthly Prosser Cup Round: Mrs I. Thompson, 104, 35—69; Miss N. Doyle, 107, 36—71; Mrs M. Clarkson, 110, 36—74. C Grade: Mrs M. Clarkson. 115, 36—79.