NEW GOLF RULES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 34, 3 November 1933, Page 11

NEW GOLF RULES

Simplicity and Clarity

AIM OF ALTERATIONS (Reuters— Special to “Tlie Dominion.”) London, September 28. From January 1 next, a number of additions and amendments to the rules of golf will operate. The Royal and Ancient Club have just ratified the revised code presented by the Rules ot Golf Committee. 'Actually there is nothing revolutionary introduced into the game, the alterations moving mainly in the direction of greater simplification and greater clarity. Penalties in particular are much more plainly defined both for match and stroke play and there is now little margin for errors or doubt in the minds of even novices. - Hazards Defined. A long-standing doubtful point , is removed in connection with the detiin tion of hazards. A bunker is now defined as that part of a depression in the ground where the soil is exposed and sometimes covered with sand, while grass in a bunker is not part o the hazard unless so defined by local rule The definition goes on to say that it is the duty of the authority iu charge of the course accurately to define the extent of the In future a player may lift a loose impediment without penalty aiijwlien except in a hazard. Hitherto, he could only lift an impediment near his ball through the green. This is certainlj a move for the better. - Other simplifications are contained in the following new definitions : A stroke is the forward movement of' the club made with the intention of striking the ball. A ball is deemed to have moved if it leaves its position and comes to rest STl»t M. -be «w definition sol' B th!lt a ball ts loot it’ >< be not found within five minutes attei Bareli has begun, and if subsequently found, either by player, caddie or spectator, it cannot be played. An addition to rule 10 says that a nlaver is not allowed to build • stance ” This rule concerns irregularities in the surface _ when playing U TheS KS an important additionw Bule: U. If a stroke be interfered with by any Obstruction which 1> XrSftVof tteWthe ball may be lifted and dropped, or on the butting green, placed, not more than two chib Feir’ths from the obstacle, but not nearer to the hole without penalty. The new rule will enable a playm whose ball, for instance. is J •shelter or similar structure, to lift an.) drop without penalty. Provisional Ball. It is now definitely enacted that, in the event of a player being undecided as to whether Ms ball has gone o of bounds, he may play as many shots ns he nleases with a provisional ban until reaching the spot where the pre vious ball is likely to bo. It is also enacted, that if a plaxei when making a stroke hit the ball twhe shall count the stroke and puia.t. stroke in addition. i , It was stated at the meeting that m future only questions sent by secretaries of golf clubs to the rules committee would be considered, because the committee had been inundated questions from individual players. The United States Golf Association and other golf authorities overseas studied the draft of the new rules and submitted several helpful suggestions. That the new code will be adopted all over the world seems certain. The R. and A. despite two years investigation. have been unable to answer the question. “What is an amateur.' It is rumoured that the proposals for a new definition were so drastic that several amateur golfers connected with the golf trade would be barred if they were adopted.