GOLF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 January 1936, Page 3

GOLF

SHORTER-FLYING BALL (By Air Mail —From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 17th December. St. Andrews have made the significant announcement that “it is essential that the golf ball should travel a shorter distance,” and they have taken the course l suggested in consulting the mauul'aclurers. They have asked the latter to co-operate in designing a hall that will take fifteen to twenty yards off the length of shots, and a conference is to be held to consider the question. It is a problem -which America has found as difficult to solve, as ourselves. Generally tlie makers are against restrictions. 'l'hey hold that they would retard the development of the game, and they are averse from making any changes in construction which would displease the club golfer as distinct from the tournament players. I am Informed that fifteen million balls are sold in this country each year. In addition, there is a considerable export trade, and it is feared that this 'tliight be harmed if a ball inferior in flight were put on the market St. Andrews, too, has always approached the question from this angle, and I do not think they will legislate for the few at the expense of the many. They do not favour the suggestion that a ball for tournaments should be standarised. “There must be only one ball,” they say, ‘‘otherwise there would he hopeless confusion.” At the present time the player lias ample choice, and it is felt that he should not he bound to a ball of oiie design. One curious feature is that by machine test the difference between the ball of 1913 and the ono in use in 1932 was only twelve yards. If it worked out in that way in actual play, it follows that there have since been remarkable improvements in the method of construction and the materials used. The research chemist has undoubtedly produced a much more perfect ball, and one which has added twenty yards to that of 1932. I believe a change is on the w 7 ay, but it will not he introduced this year. In the first place the manufacturers will have to come to an agreement, and this will not he easily reached. In the second, they will require time to make the necessary alterations to their plants. If i! is to be a bigger ball new moulds will be needed, and the makers will be involved in an outlay of many thousands of pounds. They will naturally try to avoid this expenditure, and they will, 1 think, try to reach an agreement whereby the cover of the ball should be made thicker, and the core'less tightly wound. This is undoubtedly one way of curtailing flight.