FLOUTED RULES OF GAME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 12, 15 January 1946, Page 5

FLOUTED RULES OF GAME

U.S. PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS CHARGED Recd. 6 p.m. New York, Jan. 13. The United States Golf Association has charged American professional golfers with having flouted some of the game's rules during the war, and has demanded that members return to the best traditions of golf. Francis Ouimet and members of the executive committee in the annual report attacked professionals for carrying too many clubs and waiving the stymie rule in match play. The report added: “We further believe that professionals, on whom many amateurs rely for instruction, should first conform to the rules of the game. We cannot and will not, accept as a champion the winner of any competition not played in strict conformity with the rules. It is none of our business what the Professional Golfers’ Association does, but it is our business to see that golf as a game is played in accordance with its best traditions. We deplore such a disregard of the rules, because they serve no useful purpose and injure rather than help the game."

The report added that the practice of lifting the ball to obtain a better lie had been thoroughly abused. The Professional Golfers' Association president, Mr. Edward Dudley, commented: "Our members are fine sportsmen as well as fine golfers. They deeply resent any insinuation that they are deviating from golf’s fi.ne traditions. We feel that Ouimet's charges are very untimely. Dudley added that the decision to use 16 clubs was made by a majority vote in order to give spectators an opportunity to see the various types ol clubs used. The Professional Golfers’ Association tournament committee had voted to eliminate the sty mie rule from the annual match play championship, in a belief that a stymie was a freak of luck rather than an act of skill. Dudley denied that the practice of improving lies was abused.