GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXII, 25 November 1899, Page 966

GOLF NOTES.

(By

BOGEY.)

There has been very little play this week at (ireenlane, and considering - the state of the links this is not to be wondered at. Indeed, it is almost impossible to play some of the holes on account of the long grass. The Ladies' Cl uh played their fourth match for the Captain's prize last ThOYsday. lit spite of all difficulties Mrs \V. IL Bloomfield proved the winner, with a score of 56, but the other competitors were nowhere. The Special Committee of the Royal and Ancient Club of St. Andrew’s has finished its labours, and presented the new code of rules for consideration by the club. The new rules have been adopted by the club, and are now law. It would hardly be advisable, however. for golfers throughout Maoriiand to discontinue the use of the old rules until the new’ ones have, had some chance of being obtained by the hulk of our golfers. I would suggest that, our newly formed Golf Council should appoint a certain date, way the commencement of the new year, as the date when the new rules shall govern play in this country. 1 presume that next championship will be played under the new rules, and it would be as well that all players should be well up in their rules long before that event lakes place. ,■© ® ® A very few golfers have ns yet seen the new rules. I shall give such parts of the rules as differ from the old code. Definitions: — “Permanent Grass” within a. hazard shall not be considered part of the hazard. “Casual wafer” shall not be a hazard. II a- ball merely oscillate, without finally leaving its original position, if s'hall not be considered to have “moved.” A stroke shall bo any movement of the ball caused by tin' player, or any downward movement of the club made with the intention of striking the ball. “Addressing the ball” shall indan that a player has taken up his position and grounded hiy club, or if in a hazard that lie has taken up his position preparatory to striking the ball. Rule 3. — A player shall not play while his ball is moving, under penalty of loss of the hole. But if the ball begin to move when the player is making his upward or tlowinvard swing lip shall incur no penalty. Certain exceptions are. however, made. Rule 4. —If the ball on the tec be struck when moving no penalty shall Im xvwunr&L

Rule o.— A player may touch his bull with hiu.club when addressing it without penalty. If a player’s ball displace the opponent’s bnll, the opponent, if he choose, may drop a ball (without penalty) as near as possible to the place where it lay, but this must be done before another stroke is played. Rule 15. —A ball in water may be dropped with a penalty of one stroke, but if a ball lie or be lost (1) in casual water through the green, a ball may be dropped without penalty. (2) in water in a hazard. or in casual water in a hazard. a ball may be dropped bethe hazard under penalty of one stroke, (3) in casual water on a putting green a ball may be placed by hand behind the water without penalty; Rule 16. —When a ball has to be dropped, etc. If it be impossible to drop the ball behind the hazard or casual water, it shall be dropped as near ns possible to the place where it lay. but not nearer the hole. If the ball so drop|M*<l touch the player dropping it. there shall be no further penalty. and if the ball roll.into a hazard it. may be re-dropped without further penalty.

Rule 20.—The line of the putt may be pointed out by the player’s partner or caddie, but. the person so doing must not touch the ground. Penalty, loss of hole. Rule 26.—1 f a player, when making a stroke, strike the ball twice, the penalty shall be one stroke. Rule 27.—1 f a ball in play be moved after the player has grounded bis club in the act of addressing it, or when in w hazard if he has taken up his stand to play it he shall be deemed to have caused it to move, and shall lose a stroke. Rule 29.—1 f both sides lose their ball, the hole is halved. Rule 31.—Tf the ball be driven out of bounds, a ball shall be dropped at the spot, from which the ball was played, under penalty of loss of the distance. Rule 34.—Mud adhering to a ball shall not be considered as making it unlit for play. ® ® ® SPECIAL MEDAL PLAY RULES. Rule 3.—New holes shall be made for medal competitions, and thereafter no competitor before starting shall plfi.y any stroke on a putting green. Penalty, disqualification. Rule 4. —The scores shall be kept by a special marker, or by the competitors noting each other’s scores. The scores marked shall be checked after each hole. On completion of the. round the score of the competitor shall be signed by the marker, coun-ter-signed by the competitor, and handed to the secretary or his deputy, after which, unless it be found that a card returned shows a score below that actually played (in which case the competitor shall be disqualified)

no correction or alteration cau be made. ,

Bule 7.—-If a competitor's ball strike himself. his clubs, <>r his caddie, the jtenalty shall l»e one stroke. Huie 11.—All l»alls .shall be holed out under penalty of disqualification. When a competitor’s ball is within 20 yards of the hole the competitor shall not play until the flag has been removed. under penalty of one stroke. Hole 14.—Where in the “Bules of Golf" the penalty for the breach of any rule is the loss of a hole in stroke competitions, the penalty shall be the loss of two strokes, except as provided by the special rides for medal play. ® ® ® ETIQUETTE OF GOLF. I.—A single player has no standing, anil must give way to a properly coustituted match. 6. — Players looking for a lost ball must allow other matches coming up to pass them. 7. —Ou request being made a fhreeball match must allow a single threesome (one player against two) or foursome to pass. A match playing a whole round may pass a match playing a shorter round. It.—ll is the duty of an umpire or referee to take cognisance of any breach of rule he may observe, whether be be appealed to or not. ® ® ® “The Globe” is responsible for Hie following story: —ln a foursome.competition at. Maehrihanisb. one Scotchman of the party, a man of optimistic temperament, always remarked: “It might have been waur,” whenever he put the ball into a peculiarly difficult bunker. His irritated partner determined to rouse Mac Nab from his imperturbable serenity, and said to him when next they played: “Mac Nab I dreamt last night you were in hell.” “It might have been waur.” came the reply pat. “How waur?” said the Englishman. ‘’lt might have been true,” replied Mac Nab; "I might have been there.” The Scotchman ended at. least “one up.”