1939-07-01 — Page 20

GOLF

THE 14

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 1, 1989

CLUBS RULE

Should Replacements Be Permitted

BORROWING FROM A PARTNER

LONDON, June 19.—In breaking his putter and borrowing that of his partner to continue the round, James Adams, the famous Scottish profes- sional attached to the Royal Liverpool Club, has raised a nice point under the new 14 club rule.

Two questions arise: (1) Does such an act contravene the intentions of the Rule; (2) if so, is the player liable to disqualification in both stroke and match play?

Cambridge University college crews are now busy in training for the May Bumping Races which, curiously enough, took place on the.. Cam this month. Oarsmen in their practice tubs are here seen watch- ing a college eight on the Cam. (Copyright, Fox).

WYATT MAY BE ABSENT

FOR A MONTH

the objects of the limitation rule was to lessen the burden of the caddie, who, in recent years, had been' compelled to Before attempting an answer Adams used fifteen, and, consequently, carry an ever-increasing load of clubs mackintosh

London, June 14,-After an examina- to either of these questions it by a strict interpretation of the Rule, and equipment, such as

he laid himself open to disqualification: clothing, jersey, shooting-stick, umbrel-

Certain tion of the thumb injury which R. E. S. will, perhaps, be as well to quote It is quite certain that St. Andrews la, an extra pair of shoes.

Wyatt, the Warwickshire batsman, re- the Rule recently issued by the never intended a player should be dis-overseas golfers of international

pute, particularly those from the Unit- ceived when batting against Sussexin't Royal-and Ancient Club to the qualified in such circumstances.

ed States, burdened their caddies with Horsham last week, the Warwickshire four unions and other represen-

as many as-twenty-four clubs, a num- County Club announced that it would tative bodies.

ber manifestly ridiculous for any prac-be three or four weeks before he is fit

to play again. tical purpose.

A Recent Case

It is conceivable that a player might The Rule is as follows: "In competi- break, or even lose, two or three clubs tions the clubs used by a player during in the course of a round, and on the a round shall not exceed fourteen, and grounds of equity he should be entitled the clubs carried shall be restricted to to replace the clubs, or borrow from that number. Penalty Disqualifica- his partner, or opponent, as the case tion." Th Rule also applies to private may be. There are good reasons for matches between two or more players, stating that in framing the Rule the though what the nature of the penalty R. and A. had in mind a second person to be enforced if a player is found to carrying spares and special clubs for a be carrying more than the maximum player, and so the word "used" was in- number of clubs allowed is not stated. serted.

-it.

The First Course

ге-

Because of the many accessories it is For their match with Cambridge still possible for a caddie to be over-University-to-day, Warwickshire make burdened, and in this connection Major an interesting change, C. C. Goodway, Forbes-Bell, secretary of the Royal who kept wicket for the county two Liverpool Club, makes the suggestion years ago, is coming in, and Bucking- that, instead of limiting the number ham, the present. wicketkeeper, will of clubs there should be a limitation of also play, it is understood, as a bats- weight, the maximum being 28 lb. Any-man-bowler. thing above that should be charged at the rate of 6d. a lb. By this means many caddies would reap a rich, and not an undeserved harvest.

hensible.

UMPIRE INJURED AT

MANCHESTER

wicketkeeper, was standing at square leg, and Oldfield pulled a ball from Giles straight at him:

The matter is left entirely to the dis- It was Henry Cotton who asked the cretion of the opponent, who has three question, "What is there to prevent me

However, in the matter of breakages, courses open to him. Firstly, he can olaying one set of clubs on the outward claim the match; secondly, he can re-journey at St. Andrews and replacing not an infrequent occurrence on hard stony

London, June 14-A. Dolphin, one port the matter to the committee with them by an entirely different set for ground, and where there is a a view to a stop being put to the prac- the homeward half?" The answer is subsoil, St. Andrews may feel disposed tice; thirdly, he need say nothing about simple. He would have "used" twenty- to redraft the Rule so as to permit of of the umpires in the match between replacements. It seems unfair that a Lancashire and Nottinghamshire at eight clubs instead of fourteen.

There is the case of the competitor player, through no fault of his own. Manchester yesterday, was struck on in the recent Lancashire Amateur should be handicapped by the loss of the head by a ball, and had to leave As regards the first course, it is to Championship who carried the regula-an-important club, though how Adams the field; be imagined that precious few players tion number of clubs, but a relative, came to break his putter is incompre- Dolphin, who is the former Yorkshire would go to the extreme of claiming who followed him round, carried a spare the match and the stake, if any. Such putter, which the player used "alter- action would lay a man open to a nately with the one in his bag. Such charge of bad sportsmanship, the worst action clearly constituted a breach of the Rule both in the spirit and the possible thing that can happen to golfer. The second course, while less letter. objectionable, has a nasty flavour about An interesting point is raised by Mr.. it, because it is tantamount to telling John Duncan, a former Welsh amateur tales behind another's back-an, unfor champion. In his capacity as referes in giveable offence. The third course is one of the foursomes in the recent wo the one that will be followed in the vast men's match between Great Britain and the French majority of cases, because, as every France he heard one of body knows, the carrying of an extra players say to her partner's caddie. club or two is not likely to make all "Come here; I may want to use one of that difference either in a man's play her clubs." Actually she did not bor- or the fortunes of the match. But in row a club, which, perhaps, was for- competitions the matter assumes a tunate for the referee, who confessed totally different aspect; there is the that if the player had loaned a club he would have been puzzled to give a de- Rule, and it has to be obeyed.

3

In the Adams case there was no cision. question of more than fourteen clubs One Of Objects being carried," though more than that

operative.

number were “used.” The vital phrase....Obviously, in such circumstances. in the Rule is: "The clubs used by a the word: "used" becomes player during a round shall not exceed and, therefore, the player would have, fourteen." There is na,,denying that been liable, to disqualification. One of

WHAT FUN!

AND ALL FOR $11.50

SENSATIONAL NEW LI-LO, THE MARVEL.

THE "MARVEL" PROVIDES UNLIMITED FUN. AT THE SAME TIME IT SERVES AS AN EXTRA BED IN ANY EMERGENCY, APPROXIMATE SIZE DEFLATED

DON'T FORGET THE LILO COMPETITION MD, THE CHANCE TO WIN A MORRIS CAR

WHIIDAWAY LAIDLAW & CO. LTD

Gee, boy, if I worked out what the British Amateur Championship.costs me I should give up golf-Charlie Yates.

Cecil Parkin, the old Lancashire and England bowler, deputised as ampire for Dolphin.