Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1911 — RULE ON SCHENECTADY PUTTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RULE ON SCHENECTADY PUTTER

PKjrTEJZ

/POWIL ry'&ar

That breach between the United States Golf association and the Royal and Ancients of St. Andrews, Scotland, caused by the edict of the dictators of the golf world against “mallet headed’’ putters. Is far from being closed. Although the meeting in Chicago did not insist upon the enforcement of the Royal and Ancients’ new rule, many golfers, especially in the east, are strong for observance of anything emanating from the venerable Scotch organization. The rule bars a lot of clubs that have been used many years, though It doubtless is aimed against only a few of the extreme type, notably the Schenectady putter.

One definition given of a “mallet headed’’ putter is as follows: “One that is wider from face to back than it is long from heel to toe." But this definition Is not comprehensive enough, for many putters now tolerated approximate this shape without actually conforming to it What the Royal and Ancients are undoubtedly fighting against is. the spirit of change with which this country attacks every sport that it takes up. The progressive disposition of

Americans extends to their pastimes. Where the Britons are content to let the games of their forefathers reftiain as they were, the Americans insist on making those they adopt up to date. The Royal and Ancients cling to the Iron putter of their forebears. They do not want the center shafted monster or the mallet headed pretender to dethrone the tools that were good enough for their ancestors, even though Americans think they have proven that the innovations are a lot better than the ancient and obsolete types that existed a century ago. They have changed the ball already in this hustling, bustling country. The old guttapercha sphere once sufficed, but the American manufacturers have found substitutes th»r could produce much better results, and now the market is clogged with a variety of balls, all better than the old one. Americans, for the most part, thinkthat the new clubs are-sure to come, sooner or later. In any case, they can't see the sense In clinging to any instrument that can be Improved upon.