Sport: 14 Clubs

At its annual meeting last year, the Executive Committee of the U. S. Golf Association viewed with alarm the “growing increase in the number of clubs.” Last week, what U. S. golfers have been expecting ever since arrived in the form of an announcement: “The preambles to the Rules of Golf have been amended, to read as follows: ‘The game of golf consists in a ball being played from the teeing ground into the hole by successive strokes, with clubs (not exceeding 14 in number). . . .'” The new rule will go into effect Jan. 1, 1938.

From its obscure beginnings, when the only club was a shepherd’s crook, to the present, when most experts and more nonexperts carry golf bags equipped with everything except an icebox, the history of golf has been partly the history of the elaboration of its implements. Famed Charles (“Chick”) Evans, when he won the U. S. Open in 1916, carried only seven clubs. Last summer, Open Champion Tony Manero carried 19, Amateur Champion Johnny Fischer 17.

In last week’s announcement, first reason advanced for the amendment was that “The Committee felt that a multiplicity of clubs tended toward mechanization. . . . It was1 felt that . . . players should not buy their shots in the professional’s shop. . . .” Corollary reasons were: 1) relief to caddies; 2) reduction of delays in play; 3) equalizing conditions between players who can afford an unlimited supply of clubs and those who cannot.

U. S. golfers last week applauded the new rule. Sporting-goods stores politely deplored it. Not the least extraordinary reaction came from Great Britain, where few golfers ever carry 14 clubs. The Rules of Golf Committee of the Royal and Ancient Club of St. Andrews, announced it would recommend a similar amendment at the general meeting of the club next May.