On the other hand, there was a very serious danger that American players, with their half digested notions of golf and their knowledge of most inferior courses, should go about to make some very radical changes in the rules and practice of the game. In fact, a tendency in that direction was noticeable when a rule was made that a ball might be lifted and teed in match play as it may be in playing a medal competition. Here at the outstart was a direct blow at the ruling principle of match play - which is the real game of golf - that the ball must be played wherever it lies, unless it be in water. The new rule has since been rescinded, and no farther attempt has been made to alter the St. Andrews rules as they stand.

The Late Theodore A. Havemeyer First President U. S. G. A.

The only reason why this danger has been averted is that a national association was formed before any havoc could be created, and a committee elected, composed of men who had the best interests of the game at heart. The first president was the late Theodore A. Havemeyer, of whose services to golf and to amateur sport in general it is hard to speak dispassionately. It is seldom that a man of affairs, whose administrative powers have been developed in the control of a great corporation, is willing to devote a large share of his time and care to the interests of a game. When this administrative ability is combined with the most lovable characteristics of a gentleman and a sportsman, it will be understood that the National Golf Association was extraordinarily fortunate in the selection of its first president. By his recent death, every golf player in this country sustained a great and irreparable loss. But in the two years of his control he was able to place the governing body upon so firm and immovable a basis, and his influence was so strong in preserving the true spirit of the game, that even his untimely departure could not spoil the complete value of his work. There is but little doubt that had a weaker hand been at the helm during the young days of the association, many radical changes might have been made in the rules which would have made a gulf between the American and British golfers, and in the end might have been found entirely unnecessary. As it is, nothing has been done which could offend the most conservative spirit, nor is any action likely to be taken in the future which will bring about a development of the game along divergent lines in the two countries.

It would be beyond the scope of the present work to dwell upon the merits of the men who, as members of the executive committee, assisted Mr. Havemeyer in his good work; and vet one word must be said in passing recognition of the services done to golf in this country by Mr. Charles B. Macdonald, whose energy of purpose and fine instinct for the best points in the game have constituted him the arch-pioneer of golf in America; by Mr. Henry O. Tall madge, the most indefatigable of secretaries; by Mr. Laurence Curtis, whose clear judgment proved invaluable in preparing the new edition of the rules; and by Mr. Par-rish, who would certainly be elected treasurer for life if he could only be induced to take the office.

Mr. H. O. Tallmadge First Secretary U. S. G. A.

The attitude assumed by these men in the government of the association must have come in the way of a revelation to all British players, who are apt to have preconceived notions on the subject of American rashness and scorn for tradition. Not only has the spirit, but even the letter of the game been preserved with the most scrupulous care; and yet at the same time new suggestions have been admitted of such excellent propriety that even in the short space of three years American golfers have been able to offer hints upon which the more inert and less organized body of players in Great Britain will be compelled to act.

Laurence Curtis R. H. Thomas C. B. Macdonald R. B. Kerr S. L. Parrish.

The Executive Committee of the U. S. Golf Association 1897

The Champion-ship Tournaments.

The conduct of the amateur championship meeting was the first instance of the advantage of bringing common sense to bear upon the subject. The system has still to undergo aslight revision before it can be called perfect, but the essential principles of the arrangement are incontrovertibly correct. The weeding-out process is so simple that when it is once suggested, one wonders why it was never introduced before. Not only is it absolutely fair to every one, but it requires that the champion shall show at least a certain skill in medal play, which, after all, is a department of the game. In the second place, it will obviate in large measure the luck of the draw. As things at present exist in Great Britain, a good player may go through one or two rounds without the slightest exertion, if he is fortunate in coming against weak opponents. Under the American system he has to work for his position from the drop of the flag. He must play first-class golf for two rounds of medal play in order to qualify at all, and then he will have to meet in each round a foeman who is worthy of his steel; for among the first sixteen who earn the right to compete there can be very few who have not a good chance of winning outright.

At least one or two changes will in all probability shortly be made in the rules of the contest. In the first place, all the match play rounds will consist of thirty-six holes. Heretofore only eighteen holes were played, until the final round, and there was always a chance of a fluke victory; when every match is decided by playing thirty-six holes, the element of luck is almost entirely eliminated. Secondly, it is proposed in future to draw the first eight of the sixteen against the second eight for the first match play round, so that it will be impossible for a weak player to get into the finals; and also there will be a further inducement for the best players to return as good a card as possible. Upon this innovation I need not lay so much stress. It happens that at present in America there are not sixteen players of equal merit, and there is likely to be a difference of at least a third of a stroke a hole between the first and the last of the sixteen. In a year or two, however, the number of first-class players will have increased so enormously that it will be impossible to name one of the first sixteen who has not a good chance of winning, and so the division of the draw would be unnecessary.