Thank you for the article about Michael Mullavey and the Perkins School for blind golf students. The opening question, "How do you explain the golf swing to someone who has never had sight?" is the same question we have asked in Alabama.

We have golf schools for children and adults where some have had vision prior to the classes and some have not. It is quite intimidating to think your swing (as a coach) may be the swing a blind golfer will remember and imitate. We have used a swing trainer in our classes as well as a "Stuart" sighting stick (so the sighted coach will not have to bend over hundreds of times and be in the way of the club) for muscle memory. We have had two adults in the U.S. Blind Golfers Association tournaments for the past two years and are quite excited they have qualified. Your article will encourage others to strive for that same goal in their golf programs.

Mary Jean Sanspree, Ph.D.

Research Professor and Director, Community Low Vision

Programs University of

Alabama at Birmingham and

Liz Moore Low Vision Center

Exploring both sides

Like most of my fellow golfers, I have played nearly every round of my 30-plus years of golf with metal spikes. I also have had the joyous experience of playing a spikeless set of greens at Valderama.

I suppose Gary Crist's article ("Through the Green," May) made a modest contribution to this debate, but my legal mind wondered as it wandered through the legal reasoning: Where is the mention of slip-and-fall liability for metal spikes slipping on a concrete floor, catching in the rough surface of a less-than-pristine wooden bridge, or any of the other traction problem situations that traditional spikes create? And what percentage of footing situations involve risks such as these, compared with wet, steep hills?

While my colleagues in the legal profession and the clients who are prone to use our services at the drop of a hat cause the liability issue to loom large in this discussion, the discussion should be balanced and look at the down side of metal spikes as well.

Kenneth W. Lobenstein, Esq.

Mount Lebanon, Pa.

I read with interest the article about going spikeless.

I play five or six times a week and have played all over the world, and I have not worn a pair of metal spikes in so many years I cannot remember when the last time was. The only time I have slipped with spikeless shoes was on a steep downslope when the grass was covered with dew. By contrast, wearing spikes, I was in traction once when my foot was firmly entrenched in the ground and I wrenched my right knee.

The moral of the story is, be careful with either spikes or spikeless.

S. David Saltzburg

Penfield, N.Y.

More to the North story

The Andy North article ("Sun Stroked," May) was told in frank and vivid terms. I truly felt and shared his pain.

However, a postscript to the story seems most necessary. For years, Andy North has done a fantastic job for the American Cancer Society, and in particular the Wisconsin Division, as a volunteer. He has given his time and his talent to fight the disease of cancer.

God bless you, Andy.

Rex Hardin

Toledo, Ohio

Local Rules knowledge

I was pleased to see that Annika Sorenstam attended one of the Rules of Golf Workshops ("School Daze," May) as I have noticed a lack of understanding of the Rules by club professionals and particularly assistant pros.

The sheets handed out by our club for the weekly men's events and invitationals always have the customary statement, "USGA Rules govern all play except when modified by Local Rules." They then go on to say, "The ÔOne-Ball Rule' is waived." I have tried to point out that there is no "One-Ball Rule" unless it is put into effect for a stipulated round. Further, I've pointed out that if it was a Rule, the Committee does not have the power to waive it.

It's not a big deal, but it bothers me as it shows a lack of knowledge of the Rules of Golf.

Jim Hogshire

Scottsdale, Ariz.

An early yardage book?

In response to the story about Gene Andrews and the yardage book in your May issue ("By the (yardage) Book"), my late and dear friend, Chick Evans, told me years ago that players in the 1910 U.S. Amateur Championship collected notes as to distances, favored tee shot placements, hole positions, green contours, etc.

He even scrawled a few notes of his own in a small notebook, he said. This was in response to my question whether there was anything new in golf. His answer was, "Not much."

He liked the yardage book and was still using one the last time I saw him play in 1961, at the USGA Senior Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club. He almost qualified, at age 71, but lost in a playoff.

Chick probably was legally blind at the time, but that is another story.

Bill Inglish

Oklahoma City, Okla.

What about the PGA?

I'm puzzled by the comment that the Mid-Amateur will be the first national championship conducted on the Blue Course at Dallas Athletic Club ("Sweet Sixteen," May). The PGA Championship was played on this course in the early 1960s, won by Jack Nicklaus.

Henry L. Suderman

Austin, Texas

It will be the first of the USGA's 13 national championships to be played at DAC.

A hero since way back

I first heard of Bob Brownell ("People of the USGA," May) during summer visits with my father in Westchester County, New York, in the mid-1950s. I learned that the Anderson Four-Ball at Winged Foot, near my father's club, was the premier of such events in the country and that the team of Ralph Bogart and Bob Brownell had won it enough times to be recognized as one of the outstanding duos ever to compete in that format. Brownell became one of my heroes.

During a freshman orientation "mixer" at Duke University in the fall of 1961, I found myself in an evening meal line next to a beautiful young lady named Tempe Brownell from Bethesda, Md. I asked if she might be a relative of "the famous golfer, Bob Brownell." Tempe broke up in laughter, acknowledged that the famous golfer was, indeed, her father, and asked how in the world a high-schooler from Indiana could have heard of him. She said the inquiry she was used to answering was whether she was related to the then-recent Eisenhower Administration Attorney General Herbert Brownell, and I explained how I had first learned about her father and followed his exploits as best I could.

Tempe Brownell became my lifelong friend, and although I only met her father and mother on one occasion, I remember their gracious hospitality and thinking how fortunate I was to actually have met one of the icons of my favorite sport. Your article explains, if only too briefly, why my teenage hero worship was well-placed.

John A. Cawley Jr.

Elkhart, Ind.

A flyer out of Florida rough

While traveling in Florida over the winter, my wife's golf clubs flew out of the bed of a pickup truck pulling our fifth-wheel R.V.

An officer from the Howey-in-the-Hills Police Department found them, but the only identification was my wife's USGA bag tag. The officer contacted Sarah Taylor of the USGA Member Services Department at Golf House, and thanks to her efforts to reach us while we were traveling in Florida, my wife was able to retrieve her clubs.

This is another fine example of the benefits of being a USGA Member. To all who helped, our sincere thanks.

Howard and

Bernice Roop

Cincinnati, Ohio

Likes the look

Congratulations on the new format of Golf Journal. It is noticeably improved, very readable and significantly more attractive. Thanks to all!

Bob Boling

Alexandria, Va.

You noticed!

Larger than Fort Wayne?

I am writing on behalf of our Parks and Recreation Department-sponsored Senior Golf League. The league started in 1963 and last year's play ended with 407 members. We play on Mondays and Fridays on three city courses. Our players are ages 58 to 86, and less than 10 percent use riding carts.

We wonder if there are any larger active senior golf leagues. Our league also provides many volunteers for the annual Hoosier Celebrity Tournament that attracts many pros and celebrities from all over the country.

We're anxious to hear from leagues similar to ours.

Melvin A. Lorman

Fort Wayne, Ind.

A plea to slow down?

I'm not writing because of the usual complaint, slow play, but because I believe we are headed toward a trend of too-fast play.

I live in San Jose, Calif., where I'm sure we have some of the most congested courses around. I accept that fact, and since I can play during the week, I do so. I go out on Tuesday afternoons so I can enjoy slower play, finishing up with 41Ú2 hours.

However, as the days get longer, it seems we end up with men, in carts behind us, rushing from hole to hole in order to finish before dark. Recently, I was almost hit by a ball while walking away from the green. When it starts being dangerous I think that's a bad trend.

Catherine Larrick

San Jose, Calif.