19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

BACK TO THE MINORS
Sirs:
Say it ain't so, SI. Tell me, please, that The Hambletonian Society, whose race is the epitome of inexpensive family fun and entertainment, isn't really thinking of moving it to Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Park (Tradition Battles Expediency, Nov. 1). Tell me they realize Pennsylvania state law forbids the admission of anyone under 21 to a race track. Tell me they don't really want to take the sport away from us underage devotees and hand it over to materialistic adults. Please, tell me.
JOEL ROBBINS
Havertown, Pa.

?We're telling you. See page 20.—ED.

THE BIG FIGHT
Sirs:
You do well when you stick to the subject you know best: sportology. But you often flub royally when you enter other fields. Now you have entered theology, citing "Biblical authority" to pooh-pooh the David and Goliath story, giving credit to "an unknown named Elhanan who did the giant in" (SCORECARD, NOV. 1).

I would suggest that you and your expert consult this line from I Chronicles 20:5, "...and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite."
LESLIE CONRAD JR.
Pastor
St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Richardson, Texas

Sirs:
The Goliath killed by Elhanan was another man—probably the son of David's victim. Note II Samuel 18. It was another war with the Philistines and David's servants (including Elhanan) did them in.
FRANK A. LAWRENCE
Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Orange, N.J.

?According to The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, there are two accounts of Elhanan's exploit—II Samuel 21:19, which states, "Elhanan...slew Goliath," and the passage from I Chronicles cited by the Rev. Conrad—but it is generally agreed the II Samuel version lies closer to the truth. Many scholars today, the dictionary says, believe the Philistine champion slain by David originally was anonymous and that a Biblical editor later inserted the name of Goliath into the text (I Samuel 17; 21:9).—ED.

PUTT FOR PUTT
Sirs:
I disagree with your statement in SCORECARD (Nov. 1) that there must be something "wrong in a system that would keep the country's best golfer from full membership in his own PGA." To my way of thinking, if it weren't for the PGA and the PGA tour Jack Nicklaus wouldn't be where he is today. The fact that his other commitments are preventing him from completing the full 25 tournaments necessary for his PGA membership should be secondary in importance to acquiring this membership.

The PGA has set up its rules for membership, and many of us have had to go through a far different apprenticeship for five years than Jack Nicklaus has done, and I am firmly convinced we do as much in our way for the game of golf as does Nicklaus. Just because "the country's best golfer" is one tournament shy of completing his requirement for membership there is no reason for the PGA to make a special ruling in his case.

I sincerely hope that when the executive committee meets to decide this issue it will uphold the PGA constitution.
BOB REITH SR.
Minneapolis

COFFEE GROUNDS
Sirs:
Your article entitled A Pop Angler's Guide to Fishing (Nov. 1) was disgusting. Author Bil Gilbert relates how he scooped up fish in a coffeepot when the fish had just been stocked and were dazed, then has the nerve to call this modern and exciting. If Gilbert wanted fish he should have gone to the store and bought them, and left the fish in the streams to the sportsmen.
PETER ACKER
New Canaan, Conn.