PRINCE TOPS DRIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 9

PRINCE TOPS DRIVE.

OPENING NEW COURSE. CHEERED BY: LARGE CROWD. SPECTATORS FIGHT FOR BALL The Prince of Wales drove to Richmond recently, says a London paper, and opened the new municipal golf course in Richmond Park. He inaugurated the links by driving the' first ball from the first tee. The drive was not exactly a success, and the Prince himself exclaimed, ** What a rotten shot!" but the cheers of the crowd were none the less enthusiastic. . Some two or three thousand people, among whom were many women, had fathered about the club house when the 'rince arrived shortly after eleven o'clock, attended by Wing Commander Greig. He was received by Sir John- Baird, First Commissioner of Works, and Lord Riddell, who conducted him to the club house, where the members of the committee were presented. •„ ~■,';( : '-;.' :.~, ' Both Lord Riddell and Sir John Baird delivered short addresses, in which they laid emphasis on the importance |of this course as the pioneer of municipal golf in the London area* and spoke of the energy and enterprise of J. H. Taylor, who. was largely responsible for its completion. . ,; • In reply the Prince declared that the opening of the course began a new chapter in the history of London golf. It was the first of its kind to be completed, but he hoped that there would soon be many more like it, and that golf would become as much a national game a« cricket and football. were already. . For any man requiring recreation after the day's work, whether with hand or head, . there was nothing better than a game, of golf. ~ He caused a laugh by remarking that he was about to beat the record, for the first hole, and concluded by paying a further tribute to J. H. Taylor for his work. . Then the Prince and Taylor, with the crowd surging about them,, walked to the first tee. ... . ' Taylor knelt down and teed up a ball, while his brother fi Josh," who is to be the professional for the new course, handed to the Prince a driver specially supplied for the occasion. Looking distinctly nervous, though no smiled bravely, the Prince laid down his bowler hai and stick—-he was wearing un ordinary' grey lounge suit—and had some practice swings. Then he said ' a few words in a low voice to J. H. Taylor, who turned to the spectators and announced that His Royal Highness would present a gold sovereign to the person who retrieved the ball, and returned it to him after he had made his stroke. This was. greeted with load chers by the crowd, who promptly began to press forward and assume the , positions of a big field waiting for the start of a crosscountry race. . ' Amid breathless- excitement the Prince walked up to his ball, addressed it, and, struck off. .'.'... i '< Unfortunately h« both , topped and pulled it well to the left. The ball struck the foot of someone in the crowd and rolled into the fairway. ' \ ~, Men and women were after it like a flash, but the first to. arrive was Mr. E. T. Willison, a young South American railway employee, who is at home for a brief holiday, ' He returned the" ball to the Prince, and pocketed the sovereign handed to him in exchange. ■•'• ; Some argument followed between Mr: Willison and Taylor, to whom the Prince handed the ball, as to its ultimate destination, but eventually Taylor compromised bv riving ' Mr. Willison, a new ball which he autographed specially. committee has decided to mount the Prince s baU. which Taylor will keep as a memento of the opening of the course. _ v The Prince did not play round, but shortlv afterwards entered his car again and ■. drove off toward the • Duk*-and Duchess of York's residence at White Lodge. ; ■ ': ' ' . ;