PRINCE OF WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 11

PRINCE OF WALES.

REDUCING GOLF HANDICAP. ASSIDUOUS PRACTICE. LONDON, August 21. The Prince of Wales' sporting proclivities were strikingly demonstrated on his present holiday, which was largely devoted to recovering his lost golfing skill. For several years the Prince's handicap has been 16, but recently, to use his own phrase, his game had "gone to pot." Few of his tee shots were successful, although he spent hours at practice and asked the advice of leading English and American experts. Indeed, finally ho found himself playing worse than a 24 handicap man. Then the Prince met a famous English golf teacher, with whom he has been practising at Le Touquet, Sunningdale, and elsewhere, going out every morning with a couple of hundred balls and two caddies. For three and a-half hours daily the Prince hit balls at the rate of ten a minute, correcting his faults until his driving skill returned.

At last he went round the shore course at Le Touquet in two over fours, later showing himself equal to a small-handi-cap player. What had' happened was that the Prince, in pursuit of perfection, had accepted the advice and tuition of all golfing experts, including Bobby Jones, Walter Hagcn and Leo Diegel, and his own natural play was thus ruined. However, his earlier easy style and confidence have now returned. ITo flew to Lo Touquet in his own aeroplane to-day in the face of a 60-mile an hour gale, accompanied by his golf tutor, and put the culminating polish on his recovered skill. COURTESY TO OLD LADY. BROKEN VASE REPLACED. RUGBY, August 21. A charming little incident arose out of a visit which the Prince of Wales paid the oilier day to an old lady tenant of a hostel on his estate at Kennington. The Princo was accompanied by Brigadier-General Trotter and other members of bis suite, and while ho was chatting to the old lady a vase fell from its bracket on to the floor, breaking into pieces. The Prince immediately promised that it would be replaced. Yesterday he carried out his promise, and the old lady received a small statuette in colours, depicting His Royal Highness in hunting attire.