PRINCE ON GOLF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21579, 25 August 1933, Page 14

PRINCE ON GOLF

CONCENTRATION VALUE TAKING GAME SERIOUSLY FACILITIES FOR VISITORS NOTABLE LONDON DINNER [iftOM OUR OWN CORHKSPONDKNT] LONDON", July 14 The Prince of Wales, as patron and member, attended the Lucifer Golfing Society's dinner at the Savoy Hotel, when the 250-odd visitors from the Dominions and Colonies who had taken part ,in the society's annual tournament were entertained. Tho New Zenlaud competitors were Mr. G. P. Roberts (Wellington), ."Mr. H. Horton (Auckland), and Mr. W. Gregory (Wellington). The High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wiltonl, attended the dinner, and he, with other High Commissioners, presented a trophy for the runner-up in the competition. The tables bore tho names of tho Dominions and Colonies, and at the entrance was one described as "The 19th Hole, for those applying too late." The Lucifer Empire Cup. won at tho annual tournament played this year at Walton Heath, stood on the table in front of tho Prince. Sir Harry Greer, president of tho society, who was in the chair, announced that the Prince had consented to become the next captain of the society. Tho Prince of Wales, who had an enthusiastic welcome on rising to respond, said they were not there to discuss international problems and politics, and lie hoped that tho statesmen and High Commissioners present would regard the occasion as a brief respite from over-powering problems, such as commodity prices, tariffs, and a stablo currency. (Cheers.) The only stabilising problem that there was that night was to keep their heads down and to keep their bodies still. Concectration Necessary Instead of trying to figuro out how they, could raise prices, what they •wanted to do was to lower their score, and ho thought that, although they treated golf as a great recreation, there -was no doubt that to improve one's gamo in golf one must concentrate. Of course, concentration could bo overdone. There was the old saying, "Too many cooks spoil the broth." They could also say, "Too many looks spoil the putt.'/ (Laughter.). . The Prince continued: — Golf should nover be taken too seriously. I heard a story about a prominent American golfer the other day. Ho was invited out to dinner, and when his hostess noticed that he would not take any alcohol, and that ho would not even Bmoke a cigarette, she said to him, 'Do you never do anything that you should not?' The great golfer stopped for a few seconds to think, and then replied: 'Well, X may be short of a long putt once in a while.' (Laughter.) "This Lucifer Club has been in existence for some years now, and there has been great progress in this overseas/ idea. I think it is becoming a great British institution in London. Its objects are admirable, for, besides giving overseas visitors and men from Great Britain resident overseas who come home on leave facilities for golf, without which, I am sure, they would not 'enjoy their leave half so much, tho [Lucifer Club is also giving in this country an opportunity of repaying to some very small extent the hospitality that we who have travelled throughout the Empire have received from every single golf club we have visited. (Cheers.) The Usual Penalty "For that reason I was delighted to accept the position of patron of the Boci6ty. Whether my golf has actually improved or not since then, I got such encouragement at the time that I shot my first hole in one. I might tell you that I travelled many thousands of mifcs to do that. I did it as a matter of fact on tho Anglo-American coffee merchants' golf course at Santos, Brazil, made out of virgin forest. There were a great bunch of fellows there, and I gave them drinks' all round —tho usual penalty. (Laughter.) 1 knew J;hoso fellows at Santos were having rather a thin time, coffee prices wore bad, so I sent them a case of Scotch from the only place I could find it—the aircraft-carrier Eagle." 'lhe Prince, continuing, said he was delighted that their competition at "Walton Heath had been so successful. His last game at Walton Heath was quite an event —at least, tho newspaper men gave it a lot of publicity. (Laughter.) Although his opponent and "he were quite hardened to a certain amount of attention from tho press, they both found it a very great ordeal. It was a very close game indeed. He had to putt very well. Ho certainly admired tho determined way in which Lady Astor battled for the honour of her sex, and found her a .very charming opponent. (Cheers.) - Best Wishes to Friends "In tho last two weeks," ho concluded, "I have been • watching at Southport and St. Andrews some very much better golf than any of us have ever played, and I am sure all of us here to-niglit would like to congratulate tho British Ryder Cup team and the winners of tho cup. We havo certainly to congratulate tho Americans on retaining the open championship I shall bo delighted to bo your captain next year. (Cheers.) I have quite forgotten to tell you that since 1 was in Brazil I have done another hole in one —that was off a driver. It may be that I shall do another one soon. I thank you for the opportunity of saying a few words to golfers from overseas, and I ask them to give my best wishes to bo many old friends in the far-off parts of the Empire." (Loud cheers.) Sir John Simon, in proposing the toast, "Our Empire and Empire Golfers," said the Prince had given them aii account of his recent struggb against Lady Astor, but ho had not really told them how he had won. Ho engaged Mr. Bernard Darwin to describe the match, so that Lady Astor and Mr. Darwin might converse together while he concentrated on tho game. (Laughter.) It was an immense satisfaction to overy British subject to know that tho Prince had fought his way into tho final against tho best of Parliament of both Boxes —playing the game as they all knew he did, asking for -no quarter, and receiving none. ,(Loud cheers.) The Prince later presented trophies to the successful competitors.