STRUGGLING TO PERFECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 334, 20 April 1928, Page 10

STRUGGLING TO PERFECTION

Prince of Wales Hard Worker at His Golf The Prince of Walts tries hard at golf, hut his wooden club play is erratic and his put ling is had. That is the verdict given hy J. //. Taylor, Britain's “grand old man of golf,” who has played with and watched the Prince play many times. “No labourer ever worked harder than the Prince does when, club in hand, he sets forth to conquer or to die,” said Taylor. “Bis every action is a sign for the clearing of the decks. “With sleeves rolled up above his elbows, and an old Panama hat or cap set rakishly upon his head, the Prince looks, and is, no dilletante.” Taylor even dared to point out the reason for the Prince's ragged wooden club play—an inclination to shut the face of his club when he drives. “His putting is a constant source of trouble and irritation to him,” Taylor continued. “But his Royal Highness is improving j rapidly and he can hold his own with any I s-handicap man.” The Duke of York —the Prince's younger brot placid and persevering, according to Taylor. He Duke-. “Gifted with a beautifully. easy and flowing swing, he hits the ball with smoothness and rhythm; he plays every pari of the ■ game with a delightful touch shorn of every suspicion of roughness or aggressiveness.” After 40 years of observation Taylor has reached the conclusion that men of brilliant intellects have great handicaps to overcome if they desire to rise above mediocrity at golf. He places Lord Balfour at the top of this class of “unfortunates.” “The possessor of such an intellect cannot bring it doivn to the level of simple fundamentals,” explained Taylor. “He is apt to think, no doubt, that a inass of gray matter should be sufficient passport to an understanding of the game. But he is hopelessly wrong."