HUGH GRANT - TRANSATLANTIC GOLFER HUGH GRANT

TRANSATLANTIC GOLFER HUGH GRANT

'Notting Hill' star Hugh Grant flies from New York to England just to play golf.

Hugh Grant flies from New York to England just to play golf.

The 'Notting Hill' star is obsessed with game and travels thousands of miles to play 18 holes.

Speaking at the launch of his father James Grant's watercolour exhibition at a Southampton gallery last night (06.09.09), the 48-year-old actor said: "I come out here to play golf, since I'm a golf fanatic."

Hugh also took time to praise his 81-year-old father's artistic skills.

He said: "I'm so proud of my dad - he's been painting all my life. My dad, who lives in London and is originally from Scotland, follows the tradition of Scottish colourists and I really love his colours in these nature scenes."

But James is far less confident in his abilities

He revealed: "I'm only an amateur painter. This is only my second exhibit, and it's for a good cause - the Southampton Fresh Air Home, a camp for physically challenged kids.

"My first exhibit was three years ago in London. It was a benefit for cancer research. My wife died 10 years ago from cancer. My younger son, Hugh, set up that exhibit."

Almost all of the 86 paintings on display had sold by the end of the benefit night.