A model of propriety, Brian Waters did not disappoint him as he welcomed the neighbouring Milford gang and proceeded to suffuse the atmosphere with humorous anecdotes - or something similar.
But enough of that. Delighted that the expected heavy showers and inclement weather had by-passed Tenby, yet again, nine four-balls took to the links to search the rough for their lost balls.
It was the two Brians that took to the course first as they competed for honours against George Davies and Herbert Jones. The Milford pair declared that one of the Brians was a bandit, but declined to say which because they didn't want to malign Tenby's seniors captain. It would seem that Brian Morgan and Brian Waters hit a vein of form as they enjoyed the sunshine.
This was a closely-fought contest with each pair holding a one-hole lead for short spells only. Brian Waters had a shot on the 12th and used it to good effect to halve the hole. From then on, the home pair established a lead which they were able to hold on to, providing Tenby with a win to start the day.
Bob Howse and Jack Hasdell were somewhat alarmed on the first hole as they witnessed Dickie Settersfield (a five handicapper) hit through the green for two. Fortunately for them, he took three to get down giving them the chance to halve the hole. They had to really concentrate to keep up with Dickie and his partner, Peter Harries, as they won one a hole only to lose the next.
With the help of Jack's shots, they were one up after nine and then turned the screw to keep ahead in a very exciting match. Dickie drove the green on the 13th and the Tenby pair just managed to halve the hole with a birdie. Most holes on the back nine were won with a birdie or a par. Fortunately, Bob and Jack were able to stay ahead and saw the match concluded on the 16th.
Roy John and David Christopher happened to catch Stan Hudson on a good day as he and Clifton John romped home with four holes to spare. Winning the first two holes in par gave the Tenby pair a good start and they extended that to five up after nine. Stan chipped in from the hill above the 10th hole to demoralise the visitors and Clifton helped turn the screw by winning the 11th with a four, net three. Roy's reply was to birdie the 13th, but Stan reciprocated with a birdie of his own on the 14th. Game over.
Behind them there was a tremendous tussle between Des Stone and Owen Monaghan who were up against the consistent pair of Ken Edwards and Alan Morris. The two Neyland boys obviously play together often as was evident from their discussions around and approaching the greens. Their steady consistent driving and accurate short game gave the home pair much to think about as they opened a lead on the first. This was recovered on the third with Des's birdie, a putt that rattled the flag before dropping. As Des and Owen looked for balls in the rough, Owen remarked that anyone watching would wonder which was the home pair. Two down after seven, they rallied to win holes eight, 10 and 11. Ken missed a short birdie putt on the 12th, but Alan won the 13th with a birdie to bring the match to all-square. A par three on the 17th gave Owen and Des a one-hole lead and they doubled up by claiming the 18th as well.
Billy Hier and Brian Keen thought that they were giving away too many shots as they were matched against Derek Bath and Kevin Pullen. In his usual generous mood, Derek stated that they tried not to use them all. In a match of 'all stars', Billy played well as he and his partner established a four hole lead. Derek and Kevin threw out the rope and lassoed the visitors, reducing that lead to one. On the final hole, Kevin had a chance to halve the match with a long putt, but just lipped out to hand the honours to Milford.
Ken Gouldsbrough and Rod Clarke won the first two holes in their match against George James and Rob Graham and never looked back. In a match with numerous holes halved, the Tenby pair were able to maintain their lead and even extend it with everyone shaking hands on the 15th.
"That's the hardest game I have played in a long time!" was the quote from the in-form Peter Williams as he and Malcolm Arlott fought it out against Peter Ryder and John Laugharne. The Milford lads played really well, enough to give them an early lead. They were all so well matched that it was all-square as crossed the railway line.
Unfortunately, the Tenby pair lost the 16th and 17th to concede the match to a delighted Milford pair.
Dave Morgan kept up his run of good form as he and Roy Morgan established a three-hole lead early on. Geoff Davies and Dom Gianuzzi, however, fought back with pars on the fifth and sixth, as part of a four-hole winning streak. Dave's birdie two on the 12th helped restore some equilibrium and the group found itself all-square on the 14th. The two Roys then offered their guests an honourable half, thinking they could beat a hasty retreat to the clubhouse. Geoff and Dom were all fired up by this stage and declined the offer, thinking they had the Tenby pair on the rack.
They lived to regret it as Roy (without Trigger) and Roy (of the Rovers) reopened the lead and this time did not relinquish it as they finished two up.
"Alan played very well," quoted David Evans, "and I was fairly brilliant - on two holes only, that is."
This pair had a fairly comfortable time as their opponents, Jacky Jenkins and Ken Roper, just couldn't cope with the Tenby challenge. There was a search for a ball, or even two, on almost every hole on the course as the home pair established a lead that they were able to maintain throughout the match.
Inside the clubhouse the scores were almost forgotten as the wine flowed, good food was consumed and laughter prevailed prior to the words of wisdom from the two captains. Winning a prize in this week's charity raffle were Bob Howse, Rod Clarke, Roy Morgan and Peter Ryder.
Results: B. Waters and B. Morgan beat G. Davies and H. Jones by 4 and 2; B. Howse and J. Hasdell beat D. Settersfield and P. Harries by 3 and 2; S. Hudson and C. John beat R. John and D. Christopher by 5 and 2; D. Stone and O. Monaghan beat K. Edwards and A. Morris by 2; K. Pullen and D. Bath lost to B. Hier and B. Keen by 1; K. Gouldsbrough and R. Clarke beat G. James and R. Graham by 4 and 3; P. Williams and M. Arlott lost to P. Ryder and J. Laugharne by 2 and 1; D. Morgan and R. Morgan beat G. Davies and D. Gianuzzi b 2; A. Yates and D. Evans beat J. Jenkins and K. Roper by 6 and 5.
D.J.S.