Last Thursday's Tenby Seniors match took them on a trip to the Gower for the return match of the previous week. Sensing that they were in for a drenching, as the forecast was for torrential rain, many of them were preparing to give an honourable half and beat a hasty retreat back to the clubhouse. Even en route past Bancyfelin the heavens opened up, seemingly to confirm their worst fears. On the first tee, most players prepared for the oncoming drenching by donning all their leggings and coats. So, it was an amazing turnaround that by the early afternoon the sun came out and many a player finished in a short-sleeved shirt glowing in the warm sunshine. As if to welcome the sun, the players were treated to a fly-over from the RAF Red Arrows. And so to the first match. First out was our captain, Des Stone, partnered this week by Martin Neilan. Gower captain, Ron Brown, this week partnered by Jim Kelleher, was determined to beat Des. The first nine holes were very tight, with the first three holes being halved, before the Tenby pair eventually went two up. Martin, in particular, was in excellent form on the front nine, being kept on the straight and narrow by Des; he had a two on the 171-yard fifth and repeated the dose on a tricky par three 11th. This all ended on the 14th, but then Des took over to put in the finishing touches to seal the game up on the 15th hole, despite Ron's attempt to get something out of the game. Apart from two drives, he played very well. J. D. R. Williams, partnered by Brian Waters, complained that one of their opponents, namely Bob Hughes, gained an unfair advantage by using an offset Cobra 'M' Speed driver that he used like a piston, pumping the ball straight down the middle on every fairway. John and Brian played very well over the first 14 holes, but then collapsed. The Gower pair opened up with two straight pars, a birdie two on the ninth and despite Brian's excellent one over par six on the wicked 10th, they eventually went down on the 17th. The third match was between Jim Martin and Derek Bath, against Tony Pickering and Clive Gammon. Jim was quite shocked on the first tee to learn that he was giving seven shots! The irrepressible Derek (Bubbles) Bath opened up with a solid par four on the first to put them one up. Clive had an excellent three on the fifth to turn this around to one down, but the Tenby pair came back at them to reach the turn, one up. Bubbles put them two up on the next hole, but with loose play over the next few holes they were brought back to all-square coming off the 17th. Jim, who had lost in his two previous away games, was determined that this was not going to happen again. After a good drive down the 18th on the right, he put his second almost pin high, just off the edge of the green. With Clive taking four to get to the green and failing to convert the putt, Tenby took the 18th and the game. According to Roy Morgan, Nick Faldo would not have lived with his partner David Morgan, such was his excellent form. Roy said, as far as his own form was concerned, he was more off than a bride's nightie! Even when Dave drove so far left on the 15th that Roy thought he was Tony Benn, Dave recovered immaculately to put his second shot within four-foot of the pin! Despite dour play from the Gower pair, Michael Ingamells and Dave Griffiths, the Tenby pair took the match on the 17th. The fifth match between Ken Gouldsbrough and John Cook against Dave Madden and John Mills was a very tight affair over the first nine holes. Ken opened up with a birdie on the first, but then found themselves one down after nine. From there on though, the opposition never won another hole, with Ken in excellent putting form. John Cook was as steady as always, but his putting let him down. With the Tenby pair in total control of the back nine, they won the match on the 15th. In a game, according to Doug Harvard, that was not of high quality, his partner Stan Hudson was in good form, in fact excellent on many holes. However, with three holes to play, their opponents, Ray Collins and Ron Holloway, were two up. An excellent four from Stan on the 16th cut the deficit and when Doug holed a six-footer on 17 and a five-footer on 18, the Tenby pair halved the game. Hywel Probert and Colin Griffith were up against it, with the Gower pair, Roy Roberts and Des Hill, playing outstanding golf. With pars not being good enough to win holes, Hywel and Colin were hit by a barrage of four birdies and two pars from the seventh hole, and eventually went down on the 13th. Hywel said, "Colin is a nice buggy driver"! Perhaps, Hywel, he picked up a few tips last week in Monaco watching the F1 Grand Prix. Geoff Aston and Tony Morgan were always struggling against Keith Hickman and Alan Saunders. They kept falling behind and then, having clawed their way back to go all-square, went down again, but could not get in front. Geoff made many visits to the bunkers, and by the time he got to the 18th, another bunker round the green awaited him. Geoff, by now in good bunker form, played an excellent shot from the sand to the green, as shown in the photo (left). Tony had a good three net two on the 11th hole to bring them back to one down, but they just could not up their game enough to square the match, eventually going down on the 18th. The last two matches were void, due to Gower coming up short in team players. Brian Morgan and Newman Vincent played against Lyn Evans, who was on his own. According to Newman, he had problems with Brian, trying to keep him awake on the course. When Brian's chauffeur for the day, Geoff Aston, arrived at his door at 8.45, Brian was still in bed! Brian had not realised they had an 11 am start at the Gower. Newman was a bit upset having a void game, as he had a fine birdie on the long 18th. In the final game, the last Tenby pair played each other and John Hall beat Tony Ranoe with five pars and a birdie. An excellent meal was enjoyed by everyone, with first class service from the outstanding Czechoslovakian staff. Des went on to say how well manicured the course was and how lucky they had been with the weather. He also thanked Tony Morgan and Colin Griffith, standing in at the last moment when he found himself short of players. Results: Des Stone and Martin Neilan beat Ron Brown and Jim Kelleher 5 and 3; Brian Waters and J. D. R. Williams lost to Mike AJ Roberts and Bob Hughes 2 and 1. Jim Martin and Brian Bath beat Tony Pickering and Clive Gammon 1 up Roy Morgan and Dave Morgan beat Michael Ingamells and Dave Griffiths 2 and 1. Ken Gouldsbrough and John Cook beat Dave Madden and John Mills 4 and 3. Stan Hudson and Doug Harvard halved with Ray Collins and Ron Holloway. Hywel Probert and Colin Griffith lost to Roy Roberts and Des Hill 6 and 5. Geoff Aston and Tony Morgan lost to Keith Hackman and Alan Saunders 2 up. Tenby beat Gower 4.5 to 3.5.
J.D.M.