The first matches of this season's Divots Winter League took place last Sunday on a pleasant November morning. The field comprised of a mixture of the usual seasoned campaigners, three of the club's promising junior players, and a handful of recently promoted Rabbits, hoping to prove themselves with the big boys.
The draw at the recent annual meeting resulted in some interesting pairings, and suggests that this year's league will be very competitive.
First off were Richard Chapman and partner Laurence Linsey playing against Gareth Rees and Martin Durham, all experienced players. The match was decided on the 16th hole, with Richard and Laurence taking the points. An excellent start for the winning pair, who have already amassed half of the total points they gained as last year's wooden spoon winners!
Next off were Nick Rogers and Ken Goldsborough playing against Nicklas Thomas and Neil Dickinson. The newcomers were not daunted by the prospect of playing two old hands and Nicklas and Neil won a close match, 2 and 1.
Kenny Breaker and Alan Yates had a convincing victory against Rob Hall and Vince Shaw, winning 4 and 3.
In a hard fought battle where pars and birdies were the norm, Loz Phillips's partner Steve Evans chipped in from off the 16th green to square the match. Enough to eventually earn a half and share the points with last year's Divots League champion Adam Joseph, partnered this year by Graham Waring.
Allan Morton, suffering from the symptoms of Saturday Night Fever, had the added pressure of having to play against his son Richard in the penultimate match. Richard and his partner Nigel Ayers had a comprehensive victory of 5 and 3 over Allan and Gavin (The Walrus) Field-Thomas.
Gavin apparently played some stirring golf to avoid an even greater defeat (so says Gavin), while Allan, after visiting parts of Tenby golf course he never knew existed, had to have the knee high mud scraped off his trousers before being allowed in the clubhouse.
Last off were four newcomers to the Divots League, young gun David Ayers playing with Ian Jarvis against David Douglas-Law and Barrie Frayne. This was another closely contested match with the majority of holes halved in par. It went all the way to the last putt on the last green, with David and Barrie taking all the points in a game which could have gone any way and in which either side would have happily settled for a half.
Results were as follows: R. Chapman and L. Linsey bt G. Rees and M. Durham 3 and 2; N. Thomas and N. Dickinson bt N. Rogers and K. Goldsborough 2 and 1; K. Breaker and A. Yates bt V. Shaw and R. Hall 4 and 3; L. Phillips and S. Evans halved with A. Joseph and G. Waring; R. Morton and N. Ayers bt A. Morton and G. Field Thomas 5 and 3; D. David-Law and B. Frayne bt. D. Ayers and I. Jarvis 1 up.