Wednesday, June 6, saw just one major competition being played on the course. Sponsored by Kiln Park, the Gentlemen's Singles match was contested by 156 optimistic golfers, 136 of whom were visitors.

The weather was not too kind, quite windy with a splash of rain in the afternoon - giving the players a taste of links golf at its most demanding.

Scoring generally was not in the Ryder Cup qualifying category, but the cream usually rises to the top and the eventual winners performed excellently to achieve scores of par or below. The results were:

Nett scores: 1. Mervyn Tucker, Tenby GC, 75-6-69 (back 6); 2. Malcolm Morfin, Gainsborough GC, 87-18-69; 3. Ray Chiltern, Newport GC, 78-8-70 (back 9).

Best gross score: Brian Turner, Sunningdale GC, 73.

Congratulations to past captain Mervyn on his fine win and for flying the Tenby flag. Congratulations also to Brian Turner who is the course manager at Sunningdale and now a firm aficionado of Tenby links.

Twelve players achieved a 'hole in two', each winning £16.25 for a skilful up and down. For those lesser mortals whose golf did not produce prizes, luck certainly did! and three fortunate competitors won £40 each in the bag draw.

After the prize-giving ceremony, the packed clubhouse was entertained by our traditional Wednesday night guest, Wales' premier comedian, Mr. Owen Money. Owen's inimitable style and wicked humour delighted the audience for over one-and-a-half hours and was a grand conclusion to an excellent day.

Over the years, Tenby Golf Club Open Week has become something of an institution and our welcome visitors come from far and wide, many returning for year after year to enjoy the week's challenges and rewards.

The field is truly international and this year Holland was represented by Mr. Toon Geertman and Mr. Derek Schut, of Zwolle Golf Club. Toon is related to Keith Hine, past captain and former president of the club, who visited Zwolle last year and so extolled the virtues of Tenby links that Toon and big-hitting Derek decided to compete this week.

Both have enjoyed Tenby, their golf and Keith's hospitality and will be returning next year - as we hope will all our friends from golf clubs around Britain and Europe.

Thursday, June 7 - General Election day, and a very busy day on the course with four competitions involving 195 entrants, of which 184 were visitors. Conditions were sunny but breezy, and many players took advantage of an early Roger Phillips' hearty breakfast in the clubhouse before launching themselves onto the links in search of glory, silver or perhaps just their ball in the rough! Play started at 07.30 in the following competitions:

1. The Ladies Veterans Stableford, sponsored by Tenby Travel and won by Mrs. M. Gardner, of Tewksbury Park Golf Club, with an impressive 38 points. Second place went to Mrs. S. Payne from the same club with 36 points on a count back over the last nine holes from Mrs. L. Bonar, of Tenby, in third place, also with 36 points.

2. The Ladies Stableford, sponsored by the Pam Pam restaurant and won by Mrs. E. Park, of Camberley Heath Club, with 36 points. Miss C. Lewis, of Burnham and Barrow Golf Club, narrowly beat Mrs. Linda Evans (the Open Week organiser) for second place, both scoring 35 points, but Miss Lewis having the better score over the last nine holes.

3. In the Gentlemen's Singles Stableford, sponsored by Pembrokeshire Training, Brian Davey, of Hennerton Golf Club, was the winner with an impressive 42 points, beating Mr. E.W. Jones, of Wolstanton (41), and Mr. M. Boucher, of Radyr (39), into second and third places, respectively.

4. The Gentlemen's Veterans Stableford, sponsored by Ted Hopkins Ltd, was a very tightly contested affair, with age and experience battling against wind and distance. Mr. B. Triston, of Orsett Golf Club, emerged as the winner with 37 points (back 9 again) from Mr. W. Henson, of Hickleton, also with 37. A close third was Mr. J. Birkin, of Fulford Health, with one point less.

The prestigious Wally Rees Memorial trophies which commemorate the man who introduced the Open Week, generously sponsored by Coastal Cottages Ltd, are presented to the lady and gentleman with the best nett combined score for the singles stableford and the singles medal matches.

This year's winners were Mrs. S. Payne, of Tewksbury Park Golf Club, with a score of 67, and Mr. Malcolm Morfin, of Gainsborough Golf Club, with a 70. In addition to the trophies, they received holiday vouchers from the sponsors.

Many congratulations to both worthy winners.

Nineteen of the above players achieved a hole in two, earning £10.25 each, and three players shared the bag draw at £42 each. The 161 hapless contestants who won absolutely nothing indulged in mutual sympathy, group encouragement and alcohol induced pain relief at the 19th hole.

For all those not actually out on the course, our popular professional Mark Hawkey arranged a demonstration of Callaway equipment, thus the practice area was very busy with members and visitors trying out new clubs in an effort to increase distance and accuracy.

Odyssey putters were also available for testing and a six-hole putting competition with a 50p entrance fee donated to the Juniors Section attracted a lot of interest.

The evening prize-giving was attended by over 200 visitors and members, who later danced the night away to the WoodenTops, told tales of the day's golf with varying degrees of truthfulness and generally enjoyed themselves.

Friday, June 8 - Open Week continued under a new Labour government, who have fortunately not yet imposed a tax on enjoyment! Even the weather held out for the closing day of the event with sunny but chilly and windy conditions on the course. The final day's play consisted of two competitions:

1. The Gentlemen's Greensome Foursomes Stableford, sponsored by Penstar Ltd and contested by 48 pairs, 43 of whom were visitors. By now the players were becoming familiar with the links and a close contest ensued. The eventual winners were Mr. E. Martin and Mr. M. Murfin (whose name seems to grace the winners list quite often), of Gainsborough Golf Club, with a very creditable 40 points. In second place with 36 points were Mr. T. Hooper and Mr. R. Pegg, of Cottermore Club, while Mr. M. Palk and Mr. A. Good from Maple Durham collected third prize with 35 points.

2. The Ladies Greensome Foursomes Stableford, also sponsored by Penstar Ltd, attracted 44 pairs, 38 of whom were visitors. The Tenby Ladies rather dominated this event, with Mary Williams and Linda Thomas securing first place with 37 points after a countback over the last nine holes, while Linda Evans (again!) and Heather Morgan bagged third position with 36 points. Sandwiched between locals were Mrs. A. Watkins and Mrs. A. Ford from Market Drayton Golf Club, who managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory over the closing holes with their score of 37.

Eleven pairs managed to score a birdie two on a par three hole, earning themselves £14.30, and the bag draw was shared between three lucky winners at £33 each.

These achievements fade to grey when compared to the eagle hole in one scored by Mr. Nick Davies, of Newport Golf Club. Congratulations to Nick on his £100 prize, his new Tenby Golf Club tie and his 'drinks on me' bar Bill!

Last but not least in this litany of luck were Mr. V. Morgan, of Haverfordwest, and Mr. K. D. Hodson, of Newport. Their numbers came up in the raffle which was run throughout Open Week by Mark Hawkey, and they both win a magnificent set of the latest Cleveland or John Letters clubs complete with bag, covers and a four-stroke handicap reduction guarantee!

After the prizes had been awarded, the captain expressed his gratitude to all those volunteers, too numerous to list here, who had helped to make Open Week a success. Wishing all the visitors bon voyage, he looked forward to their return next year for a repeat of this extremely enjoyable week of golf.

The rest of the evening was spent being entertained by the 'Be Natural' ladies barber shop chorus, taking part in an old-fashioned sing-along and reflecting on a wonderful week of golf and good fellowship.