Last Sunday the Rabbits travelled to Glyn Abbey, one of the new clubs to join the league. With our leader picking a team to 'win', morale was high, and the team were in a confident mood. A dual start was the order of the day, with half starting on the first tee and the other half starting on the 10th.
The open fairways seemed to be a hundred or so yards across and being used to some 25 yards in Tenby didn't present a problem for the majority. The trees - what are they? - and ditches were a different matter, however!
Confusion also arose over whether the 150-yard markers were to the front, middle or back of the green; they could have been any choice, depending on the opposing pairing's interpretation.
Generally they were found to be about 15 yards short of the green, according to Eugene's distance finder - what do you expect for a fiver!
Reaching the greens was a problem, putting on them was something else, allegedly! Oh, how blessed we are, and we cannot praise our Tenby greens staff enough - boys you could make a fortune from giving advice.
As the match progressed, signs were not good, whispers of four, three or two down were the norm. What was happening? Our confidence was floundering and morale was beginning to dwindle, the signs were not good.
A fightback was in order and, sure enough, the opposition were starting to be pulled back, but alas the damage had been done over the first nine and despite a spirited performance by our experienced players, defeat was inevitable.
A score of 7-2 was not what our leader or anyone else was expecting, but revenge will be sweet when they try to putt on our superb greens boys!
Praise where it is due to our winners of the day, Messrs. John Cook and Simon Evans by 1 up and also Ron Murphy and our leader Phillip Marsden by 3 and 2 - he knows what partners to pick!
Next week we are away again, this time to Garnant Park, and to those who lost last week, victory is essential you spivvers!
Results in full: Fred Adlam and Dave Moran lost 6 and 4; John Cook and Simon Evans won 1 up; Colin Smith and Ian Thomas lost 3 and 2; Peter Watkins and Mike Anthony lost 3 and 2; Ray Bowen and Stephen Watkins lost 2 and 1; Clive Law and Glyn Price lost 1 down; Ron Murphy and Phillip Marsden won 3 and 2; Tom Pritchard and Eugene Boyd lost 3 and 2; George Pegg and Tom McClean lost 3 and 1.
Ladies' Section
The South Wales Girls' Golf Association held its Spring Meeting at Tenby last Sunday. They could not have chosen a better day for one of their first competitions of the year -it was warm and sunny and the course was in very fine condition.
More than 40 girls representing some 18 clubs in South Wales, from Monmouthshire to Tenby, competed in various competitions according to their ages and/or handicaps.
There were several reductions in handicap - no mean achievement on a championship course - and they are all to be congratulated, but the 47 points scored by Sophie James, of Maesteg, was outstanding.
The winning scores were as follows:
Silver Division: S. Morgan, (Mountain Ash) 79-10-69; L. Hall (St. Marys) 80-10-70; L. Gould (Bargoed) 82-10-72; H. Watkins (Tenby) 82-8-74.
Bronze Division: S. James (Maesteg) 47 pts; S. Anderson (Ashburnham) 35; E. Hunt (Pyle and Kenfig) 34; S. Coates (Pontypridd) 34.
Under 12s (nine holes): L. Staley (Pyle and Kenfig) 59; E. Guerrerrio (Tenby) 60; L. Robb (Vale of Glamorgan) 63.
It was appropriate that the appreciation of the competitors and their families for the condition of the course and the hospitality received at Tenby, should be expressed by Sarah Morgan, who besides producing the best gross score of the day is also captain of South Wales Girls this year.
We wish all the girls continued success in 2002.
B.M.S.