David and Emma triumph in Argent Cup
Last Sunday saw the Argent Cup being played, with an excellent turnout by both adults and juniors.
With half the combined handicaps ranging from 14 to 36 maximum, some of the players laughed at the number of shots that they were receiving, stating it would be a stroll! The more wisely amongst them knew that it would all even out by the end.
After discussing tactics with their respective partners, most adults opted for the juniors to tee off the first hole, avoiding the long carry, but I'm sure that they forgot about the even longer carry on the eighth!
With the weather being sunny and despite a slight wind, only one pairing came in with more than 30 points, with the lowest score being 10 points.
Winners of the Argent Cup were David Ayers and Emma Guerierro with 37 points, followed in second by Alan Morton and Jason Ronowitz with 29 points and third were Dave Moran and Holly Watkins, also on 29 points, but losing out on the back nine.
Presentation of the trophies was carried out by Mike Argent, who was delighted to see that the competition started by his father was in a very healthy condition.
Junior golf is back to normal tomorrow (Saturday) morning, with the first group starting at 9 am prompt. For forthcoming junior competitions, please refer to your fixture lists and check the notice board in the junior room for the closing dates.
Famous Grouse Foursomes Medal
Thirty-six pairs turned out to await the 5.15 pm shotgun start of the Foursomes Medal competition sponsored by Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky, on Wednesday, June 19. With only a light breeze blowing and hardly a cloud in the sky, the weather was perfect for an evening's golf.
Paul Heywood and his partner Dan Cope had a perfect start, holing out in two on their first hole - the par four 13th - but alas they couldn't keep up the good work and didn't feature in the prizes presented later by Tenby Golf Club captain Allan Morton.
The father and son combination of Oliver and Mark Duckett were the eventual winners with a nett score of 69.5 playing off a combined handicap of 9.5.
In second place were David Roberts and Lawrence Linsey with a nett 73.5, followed by Richard Smith and David Blackmore with a nett 74.
The winning pair, Oliver and Mark Duckett, will now be entered in a draw and could be among the lucky competitors to play in the Famous Grouse final competition to be held later in the year at the home of golf in St. Andrew's, Scotland.
In a similar competition in May, no team managed a '2', so the usual sweep had been carried over to this competition. Five pairs won vouchers to the value of £28.80. The lucky players were John Cook and Meurig Jones, Richard Morton and David Ayers, Julian and Niclas Thomas, Clive Law and Barrie Frayne and Oliver and Mark Duckett.
Completing a 'treble,' the Ducketts also won a voucher for £35 when their names were pulled out of the customary bag draw at the end of proceedings. Bob Wiseman and David Kaye also won a similar voucher.
Seniors hope at Glynhir
Looking for another match win, Tenby Seniors travelled to Glynhir with high hopes, not thinking that anything other than a positive result under the gaze of seniors vice-captain J. D. R. Williams, would be forthcoming, and on a splendidly warm and sunny day things started well, as J. D. R. and partner Roy Gundry finally got their act together with Glynhir captain Gwyn Watts and Alun Davies.
I say finally, because the Tenby pair were not exactly in tune with one another for most of the game, and it was more by luck than judgement, that they finally managed a 2 and 1 win. Perhaps it was the result of wood workers elbow that Roy had contracted that made the game so difficult. J. D. R. put it down to his own skills. Whatever it was, it got Tenby off to a flyling start.
Des Stone and John Hancock were paired together for the first time, and proved a formidable partnership, as they ground out a 4 and 3 win over Ian Ross and David Young. Due in part to the Glyhir pair not firing on all cylinders, but Des was a topic of conversation for a time, as he put Tenby 3 up at the 12th, a long par 4 that he just missed his birdie putt on.
Ken Fletcher and Derek Bath took an extremely solid half, in their game against Huw Jones, and one of the canniest players in the Glynhir side, Austin Thomas. Austin knows his way about his own course with his eyes shut, and is a hard nut to crack, and he wasn't going to give anything away judging by the length of putts being made to take!
Still no panic from Tenby, as the next three games were considered to be, well, not quite in the bag, but a fair bet for positive results. Jim Taylor, he of the broad North country accent, and Brian Waters, were fairly coasting along, but must have fallen asleep somewhere, because before you could say 5 and 3, that's what they lost by!
"What happened," I asked Jim. His reply was quite incoherent funny enough, but went along the lines of them winning more holes than we did. Pretty basic then.
Bringing the match to a level playing field, Vince Shaw and David Morgan got off to a rattling start, by going 4 up after five, and giving Gil Mount and John Balmont quite a fright. Gil said he played awful, but came good after a long putt on the 15th. Vince's remark of falling at the last but one fence from home said it all. David put a very brave face on, and had an extra potato on his plate.
The normally solid pairing of Ken Gouldsbrough and John Bonar, came to a shuddering halt, against Dennis Kenchington and Denzil Roberts. The biggest loss, 6 and 5, they have incurred for a long time, had Dennis observing that he had got the pace of the extremely slow greens.
"We were five down after four," said Ken and John. That took a bit of thinking about, but said it all about their game I understand.
Ron Murphy and David Leeke salvaged a good half against Brian Gingell and Cyril Rees, but only having surrendered a 3 up with three to play advantage, but Bob Storey and new senior Duncan Tombs couldn't quite put it all together against Colin Hopkins and Peter Bourne, and went down 5 and 4, as did Colin Griffith and Roy Morgan, against Bill Lewis and Bill Phelps.
"Bill Lewis was extremely adept on his own course," said Roy, "and by golly, hits a very long ball indeed. He was five yards in front of me every time." Words almost failed me at that point!
Finally, Bob Harris and another new senior, Tony Brant, salvaged a modicum of respect for Tenby, by taking Paul Murphy and Randall Killa for a 4 and 3 win. This was a fine effort by the Tenby pair, who were six up at the turn. Bob was driving the ball out of sight, which must have had a demoralising effect, and especially considering that Tony and his wife Rene had just celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, so there must be something in the local water, or Tony was getting to grips with the course, ready to play in their Seniors Open day on July 25.
But all to to no avail for Tenby, as we lost the match by 6 and 4 overall, but this didn't stop Glynhir seniors captain Gwyn Watts, after welcoming John Williams and his Tenby team, offering John an honourable half, a remark that was met with heart rending groans, so the result stands!
John D. R., in replying to Gwyn, thanked him for the splendid hospitality, and complimented the catering staff for an excellent meal, and the greens staff for the condition of the course, but that the greens had beaten us in the end. Excellent fellowship between our two clubs has been the order of the day for a number of years now, and long may it remain so.
J.B.H.