The Tenby Rabbits are approaching the end of their 2001/2002 season having had rather mixed fortunes in the summer months.
The Three Counties Open Day had been staged at Tenby Golf Club and a record 201 competitors had participated on a hot blazing day in July. The Tenby boys had done the club proud in the running of this event and particular praise is granted to the chairman of the Three Counties League, Brian Hartley, for brilliant organisation and leadership in making this event so memorable.
Incredibly, the Tenby team won the coveted team championship, calculated from the best 10 cards from each club, and now carry the shield everywhere in their period of euphoria.
On the other hand, and very strangely, their form in the Summer League in no way matched their form on the day of the Rabbits Open. Their final position in the Three Counties League is lamentable and no good will ever be served by broadcasting to the golfing world any details, for fear of misunderstanding and misinterpretation. However, an encyclopaedia of excuses is being developed and when one registers causes such as 'lost on the way to the match in rural Cardiganshire' then the readers may be satisfied that it is not necessarily the golf that has let the Rabbits down.
Then there are the handicap problems, for the Tenby boys are all fairly low in handicap, whereas our opponents enjoy the sort of handicaps awarded by Father Christmas in his most benevolent mood. Nothing further will be written about the 2002 summer season. It is finished. But that shield is still carried around. It has proved a face saver at times of defeat and proves that one swallow does make a summer, whatever other wiseacres may think.
Having got that off his chest, your correspondent can now turn to reporting the outcome of a closed classic held at Tenby last Sunday. This was the B and H. Trophy now in its 21st year, having been presented by two former Rabbits, David Brown and Tony Hughes, who had enjoyed their time in the society and wished to record their appreciation. Twenty-eight champions were on display.
The day was sunny and still, just the right conditions for low scoring, and the Tenby links were absolute perfection, in presentation and play.
Peter Watkins was in his element on this morning. Driving straight and long, most greens were in range for him to demonstrate his remarkable short game. Always he was on the green in regulation and putting was a formality. His score of 36 points represented par for the course, a job well done.
He then had the ordeal of sitting in the clubhouse awaiting the later scores of his competitors. Tom Pritchard gave him a fright with an excellent 35 points and indeed gave everybody else a fright by the pillar box red outfit he had chosen for the day. So colourful he was that the captain in his speech later in the day mistook him for Will Scarlett of Robin Hood fame, and then muffed his lines.
Giving chase also were Ian Thomas and John Stevenson with 34 points each. John Stevenson pipped Ian Thomas for third place on countback on the last 3 holes, so intense had been their challenge.
Following a very long and totally irrelevant speech by the captain, Peter Watkins took the mircrophone and captivated everyone with his deep and meaningful victory speech. He had played brilliantly on the day and deserved the tumultuous acclamation from members present.
This Sunday, September 15, the Rabbits venture off to Ashburnham Golf Club to recapture the Tom McLean Snuff Box, another classic event with the added pleasure of the presence of the legendary Tom McLean who will make the presentation.
This event will conclude the 2001/2002 season, with the Rabbits' annual general meeting scheduled for Friday, October 4, at 7 pm.
There are still a few vacancies for club members with handicaps of 15.5 and above to join the Winter League starting in late October. Those who are interested should sign up on the list now on the Rabbits notice board, or if they want to know more about it please contact: captain Philip Marsden (01834) 843564; or vice-captain Glyn Price (01834) 812898.
New members can guarantee a warm and cordial welcome to the society.
Tenby's Milford madness
Didn't like the look of the weather, as we of the Tenby Seniors arrived at Milford Haven club last Thursday! Very dull and overcast, with rain sweeping across from the water at regular intervals. But surprise, surprise, it was wet suits off, and dry gloves on after just a few holes in play.
First out was Malcolm Arlott, our wandering Seniors captain returned to the fray, accompanied by a decidedly jaded looking 'Coelin' Griffith who, after the excess of the previous day's Rotary tournament, had to suffer the ups and downs of being buggy-driven. A little green around the gills, certainly not around the greens, they went three down after four against decidedly in form David Christopher and better informed Allan (M. factor) Morris. Allan's expertise off a healthy 10 handicap meant that the Tenby pair had a problem, but Colin brought his powers of recuperation to the fore in the second nine, and managed to hold the score at a respectable 3 and 2 loss!
Ron Murphy and Roy Morgan, who said that Ron deserved better, contrived together to throw away any advantages they gained, and went out to Mike Buckingham and John Laugharne by 4 and 2. Not even the splendid match meal could put back the smiles.
Not firing on their usual four cylinders apiece, John Cook and John Hancock were put to the test by Mike Durwood and Roy Griffiths. It was a one up and one down sort of game for most of the way, and then the Milford pair went ahead for the umpteenth time, by taking the 12th, 13th and 14th. Two down with three to play didn't look good for Tenby, but a nice birdie on 16 kept the hopes alive, but a final putt for a birdie and halved game on 18, just lipped out, and there was nothing else to do, but enjoy the clubhouse conviviality.
Tony Ranoe and Ken Gouldsbrough had a cracking game with Gareth Rees and Harry Porter, and again, it was only a vital putt that lost them the game by the single hole. But Harry said that they wouldn't mention the Orchard hole, which they won with a seven.
"Failure to prepare, is a preparation for failure." Erudite words indeed, and they seemed to work for Milford's Mervyn Philpot and Ron Plummer, as they went down by 3 and 1 to 'in form' pair, Geoff Aston and Peter Hart.
Roy Gundry, no stranger to controversy, had yet another, in his own words, brilliant game, along with Des Stone, against Messrs. Fairburn and Wright. It might not have finished in Tenby's favour though, if one of Milford's members had taken real umbrage over a 'plea' by Roy to remain quiet on the tee! Are all talkative golfers called that? Anyway, it didn't stop them coming home for a 2 and 1 win.
Out of the next five games, only Clifton John and Brian Waters managed to put a smile back on captain Malcolm's face. This was a 9 and 8 annihilation of Milford's John Edwards and John Gwyther! Clifton sad what a nice course that Milford had got, and John Edwards said that it's no joke when on the receiving end of such a score line! But most of us can empathise with you John, as quite a few of us have been on that end at some stage in our golfing lives.
Hywel Probert and Bart Youll, Alan Keating and Derek Bath, Rob Wilkins and Fred Wilks, and finally Bob Parsons with Howard Griffiths, were all those aforementioned 'down the pan' games, although to be fair to these boys, they all had excellent company, and good crack on the way round. What more do you want?
Captain David Christopher, resplendent in his grass green shirt, welcomed Malcolm Arlott and his not quite so merry men after their eight to three loss, and said what a fine afternoon he and his partner had had, but having Colin Griffith 'not quite there' helped a lot.
Malcolm replied on behalf of Tenby, and said that Tenby had played to the Pembrokeshire seniors' rules, that says the home side wins. But conveniently forgot the stuffing that Newport gave us at home! Many thanks to Terry, the steward, and his staff, for the warm welcome, and who gave us such a fine match meal, and to the green staff, who had presented Milford course so well.
J. B. H.
Holly retains Three Counties trophy
The annual Three Counties competition over 27 holes was held at Carmarthen on Wednesday, August 28. Tenby Ladies organised the event, and six from Tenby travelled the distance to try their luck. For the second year running, Holly Watkins stole the show and brought back the trophy once again to Tenby.
The following Friday, 11 girls competed in the Mary Rowell Trophy. The afternoon started off okay, but after nine holes, the girls and ladies were absolutely soaked! Not one piece of clothing was dry!
It was decided to hold the competition over just 12 holes. Runner-up was Rachel Scourfield, but only just, with Holly winning on the back six!
Congratulations to both girls, and Mary and Heather; it wasn't nice out there!
Sophie John won the competition over six holes, with Joanna Rowe in second place.
Thank you to Mary and Margaret for their generous prizes, and to all the ladies who helped on the day.
JUNIOR GOLF
Saturday golf will start back tomorrow (September 14th) - 9 am and 10 am starts as usual. See you then!