This event is always well supported and, true to form, the juniors turned out in style on January 4.
There were 60 of us who sat down to a belated Christmas meal, followed by the prize-giving and some speeches! Ian had done a superb job of organising the evening, and things went swingingly well! The youngsters were on their best behaviour, and so were the adults - well some of them. A couple managed to make a mess around their dinner plate, but not too much was said about that!
The club captain spoke highly of the section, and the outgoing junior captain, Nic Thomas, spoke really well, congratulating Tenby on all their achievements and wishing the next captain, David Ayers, all the best for his year.
Unfortunately, David was unable to attend, but we will be holding a 'hand-over' night, so sorry Nic, you'll have to say it all again!
Oliver Duckett also spoke well, and although it's hard to believe, it was his last junior dinner. The dinners just won't be the same again.
Then came the important bit - prizes. All the children who had regularly attended the Saturday morning sessions and entered the Sunday competitions were presented with a certificate.
The monthly medals went to Tim Hopkinson, Dan Cope, Thomas Headland, Georgia Thomas, Jack Guerreiro, Lewis Collins, David Schooling, Elliot Scotcher, Dan Worley, Emma Guerreiro and Jason Ronowitz.
The Junior Scratch Cup was presented to Oliver Duckett, who also picked up the Paul Hoyland Trophy and the Haf Cup. Thomas Headland was kept busy during the evening and he was presented with the Noyce Cup winners cup and the Southcliffe Trophy, as well as three medals!
Holly Watkins had yet another successful season and was presented with the Duffy Cup, Mary Rowell Trophy and the Millennium Shield.
David Ayers and Emma Guerreiro won the Argent Cup and David also won the Ernie Fitchett.
Matthew Adams won the Under 11s Cup and Jessica Wellum the St. Andrew's Salver.
The older juniors who had competed in the senior competitions were also presented with their trophies by the president, Mr. Childs.
An excellent evening. Thank you to all the staff at the Golf Club for an excellent meal and for looking after us so well. A big thank you to all those adults who attended and support the junior section, but an even bigger thank you to all the juniors for making the evening such a success.
Practice will begin back soon, sometime after the half-term. Keep reading the 'paper!
Phillips's lessons with Ernie put a smile on Dickinson's face!
Last Sunday saw a slightly delayed start to the Divots proceedings, due to a sudden shower, something that our secretary Loz has not been accustomed to over the last month at his training camp with mates Ernie and Retief over in sunny South Africa.
When the rain stopped, and with a queue on the tee, the first game featured Loz Phillips partnered by Julian Thomas, a well capable substitute for Neil Dickinson who was sidelined with a bad back, against Steve Evans, again substituting for Mickey Barrett, partnering Mark Duckett.
Loz proceeded as he meant to go on, hitting a drive that took off, quote "Like a harrier leaving the Ark Royal," ending up down past the bell. With such a display of power driving, it wasn't long before the pressure started to produce results, and by the time the match had reached the sixth green, poor Steve had what can only be described as a senior moment, when after marking his partner's ball, wondered why he couldn't find his marker to mark his own ball. Alas, old age never comes alone Steve!
From then on in there was only one way for this match to go and, despite another fine performance from Mark Duckett, it was Loz and Julian who lifted the gloom for Neil as the results have made depressing reading over the last few weeks, by securing victory on the 15th.
Any accusations that Julian was a ringer were put to bed by Loz who stated that his golf was "too bluddy hot maan!"
Second away were Richard Morton and Ron Johns against the previous week's big winners, Richard Chapman and Gavin Field-Thomas. On paper this looked like being a close game, and as it turned out there was never more than one hole in it, with par golf being the benchmark and all four players making equal contributions. However, it did take a monster 20-footer from Gavin - yes, he can putt as well - to secure the half. Both pairings stated it was a fair result, securing two points apiece in the process.
Third away saw Gareth Rees and Ian Thomas against Michael Schooling and Nigel Ayers. With Gareth and Ian anchored at the bottom of the table, and with matches quickly running out, a win was crucial in an attempt to avoid the wooden spoon.
A tense match followed and when one pairing won a hole, the other bounced back to win the next. A slight one up advantage was held by Gareth and Ian going over the line, and with all holes being halved, it all came down to the 18th, with a half and two points already guaranteed. The watching Rabbits must have quivered in their shoes, as Gareth unleashed the drive of the day, almost running out of fairway, followed by Nigel going for the big one and ending up by the ladies' tee on the first.
A cracking approach shot by Michael to within six feet saw the pressure being put on Ian to deliver the goods, and despite taking a deep breath he did so. Although there was still plenty of work left for Gareth, he then promptly sank the 10-footer for birdie. When Nigel also sank his six-footer for birdie, disappointment was etched on his face when he walked away with no points, when a half was a deserved result - although Gareth and Ian were more than happy to take the win and the three points!
Next away saw Tim Edwards and Laurence Lindsay determined to get their winning ways back, against Niclas Thomas and Martin Durham. With both pairings having title aspirations and with Elvis and Mike having no game, there was an opportunity for the gap at the top to be closed.
Niclas and Martin made the early headway and with par golf the standard, mistakes were never going to be an issue with either pairing. A tight game followed and with Tim and Laurence finding themselves one down going over the line, they knew they had to win a hole back before coming to the last. The chance presented itself on the 16th and the game was levelled.
On the 17th, just when Niclas and Martin thought that they had retrieved the advantage, Laurence popped in a 15-footer for the half. What pressure?
The last saw the hole halved in par and both pairings picking up a couple of points, probably the worst result for the hyperactive Elvis, who according to my sources was on the 'phone at midday enquiring how the results had gone. Who says he isn't worried!
Last away saw Ken Breaker and Roger Schooling against David Douglas-Law and Andrew North, or the K-Team as they called themselves in their matching emblazoned jumpers. Now Ken and Roger must have been psyched out by the team kit, as they found themselves four down after four holes.
After the previous night's Glayfa wore off, Ken started to find his game, and when Roger holed a monster putt on the sixth, confidence was starting to return. Back in the saddle, they then won the next three holes in a row.
With David having Freddy Kruger of a round, poor Andrew had to stem the onslaught virtually single-handed - just as well that all that short game practice was paying dividends, so much so that Ken thought he should open a chip shop! This combined with David's putting was enough to see them home victorious.
It wasn't Ken's day as he had to endure the embarrassment of apologising for holding up the Rabbits coming behind him, although he did promise them a good lesson when the Divots v Rabbits match is played in March!
Results were as follows: L. Phillips and J. Thomas bt S. Evans and M. Duckett 4 and 3; R. Morton and R. Johns halved with R. Chapman and G. Field-Thomas; G. Rees and I. Thomas bt M. Schooling and N. Ayers one up; T. Edwards and L. Lindsay halved with N. Thomas and M. Durham; D. Douglas-Law and A. North bt K. Breaker and R. Schooling two up.