Last Sunday saw the Divots return to their league fixtures following a week's absence. The gusty conditions meant that the front nine would be extremely difficult with a 30 mph head wind to contend with. With the battle for honours very much alive at both the top and the foot of the table, all pairings with such aspirations knew that there could be no slip-ups if they were to be triumphant at the season's end.
First away saw the mid-table pairing of David Douglas-Law and Neil Dickinson playing against Allan Morton and Barry Frayne, who were looking to stay in contention at the top following defeat on their last outing. With a tight front nine, the windy conditions took their toll... David and Neil won the fourth hole with a seven! And that was just about the only difference, reaching the turn one up.
With the wind behind, all the drama unfolded on the back nine, and what drama it was too. The match was squared by Allan and Barry after the 11th, and with a strong tailwind the par five 14th was reachable in two. David and Neil managed to get on for two, while Allan and Barry were down the dip on the left, also in two. With David and Neil looking good for a win, Allan and Barry managed to get up and down, while poor David and Neil managed to three putt.
Allan and Barry also managed to win the next to hold a two-hole lead. Deja vu on the 16th, with David and Neil on the green for two, while Allan and Barry were high up on the bank on the left-hand side of the green. Barry then putted down, and with the ball rolling at a great pace, hit the flag and fell into the hole, birdie then!
David and Neil, needing the birdie for the half, just failed with their putt, and had the bitter taste of defeat to contend with. David immediately had a sense of humour failure, and most definitely failed to see the funny side of Barry's putt.
Second away saw probably the most steady pairing of the league, Richard Chapman and Rob Hall, taking on Michael Schooling and Gavin Field-Thomas. The wind posed no problems for the big-hitting Gavin, who creamed his three-wood approach onto the first green, giving himself and Michael an early lead.
The next few holes were cagey, with halves being order of the day, until Michael and Gavin found themselves on the fifth for two, while Richard and Rob were about halfway down the 14th. With Michael and Gavin looking to extend their lead, Richard managed to chip it stiff, the shock of which promptly made Michael and Gavin three stab - hole lost then, all square.
The shock must have been devastating, but worse was to follow, as Richard and Rob won the next three holes on the bounce to reach the turn three up. With Richard not missing a fairway and hitting the par threes in regulation, winning the 12th must have come as no surprise, and with steely determination, Richard and Rob managed to have the game won on the 14th and secure a valuable bonus point that keeps them in touch with the leaders.
Next away saw Andrew Morton and Julian Thomas playing against league leaders Elvis and Ron Johns. The big-hitting Elvis was hoping to take advantage of the wind and use his length to good effect. Apparently the length was the difference, with Elvis spraying it everywhere and Ron recovering like a pro on the seniors tour.
Three down at the turn, Andrew and Julian pulled one back at the 10th, but that was just a false dawn, as Elvis and Ron won the next and also the 13th. The 14th could prove costly in the long term as Andrew and Julian managed to stop Elvis and Ron from winning the bonus point, but ultimately paid the price with defeat on the next hole.
Putting proving the problem for Andrew and Julian, while Elvis and Ron are still on course for the title.
Next away saw Loz Phillips being partnered by Roger Schooling, who seems to have lost his title of super-sub to sombrero wearing Tony Morris, playing against Chris Hughes and Nigel Ayers.
Chris and Nigel started off with the performance of men who meant business, three up in as many holes, and despite Loz and Roger fighting back, the lead was extended to four up after seven.
Loz and Roger, to their credit, managed to recover two holes before the turn, finding themselves two down. The lead was reduced to one after the 11th, but with the wind providing some assistance, Chris and Nigel managed to eagle the 14th to restore a two-hole advantage.
With Chris spraying his drive on the 16th wide right onto the 15th, Nigel played a spectacular attempt to reach the green over both sets of bushes, and pitching just short of the green, it was a nice place to be when you've got a shot on the hole! and a nice up and down good enough for a victory.
Next away saw Stephen Davies and Mike Anthony playing against Richard Day, being partnered by that sombrero wearer Tony Morris in Steve Evans's absence. A crucial game this for Steve and Mike if they were serious about being title contenders, and with Richard and Tony also keen for victory, a tight game was forecast.
The game proved very tight on the front nine, with Richard demonstrating that dying art of pure ball striking with a one-iron, enough to give him and Tony a lead of one hole at the turn. The back nine provided the opportunity for Richard and Tony to show how to dovetail, and boy, dovetail they did with three successive birdies on the bounce from 11 to 13.
With Richard and Tony four holes up and with a possible bonus point to come, Stephen and Mike must have stood on the 14th tee shell-shocked. Well they managed to stop the bonus point by winning the hole, and also won the 15th to reduce the deficit to two. Dormie two down on the 17th, Richard and Tony must have felt confident of the required half, that was until Steve sank a monster putt from off the green for a two.
On the last one down, Steve and Mike felt they had a chance to rescue a couple of points, that was until Richard and Tony responded with their own birdie. Title ambitions quashed, Steve was heard asking Mike what the Peter Tucker Trophy looked like - well there's always hope!
Tony earned himself the title of Ole Gunner Morris, only because I couldn't spell Solzjaer, and will be forgiven for all his previous victories once Steve Evans gets back.
The next game out saw Gareth Rees and Brian Hartley playing against Kenny Breaker and Ian Thomas. A mid-table clash this, with the wind being the determining factor. Very a much a case of whoever hit the green was guaranteed to win the hole. Kenny's approaches on the sixth and ninth were prime examples, although Gareth and Brian might argue that Ian's outrageous putt on the ninth was cruel.
One up at the turn, Kenny and Ian played to their strengths and extended the lead further on the 10th and 11th. Gareth's fantastic drive on the 13th was the highlight of the match when it finished on the top of the green. Brian's eagle putt finished about an inch away, and with Ian missing his birdie putt, the pressure was on to secure the bonus point. A half on the 14th, however, was enough to get all four points in the bag for Kenny and Ian.
Last out saw Richard Morton and Clive Law playing against Scott Davies and Laurence Lindsay. Richard and Clive knew that they had to win all their remaining games to be in with a chance of winning the title, although Elvis and Ron were in pole position. Scott and Laurence were also keen for victory to avoid being dragged into the wooden spoon battle.
Richard and Clive had their determined heads on as they went three up after four holes, which they managed to extend to four up at the turn. Poor Scott and Laurence had no answer to the display and dovetailing performance of Richard and Clive.
The end came quite quickly and more importantly for Richard and Clive on the 14th, with a nice extra point secured, bringing them level with Elvis and Ron at the top of the table.
Results were as follows: D. Douglas-Law and N. Dickinson lost to A. Morton and B. Frayne 3 and 2; R. Chapman and R. Hall beat M. Schooling and G. Field-Thomas 5 and 4; A. P. Morton and J. Thomas lost to A. Joseph and R.Johns 4 and 3; L. Phillips and R. Schooling lost to C. Hughes and N. Ayers 3 and 2; S. Davies and M. Anthony lost to R. Day and T. Morris 2 down; G. Rees and B. Hartley lost to K. Breaker and I. Thomas 5 and 4; R. Morton and C. Law beat S. Davies and L. Lindsay 5 and 4.
Chicken plea
It started well, but then it got progressively wetter and wetter, and that is not what the Chickens need. But at least it was good to get out after the even wetter Friday previously.
Idwal David, Vince Shaw and Spike Evans, despite his affliction, were leaders in the clubhouse on 23 points each. Spike had a look at a couple of the counties that abut Pembrokeshire during his round, but his playing partners were not impressed with his choice of travel guides!
Rick Lewis (pictured) was again in the news as, despite being in the sin bin, he shot 28 points, and this ensured that he will remain in it! But Derek Bath played himself into contention quietly.
Brian Morgan was another sin-binner who defied the odds and weather, and came in with a fine 30-pointer. He now gets cut by seven shots for his pains.
But during our relaxing period in the lounge, our club captain, Bob Lusher, asked the Chickens for volunteers to help the juniors on a Sunday morning for a couple of hours every four to six weeks or so. A worthwhile venture, as the juniors are our future, and without them we don't have one obviously, so if you feel that you can offer your services, then Bob and the juniors will be most appreciative of your efforts.
It was nice to see Ted Horsfall in the clubhouse after 10 days or so in hospital. We look forward next to seeing you back on the course.
Jim Taylor had a rough day by his standards; he could only manage 15 points, and was dangerously close to the booby position. I know the feeling Jim! But Gwyn Jenkins is back in the groove again, and he put together a much better round than he had been used to recently. Getting the hang of the game now Gwyn?
Chief Chicken Morran Boot is warning everyone that the honeymoon period is now over! He said that he had been quite lenient in his dealings in the chair since he took over from Vince Shaw, but he has now seen the light, and he likes what he sees! Oh dear, time for the results I think.
Results: 1. Brian Morgan 30 pts. (£2); 2. Rick Lewis 28 (£1.50); 3. Derek Bath 27 (70p).
Booby: Pat Rees 13 pts (30p); Twos: Rick Lewis (£1). Entries: 21.
Ladies' Section
It is hardly to be expected that we should have wall to wall sunshine throughout January. However, the Met Office assured us we had above average sunshine - the trouble was it did not always come on Thursdays.
The first competition of the year should have been a Chapman foursomes for all sections of the club, but as only three groups of gentlemen and one pair of ladies were prepared to put their post New Year's Eve constitutions to the test, it was cancelled.
The following week recovery was complete and a Medal round was played to allow the first round of the Spring Eclectic to be recorded. The three leading scores - much hampered by the weather - were by Holly Watkins, Ann Blackmore and Julia Sweet.
The January LGU medal was again played in inclement weather and only a few ladies played - those who did, all deserve a medal, but it went to Ann Blackmore in the Bronze Division, with Pat Fox second. In the Silver Division, Heather Morgan just pipped Anita Davies.
A Texas Scramble on the next Thursday was abandoned as no-one was prepared to battle against horizontal rain.
Finally, on the last Thursday of the month and the last under the ladies LGU Handicap system and in good weather a high-low, drawn, Greensome Texas Scramble was held. Temporary greens were in operation and the shortened course made scoring something to behold. Liz Storey and Mary Lewis and Jean Charnock with Rita Collins were all delighted with their 46 points, but they were completely outclassed by Anne Morris and Anne Thomas-Ferrand with 49. The new CONGU handicap system will no doubt make such scores a fairly remote possibility in the future.
All members and friends are reminded the ladies will be holding their annual social afternoon of bridge, whist and bingo on March 3. Everyone is assured of a warm welcome.
B.M.S.
Rabbits in the wind
Sundays come and go and the Rabbits have yet to miss an outing. Come wind or rain, frost or hail, sun or cloud, you'll see the Rabbits strutting their stuff out on the links, and once again this was the case on this first day of the month, with the rain threatening, but not really coming into play until most were back in the clubhouse.
First out was 'The Godfather', our longest serving Rabbit member, Mr. Peter Watkins, playing alongside Steve Harries. They took on the might of Kilgetty duo, son Steve Watkins and Anthony Allen. Well Steve, Dad eventually showed you the way home, two up.
The second game kept the pressure on the leaders and returned the biggest win of the day, with Dave Moran and Rees Davies beating Steve Price and Mike Fox 5 and 4. Mike stood in for Phillip Watkins.
Our third game was captain Ron Murphy and Paul Jones, who scraped through to a one-up victory against Ben Blake and Jonathan Broome. That's a close one, Ron? Glyn Price and Chris Smith weren't so fortunate, though, as they only manage to halve their match against Richard Caley and Jason Rolfe.
We did say that the rain didn't really come into play as it held off until late in the morning. However, the wind was a contributory factor. With a tailwind, a certain bandit Beynon hit his drive off the fifth tee straight onto the back edge of the fifth green, and with a 25-foot putt from Fred to within nine inches of the hole, it gave them a birdie three.
You'd think with that sort of play, Fred Adlam and Bill Beynon would have romped home big time winners, but it was not to be. Opponent George Pegg was constantly driving his tee shots down the middle of the fairways, and was also putting like a demon (not bad for somebody 77 years young), while his partner Dorian Thomas, of course, was helping out on the way. The final score of 4 and 3 in Fred and Bill's favour, however, was not a true reflection of the closeness of the game, as birdie and par putts were the order of the day.
The next game saw a top-of-the-table battle that could well have implications on where the honours go at the end of the season. Fourth placed Steve Bennet and John Hunt beat third placed Colin Smith and Paul Greenwood 2 and 1. This win must have been sweet for Steve and John as it now puts them into third place and a trophy winning spot.
The next game could also have an outside effect on the top spots as the one-up win by Derek Farley and Bud French over Dave Lemon and John Murphy keeps them in contention. Two of their remaining games are against second placed Moran and Davies and fourth placed Smith and Greenwood, therefore wins here would deny their opponents valuable points and a possible medal spot for them... at 'em Bud.
The last game of the day between Dave Morgan and playing partner Mike Munroe and their opponents Tom McClean and Brian Dooley must have been a real wet affair. From about the 11th or 12th onwards, it must have been raining quite heavily for them, and must have had an important bearing on the 'match halved' result that was returned in the clubhouse. No wonder Mike keeps catching colds?
Just to remind you Rabbits, the Duffy Shield will be held on March 21 this year, and further information with regard to the event will be posted on the Rabbits noticeboard soon, so pen it in your diaries ready.