The fourth meeting between Tenby Seniors and Rosslare Seniors took place at Tenby last week.
This annual fixture on a home and away basis has now become one of the most popular meetings in our calendar.
We started out in the dry, but unfortunately the weather went downhill a bit, and the back markers got a bit of a wet shirt. But it didn't dampen for one bit, the enthusiasm.
First blood went to Rosslare's Matt Kirnan and Mick Purcell, with a 4 and 3 win over Roy Gundry and Des Stone. Roy said that he thought that Des had lost them the game, but Des reckoned it was the stress of waiting for his wife to turn up with his change of clothing. The fact that Des had forgotten them in the first place added to his stress. He was considering counselling at great cost, but Mick and Matt thought that a few jars after the game would do him far better.
David Morgan and I looked like we would be treading the same path, as we were paired against a mean and lean Patsy Byrne and Tommy Byrne. Never more than one hole in it all the way to the 16th, when a superb long swinging putt from David for a 4 nett 3, let us go dormie 2 up. But Pat's 'Jack Nicklaus' driver, was like magic in his hands, and he was ably backed up by Tommy. Our greens though, were proving a bit difficult to handle, and we took full advantage of this to finalise on the 17th.
Tony Morris and Brian Waters were getting shillelaghed at the start, and went 3 down after 5, but managed to get back into the game against Paddy Redmond and Dick Hehir. They got stuck in and took a well earned half. Dick Hehir was in the tyre trade all his life, and had what looked like a pair of 'Paddyrelli' retreads on his feet, before changing into his dancing shoes! A super game both pairs agreed and it was the best result on the day.
Ken Gouldsbrough played a good captains game, along with partner John D. R. Williams, against Harry Wilson and Mick O'Connor. He acknowledged that John didn't play too badly himself, and Mick and Harry were too well mannered to say anything about their opponents, even after losing to the Tenby pair on the 18th!
The Bob and Rob show featuring Howse and Wilkins, had a bit of a shaky start, as their opponents Mick Mockler and Martin Buggy, got away like a train, and had to be shunted into the sidings so that the Tenby pair could get back into the game. They went 2 up after 6, but then went to sleep(ers) for a bit, but woke up sufficiently to close the game down with a tremendous 12 inch putt on the 17th!
Jim Taylor and Derek Bath played extremely well together, for the biggest win of the day over Dougie Bain and Owen Tansey. Chipping and putting was the key to their success, and an early bath on the 12th.
Rosslare's captain, Paddy Cummings, said that they got just enough holes in under their belts to win against Vince Shaw and Colin Griffith, before the weather got too bad. Apparently his partner Bobby O'Dowd, slotted every putt he saw, from all parts of the greens. Vince was of the opinion, that Bobby's putter should be put somewhere safe in case someone damaged it! But a good friendly game ensued nevertheless.
This was the first time that Tenby had won in the home and away series, so there was an obvious cause for some celebrating, and the Rosslare team were happy to partake in.
Captain Ken Gouldsbrough in welcoming Paddy Cummings and his team to Tenby, said that it had been a thoroughly enjoyable day that the weather couldn't dampen. He took great pleasure in presenting a Tenby Senior tie to Paddy.
Paddy replied on behalf of Rosslare, and said that he could make several excuses for not winning, but the time spent in Tenby had been well worth the visit. He congratulated the green staff for the course presentation, and also to Lynn Jenkins (pictured) for the catering supplied.
The evenings entertainment was supplied by David Morgan on the piano, who reckoned he could make the instrument sound like a pipe fitters apprentice on his first assignment! You can remember it then?
Vince Shaw told his usual saucy tales, and Jim Taylor became the star of the night, with some renditions of Welsh songs, and not so Welsh tales! Rosslare gave a good account of themselves in the singing and story department as well. In fact, between Tenby and Rosslare, I think honours were about even on the entertainment front.
Results (Tenby names first): K. Gouldsbrough and J. D. R. Williams bt H. Wilson and M. O'Connor 1 up; J. Hancock and D. Morgan bt T. Byrne and P. Byrne 2 and 1; R. Gundry and D. Stone lost to M. Kirnan and M. Purcell 3 and 2; B. Howse and R. Wilkins bt M. Mockler and M. Buggy 3 and 1; J. Taylor and D. Bath bt D. Bain and O. Tansey 7 and 6; T. Morris and B. Waters halved with P. Redmond and D.Hehir; V. Shaw and C.Griffith lost to B. O'Dowd and P.Cummings 4 and 3.
Tenby 4, Rosslare 2.
J.B.H.
Sunshine for Haverfordwest
It was wall to wall sunshine for the seniors, at Haverfordwest last week. A lot of bare arms showing, but not a lot of leg yet. We don't want to tempt fate!
David Morgan and Seniors captain Ken Gouldsbrough were stopped in their tracks by vice-captain Ritchie Williams and partner Alan Lloyd. Pars and a birdie were no good at all against this pair, as shots were matched and bettered. Ken and David gave a good excuse though; they said that they suffered exhaustion after entertaining the boys from Rosslare on the Tuesday. But that was two days previous!
Apart from finding a few trees that obviously had magnets buried in their trunks, Alan Yate's debut in the Seniors was a positive one, as he and John Hancock had a good solid win over Glyn Miles and Don Twigg. Don wasn't firing on all cylinders, and Glyn was having a bit of trouble with his swing. Nothing that a session on the practice ground wouldn't put right though. But to crown Alan's day, his suit was baptised with a pint of the best just before sitting down to dinner. He almost resorted to hanging himself out to dry!
A large loss was recorded by Stan Hudson and Colin Griffith, against an in form Jim Morgan and Terry Gwilliam. They were really blitzed, and Colin was almost speechless with shock and awe. It took a small wine to bring the colour back to his cheeks.
Des Stone and John D. R. Williams said that they were as bad as the score said, as they went down by 4 and 2 to David Banner and Gerry Tilehurst. David parred the first nine holes, and was ably backed up by Gerry throughout. Des was going to let J. D. R. give the match comment, but thought better of it. He had to be home by 10 pm!
Apart from losing holes from the 12th to the 16th inclusive, but then winning the last two to gain a valuable (at the time) half, David Evans and Owen Monaghan played really well together, against David Colston and Fred Nye. David was full of praise for Owen, and said he was thankful that Owen had been on song. Owen replied in similar vein. Aaah!
Geof Aston and Richard Morgan, had a solid win on the last green against Glyn Ranger and Derek Williams. Geof said he had a super partner who drove (the buggy) well. Winning the raffle was an added bonus for Geof, and he had a smile a mile wide.
From being 2 down twice, and 3 down twice, Vince Shaw and Derek Bath had a hard grafting game against Ron Seed and Roger Davies. But they had to succumb in the end to a dour pair, who finalised on the 17th.
Another loss was recorded by Tony Ranoe and John Cook, against James Thomas and George James (pictured). George is seen in a pose that not many people have seen him in, as he celebrated the win. But John was most upset, as he recorded a two on the 8th, but still lost the hole to a nett one!
Out of the final four games, there were two halves and two wins for Haverfordwest, to set the seal on a good day for them, and a bad day for Tenby. Alan Keating said he was speechless, but both he and David Leeke could do nothing about the chipping in etc. by Terry Waldis and Cliff Bowen.
Bob Harris said that he was either driving the ball like Tiger Woods, or Lenny the Lion, in his game with Doug Havard against Lawrie Parsons and Ray Woodason. But they managed one of the halves though.
Jack Hasdell was relieved to be back in the clubhouse, as he and John Bonar went quickly 3 down against Jeff Flood and Julian Davis, but came back strongly to record the other half. John Bonar gave thanks to his Irish ancestry, as his second shot on the 18th, hit a tree on route to the pond, but finished in the fairway! With luck like that, you should stay on the team sheet.
"Going down to a better pair," said Hywel Probert, "was no disgrace", as he and Brian Waters commiserated with each other after the game against Ray Taylor and David Griggs. But again it was the trees that played a crucial part in the game. There are just too many of them that seem to jump out as you hit the ball!
Vice-captain Ritchie Williams (pictured with Ken Gouldsbrough) was pleased over his team's win against Tenby, and was moved to tell a joke to the company that went down well. He apologised for the absence of regular captain Sylvan Thomas, who was on holiday in Amsterdam looking at some of the architecture.
Ken Gouldsbrough replied with a tale of his own, and thanked both green staff and the catering who helped make the day go well.
Results Haverfordwest names first: R. Williams and A. Lloyd bt K. Gouldsbrough and D. Morgan; G. Miles and D. Twigg lost to A. Yates and J.Hancock; J. Morgan and T. Gwilliam bt S. Hudson and C. Griffith; D. Banner and G. Tilehurst bt J. D. R. Williams and D. Stone; D. Colston and F. Nye halved with D. Evans and O. Monaghan; G. Ranger and D. Williams lost to G. Aston and R. Morgan; R. Seed and R. Davies bt V. Shaw and D. Bath; J. Thomas and G. James bt T. Ranoe and J. Cook; R. Taylor and D. Griggs bt H. Probert and B. Waters; L. Parsons and R. Woodason halved with D. Havard and B. Harris; J. Flood and J. Davis halved with J. Hasdell and J. Bonar; T. Waldis and C. Bowen bt A. Keating and D. Leeke.
Haverfordwest 8, Tenby 3.
J.B.H.
Club report
This week, there was a mid-week medal, the Golden Eagle played at Tenby, followed by the Carmarthen Open at Ashburnham and the combined event the Trubshaw Cup.
Mid-week medal
This was played on another very good day. Joint winners were P. K. Heywood and S. Davies with net 69, while joint third were D. Roberts, C. Hughes, P. Watkins and R. Schooling with net 71s.
There were 33 competitors and of those six had 2s. They were D. Blackmore, S. Davies, P. K. Heywood, N. Lovatt, T. McLean and D. Roberts.
Golden Eagle, Carmarthen Open and Trubshaw Cup
The Golden Eagle is played over two rounds at Tenby, the Carmarthen Open is played over two rounds at Ashburnham and the Turbshaw Cup is for the combined event and is a merti table event.
Both events were played in ideal conditions, except for some early morning mist at Tenby. Both courses were in excellent condition and gave a very good golf challenge.
The Golden Eagle was won by James Williams, of Pontypridd Golf Club, with 135 over the two rounds and a better back nine. Second was Craig Smith, of St. Mellion Golf Club, also with 135, while third was Gareth Wright, of West Linton Golf Club, with 139 with a better back nine. Fourth was Mark Laskey, of Bracket Hall, and fifth was Richard Scott, of Haverfordwest Golf Club, also with 139.
The best morning gross was Craig Smith with a 68 and the best afternoon gross was James Williams with 67.
Thanks are due to Eamon Maher and Neil Lovett for handling the scoring, Bob Storey and Alan Pace for ball watching, Ken Goldsborough and Bob Parson for acting as starters, and Mark Hawkey as a rules advisor.
The Turbshaw Cup was won by James Williams with 5 under par, second was Craig Smith with 2 under par, third was Mark Laskey and joint fourth were Gareth Wright and Richard Scott.
Future events
Sunday is the Serendipity Bowl for members and guests, followed by the Nat West Cup on Monday.