I don't think anyone would have given tuppence on a bet that we would play last Thursday against Carmarthen Seniors. On waking up in the morning (of course), it was throwing it down, with a stiff gale to boot. But lo! By the time tee-off came, it was a different tale, still the wind from the north-west, but playable.

Seniors' captain Ken Gouldsbrough was going to build on his previous week's success, (remember the headline Ken about 'turning the corner'?). Oh, you didn't read it! But, unfortunately, Ken and partner Malcolm Arlott came up against a very in form Mike Ashley-Jones and John Williams, who quickly got into their stride, and were making things decidedly difficult. So difficult, in fact, that the game was over on the 14th. Ken will be taking suggestions in private, as to how his fortunes will improve, and no! Not those ones.

Malcolm was in such a dither after the game, that not only did he forget his tie, but he managed to decrease the bar glass stock by one. He wondered briefly if he qualified for a whip round, but no one wanted to see a grown man cry!

Colin Griffith and I had a slow start against Alun Evans and Alan Bowen, but then Colin, suffering from a very sore foot that made his gait a little peculiar, got into his stride (oh dear) and slotted some superb putts to take us into the lead and to a dormie five up position. Then we went to sleep for a bit and let the two As get back into the game to dormie one, but a good drive and a chip-in birdie being my contribution to the game on the 18th, saved our bacon.

But the Carmarthen pair were unfortunate with their second shots, as Alun Evans's ball finished over the wall on the path and Alan Bowen's ended up nine-inches off the ground in a patch of wild cabbage! But his recovery shot to the edge of the green was excellently done.

"Won with a degree of consistency and bonhomie," said Des Stone, as he and club vice-captain Bob Parsons beat off the challenge of Ken Edwards and Harry Taylor. Bob struck the first blow by taking the first hole from a greenside putt, and they built on this for the remainder of the game to finish in style on the 14th.

But Vince Shaw was not so fortunate, as he and new partner Jim Rowley were well and truly spanked by Colin Lewis and Tony Hurd. The strong wind obviously didn't help at all, but the Carmarthen pair were in their element and took full advantage of the below par Vince and Jim. In fact, the morale was so low that Vince couldn't even find energy to tell his usual round of comicals. All the more galling was the fact that the electric trolley of one of the Carmarthen boys gave up the ghost after a half-dozen holes, and having to push it for the rest of the round didn't affect his play at all! We have to go back to circa 1997/8 before we can remember a scoreline like that against Vince. Remember the Rosslare visit?

Clifton John found a profound pleasure in partnering Geoff Aston. But the pleasure didn't quite extend so profoundly to Carmarthen's Glyn Knight and Peter Ashley-Jones, who turned up the heat, and did a demolition job on the luckless pair. But the sight of Geoff cleaning Clifton's clubs on the sixth tee tickled Carmarthen immensely. Just why Clifton was having his clubs cleaned is a bit of a mystery, but perhaps Geoff would like to caddy for Clifton on a regular basis. Stranger things have happened.

"A lovely social game of golf," said Doug Havard, as he and the normally steady Bob Howse came up against Tony Reed-Smith and Mike Gage. Tony and Mike were playing at the top of their form, and Doug and Bob were one degree under. The biggest highlight of the day, opined Tony and Mike, was the excellent company.

Fred Wilks, who struggled up from his sick bed, scored an eagle two on the fifth hole. "I'll aim a bit right to allow for the wind," he said, and he and partner Hywel Probert watched with astonishment as the ball popped neatly into the hole. Opponents Fred Robinson and Jim Green couldn't believe it, and didn't quite recover from the blow. Jim had recently scored 43 points at Carmarthen, including five 3s on the back nine, but was disqualified for an incorrect score. The thought of that faux pas was still in his mind, I shouldn't wonder.

Newman Vincent and Roy Morgan had a ding dong battle with Graham John and Alun Phillips. These opponents were generous in that they never allowed Tenby to get more than one hole ahead or behind, and a very good half was taken. Both sides knew they had been in a game.

A game that really didn't do either side justice was between Jack Hasdell and Derek Bath, and Bill Kirk and Dave Goodman. Not many bright moments, just a dour exercise in how to grind down the opposition. But having said that, to shake hands on the 14th showed a certain flair and course management! A win for Tenby that put the match on an even keel, and it was up to Jim Martin and Brian Waters to give it some stick, as it were, with Gerwyn Davies and Tony Greedy. This turned out to be the game of the day, as Jim kept his 100 per cent record intact, and Gerwyn turned in a nett 68 on his own, and still lost by the one hole!

"What a game," said Jim and Brian, and they seem to have forged a great partnership.

Ken Gouldsbrough was understandably elated with his team win, but had to admit publicly his own loss with Malcolm Arlott. This admission brought a few groans from his team, as they slid further down into their seats to escape his eagle eye. But playing against Mike Ashley-Jones and John Williams was always going to be hard, as Mike hadn't lost a game all season. But it was a good effort on Carmarthen's part to only lose by one game.

Mike replied on behalf of his team, and thanked Ken for the hospitality shown, and said they had thoroughly enjoyed the day. He also congratulated stewardess Lyn for the very filling match meal, the greens staff for the excellent course presentation, and he looked forward to reversing the result at Carmarthen later in the year.

Results: K. Gouldsbrough and M. Arlott lost to M. Ashley-Jones and J. Williams 5 and 4; J. Hancock and C. Griffith bt A. Evans and A. Bowen 2 up; B. Parsons and D. Stone bt K. Edwards and H. Taylor 5 and 4; V. Shaw and J. Rowley lost to C. Lewis and T. Hurd 6 and 5; G. Aston and C. John lost to G. Knight and P. Ashley-Jones 5 and 3; B. Howse and D. Havard lost to T. Reed-Smith and M. Gage 4 and 3; H. Probert and F. Wilks bt F. Robinson and J. Green 5 and 4; N. Vincent and R. Morgan halved with G. John and A. Phillips; J. Hasdell and D. Bath bt B. Kirk and D.Goodman 5 and 4; J. Martin and B. Waters bt G. Davies and T. Greedy 1 up:

Tenby 5.5, Carmarthen 4.5.

J.B.H.

Junior section

In the Russell Jones Cup last Sunday, Holly Watkins came in with a gross 73 to win the competition - well done Holly.

In the stableford competition, Thomas Headland won the yellow box section and Matthew Jones the black box section.

There is no junior golf this week due to the James Family Salver.

There are various lists up in the junior room - could you all please take some time to look at them and append your name where relevant.

The last session of Tri-Golf finishes this Sunday, with the new sessions resuming on Sunday, August 1. A letter detailing future Tri-Golf sessions and how they are going to be structured will be given out to all children this Sunday, so please try to attend.

Sunday, July 25, will be a normal stableford - please turn up by 9.20 am to practice and sign in.

I.P.W.D.

Saturday Swingers

A meeting will be held on Saturday, August 7 at about 6.30 pm, in order to finalise details of the Edinburgh Tour. All tourists are urged to attend and all monies must be paid in full by this date at the latest. Members should contact Percy to check how much they owe.

There are a few places left for the tour (September 10 to 12). Any members or potential Swingers wishing to join the trip should contact Percy or Dai as soon as possible.

The annual Saturday Swingers Day will take place on Saturday, August 14. All members wishing to take part must enter their names on a list in the clubhouse so tee times can be allocated by Eamon.

Club report

MONTHLY MEDAL

Last Saturday was the monthly medal. Despite very changeable conditions, some very good scores were returned.

Winner in division one was Paul Hoyland with an excellent net 65 and a better back nine than runner-up Geoff Aston, also with a fine net 65; joint third were Paul Heywood, Roy Williams and Adam Joseph with net 67s.

Division two was also a close affair, with three players coming in with net 67s. However, Jonathan Webb was again first, with a better back nine than second placed Ben Blake, who likewise had a better homeward half than Steven Lewis in third. Joint fourth were Dai Thomas and Jeff Haley with net 69s.

There were 103 competitors, of whom 20 got twos. They were Geoff Aston (2), John Ball, David Blackmore, Peter Brown, Russell Clarke, Brian Cramb (2), Stephen Davies, Peter Hart, Paul Hoyland (3), Anthony Ken, Terence Martin, David Morgan, Allan Morton, Ray Muskett, Simon Rowell, John Stevenson, Dai Thomas, Ian Vickery and Clive Webb.

Next week

Next week, on Wednesday, July 21, is the mid-week medal, and the following Saturday, July 24, is Captain's Day - a note for everyone's diary.