A glorious Friday to play Junior Captain's Day. The weather was good and the course was in lovely condition. Captain Dan Cope led by example, both on and off the course, with a gross 69, followed by an eloquent speech in which he thanked members of the committee, bar, greens, professional and catering staff for all their help in making the day and his year so far such a success. He also commented on how well everyone had played, including Beau Vickery and Jasmine Pouton, who had not played nine holes before! Dan then handed out all the prizes to the winners and runners-up. Results were as follows: White box medal - 1. Dan Cope; 2. Sam Morgan. Red box medal - 1. Holly Watkins; 2. Ann-Marie Dassen; 3. Georgia Thomas. Yellow box stableford - 1. Dan Worley; 2. Greg Palin, 3. Rob Collins. Black box stableford - 1. Evan Thomas; 2. Joe Worley; 3. Claudette Pouton. Putting competition - Mathew Adams; hidden hole - Dan Cope; nearest the pin - Ann-Marie Dassen. I.P.W.D.

Captain's Day success for Ladies' Section

Each year the captain of the Ladies' Section hopes for good weather on her day and this year, in spite of a succession of wet Thursdays in July, Anne Wilks was lucky and, except for the last three players who were soaked playing the 18th, so were all the competitors. More than half the playing members took part in the Stableford competition and scoring was generally good - a reflection of the good weather and the fine condition of the course. An early evening meal was enjoyed by all who played and a number of ex-players, ranging from teenagers to those in their 90s - emphasising the benefits of playing golf! Anne welcomed everyone and after the presentation of the many and varied prizes, Pat Fox, on behalf of all present, thanked Anne and everyone involved in such a successful day.

PRIZES

Captain's Prize: Anne Morris 41 pts. Silver Division: 1. Pat Fox 41 pts; 2. Pam Cole 39 pts, on back nine from 3. Heather Morgan 39 pts. Bronze Division: 1. Rita Collins 41 pts; 2. Ann Marsden 35 pts, on back nine from 3. Jean Charnock 35 pts. 36 Handicap Division: Anne Thomas-Ferrand 34 pts. Nine holes: Delisia Martin 11 pts. Veterans - over 60: Barbara Shaw 35 pts; over 70 - Mary Rowell 32 pts. Granny Rowlands Salver: Anne Morris. Hidden holes: Anita Davies. Putting competition: Rebecca Naden. JUNIORS

Mary Rowell Trophy: Anne-Marie Dassen 29 pts. Margaret Williams Salver: Georgia Thomas. B.M.S.

Club report

Since Captain's Day we have been blessed with good weather and for those who have been able to play it has been a real pleasure. Since the spring, the club cup competitions have been progressing and now they are at the semi-final stage. The semi-finalists are: Allen Cup - Peter Brown v Dan Cope; Stephen Davies v Paul Hoyland Presidents Cup - Idwal David v Martin Morris; Stephen Davies v Paul Heywood. Colwyn Williams Cup - Julian and Nick Thomas v Neil Proctor and Simon Rowell; Andy Pouton and Derek Cole v Adam Joseph and Richard Day. Davies Cup - Clive Webb v Dave Roberts; Stephen Davies v Neil Proctor. Sellar Cup - Stephen Davies v Dave Roberts; Richard Morton v Christopher Davies. Veterans Cup - Tony Morris v Geoff Aston; Owen Thomas v Jim Hinchliffe. Reason Jones Cup - Alan and Andrew Morton v Roger Schooling and Huw Roberts; Chris Hughes and Ian Thomas v Paul Heywood and Phil Goodridge. Scratch Cup - Paul Haley v Andy Pouton; John Morris v Paul Heywood. Charles Mathias Cup - Julian Thomas v Steve Watkins; Peter Turton v Alan Keating. All these games need to be played by August 22. Well done to all those who have got to the semi-finals. Ernie Fitchett Memorial Trophies

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the competition for the Ernie Fitchett Memorial Trophies for juniors, ladies and gents. The scoring system is playing the course - a net birdie or better is +1, par is 0 and a net bogey or worse is -1. It is difficult to beat the course.

Senior skills and spills at Neath

A super day at Neath for the Tenby Seniors, and we were looking to make an impression that would boost our hopes and aspirations for the rest of the season. At least we had the weather for it, and with not a drop of wet stuff in sight, we had it all to play for. But oh my, such a burden was placed on Derek Bath's shoulders this week that he was ashen faced and had a certain demeanour about him that bode ill for anyone who got in his way. His partner, Ken Gouldsbrough, our intrepid captain, was also fired up with enthusiasm and yet another new partner, to give him a welcome boost to his season. They were up against a Lloyd pairing, Alun, the Neath captain, and Colin, no relation to each other, but who were thinking along the same lines all the same. Ken and Derek kept coming back from the jaws of defeat to make the game more competitive, but all to no avail, as the Lloyds were determined to notch up the first game in Neath's favour. Look on the bright side Derek; you may not get this chance again this season! Stan Hudson had an obvious irritant somewhere as he started to pull out some superb drives that were going further than I could remember going on holiday! The Neath pairing of Iorre Rees and Bill Cantwell were suitably impressed, and the sight of Stan's stunning five-iron of about 175 yards on the 13th, from a seemingly impossible lie behind a bank of large fir trees, left both them and me with mouths agape. He almost made the birdie putt as well. I felt a certain surplus to requirements situation upon me, and thought to myself, 'why not sit back and enjoy the ride' as we (he) finished the game rather early. Vince Shaw and Geoff Aston were outwitted by John Jones and Mervyn Rees. But they came back from being four down a couple of times, and even saw a win looming as they came back strongly over the closing holes to be all-square on the 17th, only to see a birdie putt from Mervyn kill off their hopes. Vince admitted that his driving of the buggy was better than his driving of the ball! "I was so tired going up the second," said Roy Gundry, but he pulled himself together as he and partner John D. R. Williams socked it to Phil Hopkins and John Solly. But the Neath pairing had different views about it all, and proceeded to pull themselves back into the game, and by the time the 18th approached, had reduced any deficit to be all-square. But then mind games came into the equation, and by asking for a 15-foot putt with a three-foot borrow for a half, meant that Phil and John didn't have too much agonising to refuse it, and so J. D. R was given the awesome task of sinking the ball. Ah well! Another game lost. But Malcolm Arlott and David Morgan had a dispute as to who were the 'good and the great' in their game against John Edwards and Jeff Hopkins. But as they both declined to say who was who, let's say that honours were even, and they managed to scrape home by the one hole. But excellent company they both agreed, and a fair result on the day. Des Stone and Brian Morgan had no complaints whatsoever in their game against an in-form Neath side of Alan Phillips and Mal Williams. This pair had a short game that was nothing short of miraculous, and they used every trick in the book to overcome Des and Brian by 5 and 4. "Beaten by a better pair," said Brian and Des. John Cook and David Leeke both said that they couldn't match the finish of 4, 4, 3, 4 by Ken Evans and Roy Thomas, who were going great guns. But to hold this pair to only go down by 2 and 1, meant that the Tenby duo were not lagging behind too much, and were giving as good as they got for much of the game. Does anyone remember the classic Gerard Hoffnung sketch about the barrel of bricks going up and down with disastrous results? Well, the game between Spike Evans and Paul Bradley, and Mike Bradley and Ray Tooze produced a similar scenario. But this time it was with a ball, a club and a tree. Spike's ball became lodged up one of the many fir trees; he jiggles about with his club to dislodge the ball, the ball comes down, Spike lets go of the club to catch the ball, gravity takes over the club that also falls, that then strikes Spike on the bridge of his nose, and he sustains a cut that bleeds profusely. Paul is reduced to hysterics, with Mike and Ray looking on in amazement at the Tenby antics! There is never a dull moment where Spike is concerned. Oh yes, the game - it finished in Neath's favour, I hasten to add. But Paul's new driver was the tool of the day as far as he was concerned. "It was a real bargain," said Paul. "I got it reduced from £499.99 to £29.99." I don't know who is the better comedian! "Even Tiger Woods can't use an 11-wood like Roy Morgan," said Bob Harris, as he and the talented Roy had a great win over Ernie Jones and Mervyn Morgan. It is a tatty looking affair, but Roy wielded it like flashing blade, and almost had a hole in one on the 14th. "Shades of the 'Three Musketeers'," said Bob, but couldn't remember if it was Athos, Porthos, Aramis or Amami that Roy reminded him of in their 3 and 2 win. Finally, Owen Monaghan and Alan Keating put in a splendid performance against Terry Lewis and Alan Thomas. "Owen had a super two on the 14th and played like a man possessed," said Alan, but didn't say what with. But they were three up with four to play, and then let the Neath players get back in the game to only be one up on 17, but they couldn't maintain the momentum for the final hole. A solid win. Captain Alun Lloyd welcomed Ken and Tenby to Neath on such a nice day, and was pleased that Tenby had supplied such a good team. He thanked those of his team that had won, and even those who didn't. Excellent catering and a well presented course. Ken replied and said that Tenby always enjoyed visiting Neath, and although he had lost his game with Derek Bath, he at least won the raffle! He said that he would move heaven and earth to win a game, and someone said that he should try heaven, because he'd moved most of the earth. Ken also announced that he had chosen John Cook to be his next partner, but then found out that John had crossed his name off the list for next week! What does JC know that we don't know. Results (Neath names first): A. Lloyd and C. Lloyd bt K. Gouldsbrough and D. Bath 4 and 2; I. Rees and B. Cantwell lost to S. Hudson and J. Hancock 6 and 5; J. Jones and M. Rees bt G. Aston /and V. Shaw 1 up; P. Hopkins and J. Solly bt R. Gundry and J. D. R. Williams 1 up; J. Edwards and J. Hopkins lost to M. Arlott and D. Morgan 1 up; A. Phillips and M. Williams bt D. Stone and B. Morgan 5 and 4; K. Evans and R. Thomas bt D. Leeke and J. Cook 2 and 1; M. Bradley and R. Tooze bt P. Bradley and M. Evans 4 and 3; E. Jones and M. Morgan lost to B. Harris and R. Morgan 3 and 2; T. Lewis and A. Thomas lost to O. Monaghan and A. Keating 2 and 1. Neath 6, Tenby 4. J.B.H.