Clubs for sale!
One of the players in the second group out on the course in Tuesday's Seniors competition declared, on entering the clubhouse, that he had a good set of clubs going cheap! As there were not many in, there were no takers, so the member concerned had time to reflect and reconsider his generous offer. Apparently, he had played quite well on the front nine, but his clubs had let him down on the back nine when he continually failed to find that little hole in the middle of the green and scored only seven points out of a total of 24. He was joined on 24 by the Seniors captain, Dave Morgan, who was another golfer beset with indifference, but his poor form was on the first nine when he only managed 10 points. The early leader in the clubhouse came from the first group out. Stan Hudson had his customary solid round, despite failing to score on two holes on the front nine. A back nine recovery provided 19 points to give him a score of 33. Martin Neilan could have been in front had he not failed at the final fence. Two points out of the last four holes spoiled what could have been a good score. As it was, he ended up with 30 points for a round in which he birdied the first and the 10th holes. The third member of that group, Des Stone, did nothing to improve his eclectic score in a round with one highlight. He addressed the ball on the seventh tee and shaped to hit it straight down the fairway. An almighty swing was followed by a loud crack and a distinct whirring sound as one half of his ball flew onto the sixth green and the other half veered off to the right into the grass. Once the laughter had subsided, there was nothing else to do but reload and fire again. Stan's lead was soon overhauled by a senior returning to form. Bob Howse became the new leader in the clubhouse in a round which saw him score 20 points on the front nine, with back to back birdies on the fifth and the sixth holes. His fairly new driver is now working well and an improved putting confidence just rounds the game off nicely. Jim Martin did not get a two this week, but he does get a mention. He had a two last week - but no mention for some reason. His lack of a two this week was reflected in his score, which was close to the bottom, very close to the bottom. The reason, he claims, is that he is persisting with his driver - you keep it up Jim. Joining Dave Morgan, J. D. R. and Clifton John, who had a good front nine but an indifferent back nine, on 24 points was Mike Nesbitt-Hawes. He, also, had a reasonable score of 15 on the front nine and started the back nine in like fashion, only to see his game fade away. He could only manage one point in the last five holes.
Tony Morgan came in with a score close to that, but with a great big smile on his face. As Geoff Aston described it, he had a net hole in one on the 10th. His birdie three, with a two shot allowance, gave him a net one, and five points. Well done Tony - that will help the eclectic score. His playing partner, Geoff, had one of those rare cards with a score on every hole and a creditable total of 32 points. This was not enough to figure in the prize money, however. Ron Murphy was unable to handle the three stroke penalty, incurred with his last win, as he kept his score down to 23. Derek Bath, on the other hand, continues to score well and make the most of his high handicap. This week he had 31 points. Philip Marsden came close to the leaders with his 32 and was followed closely by Bart Youll, who did just enough to disturb the order of the leaders with his effort of 33. The word used by Hywel Probert to describe his game this week cannot be repeated here. Suffice it to say it was not a polite one and it seems that, in his mind, he was still in Tenerife enjoying the warmth of the sun, not on the Tenby course tousling with the wind and rain. He was on his own in the basement and feeling very lonely until Jim Rowley joined him with a score of 21. This week's winners: 1. Bob Howse 37 pts.; 2. Stan Hudson 33 (back nine); 3. Bart Youll 33 back nine). Missing out - Roy Morgan 33 points. There was one two this week, scored by Bob Howse on the sixth. Next week, all seniors are looking forward to the South African Stableford, a game in which the net scores of each pair of players is multiplied together to give a total score.
Small detour for Divots!
Just a small detour from the golf, the whole reason for this report, no, I've done all that before. I just wanted to congratulate the Welsh rugby team for their heroic performance last Saturday, It's hard enough to go to Twickenham to play such a strong 15, but when you are up against 16 men, it's going to be a struggle. The task made harder when Martyn Williams was sent off for 10 minutes, penalised for being colour blind when jumping in front of a guy he believed was a team-mate there to lift him for the restart! Let's just hope the officials count the Scots correctly this week before the game begins - they look dangerous enough without an extra man! This week we had low but even numbers, so no blind partners. With a couple of noticeable absentees, not seen since the Rabbits match and also four or five regulars away in Portugal, it should be a short report, you will be pleased to read. First away were Loz Phillips and Richard Chapman playing with Rob Wilcox and our captain, Rob Hall. I'm hoping that the scorecards were marked incorrectly, either that or only two of the fourball bothered to play. Gavin did suggest that as Loz was in one pairing and Rob Hall in the other, it was quite likely that Richard and Rob Wilcox did do all the work! A good front nine from the two Robs with 21 points. A birdie two on the eighth hole helped Loz and Richard to 19 points, and with a steady 18 points on the back nine, the pair turned in a reasonable overall score of 37 points. Rob and Rob were only one point better after dropping points on the back nine, scoring 17 and 38 overall. The second group out were Don Sigsworth with the new favourite, Clive Law, playing alongside Gavin Field-Thomas and the guy who drew the short straw, Gareth Rees. Don and Clive proved to be a steady pairing, boring to watch with their text-book golf, but steady. A birdie two on the sixth by Clive was just one of their highlights on the way to a tremendous score of 41 points, the best of the day. Not so tremendous for Gavin and Gareth. Gareth had to dig very deep to try and salvage a decent card, with Gavin struggling on the tees, the fairways and the greens. Apart from perhaps his super remote trolley breaking down, I can't imagine how the round could have been much worse. With Gareth's game not all it should be, he was looking for support from his partner with all the shots - unfortunately, Gavin used most of them up on the first three or four holes! A fantastic birdie two by Gareth on the ninth was only a consolation, with an awful overall score of 32 points. Both have completed their eight cards required, but have failed to make up ground the past couple of weeks. Hopefully, next week will see the return of the Portugal possee, as well as some of the missing regulars. Richard Chapman is unable to play. Expecting Scotland to have been hammered by France last week, he has made himself available for selection. Somehow I don't think he will be required. Clive Law now has a six-point lead from Nigel Ayers, with only four weeks remaining for him to be caught. An exciting few weeks ahead for golf and rugby fans alike! With regard to the rugby, let's hope for a great spectacle on Sunday with a comeback from Wales. Saturday's matches are forgone conclusions, with the France v Ireland game expected to be a no- point draw and Italy home favourites to topple England in Rome!
Tension mounts in Rabbits League
The tension in the clubhouse at close of play last Sunday was suffocating. There are two pairs on equal points at the top of the table. William Beynon and partner Dorian Thomas have chipped away at the early season lead of Mike Hale and Chris Smith. There is everything to play for between these two teams. At the foot of the table, two pairs are battling away neck and neck. Indeed, the wooden spoon contenders Stephen Price and Paul Davies gathered a valuable point this week and now have a one point cushion over Dave Morgan and Anthony Allen. But these two teams meet next week in a vital clash which will probably settle who takes the dreaded spoon. Forget the Six Nations rugby for the moment. This will be the match of the day. No wonder our Government are racing through a White Paper to get Tenby Rabbits on the category I list. This feast should not just be available to viewers on Sky. First in the clubhouse on Sunday were Mark Edwards who, with partner Eugene Boyd, took full points in a walkover against Simon Evans and John Murphy. Simon Evans is abroad on official business and, provided I heard him correctly, the captain told me J. S. Murphy had been eaten by a polar bear. Though, as the captain this week was eating a pork pie at the time and as his mouth was full, I may have misheard. If, though, the polar bear story is true, readers should treat this report as an obituary. The first real match in was between Rees Davies and Mike Munro against Fred Adlam and Paul James. Adlam and James were three down after nine holes, but clawed their way back into the match. On the 18th tee they stood all-square and on the last green Fred Adlam had a simple two-foot putt for a great victory. Nerves were jangling, however, and Fred Adlam began to twitch, rather like Vitus if I remember the Saint's name correctly. He missed. The match was halved. He had yipped. I only mention this because of the look on the face of his partner Paul James. Not just horror, but the look of a man who had trodden in something unpleasant on the pavement. A wonderfully exciting game. George Pegg and John Hunt were four up on the 10th. Then doom-seekers Dave Morgan and Anthony Allen went into par mode with wins on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th. They were level. They halved the 16th, lost the 17th and halved the last. One felt for them. They need a point or two; but have they at last found form for their big game next week? William Beynon and Dorian Thomas only just managed to scrape a victory against Stephen Watkins and Glyn Price. The margin a narrow two and one, but enough for them to catch the league leaders. This match was notable for a comment made. It was on the fifth tee and Glyn Price was addressing his ball, when he heard a remark. "If you had a better partner, you would have won the league." Glyn Price took this the wrong way, believing this to be a compliment, whereas nobody else could so believe, and he prinked and preened. Quite sickening really. At post-match interview he told me this story. He still thinks he is the greatest. Bill Beynon and Dorian Thomas are going great guns. Playing par golf and serious contenders for the silver. If they should keep going like this, I can give readers a perspective on the victory speech of D. Thomas at the victory banquet when I asked him for his comments on prospects. It shows depth in this fellow. "We are either going to win or lose it." A simple rationale. Dave Moran and Steve Hockings won two up against Ben Blake and Jason Rolfe and move up to joint third in the table. Whereas Derek Farley with super sub Roy Morgan sprung a surprise by defeating Jerry Whitehouse and sub Rob Russell by two up. This young talent, Roy Morgan, has proved to be the discovery of the year. Never been beaten when standing in as a substitute. He did not enter the league as a regular player because, as he said, "there is very little room left on my trophy shelf." Readers beware. Your correspondent built a house extension to display his trophies. A wonderful half between Stephen Price and Paul Davies saw them double their points tally in the league. They seem to be sharpening for their big match ahead. Stephen Harries, the Rabbits captain, was away this week. William Beynon, the vice-captain, was on stage this week and the Rabbits were tenterhooked seeing how he would perform. He will be the leader and mouthpiece next year. Well, basically he had that easy Old Etonian charm. One hand in pocket as he spoke. Suede shoes, a cravat at neck, nice silk waistcoat, unscripted. It was easy to be hypnotised by his suavity, yet I feel he needs ruthlessness for his role ahead. Take M. K. Munro for instance, one of the Rabbit members. He is a great horticulturalist. In Penally he organises much garden competition with the villagers. All by season, fortnightly too. We all submit our prize entries. At this time camellias, freesias, spring flowers, snowdrops, winter jasmine, crocus, anenome etc. Last week he submitted a pineapple and we all groaned. Until the vicar noticed a Somerfield label within the leaf. No shame was shown by M. K. Munro. Audacity is important in leadership, he reckons. William Beynon will develop to be a good captain now he has a role model to follow. The results were: R. Davies and M. Munro halved with F. Adlam and P. James; G. Pegg and J. Hunt beat B. D. Morgan and A. Allen 1 up; W. Beynon and D. Thomas beat S. Watkins and G. Price 2 and 1; E. Boyd and M. Edwards beat S. Evans and J. S. Murphy w.o.; D. Moran and S. Hockings beat B. Blake and J. Rolfe 2 up; S. Price and P. Davies halved with D. Evans and R. F. Murphy; D. Farley and R. Morgan beat J. Whitehouse and R. Russell 2 up. Mike Hale and Chris Smith had a bye this week.
Chicken change
Now first of all it's a very big get well soon to Chief Chicken Morran Boot. He had a bit of a hiccup in the 'pump room', so to speak, and is currently languishing in hospital. So all Chickens and all club members send you good wishes for a speedy recovery. Mind you Morran, when you hear who is helping Ted Martin in your absence, you may consider staying where you are! But Spike Evans has jumped into the breach and is bringing his own brand of humour to the cause. Rick Lewis was talking to his ball all the way round, but the ball was as deaf as a post. Brian Morgan suggested a hearing aid for the ball, but after listening to Rick's tirade on the 18th fairway he changed his mind! Arnold Kaney, on his girl's handicap of course, stormed into the lead with 31 points and then complained about the cold! But it was a bit parky out there though; at one stage it was reported at 0 degrees C. and with a slight breeze, it felt like the North Pole without the bears! No mystery pic this week, but Joe Hewitt, our intrepid bar steward, looked as though he could do with another few customers, but he didn't have long to wait, and stewardess Lyn Jenkins had obviously spotted a Chicken doing something he shouldn't, especially in the bar! Neil Dickinson and Meurig Jones struggled around with 20 points apiece, a mirror image as far as the scores go, but not actually of course, and Idwal David repeated his booby prize feat of a couple of weeks ago. Not a bad turnout really, considering the cold weather. Results: 1. Arnold Kaney 31 pts. (£1.50); 2. John Hancock 28 (£1); 3. Jim Taylor, Billy Cole 27 (50p). Twos: Neil Dickinson, Ken Gouldsbrough (40p each). Booby: Idwal David (30p). Entries: 20.
J.B.H.