Clifton John, like a lone Boy Scout looking for his woggle, was the only senior player to display his magnificent legs on this sunny afternoon. He had the job of supporting Geoff Aston this week as they took on Frank Walker and John Woodley and the sight of those magnificent pins achieved the first objective in putting the visitors off their stroke.
However, the Gower pair proved to be extremely tenacious in this epic struggle. They put Geoff and Clifton under immediate pressure by opening a three-hole lead and every time the home players looked like drawing level, they won another hole to maintain their lead. It wasn't until the 10th hole that they were able to strike back and consolidated with wins on the 12th and 14th holes. On the 16th they found themselves in the lead for the first time and they were not going to throw away the only opportunity of a win. The legs paid off as they strode down the 18th to claim their prize.
Now the betting in the clubhouse was how many balls Clifton would lose and as it happens it was two less than his captain, who mislaid four in total. Clifton declared that this did not count since he had found two, which gave him a zero balance.
Dave Morgan, refreshed from his golfing holiday in France, and full of confidence, thought it was going to be a doddle. He didn't realise that, in his absence, the darker forces of nature had been conspiring to cover his beloved course with a plethora of plants and thick greenery, designed to hide those little white spherical objects.
Fortunately, team selection had made sure that he could rely on Ken Gouldsbrough to lead him home. In a rich vein of form, Ken held things together while Dave re-established his familiarity with the Tenby undergrowth.
In this game it was a seniors' captain named Morgan who emerged victorious. As both captains had the same surname, readers will have to continue to the end to discover which one.
As well as two Morgans in one match, there were two Roys and two Evans' and there would have been two Mikes had not the Gower captain re-arranged the final groups out.
Called in from the reserve list, Roy Gundry shared a buggy with Roy Morgan. Unfortunately, Mr. Gundry has only played, according to him, five games this year and so he was a bit rusty and didn't manage to play to handicap. He and Roy were up against a Gower pair who were on putting form and astounded the Tenby duo with their prowess. Seven to 10-foot putts were flying in from all over the greens as Ken Graves and Bill Thorpe maintained a four-hole lead for much of the match.
The two Roys managed to claw their way back to a one hole deficit, only to be demoralised with a Ken Graves special on the 16th as he putted from the top of the green into the hole. Recovery was impossible.
They did find it a long afternoon as they sped around in their buggy and constantly found themselves close up behind the Evans' (Ray and Lyn) being escorted around the Tenby rough by Jim Martin and Des Stone. This was another match in which a few balls hid themselves from view for fear of being struck too often (not too hard!). The home pair succumbed to a three-hole deficit and had to play as team to claw back to all square on the 14th. For a change, the final holes were kind to them and they just managed to complete the match on the 16th.
Martin Neilan and Doug Havard had a delightful afternoon against Ron Holloway and Paul Farrow, but this was another pairing that allowed the visitors to stride into a three-hole lead before taking stock and fighting back to a close victory. Martin was on good form and Doug entered the fray to win a couple of key holes.
"The rough is rough!" said Brian, as he and Alan Yates went into a two-hole deficit early on in their match against Len Bastin and Lynn Anderson. Endeavouring to avoid those large areas of grass and wildlife, they clawed their way back to another narrow win. More balls lost in this match.
What a pairing! John Hancock was out with Stan Hudson and looked a sure fired bet for a result. They found themselves four down after six holes and had to concentrate on their performances to pull back to three down. High handicappers, Bob Hughes and Ray Collins made the most of their shots and played some very competitive golf to bring out the best of the Tenby pair.
John was somewhat miffed (my word not his!) on the Bell Hole. Ray had taken four to get to the top of the bank and John and Stan thought that they were in with a chance. Imagine their amazement when Ray chipped off the top to see his ball roll down and across the green into the hole for a five net four. It took a birdie from Stan on the 17th to give them their first lead in the game only to see Ray birdie the 18th to earn a well-deserved half with a three net two.
Mike Fox and Malcolm Arlott were in early. They didn't go across the line, having completed their match on the 13th. "Malcolm followed my instructions," declared Mike, as he quipped his way around a shortened course against Colin Rowlands and Mike Thomas.
J. D. R. Williams and Brian Morgan made sure of their victory. They only had one Gower player, Mike Roberts, to contend with. Brian was suffering with his neck, but struggled on to support his partner. Although he played well, particularly on the early holes, Mike couldn't keep the effort and concentration for the 18 holes.
Tony Morris continues to play some good golf, as shown with his gross 80 against Alwyn Jenkins and Ioan Stock. Newman Vincent was pleased, since he didn't have to strain his sore shoulder tendons. He seemed very pleased that he made his contribution by winning one hole.
This was part one of the Gower experience. Part two continues at the Gower next week and might see a change of fortunes, since Tenby members will have to be up early to tee-off at eleven-o-clock! They have to find the course first.
Results: D. Morgan and K. Gouldsbrough bt R. Morgan and D. Griffiths 5 and 4; B. Waters and A. Yates bt L. Bastin and L. Anderson 4 and 3; D. Stone and J. Martin bt R. Evans and L. Evans 3 and 2; R. Gundry and R. Morgan lost to K. Graves and B. Thorpe 2 and 1; M. Neilan and D. Havard bt R. Holloway and P. Farrow 2 and 1; J. Hancock and S. Hudson halved with B. Hughes and R. Collins; T. Morris and N. Vincent bt A. Jenkins and I. Stock 2 up; G. Aston and C. John bt F. Walker and J. Woodley 2 and 1; M. Arlott and M. Fox bt M. Thomas and C. Rowland 6 and 5; J. D. R. Williams and B. Morgan bt M. Roberts 5 and 4.