Sitting here in my garden on this warm September Pembrokeshire evening compiling this report, drinking a very nice homemade 2005 vintage sloe gin, rather reminds me that as far as the seniors' season is concerned, we are enjoying the last of the summer wine. Not that that this summer has been a vintage one or even an average summer, in fact weatherwise, a very poor one. However, Tenby seniors have been rather fortunate in escaping some horrid weather and in general have got by. Excuse me for digressing from the golf, just reminiscing. So to the match; this week it was our last big away match, so to speak, with just the local derby at Trefloyne at this time this report comes out, two weeks away. Our opponents were from the estuary of the Cleddau, namely Milford. Unfortunately, Milford are having major work done on and around the course and with all the JCBs and large tractors buzzing about, it sounded rather like a busy building site at times rather than a quiet golf course, and was very distracting! Our captain Des Stone had selected Bob Howse for his partner this week and on paper this was looking a strong pairing. When Bob heard that Des had selected him, he said: "I hope you are not expecting me to carry you?" Whatever Des's thoughts were, that was the last thing that happened! Apparently after his round at Milford, where Bob spent so much time in the bunkers he thought he was in Arabia, he is now known as Bob the Bunker! Bob did win the first hole, though, to put them one up against Milford vice-captain Tony Goodridge, brother of Tenby member Phil, partnered by Gordon Abraham, a fine nine-handicapper. On the next hole, though, Bob drove into the ditch. What were you doing with a driver in your hand, Bob, going downwind? Tony played very well and was consistent and was well backed by Gordon, which is more can be said for the Tenby pairing. In fact, it was commented after the game that Des and Bob are not very good at carpentry, as they do not know how to dovetail. At the turn, though, they were all-square, and just after that Tenby went one up, but when Tony had a 4 nett 3, Milford went all-square again at the 12th. From there they never looked back. On the next hole they went one up and kept the lead and ended the match on the 17th. Brian 'Moggy' Morgan was not at his mercurial best this week, but it did not matter, as his partner Brian Waters was in serene form. Rather like Tiger Woods, as Moggy commented after the game. Playing against Gareth Rees and David Christopher, he needed to be, with Gareth chipping in for a birdie two on the uphill par three fourth. However, the Tenby pair went three up at the 13th and looked to be coasting. A bit of a wobble came in as Gareth and David clawed back the next two holes to reduce the deficit to one, but then Brian Waters came in on the 16th to sink a long putt to take that hole and with a half on the 17th won their game. Last year, Martin Neilan partnered Jim Martin at Milford and they lost on the 18th; not much different this year, except they reduced the deficit from two holes to one, but it was a match that they should not have lost, indeed even won, with both Martin and Jim missing short putts on different holes to halve them when had they sunk them they would have won the holes. It was a fine match and against Steve Brown and Bobby Williams birdies were required from the Tenby pair to win holes in most cases. Martin opened their account to win the first, but Steve struck back on the second; Jim then took the third with a 5 nett 4, before Steve won the fourth with a three. With four halved holes in a row, Martin, having almost driven the green on the ninth, took it with a fine birdie three to go one up at the turn. After going one down at 12, an equally long drive from Jim to within 20 yards of the 13th green, resulting in a birdie three, put them one up again. Coming off the 18th, their 17th, they were all- square, but mistakes from all players saw Martin and Jim lose the short par three 18th standby hole in a scrappy finish. In the fourth match, vice-captain Roy Morgan was partnered by Owen Monaghan. Now whether he was chipping in or his approach work was so good that he did not have to putt, Owen played 18 holes without sinking a putt! Perhaps Owen's attention was diverted away from golf as he was playing against Peter Ryder and Tony Waldies, the latter who had been a soccer referee in his heyday during the 60s. Apparently he had officiated at games that Owen had played in up in Scouse land! By all accounts, Owen, playing at inside left, had only been booked once, but not by Tony. Tony said he would have done, but could not spell Monaghan or is it Managan? Tony had a brand new ball retriever, but his form was so good he did not need it; going two up early, they were never headed and went on to win the match on the 17th.

Newman Vincent, playing with club captain Malcolm Arlott this week, came up against Ian Fairburn and Dom Giannucci. Italian Dom said that there was no truth that the Tenby pair were on the hit list. He went on to say that it was a close game, with Newman and Malcolm winning the first two. Ian had a fine birdie four at the long par five seventh to reduce this to one. Ian and Dom then got it back to all-square at the turn. Newman was playing well, but Malcolm was suffering with a bout of lost balls. On the back nine, despite Newman getting them back to one up, it was the Milford pair who exerted the greatest pressure that eventually told when they went all- square on their 15th (16th hole). The Tenby pair got confused after that with the temporary greens and standby holes to lose the match on the 18th, their 17th. Told you it was confusing. Billy Hier, playing with Tudor Thomas for Milford, said that Ken Gouldsbrough and Peter Woodhouse played very well. Tenby won the first, but Billy and Tudor got back to all-square on the eighth. The game was very much nip and tuck from there on, until the 16th, their 15th, being the tricky downhill par three. With the wind swirling, it was not an easy green to hit. All four players missed the green - Peter chipped on, but nearly rolled off; then acted very unfriendly by sinking the long putt for a three. To compound matters on the next hole, the long par five 17th (their 16th), Peter played his third into a bunker, but got up and down to make a par five to go dormie. It was the first time that Peter knew who he was playing against, such was his concentration. Ken and Peter went to win their game on the next hole. The matches were very close, with so many games that were going to the 17th or 18th holes. This was the case with the seventh game between Stan Hudson and Mike Fox against the Milford pairing of Ken Davies and Robbie Graham. The Tenby pair started of brightly enough, going two up, but Ken had a fine birdie three on the fifth to reduce this to one. Stan and Mike gradually eased ahead again and with five to play were three up. Although Ken was very long, he was very adventurous; it was his partner Robbie who eventually did the damage, parring every hole after the 13th to win the game on the last. Derek Bath and John Hall came up against a superb 25-handicapper in the shape of Geoff Davies; playing with Harry Porter, this was another game that went to the 17th hole, before Tenby went down 2 and 1. According to Derek, it was a game where birdies were required to win holes. The Milford pair went three up after 12 holes, but then Derek and John reduced this to one by the short par three 15th (16th hole) as a result of an unlikely three from John. He hit a six-iron left of the hole and struck the road and it bounced hard right to finish six-foot from the pin. John duly sunk this to win the hole. Their luck did not hold though and they went down on the 17th. Don't quite know what to say about the ninth game; according to Colin Griffith it would be better if I said nothing. Playing with J. D. R. Williams, it was nice to see 'Hamilton' back from his ban, back driving again. John said he handled the buggy very well, especially on the steep inclines. They were up against an in-form pairing of Abo Webb and Ken Roper; the latter was one of the famous Busby Babes from the '60s. According Abo, the Tenby pair played excellent golf, but could not putt, despite them parring the first two holes. Despite this, with the Milford pairing playing superbly, it was an early bath for Colin and John. In the final match, it was left to John Cook and Bart Youll to reduce Tenby's deficit. Playing against Winston Price and Clive Wheeley, according to Bart, John played a magic round. Bart was quite happy to play holding role when a rare lapse came into John's game. Clive said both the Tenby players are bandits; what, our steady Eddy John? Tenby were always in front and in control and John and Bart went on to comfortably take the match on the 16th hole. Afterwards, Tony Goodridge, the vice-captain of Milford, welcomed the Tenby team and, talking of his match against Des and Bob, said that on holes where they had shots the Tenby pair shot themselves in the foot! Des responded by saying that Tony had gained family revenge for Des beating brother Phil earlier this year in a cup match at Tenby. It was also noted that Martin Neilan was not wearing a Seniors tie; he said it was because Aileen had forgotten to put it in his bag! He then went on to thank the temporary caterers for coping well and serving up an enjoyable meal. Results: Des Stone/Bob Howse lost to Tony Goodridge/Gordon Abraham 2 and 1; Brian Waters/ Brian Morgan beat Gareth Rees/David Christopher 2 and 1; Jim Martin/Martin Neilan lost to Steve Brown/Bobby Williams 1 down; Roy Morgan/Owen Monaghan lost to Peter Ryder/Tony Waldies 2 and 1; Newman Vincent/Malcolm Arlott lost to Ian Fairburn/Dom Giannucci 2 and 1; Ken Gouldsbrough/Peter Woodhouse beat Billy Hier/ Tudor Thomas 3 and 1; Stan Hudson/Mike Fox lost to Ken Davies/Robbie Graham 1 down; Derek Bath/ John Hall lost to Harry Porter/Geoff Davies 2 and 1; J. D. R. Williams/Colin Griffith lost to Abo Webb/Ken Roper 7 and 6; John Cook/Bart Youll beat Winston Price/Clive Wheeley 3 and 2. Milford 7 beat Tenby 3. J.D.M.