Sunday afternoon may have been dull, damp and overcast, but the golf course at Tenby Golf Club came alive to the laughter of ladies enjoying their golf! A Texas Scramble had been arranged to round off the season with our new ladies who joined after this year's very successful ladies' taster sessions with Rhys Harry, our professional.
Eighteen ladies played in the competition over seven holes, and then sat down to an enjoyable meal in the clubhouse. Everyone agreed that they had had such fun; and one lady commented that now she understood what her husband was on about when he came home and told her all about his round of golf.
The winning team, led by new member Trevayne, just pipped Debbie's team by 0.7! The scores were that close!
The runners-up were Debbie Sheldon, Liz Storey and Heather Morgan; but the deserving winners were Trevayne Keohane, Mary Lewis and Laura McQueen.
The ladies' captain, Nesta Hart, thanked all those who took part and presented some lovely prizes.
Long distance with Rabbits drivers
After some atrocious condition which resulted in the matches being abandoned the previous week, Tenby Rabbits assembled for another round of their winter league programme on Sunday morning.
It was rumoured, however, that the previous match was brought to such an abrupt end due to the shock of seeing Jerry Whitehouse in whiter than white socks and then being outdriven by Mackie Harts - not the thunder and lightning! But come on Jerry, glow in the dark socks!
This week got underway and the weather was much better.
Now, I am sure you boys know that the news from the day's golf that is received is very valuable and is taken as gospel and passed on via this column. But please, only genuine tales, not like the one this week which reached my ears. Apparently there was a near miss of an eagle on the long par five 14th, with the third shot hitting the pin - all totally believable, until I was told it was from Mick Gillett!
Come on boys, keep it real, after all his partner, our captain, failed to get past the ladies' tee on the 12th. Now do you see what I mean, that's more like it.
Talking of getting past the ladies' tee, Dafydd Evans managed it twice on the 18th. And no, he didn't re-load after hitting his first ball - it was his driver that went sailing past the tee next. And yes, it went further than his ball - well they do say that the R7 is one of the longest drivers you can buy. Not sure if throwing them counts though!
It's a good job that Steve Maytum didn't follow this example of letting off steam. Witness was given to yet more examples of high, rather than long driving, and I am not sure if he could get it up that high, but if he could, what a mess Steve's driver would be in when it crashed to the ground.
Meanwhile, there was some great driving from John Hunt, who hit it past the bunker on the 11th... but it was another great example of lack of direction, as he and his partner Terry Davies were on the 10th! f
Finally boys, can we remember when playing those holes that require ringing the bell, please do so. If you are not sure how this is done, Juan Cruz will be only too glad to show you how to do it - he is running tuition courses in town on Saturday nights. Which pub is to be arranged, if he can get in any that is!
Don't forget, we have the Dilwater coming up on December 14. This competition is open to all paid-up members of the Rabbits, including substitutes. This will be followed by the presentation, while the children's Christmas party will be held later. Entry sheets are up for your golf and for your kids' names etc. Any queries, please see Mark Edwards or Mick Gillett.
Results: Dave Morgan and Juan Cruz lost to Mike Hale and Dorian Thomas 2 down; Mark Edwards and Mick Gillett bt Fred Adlam and Mike Munro 3 and 2; Simon Evans and Mackie Harts halved with Chris Davies and Steve Watkins; Jerry Whitehouse and Chris Smith bt Dafydd Evans and Paul Davies 2 up; Gerald Hewitt and John Murphy lost to John Hunt and Terry Davies 3 and 2.
Subs: Robin Bradbury for Dorian Thomas, Steve Maytum for Jerry Whitehouse, Derek Bath for Paul Davies.
13 - unlucky for some!
Well, unlucky for one! Roy Morgan's drive on the 13th put him on the up slope to the right of the fairway. Taking out a wood, as he does, he hit a firm shot.
P-I-N-G!!! His ball pinged off the 13 marker post and whistled past his ear to land a good 20 yards behind him. He then needed a bigger club to reach the bunker which was, at least, nearer the hole.
That about summed up his day as he and Russell Clark managed to lose a few balls between them. However, they were out enjoying the day, if not the golf, and were part of a 42-strong contingent competing in the Seniors eclectic competition.
Coming behind them, Owen Monaghan, carding a 32, had taken some tips from his playing partner, Stan Hudson. It's a pity Stan hadn't followed his own advice since he didn't reach 30.
Brian Morgan breezed in with a declaration that he was playing well up to the 15th when he lost a ball, and yet another on the 16th. The journey from Gorseinon must be more tiring than he thought.
Brian's poor finish was matched by his namesake's start. Brian Waters failed to score on the first two holes and was rueing the lack of practice before teeing off. He did make up for it on the back nine.
Newman, Nigel and Maurice declined to play the holes over the line, with the result that Maurice's score equalled his handicap, while Nigel's was below his handicap. Even so, they were not the lowest, that honour went to Ray Ford, who is still getting used to the course and the Senior group.
Of the 42 out, seven managed less than 20, while 20 members scored between 20 and 29, including Bob Howse! That left 15 who were able to beat 30 on a cool day with a north-westerly breeze.
Of those, Meurig Jones and Alan Yates managed 34 and John Hayhoe, Martin Neilan and Peter Williams 33. Peter Williams figured in the prize money with a two on the 17th, alongside Bart Youll, while Derek Bath doubled his share with a brace of twos, one on the sixth and the other on the 12th.
This week's honours were shared between Paul Nixon with 38 (again!), Des Stone with 37 and Geoff Aston with 36. The Eclectic momentum builds up towards Christmas when the Seniors will finish the first half of their winter programme with an evening celebration and a final Texas Scramble competition.
This week's raffle realised £45 for charity, with Dave Miller, Ray Ford and Bart Youll being the lucky recipients of the prizes.
ITMA Morgan!
A lovely winter's day greeted the Chicken Trotters on Friday morning as 14 vacated the warmth of the hutch to do friendly battle on the course.
But by the time they had returned, 13 of those were spitting feathers as news filtered through that it was that man Richard Morgan who was again leading the brood home.
How could that be? He had pecked up the major share of the corn the previous week after taking top perch. Surely it couldn't happen again, could it. Surely he was languishing deep, deep in the sin bin.
Wrong! Somehow his earlier exploits had been overlooked and he had escaped the wrath of the Chief Chicken's red pen. Either that, or he has great persuasive (crawling) powers.
We don't think it will happen again, though. Watch this space and watch out Richard! Don't think you'll be smiling this week... or next for that matter.
Another man who always seems to be in the money - and perhaps that's hardly surprising - is club treasurer Ken Gouldbrough, who banked another quid after again finishing in second place, while his playing partner Derek Bath cleaned up 70p for his third position.
"It's the first time we've awarded three prizes for sometime," admitted Chicken leader Morran, who also apologised for making a boob in respect of last week's booby prize!
"It should have been awarded to David Lamb. He was the one who had 10 points, not Roy Morgan, who actually had 12," he said. "Sorry Roy."
Having said that, it seems that the standard of golf among the Chicken Trotters is now on the up, for Friday's booby prize went to Doug Havard... even though he had piled up an impressive 15 points!
Results: 1. Richard Morgan 29 pts (£1.20); 2. Ken Gouldsbrough 28 (£1); 3. Derek Bath 26 (70p).
Booby - Doug Havard 15 pts (30p entry returned). No twos.
And finally, don't forget the Chicken's Christmas dinner has been booked for Friday, December 19 - be there!
High scoring in Monthly Medal
Tough conditions again for the Monthly Medal on Saturday, as reflected in some of the scores. Leading scores and prize winners were:
Division One (34 competitors): Matthew Moseley 73-0-73, last six (medal plus £36); Richard Morton 75-2-73 (£24); John Gottwaltz 78-4-74, last six (£12); Allan Morton 82-8-74.
Division Two (51 competitors): John Rees 92-15-77, last nine (medal plus £36); Geoffrey Aston 90-13-77 (£24); John Ball 93-15-78, last nine (£12); Gary Willars 91-13-78; David Blackmore 94-16-78.
Twos: John Gottwaltz 2, Michael Schooling, Alistair Stroud (£21.25 each).
Bag draw: B. Jones, C. Murphy, S. Sheldon, P. Keating, A. Morton (£16 each).
As the seasonal Turkey Trots continue, there's another medal competition tomorrow (Saturday), while the following weekend there's a change to a fourball better ball format.