The Frostbite games really lived up to their name last weekend as competitors wrapped up against the bitter wind whipping across the fairways at Tenby. There was not a big field of competitors, but those that played had enough spirit for an army. The banter started on the first and was still going as players left the clubhouse after a lovely meal provided by Steve and staff.

Two foursomes 'virgins' led the way, Sarah Waring partnered by club treasurer, Ken Gouldsbrough, and Danny Owen, partnered by mixed organiser, Heather K. Morgan.

Everyone was grateful the competition was only over 14 holes, to follow the format of the summer's Friendly Foursomes, as hats, scarves and gloves got added to the winter golf wardrobe on the first.

The other mixed organiser, Mervyn Tucker, arrived from a family dinner in time to do the cards; and many thanks also to Tom in the Pro Shop for doing the bookings, vouchers and bag draw.

There were no twos, so two bag draws were drawn. The first was won by Heather and Danny; and the second by Trevayne Keohane and John Charnock.

Laura McQueen with Neil Moffatt and Georgina Ormond with Nigel Rimmel just missed out on the prizes.

The second prize with 28 points went to Linda Evans and Derek Bath; but first prize with a superb 34 points went to Heather and Danny.

In her speech, Heather complimented Danny on his amazing shot to the fifth green. Watch this space as he will certainly be in the prizes this year as his handicap comes down.

The next Frostbite is on Sunday, March 7, and the list is already filling up. Nigel and Maura Rimmel are going to run it as yours truly will be on a beach in Gran Canaria!

Juniors brave icy conditions

Well done to all those juniors who braved the icy conditions last Sunday, when the wind was bitterly cold.

First over the line in the yellow box stableford was Dave Webb with 36 points. In the red box, it was our newest member, Bethan Morris, with 37 points (not bad for the first time), and last, but certainly not least, Megan Guerreiro with 18 points off of the black. Prizes are in the Professional Shop.

This Sunday will be a stableford competition. On February 28, we are going to invite members of South Pembs and Trefloyne Juniors to a game at our course. Please add your names to the list in the Junior Room if you want to play in this competition.

The monthly medal is on February 20. Could all try to use the start sheet in the Junior Room please.

IDWAL

Harts and Hewitt are Rabbits favourites

Another round of matches in the Tenby Rabbits Winter League on Sunday and yet another win for vice-captain Mackie Harts and partner Gerald Hewitt, and you have to say they are looking a safe bet for this year's title.

This week they had a closely fought battle against would-be challengers and past captains, Chris Smith and Mark Edwards, although it it would be fair to say that it wasn't without its clangers, or duffs as Mark calls them.

Well he should know, because his attempted chip from the side of the 12th green left not so much a divot, but more of a furrow behind the ball and it was of such length that he phoned the pro shop to ask for some more turf because his bag of seed just wouldn't do.

That said, the general standard of golf was such that it needed a birdie or at least a par to win a hole, with Chris and Mark requiring a win on the 18th to halve the match, but the couldn't hold their nerve and Mackie and Gerald took all points.

Mind you, back in the clubhouse, discussions were taking place as to whether they should be deducted points after Mackie was witnessed grossly over-practising on Sunday morning

It's not a practice we Rabbits encourage; the odd bit of chipping and putting is fine, but not full-blooded, proper practice. It's something that's not been seen since the days of William Beynon, and we all know what happened there. Sucked into the Divots he was, so you know what to do Mackie, keep trying for our sake

Seriously, though, this pair are in fine form and its highly unlikely they will slip up now.

Another pair in fine form are Jerry (the rat hat) Whitehouse and Mike (white hot putter) Munro. Another fine win for them this week and with Jerry's driving and Mick's putting, it was no surprise.

Good job it's not the other way round, though, for after witnessing Mick's drive off the first, even Jerry, with his lucky hat on, would have struggled. But this pair are in the running for some silverware this year.

Some very strange goings on this week for our captain Mick Gillett and Tim Davies on the 8th green, where they showed some unusual skills with their putters. Now both of these guys are experienced and some say talented golfers, but then some say that Mick Gillett might have something other than a toasted item to eat after golf one Sunday. But this week it was that sinking feeling that we all have when putting uphill - you know the one where it rolls back down.

Well they beat that, as both had putts that rolled back past where they were standing. Think about it, two putts uphill and both ending up further away - that ends up with one hell of a putt.

Apparently their opponents for the day, Steve Watkins and John (the pipe) Murphy, were on the turf in hysterics, but like being slapped round the face with a wet fish, Tim strolled up to the ball and just whacked it and in it dropped - hole halved and no more tittering from Stveve and John.

Golf eh, just when you think you got it, rollocks!

So then, with a few matches to go, pretty much anyone can finish anywhere, that is apart from top and bottom of the league - they need giving away, they are not there to take.

Sunday's results: Steve Watkins and John Murphy went down 4 and 3 to Tim Davies and Mick Gillett; Gerald Hewitt and Mackie Harts had a close 1 up over Chris Smith and Mark Edwards; Chris Davies and Kevin Smith had a walkover against Dave Moran and Juan Cruz; and Jerry Whitehouse and Mick Munro dished out a lesson and a fashion statement, in hats, to Mike Hale and Steve Maytum by beating them 2 and 1. John Hunt and Tony Hopkins also had a walkover.

Winter blues aside...

They were out in force again. Despite the forecast of a cold north-easterly wind, a total of 39 seniors eagerly set off to conquer the course. As it turned out, the day did not seem as cold as expected, as long as everyone kept moving, and there were some sheltered spots as well as some sunshine to help maintain body heat. Paul Bradley actually thought it was warm!

The group welcomed a new member to their ranks. Dai Thomas, better known as 'Dai the Butcher', was able to play his first round with the group. He had been down to play last week, but the rain ensured cancellation of the competition.

All but two of the starting group were able to complete the course. Stan Hudson and Hywel Probert retired early for varying reasons, allowing the rest to fight for the honours.

Brian Morgan was back in contention having missed a week and grumbling over the fact that last week Hywel gave away three prizes, well promised three prizes as opposed to giving. That did not deter him from extracting a pound from each member this week.

He was out with Ken Gouldsbrough and Allen Watts and they were hoping that this week there would be a team prize. Obviously they each had a good score, though there was some discussion, as well as to-ing and fro-ing to the computer, to check Ken's score. It had been reduced from 35 to 32 - until he called a group huddle to rectify some error in recording.

His score reverted to the original 35 and Brian realised that a miss-hit low runner on the 13th had put him close to the hole. Peace returned to the camp.

Danny Owen followed his eagle two on the fourth last time out with a creditable 30 this week. He had to work for it since he failed to score on the first five holes played. He was quite pleased with his back nine score of 20.

Rod Clarke was not at his scoring best and remarked that a foreign friend of his would have declared his round 'clap!'

Another to not reach his potential was John Hayhoe. "It's amazing," he said, "I only scored 23, but I still managed to improve my eclectic on four holes!"

Wonders will never cease - Clifton John played the whole round with only one ball. (It has since been signed and placed in his treasure box). In fact, he ended his round with one extra ball he had found. His score of 30 reflected the fact that he found more fairways in one week than he has all winter. When asked what went wrong, he said, "Dunno - but it might have been a cracked nail I sustained on the fourth!"

Doug Havard followed up his previous score of 37 with a commendable 33 this week. He could be the dark horse creeping up on the outside.

Continuing his spell of consistent golf, Robin Hagley was again in contention with 35.

One interesting little snippet came from two cards out at different times. The two Richards, Davies and Chapman, both play off a handicap of 10 and both returned a score of 29.

The scoring was good this week. Of the 37 completed cards, 16 achieved a score of between 30 and 36, while, at the other end of the scale, there were only eight with a score below 25. The booby this week was awarded to 'uncle' Jim Taylor for his magnificent 20.

In the absence of Bob Howse and Stan Hudson, Brian Waters returned to the dais to announce the results and give out the prizes. Raffle prizes went to Martin Neilan and Paul Bradley.

There was only one card with a two, scored on the 12th (against the wind), and that was the one belonging to Brian Morgan.

Ken Gouldsbrough just missed out on a place, only because he fired his second shot over the fence on the 18th. Both he and Robin Hagley scored 35 with the same back nine, back six, and back three. It was decided on a score on the last hole.

Robin Hagley was pushed into third place by two players who scored 36. Brian Morgan had sat all afternoon with great anticipation, only to be pipped at the post by a better back nine.

This week's supreme golfer was Tony Ranoe, who just quietly went about his business making par after par.

Major headache for Chicken checkers!

With last Friday morning at last producing some half-decent weather, 19 Chickens were enouraged to leave the hutch for their weekly trot.

And a good day was had by all, remarked Chief Chicken Morran afterwards - all that is except the scrutineers!

For, little did the card checkers realise at the outset of play that they would be facing a major headache some four hours later.

But that's exactly what happened when first one player, Dave Henry, came in with 27 points, to be followed by another, Ken Gouldsbrough, with that very same total.

No problem there, though; the cards were checked and prizes were about to be awarded when, lo and behold, in walks a late finisher, Paul Davies, with, yes, you've guessed it, yet another 27 points on his card.

Well 26 really (thanks to a miscalculation by his playing partner - no names mentioned!), but following a recount, it was discovered that 27 was in fact the correct total. And it could so easily have been more if he hadn't picked up his ball on the first when he still had a shot in hand! But that's another story.

Back to the scrutineers and back to the drawing board!

Out of the window went their initial results sheet and.list of prize winners and, thanks to several countbacks, it was some considerable time before they eventually produced a new one.

When they did, it revealed the following: 1. Dave Henry 27 pts (£2); 2. Ken Gouldsbrough 27 (£1.20); 3. Paul Davies 27 (60p).

Also in the money were Newman Vincent, who pocketed £1 for a birdie two on the sixth, and Colin Griffith, who had his 30p entry fee returned after bagging the booby with 17 points. Yes 17 points - an indication of the high standard of play on the day.