The sun was up, the air was crisp and the fairways were firm and friendly. Everything was set for some high scores as a record 49 seniors enjoyed a little smile as they tee-ed off on the last competition in this year's eclectic competition.
However, despite the ideal situation, the number of high scores was relatively small.
As a front runner, Owen Monaghan set the standard for the day and, with a round of 35, became the leader in the clubhouse. He held this lead for a long while.
In a day of ifs, buts and maybe's, Owen must rue his only blob of the day. He had scored on every hole until he arrived at the 18th where he ended up with a seven. He reckoned that he was trying to compensate for a poor Liverpool performance the night before, but just like his team, he failed to score on the last.
His score was enough to put him ahead of Brian Morgan and David Lamb who had some mixed fortunes behind him. David was 'going like a train' until he blew a gasket over the last four holes, ending up with a creditable 32, as did Brian Morgan.
Our hon. treasurer was with them, but his fortunes were far from good, as chips and putts failed to go where they were directed. This could be said for most of the seniors as 20 out of the 49 scored between 25 and 29. The final straw for Nigel Rimell happened on the 15th. He and his playing partners looked up and failed to see the flag. After much gesticulating and shouting at the group in front, it was realised that Derek Bath had failed to return the flag to the hole - so he trudged back and replaced it.
Tony Morris complained that there were too many missed opportunities in his round, but he still managed to end up one shot behind Owen with a 34.
Following them, Stan Hudson couldn't match his excellent performance of last week, ending up with a 32, the same as his playing partner, Tony Ranoe.
While all the greens were running fast, the third and 16th were particularly difficult due to the pin placement. Many a senior watched his downhill putt roll past the hole, ending up further away than when it started. The tales of players chipping from either side of the green on the third and not scoring were numerous.
One sage quipped, as he handed in his card, that Cap'n Bob could become the first non-playing captain for the season. His 24 was way below par, but Bob put it down to all that gardening he did the day before.
Another to suffer the after effects of a day's work was Dudley Williams. Too much time spent with the paint brush was his exc... - reason for a lowly 18. Even then he did not win the booby prize.
A ruling is called for. Uncle Jim Taylor was 10 yards in front of the bunker on the seventh. He hit a firm shot with a wood and put the ball straight into the bunker. He walked up to it, but failed to find it. Even Fred Adlam and Bob Wiseman couldn't find it, though they all knew it was there. It was only when they used the rake that the buried ball reluctantly showed itself. Is that a penalty shot?
Ray Ford handed in the booby prizes and declared how much he had enjoyed the DVD. "Even the wife enjoyed," he declared, "but she had to watch it twice to verify it." Everyone is now clamouring to win it!
Ray did not lay claim to it this week and his playing partner, Ken Gouldsbrough, was mightily relieved to end up with a score below 20, but off the bottom. He reckoned that he had not played so poorly or blobbed so many holes in years. The honour of strongest man this week went to Ron Murphy.
Owen's 35 stayed on top of the pile for most of the afternoon, until John Hall arrived and topped it with a 36. A rejuvenated sexagenarian, by the name of Mike Fox, arrived late on and pushed Owen one more place down the list by virtue of a better back nine.
This week's winner is no stranger to the podium, so it was no surprise when Paul Nixon had his handicap dropped for another great performance, scoring 38 points. Even then he failed to score on the 18th.
So the eclectic has finished for another year. Next week the results will be announced after a 15-hole competition with hidden partners. There shouldn't be too many surprises.
There were six 2s this week - Tony Morris, John Charnock and Paul Nixon on the sixth, Des Stone and Allen Watts on the 12th and Clifton John on the 17th.
Brian Morgan was delighted with the £54 raised in the raffle, with the prizes going to Nigel Rimell and Jim Taylor.
Curtain falls on Rabbits Winter League campaign
Last Sunday saw the final round of matches in the Tenby Rabbits Winter League campaign, 2009-10.
With the title having already been secured by Mackie Harts and Gerald Hewitt, who have performed superbly throughout, having lost only one match all season (congratulations to them), it was a question of who could hold their nerve for the second and third places and who would end up with the wooden spoon?
Could those pairings with points already in the bag add another win and hold on to their places, or would the jitters get the better of them?
The favourites for runners-up honours were captain Mick Gillet and his sidekick Tim Davies, who before Sunday occupied second spot.
But they had a tough match against the newly-crowned champions, Mackie and Gerald, and try as they might, they could not overcome the power of this pair and were to fall by the wayside.
With news of this result, back in the clubhouse, Kevin Smith and Chris Davies were sitting pretty on 13 points and themselves were now holding on to runners-up spot, courtesy of walkover.
It meant the other main contenders out on the course were Jerry Whitehouse and Mick Munro, but they, too, were to lose against Juan Cruz with sub Simon Evans.
It was then a case of whether the pairing of two previous captains, Chris Smith and Mark Edwards, could see-off the favourites for the wooden spoon, John Hunt and Tony Hopkins.
This they did, which meant it was a now down to a two-horse race for the second and third positions and, with both pairs on the same points, a sudden death play-off was needed to separate them.
Chris Smith and Mark Edwards took to the course again against Kevin Smith and Chris Davies, with referee Mackie Harts keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.
Only three extra holes were needed, the tough pin position on the third proving decisive as Kevin and Chris triumphed, with Kevin showing his brother Chris and partner Mark how to putt when the going gets tough.
Mind you, after the easy putt Chris missed on the second hole to win the play-off, it was no surprise.
So that was that, no need to prolong the agony and no need for any more play-offs, nice and simple. Kevin Smith and Chris Davies finished second and Chris Smith and Mark Edwards took third, with the wooden spoon being won in style by John Hunt and Tony Hopkins. Even so, this pair had some final day out on the course, with John 'topping a putt', as partner Tony commented! And what's more, he had only had lessons that week - pity they were piano lessons and not golf lessons!
Mind you, the ball still went further than Mark Edwards's drive on the seventh - not even as far as the ladies tee, in fact, not even close.
Maybe he needs a lesson from Gerald (boom boom) Hewitt. He, in true Rabbits style, kept the rivalry up with the Divots by splitting them down the middle on the 16th. This man doesn't know his own strength; he has got to be the biggest hitter in Rabbits golf.
Some say that Paul (decanter) Davies is just behind him! Unfortunately for Paul, that's after three shots!
So that's it for another year as far as winter league golf with the Rabbits goes - well done to all the winners.
Don't forget, we have the Dilwater on Sunday, March 21, and we remain hopeful for the annual match against the Divots, but starting soon we have the Three Counties Summer League, with the first match away at Carmarthen on April 11. The captain has up-to-date fixtures, if you require them, and let's have plenty of support.
Sunday's results: G. Hewitt and M. Harts bt T. Davies and M. Gillet 3 and 2; C. Davies and K. Smith bt C. Kaye and T. Davies w/o; C. Smith and M. Edwards bt J. Hunt and T. Hopkins 4 and 3; T. Morris and P. Decanter bt S. Watkins and J. Murphy 6 and 5; D. Moran and J. Cruz bt J. Whitehouse and M. Munro 4 and 3.
C. Davies and K. Smith beat C. Smith and M. Edwards on the third extra hole of a play-off for second and third places.
Pancho Villa alive and well!
Rumour has it that Pancho Villa is alive and well and living on Tenby golf links.
After several weeks of lying low, apparently he was sighted amongst the Chicken Trotters last Friday morning.
Or was it just someone by the name of Paul Davies masquerading as that notorious bandit?
If it was, he certainly did a good job of it, for he literally got away with daylight robbery, fleecing the poor unsuspecting Trotters to the tune of £3.50 with a winning score of 31 points.
How much? Yes, that's right, £3.50, thanks to the coffers being swelled somewhat through a bumper entry of 24 players - the most for some time.
Amazing what a bit of sunshine can do, and it just so happens that bandito Paul chose this same day to plunder the loot, as like the sunshine, he dazzled the opposition with his skills.
Well, come on, who wouldn't off a handicap of 28? Yes, that's right, 28 - four more than his club handicap.
His playing colleagues were simply spitting feathers and we understand that an appeal has now been lodged with the Chicken authorities to rectify this unsatisfactory situation.
A period locked in the sin-bin is guaranteed, admittedly, but perhaps a campaign should be mounted to have him put in shackles - permanently! Watch this space.
His winning score on Friday was one better than his nearest rival, Paul Nixon, while it was also pleasing to see a return to form for Derek Bath, who carded a tidy 23 points - so no booby this time.
No, on this occasion, that went to Mike Fox for his 17 points. Oh how the mighty fall - Mike had been on the winners' rostrum the previous week. But that's Chicken golf for you, isn't it!
Results: 1. Paul Davies 31 pts (£3.50); 2. Paul Nixon 30 (£1.60). Twos - Rick Lewis, on the 6th (£1.20). Booby - Mike Fox 17 pts (30p entry fee returned).
Par for the day was recorded at an impressive 26.