It's that time of year again and the Tenby Rabbits started their 2010-2011 Winter League campaign on Sunday, this year under the beady eye of Mackie (the Hat) Harts.
A warm welcome was given to our new members, Richard Prout and Bob Flower; also a welcome back to Rees Davies.
As usual, the draw for partners a few weeks previous threw up some tasty pairs, while this year saw our first game starting on the very morning that the clocks went back an hour, so it was inevitable that someone would turn up too early.
And not to disappoint, Tony Morris obliged. Mind you, it took a while for the penny to drop, even a puzzled expression as to why the Divots had not teed-off yet! A true senior moment eh, Tony, though it has to be said arriving early is just as much of a sin with us Rabbits as leaving early, as was witnessed when last year's captain Mick Gillett departed, muttering something about C & G.
Something to do with the building society you say? No it was more to do with the curry and Guinness. Not that he was rushing home for some; he had that the previous night and let's just say he needed some home comforts.
So out on the course the golf was of the usual standard, with Phil Carpenter forgetting what to do? Hit the ball, that is! Witness the shock on his face after an air shot on the 15th - mind you, he and Mackie still won the hole, thanks mainly to Chris Smith's lack of putting anything shorter than 18 inches. Long putts were fine, but he couldn't buy a short one.
He and Robin Bradbury were three up going over the line, but were all-square going up the last, so very nearly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
The hiding of the day was dished out by Richard (how many shots) Prout and Tim (Westwood) Davies. Surely these two are going to take some beating for top honours.
Another senior moment out on the course came from Meurig (the sub of subs) Jones, also known as the Daddy of the Rabbits. He walked of with Kevin Smith's trolley and only stopped when Kevin shouted to him!
So back in the clubhouse it was X Factor time, with Paul Davies doing a great impression of Simon Cowell, not bad either, complete with stick-on chest wig. Glad it wasn't Cheryl Cole, we wouldn't have been able to sleep at night.
Coming soon: John Hunt is holding a garage sale, so if you fancy a new driver amongst other clubs, the choice will be a plenty!
Results: T. Davies and R. Prout bt T. Morris and M. Gillet 4 and 3; C. Smith and R. Bradbury bt P. Carpenter and M. Harts 1 up; M. Edwards and J. Cruz bt P. Turton and K. Smith 2 and 1; J. Hunt and B. Flower halved with P. Davies and T. Hopkins; S. Watkins and S. Cole bt R. Davies and M. Munro 4 and 3; Meurig Jones subbed for Juan Cruz.
Monthly Medal
A total of 88 players competed in the October monthly medal last Saturday.
Again conditions were far from easy, with a strong south-westerly blowing across the course.
Among those who mastered the elements, though, were the following prize winners:
Division One: 1. Peter Rossi 80-10-70 (medal plus £40); 2. John Gottwaltz 78-5-73, on countback (£29.50); 3. Peter Brown 84-11-73 (£19); 4. Huw Roberts 86-12-74, on countback (£10.50); 5. Nick Thomas 79-5-74 (£6.50).
Division Two: 1. Terry Davies 90-19-71 (medal plus £40); 2. Philip Goodridge 89-16-73 (£29.50); 3. Mark Edwards 93-19-74 (£19); 4. Nick Allen 96-20-76, on countback (£10.50); 5. Simon Law 91-15-76 (£6.50).
Twos: John Whitcutt, Michael Schooling, Stephen Maytum, Mark Edwards, Ralph Johns (£17.40 each).
Handicap changes: John Gottwaltz 5 to 4; Mark Edwards 19 to 18; Terry Davies 19 to 18; Andrew Morton 8 to 9; Neil Dickinson 25 to 26; Tim Jackson 22 to 23; Paul Nixon 17 to 18; Neil Lovatt 8 to 9.
Chickens grounded
Atrocious weather conditions meant that the Chicken Trotters were grounded last Friday morning.
With high winds blowing, accompanied by more than the odd squally shower ot two, it seems that no one was brave enough to venture from the security of the hutch.
"If they did, they didn't come back to hand a card in," said Chief Chicken Morran.
"Let's hope for better conditions this week," he added.
Junior golf
On Sunday, we are playing the penultimate medal of the year (all junior members), together with the Noyce Cup.
The Noyce Cup is played over 18 holes, with only those juniors who have won a medal or cup competition eligible to enter.
Tee-off is at the normal time, but please turn up by 10.10 to allow us to pair players up.
The list is now up for presentation night on December 10 - please try to support this important event.
Idwal
Ladies' Section
It is good to see several of our newer members in the winners' enclosure, while the consistent older members are still holding their own.
At the beginning of October sixth Hill-Lowe Bogey produced some steady results, with Anne Morris on +1 and Anita Davies, Isabel Kent and Helen Morgan all on -1.
Somehow the results of the Pink Day held in conjunction with a Jubilee Threes competition recorded no results. However, I suspect this was not so and the Breast Cancer Research Fund certainly gained much from everyone's participation.
The qualifiers for the 2011 Daily Mail Foursomes competition were Pam Cole and Pat Fox on 37 points, with Toni Lucas and Maura Rimell on 33 and Mel Smith and Penny Cope on 31.
Toni Lucas returned the only score in the October GUW Medal and judging by it the weather was not kind, so well done Toni and nevertheless a win is a win.
The Captain's Charity Day in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance was a great success, with Anne Wilks, Annette Flower and Isabel Kent being the winners on 70.9, while Heather Morgan, Linda Morgan and Carol Waring were second on 72.1. Again this was a most successful day as we always expect a charity event to be.
May I remind all ladies the annual general meeting is on November 16 and the dinner on December 2. Do come to both occasions.
B.M.S.