Making his first appearance in a seniors' yellow shirt (metaphorically speaking), David Blackmore provided Richard Chapman with the level of support he needed in this away match against Neath.

"I was superb," he stated, "and carried Richard all day! I took the pressure off him so allowing him to win most of the holes."

Whatever happened out on the course, they provided Stan with a solid win on a pleasant day along the plateau above Neath with its spectacular views.

They were up against Ron Matthews and Gary Wright who were somewhat surprised to find themselves three down to this newcomer to seniors matches. Richard's superb eagle two on the par four, fourth hole must have galvanised them into action as they fought back to within one hole of the Tenby pair. This was helped with a chip in from off the green by Gary on the 12th hole, but it was not enough as a confident Tenby pair marched on to a well-deserved victory.

Of course, they were only following the example of their captain, Stan Hudson, who had enlisted the help of John Hancock to help him achieve his goal this week. In his own modest manner, John declared that he was rather like a spare something or other at a wedding, but Stan contradicted this by stating that he more than played his part in their successful day against Dave Matthews and Colin Lloyd. Dave stated that John was a perfect gentleman but as for the other one words failed him. It can be deduced from that that Stan had a good afternoon on the golf course. Scoring just four over par on the front nine verifies that and despite the sloping greens he sank some long putts to ease their way to the winning hole. That was the 17th and John had the privilege of claiming it with a par three. John and Stan had opened up an early lead to be three ahead after nine holes. In a very close match, this was reduced to just one hole after 12 and Dave and Colin only just missed out on levelling the score on the 14th and 15th. How they rued those missed opportunities as they watched John sink his putt on the 17th.

Just behind Stan there was another close match in progress, one in which pars and birdies were needed to win a hole. It is no surprise to learn that Allen Watts was involved in this along with Rod Clarke and they found the opposition, Robert Jones and Mike Bradley, just too hot to handle on their own course. They did manage to open up a three-hole lead, reduced to two after nine holes, but a combined better ball score of 44 points on the back nine ensured that the home players came out on top. All involved in this superb match were agreed that it was the best quality golf they had enjoyed on a seniors match day and it allowed Mike Bradley to retain his unbeaten run of success for this summer.

Des Stone and Jim Martin found themselves in a fortunate position in their match against John Parry and Dave Lewis. The Neath pair got off to a rather unfortunate start by failing to hit their targets with any accuracy. Des and Jim took full advantage and, interlocking well, won the first four holes. They increased this to six up after eight holes, but then took their foot off the pedal as John and Dave found their form and reclaimed a few of the holes lost while halving four holes on the back nine. Wayward drives by everyone on the 14th looked as if another half was imminent, until John found his ball in the undergrowth and was able to putt out - eventually. The warning sign was heeded and a par on the notorious chair hole, the 15th, sealed the win for the Tenby pair.

Derek Bath was delighted to accept the invitation to join the team as a last minute replacement and help Tony Morgan in his quest to overcome the combined golfing force of Alan Phillips and Huw Lewis. His hole-in-one at Tenby on Tuesday was of little consequence as Derek and Tony found themselves three down on the front nine. Of course, Tony was numbed by the fact that, despite his twenty-one handicap, he was the one conceding the shots to the other three. It was a new experience to which it took him some time to adjust. They had to summon up all their strategies and golfing prowess to claw their way back into this match and, in turn, each of them played his part in reducing that deficit. The first hole they won was the par three fourteenth followed by the 15th, 16th and 17th. Huw's putting stroke had deserted him and the Neath pair found themselves one down starting the last. Derek and Tony managed to halve that and, with a great sigh of relief, were able provide Stan with another win.

Mike Fox was on a high after his success on captain's day and this enabled him, with Richard Davies' help, cruise to a four-hole lead after 10. Then the bubble burst and they slumped to all square after 16. Mike still had a couple of strokes to use, as Phil Hopkins and Jon Davies tried to foil their attempts, and this enabled the pair to win the seventeenth. A half on the last was good enough to seal another result for Stan.

Ken Gouldsbrough and Nigel Rimell also ended up with only one-hole deciding the result and they also halved the 18th. Unfortunately, they were one down as they started the last and they failed to convert that into a half by just missing an eight foot putt. Bill Cantwell and Iorrie Rees had set them the challenge when they won the first three holes. Ken and Nigel responded well and levelled the score on the sixth. In a close match they then competed well to maintain a level score until the 17th which was their downfall. All agreed that it was an enjoyable day and the banter was evident as Bill remarked that they had only hit him twice and that was because of his singing, not his golf!

John Hayhoe and Roy Morgan struggled to come to terms with the slope and the nuances on the Neath greens, as did a number of Tenby players. As a result, they found themselves two down early on. Full of energy John, enjoying his jaunt in a buggy, helped Roy to reduce the deficit to one. Stewart Penny and Mevyn Rees' response was to turn the screw even tighter and enlarge that lead to three. Unfortunately, although Roy and John managed to win one more hole they were unable to make any further inroads as the Neath pair maintained their advantage to close out this match on the 17th.

It is all very well hitting a ball a long way, but you have to be able to find it. Jeff Banfield, most unusually, lost three balls in the first five holes. This didn't help his and Brian Morgan's cause as they lost the first two holes in their match against Colin Jones and John Edwards. He more than made up for it as the match went on, impressing the group with his chipping. It took this pair until the twelfth to draw level and then lead by one, indicated another of those close competitive matches. The 13th was lost and the next five holes were all halved to draw a line under the closeness of this match. On the 17th, Jeff was through the green for two while his opposite number John was on the green within a few feet of the hole. Jeff chipped up and in for his three, putting pressure on John to hole out, which he did.

On a calm cloudy afternoon, Bob Howse and Geoff Aston were able to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Neath course enjoying the views as they waited for the group in front. Although Terry Lewis and Harry Poulton were two up at one stage, Bob's driving was immaculate (good enough for the AA or RAC, I'm told) and helped the Tenby pair to recover. Geoff hit a purple patch around the middle of the course and that helped them to overcome the deficit and establish a lead of their own. On one of the back nine holes, Geoff was reputed to have hit an enormous drive off the tee, helped by a sudden gust of 'wind!' Having established the lead they were loath to relinquish it and forged their way to another win for the team.

Results: S. Hudson and J. Hancock beat D. Matthews and C. Lloyd 2 and 1; A. Watts and R. Clarke lost to R. Jones and M. Bradley 3 and 2; D. Stone and J. Martin beat J. Parry and D. Lewis 4 and 3; D. Bath and T. Morgan beat A. Phillips and H. Lewis by 1; R. Chapman and D. Blackmore beat R. Matthews and G. Wright 3 and 2; R. Davies and M. Fox beat P. Hopkins and J. Davies by one; K. Gouldsbrough and N. Rimell lost to B. Cantwell and I. Rees by one; J. Hayhoe and R. Morgan lost to S. Penny and M. Rees 2 and 1; J. Banfield and B. Morgan halved with C. Jones and J. Edwards; B. Howse and G. Aston beat T. Lewis and H. Poulton 4 and 3.

Martin weaves his magic at the Grove

A trip to Porthcawl. Now that's a phrase that evokes memories of Sunday School outings, many years ago, when a bus, not a coach, would be loaded up with parents and children eagerly anticipating the seaside funfair. Dressed up to the nines, the view from the back of the bus would show eager young faces mixed with young and older heads bobbing in conversation. On last Friday's trip to Porthcawl, the Grove Golf course to be precise, the only sight from the back was of grey and balding heads, still bobbing in anticipation and excitement at the prospects of a day's enjoyment - but of a different nature.

Twenty-one of the 24 occupied less space than their clubs and trolleys in the storage space as they wondered whether the rain would ease before tee-off time. Jim assured everyone that it would and true to his word he was right. A bacon butty and cup of coffee later and the first group set off in an effort gain success at the Grove Seniors Open competition.

The day, however, was tinged with sadness as members of the group, each in his own way, remembered a stalwart of the senior fraternity, Clifton John, who, sadly, will no longer play among us. This tall and amiable character will no longer arrive just on time, or even late, and no longer regale us with his stories and tales of balls lost and found on the course. Everyone present had fond memories of Clifton's affable companionship and these were shared with each other during the day. No longer will we see his ball arch out left only to return to the vicinity of the fairway as his upright stance effected a designer fade. Of course, every now and then, the ball would go straight and give Clifton the chance to search the rough. Or even the beach, for his ball. Inevitably, he would emerge from the long grass in credit even if he couldn't find his own.

This was the sort of competition that Clifton would not have missed and his absence was all the more poignant as a result. He would sometimes fit them in between work commitments and arrive - just in time. As a mark of respect and longstanding friendship, the group gathered for a moment's silence before the meal.

The competition was one that the seniors had enjoyed last year and so they came back for more punishment. The maximum handicap was 24, but that did not apply to the minor competition among the group. The course remains open, long and inviting, but the ball would not run far in the first cut and, of course, there were a few trees and some water to add to the woes.

Naturally, those who did well in the open competition also did well in the localised one. Two-thirds of the 24 taking part scored 30 or more points, with Richard Chapman and Bob Crease on 34, and Jeff Banfield, John Hall, Derek Bath scoring 33, the same as Stan Hudson. Bob Wiseman and Des Stone finished on 32 just ahead of Robin Hagley and Alan Yates. Tony Morgan (28) led the rest of the field ahead of John Hayhoe (27), Rod Clarke (27), Owen Monaghan (27), Dudley Williams (26) and Ron Murphy (25). Ray Ford and Doug Havard completed the table after 'our Jim' had entered all our scores on his lapdog, sorry laptop.

Ron Murphy's day was not without incident. First his ball rolled back down the bank on the par three seventh coming to rest on a flat rock. His options were limited so he elected to chip from where he was, ending up on the green. Unfortunately, when he putted he chose the wrong ball incurring a penalty and finally missing the putt that would have given him a point. Later in the round, he sparked his playing partners into action when his drive hit the overhead cable.

Life with the seniors is never dull. Bob Howse arrived to discover that a buggy had been booked in his name. It was enough to put him off his game. Mind he is still looking for his mobile 'phone left somewhere in Tenby. Owen Monaghan, on the other hand, is again without his hearing aid. He lost a part down the sink whilst cleaning it. What did you say! After he had completed the course, Martin Neilan was seen leaving Pont Abraham, during a pit stop, with a road atlas. He wanted to find out where he had been. It's a good job he didn't need it on the course.

Stan announced the winners after the meal and it was no surprise to discover the usual names at the head of the list. Brian Morgan had a good day and took third place with 35 points. Allen Watts came in with 36 to earn second place, but the day's star was 'Mr. Wonderful' himself, Martin Neilan, with a magnificent 40 points. As the only player with a two, Des Stone waited expectantly, but no allowance had been made for two's on this occasion. However, Doug Havard was presented with a set of pink tees for being the strongest player on the day, holding everyone else up.

PS. As the coach pulled out of the car park, eagle-eyed Derek spotted a wallet on the ground. Dutifully he retrieved it and handed it in to the organisers. Half-an-hour later Brian Morgan returned to the clubhouse, he had discovered his wallet was missing and he remembered leaving it on the roof of his car. He was a relieved man to have it returned and was then asked if he would remain for the presentation. He was pleased to be presented with two prizes on behalf of Tenby members. He picked a box of balls for Des Stone (a two on the seventh), but more important the winner of the cut glass bowl for the Open competition was Martin Neilan (40 points.). Brian was delighted to spread the news when he arrived home. Well done Martin!