It is centenary year at Glynhir Golf Club this year and Tenby seniors were delighted to complete the usual summer fixture with the many friends they share. The forecast heavy showers materialised on time, but even these failed to lessen the spirit of the occasion. Despite the grunts and groans and the creak of bones, as the wet weather gear was first put on, then removed, only to be donned again, this intrepid group soldiered on.
Well most did, there were a few groups who managed to complete their match early and dive for a shower of the indoor variety. One such pair was that of Roy and Dave Morgan, who persuaded the management to adjust the running order, so allowing them to play their annual birthday fixture as a pair. This year it was a week early, but - what the heck!
Dorian Hague and Bill Phelps provided the opposition and the pair soon found that Dorian's lengthy drives and Bill's mastery of the course was a barrier they could not overcome. Roy also claimed that he was at a disadvantage since he was matched against a former teacher. Bill, now 82, taught at Amman Grammar School where Roy was a pupil and it was a question of the pupil being in awe of the master. They were all grateful at missing the last shower and retired on the 16th.
There was one clap of thunder during the afternoon and it was enough to wake up Billy Lewis. Bob Howse and Peter Williams had managed to sneak a two-hole lead after 10 holes and were hoping to hold on to it. That was when Billy, supporting his captain Derek Locke, was galvanised into action. From the 10th on, the Tenby pair failed to win a hole as Billy out-drove and out-putted them. Claiming a 'shedful' of shots, Derek only managed to capitalise on a few, but it was enough for the home pair to outgun Bob and Peter.
Dave Miller had been drafted in at the last minute to help Stan Hudson overcome Terry Goringe and Hugh Lewis. Perhaps he was over-excited since he par-red the first, lost a ball on the second, and then proceeded to fire off two birdies in a row to help the Tenby pair to establish a two-hole lead. This match then settled as the Glynhir pair halved a number of holes. They arrived at the 16th with Stan and Dave just one hole up. Terry had a great opportunity to square the match on the 16th with a short putt. His miss enabled the visitors to claim a two and one win.
Following this pair there was a jovial encounter in progress involving - seven wins out of eight - Jim Martin supported by Des Stone matched against Gerald Davies and Phil Evans. It was not a good start for Gerald as he shanked his second shots on the first two holes. Despite this, they were still two ahead after three holes. With Jim taking advantage of his shot allowance, the pair worked their way back to all-square after nine.
In this close encounter, the next four holes were halved, with Gerald and Phil taking advantage of some sloppy driving on the 14th. This was rectified on the 16th and they started the 18th all-square. Jim was delighted with his best shot of the day, his third shot, which landed on the green for a net two and a chance to putt out. This he did, much to the chagrin of his opponents. Gerald's comment was, 'Your golfing prowess is matched only by your good looks!'
Brian Morgan's comment was that he had managed to keep Dai Pegram off the tee all afternoon. In a four-ball where everyone played well there were 10 holes halved as John Hall helped Brian, who had a better game this week. Dai was supported by Ray Rogers and they ensured that all holes were keenly contested. The Tenby pair managed to maintain an edge to stay in front and they all beat a hasty retreat off the 15th as the second heavy shower began.
Bob was beginning to smile with his team three-two up at the halfway stage, but you should never count your chickens! Alan Cudworth and Rod Sewter consolidated their attack in the match against Newman Vincent and Nigel Rimell by winning holes seven, eight, nine and 10. This proved a demoraliser, despite Newman's birdie on the 13th and Nigel's birdie on the fifth. They struggled on to the 15th where Newman had a simple putt to make it a four and three not a five and three defeat.
Jim Martin's third shot onto the 18th was more than matched by Ken Gouldsbrough's putt on the same hole. It was proclaimed the putt of the day - 55 feet, if an inch, and enough to make Gerald Sadd exclaim, 'What a ----!'
Ken and Geoff Aston thought they had a good cushion, winning holes four, five and six to put them three up after nine, but Gerald and his partner, John Morris, responded and returned the favour on the back nine. Ken and Geoff lost the 17th, but remained one up and it took Ken's magnificent putt on the 18th to halve the hole and win the match.
Mike Fox shared a buggy with John Williams this week and the pair were given a golfing lesson by the 'heartless' Huw Lewis and Trevor Williams. Heartless in golfing terms, but wonderful as playing partners. As Mike explained, 'We started off badly, had an indifferent middle and the end was rubbish! They gave us a lesson in golf.'
Of John Hancock and Paul Bradley, Huw Jones stated that they were b----- awful, they were so bad that we capitulated after nine holes. It sounded like they all enjoyed their afternoon in the sun and the rain. Huw and John Pollock were mesmerised by the fact that, 20-handicapper, Paul, frequently out-drove his partner, John. John played his part by winning one hole and between them they made a few pars, enough to allow them an early pint.
One match to be declared and Tenby were five-four up. What's more the last match in involved Robin Hagley, this week supported by Dudley Williams. Glynhir's honour rested on Paul Murphy and Winston Davies. Robin was pleased to score 41 on the front nine, but it was more than matched by the 38 scored by the opposing pair. Dudley and Robin found themselves three down after 13 and they failed to overcome the challenge of the home team, ending up two and one down.
Victory had been snatched away from Bob at the last minute. But what does it matter? - all had enjoyed the afternoon's golf played in great company and the whole occasion was rounded off with a wonderful meal, followed by the hilarious stories of Billy Lewis.
Results: B. Howse and P. Williams lost to D. Locke and B. Lewis 3 and 2; S. Hudson and D. Miller beat T. Gorrige and H. Lewis 2 and 1; D. Stone and J. Martin beat G. Davies and P. Evans 1 up; R. Morgan and D. Morgan lost to D. Hague and B. Phelps 4 and 3; B. Morgan and J. Hall beat D. Pegram and R. Rogers 4 and 3; N. Rimell and N. Vincent lost to A. Cudworth and R. Sewter 4 and 3; G. Aston and K. Gouldsbrough beat G. Sadd and J. Morris 1 up; M. Fox and J. Williams lost to H. Lewis and T. Whitman 4 and 3; J. Hancock and P. Bradley beat H. Jones and J. Pollock 4 and 3; D. Williams and R. Hagley lost to P. Murphy and W. Davies 2 and 1.
Junior section
Winners of this month's medal were Olivia Bradbury, off the red boxes, with a nett 73, and Ben Sheldon with a nett 48 off the black boxes.
Well done to Jonathan Birt, who is now playing off a handicap of 42. Also playing well at the moment are Amber Thomas and Nathan Harvey.
Well done to Sophie Lovatt, who scored 41 points in the stableford played on May 30, with Matthew Webb also having a good round, scoring 37 points off the yellow boxes, with Ryan Dennehy scoring 21 off the black boxes.
Six Tenby boys took part in the Haverfordwest GC Open, with results as follows:
David Webb - best gross (70), par of course; Sam Jaakola - 2nd (76) gross; Joonas Jaakola - 41pts and Matthew Webb - 40pts, both in yellow box competition (just outside prizes); Ben Sheldon - won black box competition.
This Sunday is the boys' Under 11 Cup, tee-off at 10.26 am.
Idwal
A.J.O. Memorial update
A strong wind at Trefloyne Golf Club last Saturday made scoring difficult. Nevertheless some excellent cards were returned.
A total of 170 took part in the first leg of the A.J.O. Memorial, 131 men and 39 ladies.
Leading the field in the men's section at the halfway stage are Trefloyne's Simon Law and Adam Thorne with 38 points. The three next best scores were also by home members, Simon Arthur and Ben Price with 37 points and Jeremy Morris with 36 pts. Tenby's highest was 35 points from Richard Morton.
Top of the leaderboard in the 'gross' competition is Trefloyne's James Maxwell who won the Tenby Observer Cup in 2008 and 2009. Close behind are Price and Morton on 32 points.
In the ladies' section, joint leaders are Georgina Ormond, of Tenby, and Delyth Truman, of Trefloyne, with 36 points. Tenby's Laura McQueen is well positioned on 35 points.
The second leg will take place at Tenby tomorrow (Saturday). A handful of tee times remain available. Not playing at Trefloyne does not prevent entering at Tenby.
The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled to commence at 8.30 pm at Tenby. All those in contention for prizes, both for the two legs and overall aggregate, are urged to attend.
Senior team at Cardigan for Centenary Challenge Cup
A group of 16 seniors made their way across the cloud covered Preseli Hills and into the sunshine on Monday to take part in the fourth annual Centenary Challenge Cup. Cardigan golf course was the venue and last year's winners, Haverfordwest, returned the cup for this year's challenge.
All who arrived were greeted with the news that Ashburnham had pulled out. The Cardigan organisers had to revamp the running order so there were a few changes for the centenarians to take on board.
Teams are made up of eight pairs and each club would normally play two teams from each of the other clubs. The re-organisation meant that three teams would be played. The club with the most wins in this four ball better ball is declared the winner and handicaps are limited to 18.
Bob Howse had chosen Richard Davies as his playing partner and between them they provided Tenby with the ideal start. They certainly did not have it their own way as their Haverfordwest opposition proved hard to overcome on this gorse-covered course. A two and one win, however, was enough to provide a foundation.
It is a rare occasion if all parts of one's game comes together at the same time, as Allen Watts found. He was driving well, but found it difficult to master the Cardigan greens. When he failed, Newman Vincent provided the solution to keep their match against Cardigan alive. This was a close match and ended with a half for each team.
Jim Martin puts a smiley face on his ball to identify it. A couple were smiling all the way into the gorse and Jim's smile turned to a frown as the Carmarthen opposition slowly overhauled a four-hole lead. A missed short putt on the 14th by his partner, Des Stone, allowed Alan and Stuart to stop a run of halves and take a one-hole lead. This was converted to two holes with a two on the par three 16th. One more on the 17th and the match was all over with a win for Carmarthen.
Robin Hagley was back on form as Terry Rees, of Haverfordwest, found to his cost. He stated that Robin should be referred to the handicap secretary - brought about by the five birdies in nine holes. When Robin was not on song, Martin Neilan was there to pick up the pieces as they ran out winners by five and four.
Another win was provided by John Hall and Peter Williams who established a four-hole lead after 14 holes. Despite that, it was a very close match against Cardigan opposition, concluded on the 16th, which was halved to give them a three and two victory.
John Hancock and Paul Bradley were quite buoyed after their match against another Cardigan pair in which every hole was keenly contested.
'A cracking match' was how they described it, but they were unable to get ahead at any stage. Two consecutive putts by the opposite pair early on rapped the back of the cup and set up the Cardigan lead, but the scramble for each hole was tremendous. Unfortunately they lost by two and one.
The final pairings suffered the same fate. Tony Hurd, of Carmarthen, inflicted the damage in the match against Bob Wiseman and Alan Yates as they went down by five and four. Rod Clark and Owen Monaghan were two up at one stage, but were unable to hold on to it as their Haverfordwest opposition turned the screw. It remained close and the Tenby pair had to bow to one-hole deficit.
Three-and-a-half points was not enough to do any damage and the five-and-a-half of Carmarthen enabled them to regain their own trophy, first played for at Carmarthen in 2007.