SUPER SIX Trefloyne Golf Club were away to neighbours Tenby on Thursday, May 18, with the forecast giving gale force winds and heavy rain for the afternoon, and having both teams watching the weather. At five o'clock tee-off time, the wind was very strong, with sunshine, and the match commenced with Graham Willcocks first away for Trefloyne, against Paul Hayley, one of Tenby's top players. His drive seemed to go for miles down the first fairway, and with Graham driving off to the right, it gave Tenby advantage and they won the first. Trefloyne went three down, but with good solid play by Graham, he pulled it back to all square. The weather, however, was going to be a big factor, not only in this game, but the match generally. With the wind gusting up to 70 mph and driving rain, the conditions were almost unplayable, and with home advantage Tenby won the first match.
Second for Trefloyne was Chris Thompson, who knows his way around Tenby and is one of Trefloyne's top players; he was up against David Ayers, who also has a good long game.
Tenby won the first, only for Trefloyne to hit back. When they got to the third, both players took out the drivers. David hit the greem, but Trefloyne held on for a half. With Chris now playing incredible golf, he started to grind down David, who said on his return to the club that he had just lost the will to live in such horrendous conditions. Trefloyne pulled off a good win.
Gary Lewis was on the tee in third spot for Trefloyne and was really up for this match, and looked forward to playing Paul Hoyland. With both players knowing their way around this links course and both playing good golf, Gary took hold of the match and had his opponent under pressure from the off. With the weather again playing a major part, Paul decided to shake hands, with the words, "I've had enough, I am not staying out in this weather," and they then made their way back to the clubhouse. Scott Davies and Tom Hilling were paired in the fourth match, with Scott's drive off the first nearly catching the 5.15 train! It turned the hole into a very long one for him, but he did well to hold onto a half. This was a good close match, and with Scott going two up with five to play, he looked odds on, but Tom had other ideas and went one up with one to play. It was a hard task to save this match. Scott played his second long to the back of the green, with Tom coming up very short, which left an awkward chip; he did well, but his ball came to rest on the fringe. Scott had a 35-foot putt which just missed the hole to end up three-foot past, but he made it for a deserved half. Both these players did their clubs proud to stay out and play an outstanding match in the conditions.
Meurig Evans and Jack Guerro took fourth spot. This is one youngster Tenby must look after as he played brilliant golf, not only giving Meurig a lesson on how to play the game, but taking on the course and the conditions by winning the first eight in a row.
Meurig, not having a good day, beaten by a superior player, soaked through what he thought were water-proofs to his pants and socks, shook hands on the 10th and headed for a warm shower and the bar.
James Maxwell and Steve Amos of Tenby were the last pair. This would be a good test for James, as Steve has not lost a match for the team in over two years. James was playing good golf, but found himself three down. He did well to turn it around and was one up with five to play, as another great match was being played in near impossible conditions. Tenby levelled it on the 15th and won the next two for a win. Tenby won this match 3.5 - 2.5 in unbelievable conditions and both clubs should be grateful to their players for their commitment, or madness, to play this fixture. Dyfed League Trefloyne were home to South Pembs B on May 20. These two teams know each other well, both having gained promotion last year, and even though it is still early in the season, this was a big game. Away first for Trefloyne were Barry Harrison and Scott Davies. With all taking drivers off the first, it needed a big hit with the wind in your face. South Pembs' first took a diversion left over the hedge; the second found the fairway. Scott caught a beauty and, as always, played for the ninth fairway, this taking all the pressure off Barry, who again took the driver and hit a great ball which went 150 yards in the air and 10 yards past the ladies tee (we think his partner told him you need to keep them low in the wind!). Barry then got to grips with the elements and played well, putting pressure on South Pembs by taking an early lead. With Scott again struggling on the front nine, it needed Barry to be playing well and they were four up on the turn. With Scott now getting his game going, he took over from his partner, for Trefloyne to win four and three. Graham Willcocks and Gareth Knight were the second pairing in a competitive contest, with the first nine holes shared to be all-square on the turn. This is how it stayed going up the last, and with the Trefloyne pair not having a shot, it needed a par at least, but the South Pembs pair stayed with them for Trefloyne to lose and go down by one. James Maxwell and Bill Myers took third spot in a partnership which worked well. With both playing solid golf, they were three up by the turn and continued to keep the pressure on to eventually run out winners five and four. Regulars Mel Neale and Richard 'Tiger' Davies, who wasn't feeling too good (we think he had a bad pint the night before), found the going tough and with the South Pembs pair playing well, it made this a very tight match. With Mel also knowing the opposition, it led to incredible banter, with laughter heard all around - a great way to play golf. But knowing the importance of the game and petrified of losing, due to the ribbing which was bound to follow, the Trefloyne pair stayed focused and were one up on the turn.
Again these two are hard to break down, and did well to hold on to their lead to eventually win two and one. Meurig Evans and Brian Anderson were the fourth pairing for Trefloyne. With Meurig not too sure what planet he was on after looking after Tiger the night before, he hit his first over the hedge into the woods and did well to play three off the tee. Brian knew then it was going to be a hard day, but he played well to win the first two. Meurig then came back to Planet Earth to help his partner and Trefloyne were four up on the turn, with Brian having to play well with his son Sam in the match behind and giving all the stick he could. He proved, though, that he has got what it takes and played a solid back nine, with a great shot coming on 15. With his drive ending short of the corner, he played a five-iron that drew round the tree and landed just beyond the fringe, with a chip and putt being enough to win the match four and three.
Dylan Phillips and Sam Anderson, following, were caught up in a tight match from the first. With Sam struggling for form, this put extra pressure on Dylan, who had to respond with some solid play. Finding themselves one down on the turn, Trefloyne needed to pick themselves up to get something going in this match, and this they did with great second shots in at 13 to win the hole. The Trefloyne pair, now playing better, took 14 to go one up and then won the 17th to win the match two and one. Last out for Trefloyne were Simon Arthur and Ben Price, who has been putting in an incredible amount of practice lately (well done Ben). This paid off as they took an early lead, with Simon playing his normal steady game. He found the going very hard, however, when his trolley broke down on the second, with smoke coming out of the frame, and when you need a phone to call the fire brigade, you just can't find a mobile. With Simon and Ben blowing and puffing to save the trolley, it must have taken a massive amount of energy out of them, but with their fitness and determination, they found themselves in a comfortable position early on.
With little response from the South Pembs pair, who had difficulty finding the fairways, the Trefloyne pair steadily increased their lead to win this match seven and five.
This was another big 6-1 win for Trefloyne, who have a difficult match away to Newport next week - bus leaving the car park at 11 am.