THE guest writer at Tenby Museum's World Book Day event 'From Desktop to Bookshelf' on Tuesday, February 28, may have more than publishing on his mind. After 50 years of trying, Tony Curtis achieved this year on Valentine's Day what many men dream of - a hole in one.

Describing himself as an "average golfer, clinging on just below 18 handicap" Professor Curtis, 65, holed out with an eight-iron at Wenvoe Castle's second hole, some 120 yards.

Tony began as a golfer at the age of 15 in Tenby, where he is still a country member, and was close to his first hole in one just before Christmas on Tenby's short sixth hole. However, it was at his home club of Wenvoe that, following the age-old tradition, he bought the huddled few at the bar there a celebratory drink on a chilly and dark Tuesday late afternoon.

The poet and writer declared that this golf shot was as pleasing as all the literary prizes and awards in his career, and was "owed, no doubt, to the same combination of some skill and much good fortune necessary for those more public recognitions; though the perfect eight-iron was witnessed by a solitary buzzard."

Strictly a social golfer now, Tony Curtis long ago won cups at both Tenby and Wenvoe, and has represented both clubs in the higher handicap teams and played for Swansea University in the mid-1960s. Each of his nine poetry collections has included poems set in or based on the courses at Wenvoe and Tenby.

He says: "It may at first perplex people, but why shouldn't sport and the arts be woven into one work?

"One is, famously 'a matter of life and death' and the other 'much more important than that'."

To hear more, including something about his work as a writer, all are welcome at the Museum at 2.30 on the 28th.