WWLGA Diamond Jubilee Foursomes success for Bev and Sue

Congratulations to Bev Owen and Sue Griffiths who won the final of the WWLGA Diamond Jubilee Foursomes Knockout competition played played at Ashburnham GC last week. In a closely fought match, they won 4 and 2 over Daphne Jones and Alyson Smith (Derllys Court).

Langland enjoy Tenby links despite defeat

The Tenby GC team entertained their counterparts from Langland Bay on Saturday in the last of the club’s three Autumn friendly matches.

Although the weather turned nasty towards the end of the afternoon, the visitors very much appreciated the quality of the Tenby links, the slick greens in particular.

In the top match, the Tenby captain, Neil Thomas and Ben Childs beat Langland skipper, Rich Evans, and Kevin Allchurch in a high quality game by three and two.

Lewis Hurlow and Gary McNeilly lost their tie by three and two. Darren Thomas and Neil Webb dove-tailed well for their four and three win.

Dai Cope and Chris Beecher did not enjoy their best day on the course and fell three and two. Martin Morris, who was solid throughout, and Richard Ormond halved their game.

John Stenson and Phil Goodridge claimed a three and two win to put Tenby back in the lead. The next two games were halved - Idwal David and Tony Key plus Loz Phillips and Owen James.

The two Daves, Hancock and Henry, enjoyed Tenby’s biggest win, seven and six. Terry Davies and Mike Anthony won their game by three and four (work that one out!).

Jeremy Peters and Piers Bradbury deserved their three and two win. In the final rubber, John Gillespie and David Skyrme claimed an honourable half.

Thus, Tenby won the match by eight games to four.

Neil Thomas thanked the home players for their support and stated he was delighted to have won all three friendly matches in recent weeks.

Rabbits rule again

n 2015, Tenby Rabbits won the Three Counties Summer League championship for the first time in 37 years and, just like London buses, another one came along in 2016, as they successfully defended their title under the shrewd captaincy of Robin Bradbury.

Robin’s ‘cunning plans’ throughout the year resulted in Tenby winning the title by a comfortable margin. The last time they retained the trophy was almost 50 years ago!

Congratulations to Robin and all the players who represented the team during the campaign.

The Mick Gillet Trophy, for the player accumulating the most points throughout the Summer League, was won by Tom Watkins.

On Sunday, the Rabbits played the final game under Robin’s captaincy, a yellow box stableford qualifier for which only Summer League players are eligible, namely, the B & H Shield.

Behind the scenes, a Captain v Vice Captain Shield is also played for with ‘hidden’ teams, known only by the two dignitaries.

Despite the extremely strong winds and the threat of rain, 12 Rabbits ventured out and all came home dry.

Third place, on countback, went to Wyndham Collins with a creditable 32 points. Runner-p was the consistent Phil Carpenter with an excellent 35 points, but nobody could touch the winner, Grant Watkins, with an amazing 42 points, which also saw his handicap reduced by two shots. Superb golf Grant.

The only ‘two’ of the day was recorded by Wyndham.

The ‘hidden’ teams shield was won by the captain, with Steve Watkins standing in for Robin, who was enjoying a well-earned break.

Following the B & H Shield, the Rabbits held their AGM, as the captaincy passed from Robin Bradbury to Martin Durham, who confirmed that next year’s trip will be on April 21-23 at The Bells Hotel & Golf Course in Coleford. Details have been posted on the notice board for all those interested in going.

Martin also confirmed that the Winter League would commence on Sunday, October 23. Please gather in the clubhouse by 8.30 am for the draw.

As a final note, treasurer, Mark Edwards, informed the meeting that they had been bequeathed the sum of £1,000 by the late Mr. John Cook, who passed away earlier this year and had been a stalwart of the Rabbits for several decades. Rest assured John, your gift will be spent wisely.

FOOTNOTE: The Observer can exclusively reveal that a new volunteer reporter will be joining our sports team next week. Warren Hacker will be giving weekly updates on the progress of the Tenby Rabbits Winter League

The Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Memorial Match

The title is a total lie - I was merely looking to rise above the mundane with a name that would link neatly with a ‘Waltz’ competition, so do try to bear with me!

Thirty-six senior gentlemen, in 12 groups of three, competed on the fine and somewhat breezy morning of Tuesday, October 18, on a course that was not made any easier by the sadistic chairman of the greens sub-committee - who had caused the greens to be tined! I know it has to be done, but we hate you Tony! (Not really)

Scoring ranged from the excellent, through the pretty good to the “leave him alone and let him cry” - but all in all a splendid day’s golf in really good conditions, which was enjoyed by all.

Of course, some players enjoyed it more than others, and the smiling Seniors were:

In third place with a great score of 74 points, Stan Hudson, Derek Cole and Ray Ford.

In second place with a fine score of 75, Mel Neale, Peter Woodhouse and Geoff Aston

In top slot with a truly excellent score of 77 points, Chris Beecher, John Stevenson and Brian Diment

All the above were generously rewarded by treasurer Stan Hudson, but some people are never satisfied – so when captain Dudley drew out the winning charity raffle number, the £10 prize went to Derek Cole! Boo!

We were saddened to hear of the death of Doug Perry, Doug was a long, long time member of the club and a founding member of the Chicken Trotters. More information about the funeral arrangements will be available from the club.

Next week it’s back to the eclectic competition, where Eagles are Excellent, Birdies are Beautiful and Pars are Pretty Good, while Bogeys are Bad and Double Bogeys are - OK if you have a big enough handicap!!

M.F.

Chickens Stoned - Des decimates!

Friday, October 14, the second trot of the season and the weather was cool, breezy and quite Octoberish for the 12 Chicken Trotters who made an early start to compete for the vast amounts of prize money to be won in this venerable competition.

There were no holes in one! – worse still, there were no holes in two - but - quite a lot of 3s, 4s and 5s, several 6s and just a smattering of even higher numbers. Just remember, the Chicken Trotters do this for FUN! - a place in the winners compound is very pleasant, but the sheer pleasure of competing is the real reward.

I do, however, have to point out that there were some real rewards, to whit:

In fourth place, the relentlessly improving David Lamb notched up 25 points, no prize of course, and no reduction in handicap, just a public pat on the back.

Third place went to Neil Dickinson, who also scored 25 points, but sneaked past David on countback. Neil was rewarded with a miserly 30p and loses one stroke for his next two trots.

Geoff Aston leapt into second place with 26 points, losing three strokes for two games, but swelling his piggy bank with 60p.

The winner - and subject of this week’s headline - Des Stone carded an excellent and rare 30 points to take the lion’s share of the prize fund - £1. With a five-stroke reduction in handicap, it will be considerably more difficult to win next time out Des!

The par this week was 23 points, and there were 47 blobs recorded by the field - I suspect that a fair proportion of these blobs fell to Roy Morgan, who slipped narrowly into Booby position. It is great to see Roy enjoying his golf again, and his reward of 30p and two extra shots made the morning even more enjoyable.

See you Friday.

M.F.

Gents White Box Mid-Week Stableford

Twenty-seven players entered the Gents White Box Mid-Week Stableford on Wednesday.

Leading scores and prize winners were: 1. Stephen Williams 36 pts, on countback (£37); 2. Roger Schooling 36 (£21.50); 3. John Gilman 35 (£12.50); 4. John Morris 34 (£6).

Twos: Huw Roberts, Stephen Williams, Richard Morton, Ian J. Thomas, Jeffrey Banfield (£5.40 each).

Bag draw: Richard Morton, Roger Schooling, John Gilman, Dai Skyrme (£6.75 each).

Pro Shop draw: Huw Roberts (dozen Srixon balls).

20 YEARS OF TROTTING

The weather was fine on the morning of September 13, 1996, tempting 53 Chickens out onto the links in search of corn - and since the entry fees amounted to £15.90 there was a fair amount of corn on offer.

Most of it was scooped up by Richie Hyland and Alan Paice, who tied for top spot with 35 points and earned £2 each. Third place was shared by five players on 33 points; Bob Wilkins, John Hancock, Peter Williams, Eric Day and Robert Jones, who collected £1.50 each. All the above were consigned to the Sin Bin, having their handicaps temporarily reduced.

There was a fine crop of twos; John Hancock, Peter Williams, Ted Ridley, Darrell John and John Louis on hole six, Glyn Price on the eighth, Richie Hyland on the ninth and Ted Ridley (again!) and Mark Poole on the 12th. They all pocketed 30p - and their handicaps remained untouched!

Last, and by all means Least - Ray Irish brought up the rear with a pedestrian 17 points, for which he was rewarded with 30p and encouraged by an expanded handicap.

Elsewhere, Prince Charles and Princess Diana were divorced, the Spice Girls hit the charts for the first time - and locally, the Sea Empress ran aground in Milford Haven.

More next week.

M.F.