Ladies’ Section

Farewell Linda, Hello Pam

The first ladies competition in November was a Greensomes stableford contest which nine pairs entered. Half-a-dozen of these managed to hit the 30s with their scores, with Rhian Walters and Vicky Burks coming third on 35, a point behind the runners-up Denise Edwards and Sue Ensor on 36, who lost on countback to winners Angela Gottwaltz and Rita Collins.

On the 5th there was a Sunday GUW Medal competition which saw just two people enter, with Laura McQueen winning with a nett 75 and Heather Morgan second on nett 82.

On Thursday, November 9, there was a GUW Medal which saw 12 people venture out onto the course. It was a breezy morning, but still quite pleasant for the time of year. Denise Edwards came out on top, winning the medal on countback from Linda Tordoff-Evans as they both recorded a nett 75. Pam Cole came third with a nett 78.

On the same day, there was a nine-hole stableford competition which saw Linda Thomas playing her last game as the current lady captain and she finished a respectable third behind runner-up Dinah Reed and winner Liz Storey, who reduced her handicap with her impressive 20 points.

On Sunday, November 12, there was an 18-hole stableford competition which four people entered. Top score came from Sue Ensor with 32 points, just ahead of Heather Morgan on 31, with Sue Harries third and Angela Gottwaltz fourth.

The Ladies’ Section AGM was held at the clubhouse on Tuesday, November 14. Out-going captain Linda Thomas gave a resumé of her year in office and thanked the committee and members for the support she received to make her year an enjoyable one.

She thanked her vice-captain Pam Cole for her help and assistance and handed over the lady captain’s brooch (the badge of office) plus a few amusing emergency essentials to aid her through the year ahead!

Pam thanked Linda for all that she had done and for her generosity through her term of office and presented her with flowers on behalf of the Ladies’ Section. Also receiving flowers was Barbara Williams who was stepping down from her officer’s role as handicap secretary.

The new Ladies’ Section committee for the year consists of: president - Pat Fox; captain - Pam Cole; vice-captain - Bev Owen; secretary - Anne Wilks; treasurer - Helen Hughes; handicap secretary - Irene Gilman; ex-officio - Linda Thomas, plus Trevayne Keohane, Sue Shooter and new committee member Carol Beecher. The lady captain hopes we will all enjoy the year ahead.

Having been lady captain for a whole two days, the pressure hadn’t quite got to Pam as she won the Thursday 18-hole stableford competition with a handicap-cutting 37 points, ahead of runner-up Sue Ensor with 35 (who was also reduced in handicap) and Denise Edwards in third with 33. Nineteen people played on the day, but only Sue Ensor managed a two, that coming on the 17th.

The stablefords on the 12th and 16th had an additional competition open to players with a 36 handicap, with the best score winning the Audrey Birt Trophy. The prize this year goes to Dinah Reed. Well done Dinah, we are delighted for you.

The picture attached originates from back in the summer, but is now amusingly current as it shows the past (Linda Thomas, left) and present (Pam Cole, right) lady captains, with Linda seemingly waving farewell to her captaincy!

P. C.

Pedro the Pole but Bart buggied

Friday mornings outside the Pro Shop looks like Le Mans with the buggies lined-up ready for the wheel-dependant Trotters to use and nearly half the 15 players were revving up for the off down the first fairway in search of the amazing prizes on offer for those who scored well (or not).

Their numbers were bolstered by the first outing this season for Tony Ranoe - a prize winner last time out on March 10 - and a first-ever Trot for David Evans who took a while to work out the unique blue Chicken card!

The wheeled machines had a part to play in one incident on the first fairway when a couple of the Chickens had a narrow escape. Thankfully they had vacated their chariot to watch Bart Youll play his shot, but after the strike the ball flew off not exactly in the intended direction and it managed to find a way of ending up on the seat of the buggy. Bart did ask his playing partners to drive the buggy towards the green then do an emergency stop so the ball would fly out onto the green, but apparently that isn’t allowed in the rules!

After getting his name mentioned in the press last week, Peter Ellis was determined to try to impress Mrs. Ellis (and the neighbours) again and when he handed in his slightly mud-coloured card at the end of his round he was in the highly elevated position of ‘Leader in the Clubhouse’(he was in the first group out mind, and both his playing partners were in the sin-bin from last week to give him a chance), but his 31 points from the 15-hole course set a high standard for the following Chickens. It was to be a score that wouldn’t be beaten.

Three scores of 27 was the total that was the next best and countback was called upon to separate the ones to be cut from the one not to be and Steve Decosimo (17/10) ended up fourth, getting 30p back to pay for his entry fee next time and he got no cut. In third place we had Bart Youll (despite his buggification on the first - he still managed a point) and his 16/11 score gave him 60p winnings, but a cut to 28 and his name in the paper in two paragraphs!

Silver position went to new hatchling David Evans after his 13/14 score and he’ll find his handicap slashed by three to 13 next time out, although he’ll be handed a brown envelope with 90p inside to ease the pain. That means ‘Pedro’ Ellis was ‘Chicken of the Week’ and his pension fund has swollen by a huge £1.20 (that’s four free weeks!), but his handicap gets reduced by five to 13. That’s four holes with no shots. Work that one out!

We were ‘two-less’ on the golf ability front, so the only other person to name this week is the winner of the booby prize and things were rather close at the ‘wrong end’ of the scoring table. Half-a-dozen Trotters couldn’t get their total score into the 20s, but it was the person whose name also appears on page two of this paper (next to the word ‘Editor’) - yes, you Mr. Neil Dickinson - who got his entry fee back and increases his handicap by two next time out. He didn’t quite manage a point a hole, but, in his defence, he was suffering from a five-shot cut to 21 after winning two outings ago. He’ll be quite pleased with his over-inflated (according to Meurig) 28 handicap on his next jaunt.

Balls in buggies. Pulse-racing prize money. Humorous happenings. Thrilling Trotter tales. Chicken camaraderie. Unique handicap system.Is there a better way to spend a Friday morning?

Divots team win sports quiz

Last Friday, Tenby Golf Club held its Autumn Sports Quiz.

The quiz covered all sports. The golf round incorporated a few rules questions. There were photo and music rounds. It was another very enjoyable evening.

All the teams scored well and, with a few rounds remaining, any one of four or five could have won.

The Divots’ fortune changed when Rob Hall had to leave early, which left Tim Davies and Paul Dennehey to contest the remaining four rounds. Loz Phillips was also present to provide moral support.

It transpired that the Divots were victorious by just five points over the Rabbits, who gave them a very good run for their money.

Tenby Golf Club wish to thank all those who took part for supporting the club. Part of the proceeds of the evening have been donated to Children In Need.

A General Knowledge Quiz with a Christmas theme will be held at Tenby Golf Club on Friday, December 15. Teams of four. Everyone is welcome to enter - competitors do not need to be members of the club. For further information, please contact the secretary on 01834 842978.

Gents

14-hole Stableford Turkey Trot

Fifty-four players entered the Gents 14-Hole Stableford Turkey Trot on Saturday.

Leading scores and prize winners were as follows:

Division One: 1. Charles Dredge 28 pts (£40); 2. Timothy Davies 27, on countback (£28); 3. Steven Court 27 (£13).

Divison Two: 1. John Gilman 29 pts (£40); 2. Hugh Phillips 28, on countback (£28); 3. Anthony Key 28 (£13).

Twos: Alastair Knibb, Charles Dredge, Anthony Key (£18.66 each), Nicholas Corbett (did not enter).

Bag draw: Graham Waring, Charles Dredge, John Whitcutt, John G. Morris ( £14.25 each).

Pro Shop draw: Hugh Phillips, John Gillespie (Macwet gloves).

Re-Mike-able!

For the sth week of the Rabbits Winter League, a dozen youngish bucks ventured out onto the famous Tenby course to try to clamber up the league table and try to grab the weekly prize, plus maybe improve a hole or two in the Eclectic, writes Warren Hacker, our links reporter.

It is also pleasing to inform the whole world that following the recent Sports Quiz at the clubhouse, the Rabbits are now officially the second cleverest section in the club!

The ‘Buggy Boys’ - John and Tom (nice to see you back after the op for your first Winter outing) - led the way alongside vice-captain Steve W and, thankfully, they all managed to get past the ladies’ tee this week. One of them almost managed a two on the sixth, but a small stone got in the way.

Next on the tee were William (or was it Bill?), Steve C and last week’s winner Mike. Would he prove his first outing wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan? The other two had to up their game as they were in the presence of greatness and they all spurred each other on.

Following them were captain Paul, secretary Peter and defending champion Grant. A team score of eight on the first hole was a highlight, but then between them they had eight blobs on the front nine, although ‘Back-side’ had a decent front nine - for a change.

Final group on the tee were acting-treasurer Mark, Robin plus new Rabbit Ian Williams. The newbie didn’t start off too badly (he was only a few points behind the fourth finisher after nine holes), but a lack of practice of playing 18 holes told and the stamina dropped away in the second half - as did the score - but once he gets used to it, he’ll be battling for a podium place.

The small stone on the sixth was important because with no one else managing to birdie a par three, it means there’s a Twos Rollover next week, so Securicor will be on stand-by with the prize money if anyone slots a two.

When vice-captain Steve W announced the scores, things were quite close - 10 points between 10th and first - four scored 33, with Grant’s 34 snatching fourth from Robin on back nine. It was a good day to tee off second as it was a second tee takeover, with Bill coming third with 36, Steve C’s three putts on the 12th and 18th leaving him only runner-up on 37 on countback from Mike who notched 20 points on the back nine (or seven!) to go home with the title of ‘Rabbit of the Week’ for the second week running, plus the prize money that goes with it!

On the Eclectic front, there were great improvement strides by Mike (better by nine in only his second outing), Robin seven better, Peter and Paul both half-a-dozen risers, John up five, Bill four better, Grant up by two and the three current ‘Ever Presents’ - Mark, Steves C and W - bettered by one.

Still no-one has bettered 38 after six weeks - it was expected this week, especially with the benign conditions - but there’s probably a 40-plus waiting to be scored soon - maybe next week?

The burgeoning league table (the top 12 appear in print) is in the early stages in the best eight scores contest and Mark is still top - by a point - but he’s All Black watching next week, so there’s a chance for people to bound up the charts. Look out for the boys who have only managed scores of 30 or more and who will try to remain ‘under the radar’’ - I’ll bring them above the radar, John (4x32+), Bill and Robin (both 3x30+) and dark-horse Mike (2x37+ leaving him on 75 after only two appearances!).

Watch this space next week!

P Eclectic Total

Mark Edwards 6 48 186

Steve Cole 6 50 185

Steve Watkins 6 54 180

Peter Turton 5 53 153

Grant Watkins 5 50 143

John Ball 4 51 134

Ian Jarvis 4 50 129

Wyndham Collins 4 50 126

Chris Smith 4 51 125

Kieron Plested 4 47 110

Bill Beynon 3 47 101

Robin Bradbury 3 45 95

Second Turkey Trot

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the second of the club’s Turkey Trots in the run-up to Christmas.

On this occasion, though, it will not be a singles competition, but will take a Greensomes Foursomes format.

The following week will be the December Monthly Medal