On the back of two wins, Tenby took a strong side to South Pembs GC last Saturday. However, a combination of having to give shots in all games and the home side’s local knowledge proved too much to overcome on a glorious afternoon.

In the top game, young Luke Harries, who is home for the summer from Tennessee University, and big hitting Alan Webster were pitted against the evergreen Alan Jones, arguably West Wales’ best golfer over the past 30 years or so, and greenkeeper Mark Parsons. The lead, changed hands several times before Luke birdied the last for a deserved half.

Gavin Scotcher and Darren Thomas found father and son, Bob and Chris Veale, on fine form. Chris struck the ball beautifully and Bob holed several putts, before winning handsomely by five and four.

Dave Morris and Spencer Harries, previously a member at South Pembs, had to play well in order to beat Wayne Brunton and Joe Buckle by just one up.

Ben Childs and Mike Davies, who also used to a member of the home club, were four up against South Pembs’ skipper Paul Grimwood and Peter Jennings and perhaps should have won out in the country. However, they eventually secured victory by just one up.

Consequently, it was looking fairly optimistic for the visitors - they were two and a half to one and a half ahead after four games. However, they secured just half a point from the remaining four rubbers.

Mikey Harries and Neil Thomas, a former captain at South Pembs, went down heavily by four and three to Darren Lewis and Simon Bourne.

In a rather scrappy encounter, Steve Sutcliffe and Loz Phillips managed a half against Peter Balkwill and Billy Harris, who still strikes the ball consistently.

Rhys Davies and Gary McNeilly could never quite get ahead of Peter Johnson and Steven Vale. They lost by two and one.

In the last game, the score was identical when John Broomhead and Adam Thorne went down to Mike Reid and Mike Swain.

Consequently, Tenby lost the match by five games to three. In the Dyfed League, Tenby are away at Machynys tomorrow (Saturday) and then home to Glynhir B on Saturday, June 2. Strong teams are required for both of these fixtures.

Welcome to Idwal’s Paradise

He did it again – Idwal that is. He laid on wall to wall sunshine and warmth, with just a mild breeze, to welcome the team of seniors from Fairwood Park. It is said that the sun shines on the righteous, well there must be a team of righteous seniors to enjoy the benign conditions experienced this week.

Not only that, he had the golf to go with it. Even though this match was over by the twelfth hole he still strode on and completed his round dropping only three or four shots. He and his partner, Ross James, were surprised to lose the first hole and so shifted into top gear to demoralise the Fairwood captain, John Jones, and his partner Barry Williams by winning most of the holes from there on in. Could the rest of his team do the same?

Stan Hudson and David Rees tried to follow suit and completed their match on the fourteenth. They were two up after two holes and all square after four. They rallied to end the first nine holes three up and managed to maintain this momentum much to Stan’s relief. His tournament golf last week had let him down and he was hoping he wouldn’t repeat it this week. David helped him restore faith and expertise as they shook hands with their opposition after fourteen holes. Playing in such exalted company as well as the heat and hard fairways had its effect on David so he walked in for a cool drink while Stan led the opposition across the line to the remaining holes.

The fairways had hardened and browned since the last match at home and the rough has thickened presenting a challenge to all out on the course. As a result most matches were somewhat delayed as group after group meandered the overgrown areas with bowed heads as they searched for balls. Simon Pearce from Fairwood found thirteen balls during his round while Mark Provis must have lost almost as many.

He lost his first on the first hole as did his partner, Bill Thomas, so they conceded that hole to Dudley Williams and Des Stone. Although they halved three holes on the front nine they still found themselves two down after nine against the home pair. Slowly they recovered confidence and pulled enough holes back over the back nine to take the lead and managed to hold on to it to finish this match on the seventeenth.

This was the only real defeat for Idwal’s band on the day. Steve Sutcliffe had been paired with Charlie McFee but Charlie was unaware that he had been selected and so was not on the tee to help Steve. Although they played out the course Steve was unable to overcome the fourteen shot allowance he had to concede. They played along as a three ball with the result going to Fairwood.

Another to walk in early was Steve Decosimo. Three games in three days with a sore knee injury was not conducive to prolonged activity on the golf course so as soon as he and John Stevenson had completed their win he beat a hasty retreat. He had played his part by holing a number of pars to complement John’s contribution. Home advantage helped as they completed their win over Kevin Rees and Nigel Havard on the seventeenth.

Roger Barton had better fortunes this week. With Alan Jones to help him they overcame any challenge posed by Terry Prosser and Layton James. They had the luxury of non competitive golf from the thirteenth.

The two other matches out on the course were much closer affairs. Paul Bradley was paired with John Hayhoe again. They were pleased to be three up after three holes only to be knocked back by John Simon and Dave Frame, who won the next six consecutive holes. John brought Paul into line and they played the back nine without losing a hole. They halved a few and had to win the last to earn their victory by one hole.

Peter Williams and Bart Youll had a right royal ding-dong against Mal Watson and Derek O’Brien. Bart was rather tentative as he started off. He had to hire a trolley from the pro- shop. It transpires that he had had an incident with his trolley last Friday. While he was attempting to retrieve his ball from the ditch on the sixteenth he had inadvertently touched the forward button on his trolley and it took off over the side and into the water with wheels still spinning wildly. With difficulty he managed to stop it and get it out of the water but he was dreading having to face the sixteenth again.

All the clichés were used about this match – nip and tuck – only one or two in it – up and down – close match. However, Bart did compose himself and with Peter’s help they managed to complete the match with one hole to spare.

Fairwood captain, John Jones, praised Idwal for arranging the weather, praised the course and the catering staff and told a joke. Idwal responded with a couple of his own. How many more does he have in his locker?

Results:

I. David/R. James beat J. Jones/B. Williams 8 & 6.

D. Williams/D. Stone lost to M. Provis/B. Thomas 2 & 1.

S. Hudson/D. Rees beat P. Barrett/S. Pearce 5 & 4.

P. Bradley/J. Hayhoe beat J. Simon/D. Frame 1 up.

R. Barton/A. Jones beat T. Prosser/L. James 6 & 5.

P. Williams/B. Youll beat M. Watson /D. O’Brien 2 & 1

J. Stevenson/S. Decosimo beat K. Rees/N .Havard 3 & 2.

S. Sutcliffe v G. Tomaszewski/D. John Fairwood win

Mixed Mathias Thomas Medal Cup

The weather was perfect for golf in Tenby for this prestigious silverware. Not too hot, not too cold. Hardly any wind and dry all morning. The course is looking great, with well-defined fairways, and the greens are coming good after a hard winter for the green staff. Twenty couples went out to battle the course, in what is probably the most difficult format for foursomes... a medal round.

Four pairs were happy to hear they had won their entry fees back in a card draw. They were Trevayne Keohane and Roger Schooling, Gill John and Neil Moffat, Anna and Keith Hubbard, and Rebecca Naden and Paul Bradley. Only two 2s were recorded, both on the 17th, by Rebecca and Paul, and Heather Morgan and Mervyn Tucker.

The scores at the top were very close, with three pairs looking like being in the prizes at one time on 75 nett. They were Pam and Steve Cole, Trevayne Keohane and Roger Schooling, and Heather Morgan and Mervyn Tucker.

Fourth on 89-15-74 were Georgina Ormond and Mark Griffiths. Third, doing well after two recent handicap drops, were Roy Edwards and Mum, Denise, with 85-12.5-72.5. Just missing out on winning the trophy were captain Mike, and his daughter, Lucy Anthony with 99-27.5-71.5. But winners with a super 75 gross off a handicap of five and a nett 70, were Andrew Cope and Holly Watkins.

On receiving the trophy, Andrew thanked his playing partner Holly, and Heather for organising the competition, and Mervyn and Heather for marking their card.

The first round of the Ping Knock-out was played in Ashburnham against Glynhir. All three pairs won their matches and now go on to play Cardigan in Haverforwest on June 13.

The Llewellyn Thomas Knock-out has started in the club, and pairs are reminded that it is the responsibility of both pairs to sort out a date as soon as possible.

The next friendly match against Derllys Court is away on Sunday, July. 29 A list will go on the board at the end of June.

Sadly, the St. Pierre fixtures have been cancelled for this year due to bad timing. Hopefully they can be resumed next year. The date has been announced for next year’s friendly against Ashburnham, on Sunday, May 12.

The next mixed event at the club is the opening game of Open Week on June 3. See Austin Davies if you haven’t already got your name down. He is also looking for ladies to play with visitors, so if you are free give him a ring.

Then, at the beginning of June, the Sam Ackerman should be on the computer. This is a draw for partners and a chance for all those of you who haven’t tried mixed golf yet to give it a whirl.

Finally, a huge thanks to Laura McQueen who does the work on the day for me, to Tom in the Pro Shop, and Emma and Co. for keeping us fed and ‘watered’!