December 16 was the Charity Competition for Save the Children.

The only stipulation was that competitors wore Christmas jumpers, and in true Christmas spirit, everybody looked fantastic, from Father Christmas and elves to Christmas trees and starry skies (not forgetting Rudolph); the assortment was brilliant.

Coffee and bacon rolls were consumed whilst the draw for partners took place.

Twenty-one players took to the course from 9.52 through ‘til 10.36. The weather was much better than last year and, although cold, the sun came out. We had some new players who thoroughly enjoyed the course. Although challenging (as always), it did not dampen their spirits and we are hoping to see them again next year.

On returning to the clubhouse, we were greeted by Santa arriving on a golf buggy!

Hot soup and rolls were enjoyed by all while the scores were calculated.

My thanks to the Pro Shop staff who were on hand for the cards and entries, the greens staff for the well maintained course, the catering staff and, of course, the entrants who helped us achieve £115-plus, a very generous donation from Mrs. Penny Cope making a grand total of £215.

There was a three-way tie for first, but on countback, the overall winner was Laura McQueen. Her prize was... yes, you’ve guessed it - a Christmas jumper!

Looking forward to next year’s event. Wishing everyone a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Trevayne

Annual greens match

On Friday, December 23, the eagerly anticipated and hotly contested annual golf competition between the greens staff and the greens committee of Tenby Golf Club took place.

As well as the regular contestants, the teams were joined this year by Storm Barbara who arrived in a hurry (at 45 mph), which was most helpful on some holes, but a real nuisance on others!

The committee came out on top on this occasion, which makes a change from most other days of the year.

The course was immaculate considering the time of year and it is all because of the commitment of these dedicated staff and volunteers.

Membership of Tenby Golf Club is now open for the new season and special offers are available to new members. Go to www.tenbygolf.co.uk for further details or ring the club on 01834 842978, you won’t be disappointed.

The impending battle

There hasn’t been a Rabbits match for Warren Hacker to comment on over the festive season, but now all eyes are on the grudge match on the famous Tenby Links this coming Sunday against ‘the others who play on Sunday mornings’. For the uninitiated, the Rabbits are golfers above a certain handicap whilst ‘the others’ have a lower handicap and think they are better golfers as a result.

Readers of this fine newspaper will have noticed the ‘other lot’ have had a couple of articles in recent weeks about their get-togethers, but I’m sure that they will have been as disappointed as Warren about the tone of the reports - full of mocking comments (about their own captain - Tim Davies - as well as other members) and making fun of some of their own players.

You will have noticed that the Rabbits reports are in no way nasty and full of encouragement for their own players - which engenders the team spirit that the Rabbits have been famed for for over half-a-century. They have only a few wins in the history of the contest, but the difference is we laud our winning captain whilst the ‘other lot’ hold their losing captains up for ridicule.

Warren has received a number of tweets in support of the Rabbits and wants to share them with the readers -

US golf expert Chip Closer says - ‘Go Rabbits. Trump those others’; Skip Pee, the Australian golf coach, says - ‘Best wishes from Down Under, come out on top’; Jurgen Erwin, German sports psychologist said - ‘Go on Martin’s Boys. Some of them may have lower handicaps, but you’re better players’ and European female champion Miss Dee Putt, famous for her short game, commented - ‘2016 has been a good year for the underdog. It’s just a shame you’re playing in 2017 - but you could be the first winning underdogs of the new year’.

It seems the sporting world is behind the Rabbits - as are some of the music world. Morgan Harket-Tim, chairman of the Pembrokeshire Aha Appreciation Society, wrote - ‘You can do it Rabbits. The sun doesn’t always shine on TD’ whilst Rabbits captain Martin Durham gets support from the local branch of the Roger Whittaker Fan Club who give a rallying call to his team - ‘Come on Rabbits. Try not to leave old Durham down’.

So if you happen to be driving along the Penally by-Pass on Sunday morning, give a toot to the players on the links. The Rabbits will be the ones smiling and the ones that will wave back at you - the ‘others’ will be too worried about giving shots!

Come on the Rabbits....

Christmas Mixed Charity Game

A wonderful day was had by all at Tenby Golf Club last week for the annual mixed charity game in aid of the chosen charities of the club captain, Neil Thomas, and the ladies’ captain, Linda Thomas. They were Cure Leukaemia and the Stroke Association.

Forty-four people turned out to support the event, and club members and local businesses had been generous with prizes for the raffle. The weather was beautiful, like a cool summer’s day, and the course looked, and played, like the championship course it is.

There was a prize of baseball caps for nearest the pin on the sixth, which at 20 inches was won by Laura McQueen. The joke of this was that Laura and her playing partner David T. Morgan had donated the prize!

The generous sponsorship from two local members, Steve Williams and Vernon Lawrence, meant that all money taken could go to the charities, and we could do three bag draws. They went to Anna and Keith Hubbard, Steve Maytum and Gill John, Sarah Phillips and Martin Durham.

Three pairs finished with 37 points, but the back nine won fourth place for Vicky Burks and Steve Williams. Two pairs were on 38 points, and third place went to Trevayne Keohane and Tom Watkins, again beaten on the back nine by Sue and Jack Harries, who took second place.

First place went to our ladies’ vice-captain, Pam Cole, and her husband Steve, on 39 points. Pam thanked the organisers and commented on how lucky they were to be playing in such glorious weather when compared to the rain they had last year. She also praised the condition of the course.

A total of £430 was raised and the captain was presented with his half for a charity that has a great deal of importance for him. He presented the prizes and thanked all for their efforts.

Thanks must also go to Rhys in the Pro Shop, Emma and Lee for the catering, Richard and Dinah Reed for sorting the raffle and David and Idwal for drawing it; and the mixed committee for all their support.

Also thanks to Evans Pharmacy, Boots, Art Matters, Mountain Warehouse, County Clothes, Tesco, Anna’s Card Shop and The Cranny for kindly supporting the raffle.

The next mixed event is Saturday, February 11, when we will play the Valentines.

H.K.M.

New Year

14-Hole Texas Scramble

Thirteen teams entered the New Year 14-Hole Texas Scramble on Saturday.

Leading scores and prize winners were as follows:

1. Rob Hall, James Moffatt, Nic Rogers Gavin Field-Thomas 47-03.3=43.7 (£18 per person).

2. Jack Harries, Luke Harries, Spencer Harries, Sue Harries 48-03.2=44.8 (£13 per person).

3. Ian J. Thomas, Stephen Williams, Vernon G. Lawrence, David Lewis 51-0.61=44.9 (£8 per person).

Twos: There were 11 twos on the day, which were worth £1 per player.

Bag draw: Trevayne Keohane, Anne Wilks, Chris Smith, Mark Edwards (£13 each).