Double Thirty-six years ago the Tenby Rabbits first played for their ‘medal trophies’ which bore the names of past Rabbit luminaries Eddie Duffy and Joe S. Williams and, so our links reporter Warren Hacker tells us, 18 eager Rabbits gathered in the clubhouse on a soggy morning wondering (a) whether to bother going out and (b) if they were going out, whether they would add their names onto the silverware for future generations to wonder over.

Previous winners were amongst them - three names already on the Joe S. Williams Shield for the best gross score included Mark, along with double-winners Chris and Bill B, with six Duffy Cup winners (for the best nett score), Grant, Adrian, Chris, Robin (twice), Bill B (twice) and Steve C (although this was so long ago there is no photographic evidence, as cameras hadn’t been invented back then!).

The draw put secretary Peter, teasurer Wyndham and Tom out first, but they obviously had the worst of the weather as two had ‘no returns’ on the cross-wind fourth (because they hit it too far!), whilst the other got his name announced at the end. Between two of them they had eight pars - the other one was par-less, but had two birdies!

Next away were Bill B, Grant and John B and this was the only group to return three totals in double figures and they all ended up in the top half of the results sheets after 16 pars in total, with one getting two birdies - if only their 9, 2x8s and 5x7s hadn’t happened!

Third off were captain Paul, vice Steve W and Shaun, with one getting as far as the 11th before his N/R, one had 1x7 with 7x5s and 10x6s and the third one had a ‘Hamlet’ moment, with seven shots in the bunker on the 17th - no birdies, but they managed eight pars between them.

The fourth group contained Winter League winner Mike, with Ian W and Rees. Two front nine 8s cost one the silverware and this group also managed eight pars in total, with one N/R-ing the most N/Rd hole on the course (the 17th!) and they couldn’t slot a birdie either.

The last-but-one group consisted of Steve C, Chris and Adrian (all mentioned in the ‘previous winners’ bit!) and they played ‘poker golf’, with team scores of 4, 5, 6; 6, 7, 8; and 7, 8, 9 on holes 2, 3 and 4. They managed 11 pars in the group and one was in contention until hitting trees on the 17th, but still finished best in seventh One had a dodgy hand and another was happy to break 100.

The last group out saw Ian J accompanied by Robin and luminous Mark and a couple of them made good use of the best of the weather to get amongst the prizes, whilst one had a couple of 9s to dent his chances. They also had 16 pars, one was birdie-less and one card contained nothing higher than a six.

The gusty easterly wind, along with falling dampness, had thrown testing conditions at the Rabbits and this resulted in only eight of the 18 breaking 100 and when the nett scores were revealed by captain Paul, it showed that eight had scores in the 70s, with Mark missing out on countback to Mike, who got a money prize for fourth, both on 75s, with countback also separating Grant in bronze place from Bill B in silver place after their 74s.

The winner after a fine CSS-equalling 72 was Ian J, who showed that his recent handicap-reducing medal round of 65 hadn’t affected him and he remembered most of what Tom had told him to do in his lessons!

The gross scores moved Grant (94) to fourth above Mike (95), Mark took third with his 92, Bill’s 90 was good enough for runner-up again and Ian J ‘did the double’ (it’s happened 10 times since the start) by shooting 88 to receive the shield to go with the cup. Well played that man!

Peter also got a mention for his birdie two on the sixth, which took the pot, meaning he is nearly as rich as Bill. Several winners donated their prize money to captain Paul’s charity and some were lucky enough to get a ball in the raffle.

All talk after the presentation was of the arrangements for the Annual Trip to sunny Cornwall, so by the time this paper is buyable from the newsagents, they will be heading up the M4, then down the M5 to St. Mellion and the report of their exploits (the printable ones) will be available for viewing next week - good luck chaps (apparently there’s trees to avoid and water to drive over...).