Once again on a cracking good day we entertained our friends from Priskilly and I think everyone had a really enjoyable day.

Massive thanks to Gareth who stepped in at the last moment when Huw had to cancel and, despite an injury, played the 18 holes and gave us a full team

I led the way by smacking my first tee shot straight into the hedge on the left of the first hole, another great start from the captain, and something I learnt from Mike Allen. Not to be put off, my playing partner Ian Whiting gave us a winning start, and followed that with another win on the second and before long we were three up.

Our opponents had a spirited response, bringing the game back to all-square at the turn.

The back nine was our strongest nine and I parred the 17th to win 3 and 1 in what was a lovely game.

Mike Allen, the aforementioned, followed us and it seemed as if he and Keith Hubbard were having a tight game as well, until we spoke on the 11th and they told us they were seven up. Their stroll finished shortly afterwards with a 9 and 7 win, which also took the 2s money as no one managed a two on the day.

Game of the day was Brinley Hughes and David Crowley. Apparently they played a 22 handicapper who couldn’t stop scoring pars and when I tentatively enquired how their game was going I was told they were six down after eight... what... come on boys, clearly the soporific effect of the weather was taking its toll.. but you can’t keep a good team down and after 16 they were all-square, and one up on the 18th tee. Alas their opponents rediscovered their mojo and the game finished all-square. A remarkable game by any standards.

Graham Longster and John Richards also had a chance to share the 2s money, but missed a short putt that would have won them their game 9 and 7 as well. As it happens they had to settle for a convincing 8 and 6 win.

Colin Rowe, playing with Rob Nixon, played really well, with Colin telling me it was his best game of the year, he’s getting hot now, and finished their game winning 3 and 1.

Trusty Wayne and Derek won their game 4 and 3 which gave us an overall score of a Trefloyne win by 5.5 to 1.5.

Well done team, cracking result and great fun with some really really nice guys from Priskilly.

Thanks to all John Voysey.

The Beynon Bank Holiday Texas Scramble

The ever-popular annual owners scramble will take place on Monday, August 27, this year, with a shotgun start at 10 am. Members are invited to submit teams of four golfers, although players can be matched up should you be looking for a game!

Please submit your bookings ASAP, as this event does fill up very quickly.

On completion of play, a meal will be provided by the family to all competitors who have taken part.

Mel Neale Memorial Day - NOW FULL!!

The event is now fully subscribed. Thank you to everyone for your support. I have been asked by the organisers that if anyone has any potential raffle prizes that they could utilise on the day they would be very grateful. All proceeds will be in aid of the Paul Sattori Foundation, a charity very close to Mel’s family’s hearts. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 2.

Nine-Hole Roll-Up

Congratulations to last week’s nine-hole roll-up winner, Morgan Duckett, who scored a fantastic 21 points. I was lucky enough to play alongside him and it was great to watch. He was followed closely by Joe Richards on 20 points. Another good turnout of 15 players, but as always we would like to see more! With the season drawing to a close, I would encourage all members to come along and join us for a fun nine holes from 4.30 - 5.30 pm every Wednesday.

Ladies

On Friday, Trefloyne ladies played their fifth league match against Glyn Abbey ladies at home. After an initial heavy shower of rain just before the tee-off, the weather remained dry for the fixture.

Leading off were Beth McMann and Jane Meyrick, winning their match 5 and 4. Sue Crowley and Heather Thorne followed with a 6 and 5 win and this was followed by a 5 and 3 win for Jan Whiting and Jane Richards.

The fourth pairing of Marion Payne and Wendy Derrick also won their match 5 and 4. All ladies were now awaiting the result of the fifth and final match which went to the 18th hole, where Lind Coward and Liz Crockford lost on the last putt.

Thank you to Glyn Abbey ladies for their company - winning scores did not reflect how close the matches really were!

Thank you also to Sian and Tom for the excellent post-match meals which were enjoyed in the sunshine on the terrace .

Tuesday saw the ladies playing at Pontardawe Golf Club for the Ladies Captain Away Day. The weather stayed dry and the competition commenced. Much hilarity ensued as one group of ladies were chased off the green by a flock of ducks -while others posed for photos at the highest point of the course!

Jane Meyrick had an eagle two on the par four 10th and went on to win the competition with 41 points! Second with 35 points was Ann Morgan, while Vicky Day came third with 31, closely followed in fourth by Jean Haig, who had 30 points with six blobs on the card.

The game was followed by a lovely meal in the clubhouse and `Trefloyne ladies would like to thank Pontardawe for the warm welcome and Steff Jones, their professional, for all his help and assistance in arranging a terrific day.

Continuing my weekly playing tour of Trefloyne Manors golf course.

On to hole Two.

The club website description is: A very daunting long par 4 for the gents (par 5 for the ladies), particularly from the championship tees. The fairway slopes severely from left to right - but a tee shot that drifts left will find a lateral hazard and deep rough beyond the ditch. A pushed or sliced tee shot for the right-handed golfer will likely face a pitch back into the fairway as semi-rough and small trees prevent a well struck approach to a tricky two-tiered green. The putting surface slopes sharply from left to right and many a misguided approach can land in the right-hand bunker.

Well that doesn’t sound to daunting at all!

Good Evans, Mr Phil and I stood on the tee surveying what lay ahead.

From the tee box it appears a longer hole than the first hole, but at 349 yards off the yellow tees, it is in fact 21 yards shorter. The hill you can see in the picture begins to kick in at about 60 yards.

Going to need a good drive, I thought. Good Evans was currently imperious with his driver and had hit a good drive about 220 yards and straight as a die. I can follow that I thought and launched what I hoped would be a similar shot; not to be I’m afraid. Although firmly struck, I had aimed too far left and my ball struck a perfectly innocent tree, ouch, that being my pride, not the tree. Mr Phil followed with a slight slice.

Sadly after poking the undergrowth for a couple of minutes under and around the tree, my ball was nowhere to be found. Then just as I was about to make my way back to the tee, eagle-eyed Mr Phil spied my ball - unbelievably, it was a full 80 yards forward of the tree and on the opposite side (right) of the fairway. There I thought to myself I knew I had connected.

My second shot was still a good 200 yards and uphill all the way to the green. I decided my favourite club was needed, the five-wood. Eye on the ball, keep your head down, rotate the hips, I told myself. The ball took off, flew through the air straight and true towards the green, but alas also the bunker below the green.

My two companions had fared little better. Good Evans was in the light rough above the green, Mr Phil in the rough behind me.

Still almost on the green in two, not bad all round. I had to put up with the usual bucket and spade isms, but was quietly content to be this close.

Obviously the first use, and surely not to be my last of my sand wedge, was called for. Now anybody that plays golf knows you can’t ground your club in the bunker before the shot and when you do play it, it’s a full shot taking the sand before the ball. Easier said than done. I have watched some of the most accomplished of my golfing buddies bailing out on bunker shots and dribbling the ball two-foot forward or striking the ball and no sand and watching it fly 40 or 50 yards. Please let this not be me.

Feet firmly planted, I aimed my sand wedge a good three inches behind the ball, a full swing and... success, the little white demon popped out of the bunker and flopped onto the lower tier of the green 10 feet in front of where I stood. I awaited the applause, but none came, just a couple of well played. That though was still music to my ears.

Good Evans pitched onto the top tier and Mr Phil slightly duffed his first pitch, but with the second had also landed his ball on the top tier. I should add that the greenkeeper had rather unhelpfully cut the hole in the top tier. This left me again with an uphill putt, but having to play across the rise between the two tiers.

These putts I find tricky as the ball kicks to the left or right depending which direction you are playing; mine was going to kick right. I spent a fair while looking and looking again, ok time to bite the bullet and putt it. My ball set off well, but within a second or two I knew it was underpowered and it failed miserably on the incline and now, although closer, it still sat on the lower tier.

A little frustrated, I didn’t dally on the next putt, not something I would normally recommend, but on this occasion it worked. Firmly struck, it took the rise in almost a straight line, kicked a little right and pulled up a tricky three-foot or so from the hole. Oh one of those little testers that us part-time golfers dread.

On television, the pros just walk up and pop them in, not so I.

No nonchalant putt for me. I looked, and looked again, then steadying myself, tapped the ball tentatively towards the hole, quietly saying a prayer to the golfing gods. Were they listening? Yes. It dropped in for a six, thank you golfing god. Good Evans was the happiest of us with a solid five, Mr Phil like myself a six. Well one less than on the first hole and up next the par three third.

See you next week.

R.L.