Over the years, the ladies have become quite ingenious at finding various competitions which encourage more members to face some of the rather indifferent weather we have at this time of year. This February was no exception..

The last competition in January was a 14-hole Stableford and this was won by Heather Morgan, with Rhian Walters second and Isabel Kent third.

On February 2, an ever popular Chapman Foursomes was played and was won by Mel Smith and Ann Wilks on 36 points. Rhian Walters and Ruth Goldwait were second on 33, just pipping Pam Cole and Pat Fox on the last nine.

The following week there was a good entry in an 18-hole Stableford and this was won by Isabel Kent with 34 points. Denise Edwards scored 31, while Rita Collins was third with 30 and Ann Wilks was fourth on 27.

The Sunday February Medal was won by Helen Hughes with an excellent nett 74, while Linda Evans was second on 77. Toni Lucas played to her handicap with nett 76 in the Thursday Medal, just beating Denise Edwards on the same score. In the nine-hole competition, the leading scores were produced by Ann Follon, Vena Davies and Barbara Morris.

In the Sunday Stableford, the next week, Annette Flower produced an excellent 39 points and Julie Lovett 33.

The last February competition was a yellow ball event. In this there are three players who take it in turns to play the hole with a yellow ball and only the score for that hole counts. (This is an excellent opportunity for the non-competitors to try shots they would not attempt normally!) The winning team was Anita Davies, Denise Edwards and Ann Wilks with 35 points and Anne Morris, Rhian Walters and Heather Morgan were runners-up on 32.

A few week ago the Ladies' Scratch team was presented with the County League Trophy for the second successive year at the annual general meeting of the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Association. Well done, everyone.

Each year the GUW runs the Jubilee Threes competition. During April to October groups of three players can enter the Stableford competition, recording the two best scores for each hole. The winning score is usually in the 80s, more rarely the 90s. This year a team of three of golf's newer members played their socks off and must have been holing shots from everywhere as their score was 97. The team was Laura McQueen, Georgina Ormond and Sarah Waring and we congratulate them all. We hope the Garfield Evans Trophy will be presented to them by a member of the Welsh Union in the near future.

May I remind everyone, the ladies' annual social of bridge, whist, bingo and tea (!) will be on Wednesday, March 7, at 2 pm.

B.M.S.

Curtain falls on Frostbite Friendlies

The curtain fell on the winter season of Frostbite Friendlies last week, with everyone enjoying the morning of golf and friendly competition.

All are now looking forward to the forthcoming summer Friendly Foursomes.

Results: 1. Fair Ball and David T. Morgan 33 pts; 2. Laura McQueen and Derek Bath 31.

There were no twos, so there two bag draws and coincidently the winners were again Fair Ball and David T. Morgan and Laura McQueen and Derek Bath.

Well done to the winners and thanks to everyone for their support.

R.R.

Martin's eight over 38 equals 10!

A dull, chilly, breezy and not very inviting February 28 attracted a surprisingly large field of 45 seniors - the biggest this year. After a trifling spot of confusion at the start, the penultimate qualifying eclectic competition of the 2011/2012 winter season moved along at a good pace and provided some quite spectacular results.

Let me give you a senior's eye view of exactly what happens on a Tuesday morning. Having consulted the start sheet, players arrive at the club and pop in to see Rhys to pay their entrance fee and pick up their cards. Next, they sort out their gear, meet up with their partners and go through a strict regime of pre-match warming up exercises!

Exactly on time, each group drives off and starts what they hope will be a truly excellent round of golf; sadly, some will be less successful than others!

After their 18 holes, the golfers return to the clubhouse, stow their gear, change their clothes and enter the details from their scorecards into the computer.

Moving swiftly to the bar for a drink and possibly a snack, they are neatly ambushed, in the nicest possible way, by Brian Morgan, who will sell them a numbered ball, which may win them a cash prize, the proceeds being put aside for donation to a worthy charity.

While the rest of us enjoy swapping tall tales about our prowess on the course, the workers - that is Captain Jim, treasurer Allen Watts, Jeff Banfield the secretary and assistants Richard Davies, Stan Hudson and Tony Morgan, will be collecting, collating, calculating and comparing cards so that a final result can be announced.

At last the award ceremony can commence, a hush falls over the congregation; the captain stands and asks Brian to give the charity raffle result - which this week is that Ray Ford is the winner with number 33. We also learn that next week's raffle will be sponsored by the recently very successful and ever generous Brian Diment.

Moving swiftly along Captain Jim reveals the following results to the expectant throng:

In fourth place with a fine score of 39 points, Newman Vincent wins £2.50 and a smattering of applause.

In third place with a creditable 40 points, Jeff Banfield is awarded £4.50 and receives a burst of clapping.

With 42 points, John Hall is roundly applauded as he pockets £7 for seizing second place.

And finally, a standing ovation for Martin Neilan's outstanding 46 points and clear first place. His £10 winnings seem barely enough reward for this fine achievement.

Finally, those sharpshooters who scored 2s on the sixth and 17th holes, namely Jeff Banfield, Richard Davies and Newman Vincent, are rewarded for their endeavors with a generous £2.

Before the gathering breaks up, Captain Jim reminds everybody that next Tuesday (March 6) is the last eclectic and thereafter we move to the summer programme, the first event of which is the Glynhir match on March 15 - names on the list please.

Finally, our secretary Jeff draws our attention to two points. First, the Harlech trip - which has become slightly under-subscribed - for those already committed to attend, please get your £150 to Allen Watts as soon as possible. Anyone else who would like to join the visit, please contact Jeff as soon as you can.

Second, concerning the Tenby Seniors' Open Day. The booking sheet is filling up rapidly, so Jeff has put a start sheet up on the notice board showing the vacant slots. Do take advantage of this service while there are still vacancies; the £7 entrance fee is a real bargain.

Next Tuesday we shall see which senior has rocketed to the top of the eclectic score sheet.

See you there!

M.F.

Fears of egg-cessive Chicken fee increase laid to roost!

Chief Chicken and dedicated capitalist Mickey Johnston had suggested a rise in the Trotter entrance fee from an historic 30p to an inflation busting 50p. This certainly put the cat amongst the poultry! Letters to the editor, rumblings of discontent from the Hoi-Poultroi and the threat of a rebellion from the back perches followed, and Mickey had to act decisively.

The result? Total capitulation, outright rebellion avoided and the status quo happily restored, 30p it is for the foreseeable future. The quid pro quo is that nobody is ever going to get rich on the prize money - but Trotters just do not care!

Thus, on the morning of Friday February 24, 14 Chickens trotted forth - secure in the knowledge that their 15 holes of cut and thrust would only cost 30p. The weather was reasonable and all enjoyed the golf. Sadly, only 13 cards were returned because Ken Sanderson's was lost on the course (his story!).

Only 50 per cent of the early birds sallied forth, but as you will see, 50 per cent of this 50 per cent featured on the podium. The full story of the results is as follows:

In first place, with a par busting 30 points was Brian Waters, who pocketed one whole quid and collected a penalty reduction of five strokes for three weeks.

Second place went to early bird John Hancock, back to his winning ways with a commendable 29 points, which earned him 90p - hardly a rattle in his piggy bank! The three-stroke reduction to his already enviably low handicap must smart a bit!

Raking in the money that goes with scoring birdies on the par threes were Dave Henry and Newman Vincent - both on the sixth.

Last, but by all means least, the Yo-Yo scorer that is Owen Monaghan failed to beat - well - anybody! Claiming the booby position with its accompanying bonus of two additional strokes, Owen was last seen clutching his 30p winnings and heading for a sofa seat in front of the TV to watch his beloved Liverpool take on Cardiff.

The attendance list for the end of season competition and luncheon is prominently displayed on the notice board. Please put your name down - you don't have to play; you can just enjoy the lunch. We are competing for the prestigious Roger and Mary trophy, which even now is in the jeweler's workshop having the final polish applied to the plastic!

Friday, March 2 (today) is the 2011/2012 season penultimate Trot.

See you there!

M.F.

Steve stars in Medal

Eighty-nine players competed in the Monthly Medal on Saturday, 46 in division one and 43 in division two.

With springlike conditions gracing the course and some players even resorting to tee-shirts it was so warm, scoring was expected to be good.

And so it proved, particularly in division two, where the winner Stephen Cole showed everyone a clean pair of heels as he posted the best nett score of the day, a superb 65.

As well as earning him the medal, though, it also saw his handicap being slashed three shots from 22 to 19!

Club captain David Blackmore was also in fine form, trailing Steve in second place with an excellent nett 67, while two others in the section, Simon Sweet and Gareth Brace, also returned scores in the 60s, with 69 apiece.

In division one, only one player managed to break 70, and that was young David Webb, whose 69 off a four handicap was good enough to see him take the top honours.

Leading scores and prize winners were as follows:

Division One: 1. David Webb 73-4-69 (medal plus £40); 2. Brian Cramb 73-3-70 (£29.50); 3. Timothy Davies 85-14-71, after countback (£19); 4. Harvey Tribe 83-12-71, after countback (£10.50); 5. Jerry Whitehouse 84-13-71 (£6.50).

Division Two: 1. Stephen Cole 87-22-65 (medal plus £40); 2. David Blackmore 84-17-67 (£29.50); 3. Simon Sweet 84-15-69, after countback (£19); 4. Gareth Brace 85-16-69 (£10.50); 5. Michael Williams 90-19-71 (£6.50).

Twos: Andrew Pouton, Allen Watts, Jeffrey Haley, Richard Prout, Robert Wiseman, Alan Yates, Brian Diment (£12.70 each).

Bag draw: Phil Goodridge, Gary McNeilly, Michael Anthony, Richard Prout, Bob Flower (£17 each).

Pro Shop draw: Mark Edwards and Peter Hughes (one-dozen Taylormade Tour balls each).

Handicap changes: John Ball 16 to 15; David Blackmore 17 to 16; Philip Carpenter 18 to 19; Stephen Cole 22 to 19; David Cope 10 to 11; Timothy Davies 14 to 13; Vivian John 9 to 8; Simon Sweet 15 to 14; Harvey Tribe 12 to 11.

Triple Crown and triple XL!

Firstly, congratulations from the Rabbits Section to Wales on their first win at Twickenham for 25 years and securing the Triple Crown, but a slightly dodgy order by the captain for his winners jumper with one game left to go. No, I didn't believe he was a triple XL, but my sources say different.

Well, with a few sore heads on the tee Sunday morning after the night before's celebrations, it was Mark who wanted to get out first, mainly to see how the construction of his new house was getting on just by the 17th green.

So he and partner Chris took on Steve and Tony (The Grunt), who was subbing for Bill Davies, and as it was, the match went over the line and finished on the 18th with Steve and Tony 1 up.

Our captain was out next with Mackie against Mike and Peter (outright winners of this year's wooden spoon) and a comfortable 6 and 5 win leaves them top of the league with 20 points and his jumper order placed!

The next match out was Paul and Mick against the Muscle that is Phil Carps and Bob 'Shots' Flower. These two pairs are currently in third and fourth place, respectively, with one point separating them, so a very tight game was in prospect.

Phil and Bob went three up very quickly, but could not sustain this play and, with Paul parring six of the last seven holes, the match finished all-square on the 18th, so it's all to play for this weekend.

Tony and Richard had a tough match on their hands if they wanted to maintain pressure on the leaders, finally coming through on the last two holes to win 2 up against Steve and Robin.

By the way, if anyone received a Christmas card last year and didn't know who it was from, I have found the answer... it was from Bob Flower. Apparently he never signs his card!

'Til next week when Mark will be giving out the house warming invitations!

The Scribe

Results: Bill Davies and Steve Cole bt Mark Edwards and Chris Smith 1 up; Tim Davies and Mackie Harts bt Peter Turton and Mike Munro 6 and 5; Paul Davies and Mick Gillett halved with Phil Carpenter and Bob Flower; Tony Morris and Richard Prout bt Steve Watkins and Robin Bradbury 2 up.

Sub: Tony Spagnuolo for Bill Davies.