After a week with no golf, it was really great to welcome Ashburnham seniors to Tenby on Tuesday. Even the weather relented, showing just the least sprinkling of Pembrokeshire mist before the sun broke through and sweaters were removed.

Eight four balls contested the match, starting at the earlier than normal time of 10.45, and play was reasonably rapid - unless a ball happened to pop into the totally unforgiving rough.

Since, dear reader, you were starved of photographs of the Seniors at play last week - this week you have a positive plethora of pictures. First (top right) we have the two Seniors captains, Tony Hewitt from Ash and Jim Martin from Tenby, shaking hands before the start. Next come the two studies of sheer poetry in motion as the captains drives from the first tee are digitally frozen in time.

The fourth photograph (below) requires a little explanation. Some of the seniors exhibit rare panache and flair when dressing for golf. None more so than that staunch Senior and all-round fine fellow, Martin Neilan, who this week is modelling an ensemble which can only be described as a cross between Roger Bannister and Wild Bill Hickock!

After the match, both teams repaired to the clubhouse for a little tonsil lubrication, followed by fish and chips, followed by the captains' addresses, followed by the raffle (which I won - hurrah!), followed by the result. I can modestly reveal that the match was won by Tenby Seniors, 7.5 to 0.5! - All that remains to be achieved is a similar victory on Ashburnham's home turf when we meet again on July 26.

See you there!

M.F.

Uphill struggle for Tenby at Aberystwyth

Tenby Golf Club's Dyfed League team were on the road again on Saturday, this time to the beautiful coastal town of Aberystwyth with its funicular railway and challenging golf course that spread across all of the hillside above the town, giving wonderful views of the Welsh coastline from the Llyn Peninsular to the north all the way down to St David's head in the south.

The weather the week before had seen days of torrential rain and that had made the course extremely soft, giving no run on the ball and every hole playing to its maximum distance. On this day, however, the sun was out and the scenery spectacular with the Irish Sea glinting in the sunlight.

Aberystwyth had treated their visitors with great respect and had fielded a team of extremely talented players off very low handicaps, which was to prove beneficial to the home team as the day unfolded.

The greens staff had found it difficult to prepare the course to its full potential due to the weather conditions, but the greens had been cut that morning and the venue was ready for the two groups of eager players.

The first pairings set off from the first tee which saw the fairway climb away in front of them up the steep hillside, only to be followed by another hole that also went up until you were at the top of the hill looking around at some amazing views. The rolling hills of the Ceredigion countryside were quite stunning and to the north you could pick out the Snowdonia mountain range: what a lovely place to be on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

That is where all of the niceties came to an end as the Aberystwyth team set about the visitors and emphasised the importance of playing at home on a long, wet course, when accuracy and putting prowess were to be the weapons of the day.

The first four Tenby pairs were soundly defeated, Nick Thomas and Rob Wilcox by 5 and 4, Dan Cope and Richard Ormond by 4 and 3, Jack Guerreiro and Lewis Hurlow by one hole and Jeff Banfield and Steve Maytum by 5 and 4.

It was left to the tailend to save the day, or at least put some respect back into the Tenby effort. The team captain, Chris Beecher, and his playing partner, Paul Jenkins, managed to obtain a half with their opponents after a magnificent battle over the latter stages of their match. This result was only to be expected from Chris Beecher, who has never lost at Aberystwyth over the 15 years he has played in the Dyfed League.

Chris Hughes and Ian 'Yobbler' Thomas fought all the way to the end, with birdies being the norm in their tussle, finally obtaining an honourable half in their encounter. This new pairing has yet to be defeated this year and are formidable opponents against any opposition.

The last pair out on the course was Robin Hagley and Tony Key, who were paired against the club captain, Clive Rees, playing off a handicap of nine, and the club treasurer, playing off 11, which gives an indication of the strength of the opposition. It was a hard fought match with the advantage swaying back and fore right up until the final four holes. The Tenby pair took the lead on the 15th, only to be faced with two consecutive birdies by the home pair, putting them one up going to the last.

The putts were sent on their way along the final green and the best the opposition could make was a par three, leaving Robin Hagley with a 30-foot put to halve the match, which he magnificently holed to save the day.

The victors on this occasion were Aberystwyth by five-and-a-half games to one-and-a-half, leaving the Tenby players with a long trip home, licking their wounds and wondering what could have been. Their disappointment was soon overcome when they joined the victors in the clubhouse for a pint and a curry and planned their journey back around the hostelries they would visit on their way home.

The next league fixture will be this Sunday, July 15, at Derllys Court, Bancyfelin, teeing-off at 12 mid-day. The selected team is on display in the clubhouse, with a request that anyone not being able to play must contact the organisers immediately. No transport is provided for this fixture, so please make your own way to the Golf Club in Bancyfelin by 11.30 am.

Tenby Seniors excel in Claret Jug qualifiers

Following on from last year's success in the Claret Jug, when Tenby Seniors provided the winning finalists, Richard Davies and Brian Morgan, eight pairs played at the regional final at Milford last week.

Tenby Seniors excelled again, providing three qualifiers out of six pairs for the final to be played at Fairwood Park on August 9. In fact, Tenby did extremely well in having eight pairs finish in the top 12, with over 30 pairs playing.

The day started very wet on Tuesday, July 3, but by late morning the rain cleared up and eventually the sun broke through, giving excellent conditions for scoring.

The Stableford pairs format was 2BBB playing off threequarters handicap, with a maximum of 18 handicap allowance, making 14 shots the highest allowed.

Like last year, Tenby provided the largest number of qualifiers from the Milford Regional Final, with Bob Howse and Robin Hagley (42pts), Jeff Banfield and Martin Neilan (39pts), Jim Moffatt and Jim Martin (39pts) going through to the final at Fairwood.

Last year's winning finalists, Richard and Brian, just missed out by one point on 38; they alongside Stan Hudson and Des Stone, also on 38 points, are first reserves for the final.

The other three qualifying pairs were provided by Glyn Abbey, two pairs on 43 points, and Machynys on 40 points.

We wish all three qualifiers the best of luck in the final on August 9.

J.D.M.

Captain loses Snuff Box... and trolley!

The last two weeks have seen the Rabbits travel to Carmarthenshire twice, firstly to Carmarthen itself for the Three Counties Open and then to Ashburnham for the Summer League/Tom Mclean Snuff Box Trophy.

The Open competition was played on a blustery and occasionally rainy day, so no high stableford scores were going to be recorded by the Tenby contingent. However, our captain, Tim Davies, started his round very well, but after a few holes the wheels came off... literally - his trolley gave up the ghost and was left to find its own way home, discarded as it was in the rough somewhere between the ninth and 10th fairways.

After a somewhat dire day on the course, all the Rabbits enjoyed the hospitality of the clubhouse and the fine carvery that Carmarthen laid on, and relied on the raffle for any prizes on the day. All I know is that Mark Edwards won a bottle of Scotch and wanted to swap it for some decent wine... any takers?

Onto last weekend and the annual match against Ashburnham Golf Club, this year to be played for summer league points as well as the Tom Mclean Snuff Box, of which Tenby have been holders for the last three years.

With our captain Tim and vice-captain Phil being indisposed due to a wedding (congratulations Sian... Oops, sorry, only joking, it wasn't them, but watch this space), five-and-a-half pairs headed to Ash. Some went directly to the course, whereas others had to use Sally the Sat Nav to guide them, having been thrown eight miles off track due to an enthralling conversation about the number eight (isn't that right, Mackie).

Anyway back to the golf. The first pairing out was that of Gavin Field-Thomas and Richie Prout. Richie wanted to be away early for his wife's birthday, but didn't expect being home so early after facing Ash's strongest pair and losing 6 and 5 (no points for us, but Brownie points for him I suspect).

A similar losing score was recorded by the pairing of Pete Turton and John Hunt, both of whom suffered due to the blustery conditions and thick rough.

Steady golf by Mackie Harts and Steve Watkins, with Mackie putting anything inside eight feet, saw them come in with a 5 and 4 win.

The same result was recorded by Mick Gillet and Tony Morris, with Tony winning three holes by putting from off the green (Brian Diment to note).

That left two games out on the course, with Tenby needing just a halved match to retain the Snuff Box.

It was not to be, Mark Edwards and Robin 'Joker' Bradbury losing on the 17th and with Paul Davies, again playing by himself, against a strong pair, also losing, it meant that Ash won the points and the Suff Box, which was presented by stand-in captain Mackie Eight Harts.

Our next match is a must-win against Garnant, so please be available and let Tim know that you can play as the honeymoon is now over...!

Seniors' first cancelled event of 2012

Tenby was to be the host of the prestigious Pembrokeshire Seniors Open Invitational on Tuesday, July 3. Sadly a combination of climate change, global warming, the Jet Stream, the Conservative Government, my granny's aching bunions - and the fact that the weather was abysmal - conspired to cause the event to be cancelled.

Look on the bright side, we didn't have to listen to Cliff Richard singing and we could watch Wimbledon - where lots of Britons were NOT playing either.

We could also look forward to getting out on the course two days later to play Newport Links Seniors.

SENIORS v NEWPORT

Tenby Seniors' second cancelled event of 2012!

M.F.

Jumping Jack!

Miserable early weather conditions meant that only 14 cards were taken out for the Mid-Week Stableford on Wednesday of last week.

It was a good day for Jack Guerreiro, though, as he was jumping for joy after featuring prominently in the money stakes afterwards.

Not only did he take top prize for winning the event, he also holed out for a two on the 17th and claimed a share of the bag draw as well.

Oh, and he earned himself a handicap cut for his 39 pts and will now be playing off three instead of four!

Leading scores and prize winners were as follows:

1. Jack Guerreiro 39 pts (£16); 2. Austin Davies 38, on countback (£12); 3. Jeremy Morris 38 (£4); 4. John Gilman 36 (£1.50).

Twos: John Gilman, Jack Guerreiro (£7 each).

Bag draw: Matt Goldwait, Jack Guerreiro (£7 each).

Changes to handicap: Matt Goldwait 8 to 9; Jack Guerreiro 4 to 3.