Summer popped in to Tenby last weekend, and how glad we were to be playing the Mathias Thomas Medal Cup on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon. The wind was a bit keen, and could be tricky when playing into it, but as always, it is someone's day, no matter what the weather!

Nearly 50 people had signed up to play in this famous mixed event. The Mathias Thomas family are part of Tenby Golf Club history, as was related at the presentation by organiser, Heather K. Morgan. The family home was the now Tenby House and both Mathias Thomas Senior and his daughter Joanne represented Wales playing golf in the last century.

A medal round can be cruel in that there is no margin for error, especially for those off the lower handicaps, but only three couples actually gave no returns. Well done to all who completed their rounds.

Four pairs won the bag draw of £3 each; they were Idwal David and Sarah Waring, Chris and Helen Hughes, Paul and Ros Jenkins, and Mervyn Tucker and Heather K. Morgan. Thanks to the club captain, Chris Beecher, for drawing the winners.

There were three twos, each winning a sleeve of balls. They were by John Hancock and Sue Griffiths on the sixth and the 17th, and Georgina and Richard Ormond on the 17th.

Fourth in the main competition, winning £4.50 each, were Beverly Owen and Tony Morris with a nett 80; third with a nett 75 were Trevayne Keohane and Barrie Frayne winning £8.50 each; second winning £13.50 each were Paul and Roz Jenkins with a nett 74, which looked like being the winning score until the final pair came in.

The winners of the Mathias Thomas Cup for 2013 with a magnificent 71 nett were Chris and Helen Hughes, also winning £18.50 each.

The captain, Chris Beecher, presented the prizes, and the winners thanked the captain and organisers for organising the game. Thanks must also go to Gill John for standing in last minute to make up a four, to Anne Wilks for marking her partner's card even when her partner couldn't make it, to Steve Cole for making sure I didn't mess up the scoring on the computer, and last, but not least, to Mike and chef Dave for looking after our needs in the clubhouse.

The next Friday Friendly Foursomes is on the board, so if you like social golf and a good evening, go down and sign up. It is on June 14 at 4 pm. We play 14 holes, then have supper. We draw for partners on the Wednesday before, so it matters not if you do not have a partner, as we aim to try and find you one.

The Open Mixed is next Sunday and the sheets are in the corridor. But please, if you want to fill a space, don't write your name in. Speak to Bob Parsons or David Morgan and they will put you on the master sheet.

Helpers are still needed for Open Week, so if you are free, 'phone Mel Smith and offer your services.

The next silverware is the Sam Ackerman on June 28. This is played over 18 holes and is a draw for partners. It will go on the computer after Open Week, so be brave and sign up.

H.K.M.

City dwellers visit Tenby

Last Thursday, 10 seniors from St. Davids Golf Club sallied forth to take on Tenby seniors in the 10th fixture of their summer league. The weather played a large part in the match, the wind was of the three-club variety, the sunshine was weak and non-sweltering - but thankfully the rain was absent.

The links were as busy as I have ever seen them, because of another competition and a welcome bunch of visitors. Sadly this volume of players led to fairly slow play as strangers to the course inevitably found the rough, searched in vain for their balls and eventually called the next game through.

You will be aware that the primary law of Sod tells us that on being called through, the shot taken in front of the waiting players will be either a total or partial duff, followed by a verbal expression of disgust. The result, especially for those playing in the later slots, was the prospect of a five-plus hour round.

However, a game of golf is never a bad thing and when all the seniors were gathered in the clubhouse, having consumed a welcome match meal and some medicinal alcohol, the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed.

The two captains conspired to describe the match as a close run, nip and tuck nail-biter with no quarter asked or given - strange then, that the result was Tenby 5 St. Davids 0! The smallest city lads left vowing to get their revenge when we meet them on their own turf in July.

M.F.

Ladies' Section

No need to comment on the Spring weather, it still feels more like winter most of the time. However, the last week in April was better, with the second Hill-Lowe Bogey producing some very good scores. Georgina Ormond +4, Vicky Burks +3 and Ruth Goldwait +2.

April and May always have a number of qualifying competitions and the first in May was for the Coronation Foursomes in which Pam Cole and Pat Fox were the qualifiers on 38 points for the final at the Glamorganshire in July. Nesta Hart and Anne Wilks were runners-up on 35 pts and Marion Clarke and Vicky Burks third on 32.

Back to normal weather on May 9 - the Jubilee 3s were cancelled! The May GUW Medal was combined with the Rhian Pearn qualifier and Anne Wilks played her usual steady game to win on nett 74, with Heather Morgan second on 75. They will be playing at Neath on Tuesday, August 20, and we wish them every success.

The nine-hole Stableford was won by Judy Lewis on nine points.

There was a howling northerly gale on Thursday, May 23, and many entrants abandoned their rounds at the 14th, but some struggled on and Bev Owen finished on +2, with Denise Edwards on +1 and Maura Rimell on -1.

Some 40 years ago the Society of Pembrokeshire Captains was formed and the two meetings in April and September are always most enjoyable. It is great fun to play with friends, old and new, from all over the county and to play competitions where it is good to win, but it is the companionship that is the main focus of the day.

This year the April meeting, a foursomes, was played at Newport Links. The gross prize winners were A. Owen and S. Phillips, with C. Bartlett and C. Roberts second and M. Ferguson and H. Morgan third. In the nett section, L ap Gwyneth and J. Charnock were first, followed by A. Rees and M. Hicks and finally P. Summers and G. Jones. Congratulations to Heather Morgan and Jean Charnock on appearing in the list of winners.

Another enjoyable Spring event is the Senior Ladies' day out at Derllys Court. I suspect much of its popularity is the anticipation of the delicious meal we know Rhian and her mother will produce and as usual it was excellent. The winners were Anne Wilks, Liz Storey, Maura Rimell and Anna Hubbard in that order. Toni Lucas scored the only two. Joan Pugh has been organiser this year, often under difficult circumstances, and we thank her for all her efforts and for the delightful prizes she presented at this her final event. Anna Hubbard has now taken over the running of the weekly competitions and we know she will receive everyone's support throughout the year.

B.M.S.

Mike romps to Nat West Cup success

Seventy-six players entered the Nat West Cup Medal competition on Saturday.

And with the sun shining, some good scores were returned, with three players managing to break nett 70.

Among them was 24-handicapper Mike Smiddy, who had a day to remember, romping home a full five shots clear of the field with his impressive score of gross 88, nett 64.

As well as the cup and a tidy sum of credit in the Pro Shop, though, he also received a three-shot cut in handicap for his morning's efforts!

Leading scores and prize winners were: 1. Michael Smiddy 88-24-64 (Nat West Cup plus £54.50); 2. Simon Sweet 80-11-69, on countback (£43.50); 3. Anthony Key 82-13-69 (£35.50); 4. Ross James 90-20-70, on countback (£25.50); 5. Denis Slyne 87-17-70 (£16.50); 6. Vivian John 80-9-71, on countback (£7.50).

Twos: Paul Jenkins, Roger Schooling, Scott Smith, Robert Willcox, Tim Edwards, Gareth Phillips, Michael Smiddy (£10.80 each).

Bag draw: G. Brown, M. Williams, S. Maytum, O. James, D. Morris (£14.60 each).

Pro Shop draw: L. Hurlow (Titleist double strap carry bag).

Handicap changes: Stephen Cole 16 to 17; Daniel Cope 2 to 3; Ross James 20 to 19; Anthony Key 13 to 12; Martin Neilan 12 to 13; Denis Slyne 17 to 16; Michael Smiddy 24 to 21; Simon Sweet 11 to 10; Neil Webb 13 to 12.

Mid-Week Medal

Only eight players entered the Gents Mid-Week Medal on Wednesday of last week.

Played off the white boxes, leading scores and prize winners were as follows: 1. James Moffatt 81-8-73 (medal plus £9.50); 2. Neil Moffatt 87-13-74 (£6); 3. Joe M. Williams 97-21-76 (£4).

Twos: No twos were recorded (£8 carryover to the next midweek competition).

Bag draw: J. Banfield (£8).

Pro Shop draw: C. Thompson (sleeve of NXT Tour balls).