There was a general buzz in the clubhouse at Tenby Golf Club and it was like that all day as individuals and groups re-acquainted themselves with old friends over a coffee or a snack as they prepared for the ultimate challenge.

They came from all around to pit their skills against the Tenby Course. They came from Llandrindod Wells, Pontardawe, Mond Valley and Morlais Castle. Cars arrived from Carmarthen, Newport, Milford, Cardigan and further afield from Neath, Broome Manor and Coed y Mwster. One player hailed from Prudoe in Northumberland, but he was already on his annual family holiday in Tenby.

Many of the players make the annual pilgrimage and others were sampling the course for the first time. All were lavish in their praise for the challenge presented and all vowed to return next year to improve on their result. Including local members there were over 150 golfers ready to meet the challenge.

Organiser Roy Morgan was praying that the warm dry spell would continue and he was rewarded with a dry day to maintain the parched challenging fairways. The morning started cool and humid with some dark cloud cover and improved as the day progressed to become warm, sunny and humid, but with a welcome breeze.

Help on the day was provided by Stan Hudson, Derek Bath, Brian Diment and Brian Waters in the office, while Ray Ford, Brian Morgan, John Hayhoe and Richard Davies kept a wary eye on golfers tee-ing off on the first. In his inimitable style, Jeff Aston ensured discipline and control on the first tee.

It was obvious from the start that there would be some high scores and some of these came in the early part of the day with many in the high 30s. At the other end of the scale, there were a number of seniors who failed to make 20, but who, nevertheless, vowed to put that right next year.

There was the usual large contingent from Pontardawe who held their own individual competition in memory of one of their past members.

Twenty prizes were awarded in the two's competition, with Stan Hudson picking up two of them. Nine were scored on the 17th, four on the sixth and five on the 12th. Of the remaining two, Martin Cook of Neath won his on the 13th and Stan on the fifth.

Nearest the pin on the sixth was won by Clyne member, Bernard King, while Martin Lloyd, also from Clyne, was nearest the line on the 14th. In fact he was on the line over 300 yards from the tee.

Results for the day were:

under 70s

Members: 1. Jim Moffatt 42 pts; 2. Martin Neilan 42 pts; 3. Stan Hudson 37 pts; 4. Paul Bradley 37 pts.

Visitors: 1. Mike D'Angeli (Mond) 42 pts; 2. David O'Connor (Mond) 41 pts; 3. Martin Himsworth (Haverfordwest) 41 pts; 4. Martin Cook (Neath) 41 pts.

70-plus

Members: 1. Peter Williams 39 pts; 2. John Hancock 39 pts; 3. Richard Davies 38 pts; 4. Ken Gouldsbrough 36 pts.

Visitors: 1. Clive Powell (Neath) 38 pts; 2. Brian Seaman (Clyne) 37 pts; 3. Dave Edmunds (Coed y Mwster) 37 pts; Gerwyn Davies (Carmarthen) 36 pts.

Vice-captain Allen Watts stood in for Tony Morgan, who is currently undergoing treatment, but who graced the afternoon with an appearance to make sure his team were performing to the usual high standards. In his address to the few who remained, he praised the senior group for their support, the ground staff for maintaining a high standard on the course, and the caterers for feeding the five thousand on the day.

The seniors are indebted to the committee for supporting this annual event and are sure that the club will reap the rewards as many of those who attended will return time and again to try and master this links challenge.

Tigers defeated at Glynhir

As the bus left the Burrows on Saturday morning, the enthusiasm of the players was infectious and everyone was aware of the importance of the fixture in respect of the league position of Tenby Golf Club and the implications a poor result would have on the survival of the club in the third division.

The first surprising feature of the Glynhir course was the lush green fairways something that Tenby hasn't seen for many weeks. The weather was warm and calm and the course looked impressively challenging. Both teams were well-matched and all bode well for an exciting day's golf.

The first pair off were Matthew Adams and Gary McNeilly who romped home 5 and 4 winners against very good opponents.

Tenby were one up in the team match away from home and a better start could not have been wished for. From then on, it was all downhill for the Tigers as the next two pairings of Martin Morris and Mervyn Tucker and Chris Hughes and Ian Thomas were heavily defeated.

The fourth pair out on the course, Paul Jenkins and the team captain Tony Key were having a real battle with holes being won or lost to birdie puts, but the Glynhir captain and his partner won the match on the 17th green.

They were followed into the club house by Rob Wilcox and Neil Webb who had suffered the same fete leaving the team result as a win to Glynhir. All that could be hoped for was that the last two pairs would salvage some points which would become vital at the end of the season.

Both pairs, Richard Ormond and Paul James and Loz Phillips and Mike Anthony, fought bravely and both matches went all the way to the 18th green only to be beaten by the final puts of the day.

What started out as a positive approach to the league situation was brought down to earth with a mighty bump emphasised by a six game to one defeat for the team.

Everyone gave of their best and it was agreed at the post match debate that all of the matches were lost on the greens which were difficult to negotiate and the lush grass made them very much slower than Tenby's.

The next match will be at home tomorrow (Saturday) against an excellent Cardigan team which will again be a challenge for the Tigers who must win if they are to remain in the third division of the Dyfed League.