As the summer progresses, more and more matches reach their deadlines and people are away at Open Days. Regardless, the ever-popular Friendly Foursomes was enjoyed by all contestants for their penultimate game of the season, played in perfect golf conditions on Friday.

The first four-ball comprised Laura McQueen and Mervyn Tucker, playing with Maura Rimell and David Morgan. They were followed out by lady captain, Liz Storey and Chris Davies with Barbara Williams and Richard Reed.

Clear winners were Laura and Mervyn with 29 points; with runners-up Liz and Chris five points behind, the other couples all returning respectable scores.

Laura and Mervyn cleaned up the evening's prize money by winning the bag draw too.

After the match, all contestants met in the clubhouse for drinks, match analysis (funny stories) and a pleasant meal provided by David and Matt; a very sociable event, as always.

The Morgan Tucker is now fully booked, but if there is another four who want to book, they need to ask in the Pro Shop if it is possible to push the juniors back a tee time.

The Tenby Mixed Open is being run by the House Committee to raise funds to do work on the clubhouse and is on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26. Great prizes, but booking for that is via David Blackmore or Bob Parsons; payment has to be made in the Main Office to Marilyn.

The captain's new mixed trophy to celebrate 125 years is on Sunday, September 1, and booking for that will be on the computer. We hope to have a good turnout for this, which we are hoping to make an annual event.

Finally, the last Friendly Fours will be on Friday, September 13, and a list for this will go on the back board soon, so watch out for it.

Monthly Medal

and Digger Cup

Ninety-six players entered the Gents August Monthly Medal on Saturday.

Leading scores and prize winners were as follows:

Division One - 1. Terry Davies 78-13-65 (medal plus £49); 2. Steve Sutcliffe 73-7-66 (£36.50); 3. Darren Thomas 77-10-67, on countback (£23.50); 4. Lewis Hurlow 77-10-67 (£13); 5. Christopher Hill 73-4-69, on countback (£8).

Division Two - 1. Owen James 92-23-69 (medal plus £49); 2. Richard Reed 87-17-70, on countback (£36.50); 3. Robert Slyne 89-19-70, on countback (£23.50); 4. David Skyrme 89-19-70 (£13); 5. Philip Goodridge 87-16-71, on countback (£8).

Twos: David Cope, Matt Goldwait, Christopher Hill, Dave Morris, John Morris, John Whitcutt (2), Neil R. Thomas, Steve Sutcliffe, Jon Bolter, Brian Cramb, Simon Evans, David Henry (£7.46 each).

Bag draw: Mike Argent, Mike Brew, Chris Hill, Terry Davies, Richard Morton, Darren Thomas (£15.33 each).

Pro draw: Phil Rees, Michael Smiddy (dozen Pro V1 balls each).

Handicap changes: Wayne Cook 16 to 17; Andrew Cope 8 to 7; Leslie Crascall 13 to 14; Richard Davies 12 to 11; Terry Davies 13 to 11; Tim Edwards 13 to 12; Simon Evans 16 to 17; Philip Goodridge 16 to 15; Lewis Hurlow 10 to 9; Owen James 23 to 22; Vivian John 8 to 9; Gary McNeilly 10 to 9; Dave Morris 3 to 2; Richard Reed 17 to 16; David Skyrme 19 to 18; Steve Sutcliffe 7 to 5; Dai Thomas 24 to 23; Darren Thomas 10 to 9; Newman Vincent 19 to 20; Michael Williams 19 to 18.

DIGGER CUP

The monthly medal was also played as round two of the Digger Cup, with the best two rounds by each player to count towards their total (including scores from the July medal).

Winner with a total of 136 was Darren Thomas, with best scores of 67 and 69, three shots better than Terry Davies in second place with 139 (65 and 74). The consistent Tim Edwards was a shot further back on 140 (70 and 70).

If only...

In the foyer of the golf club there is an ancient photograph of a greenkeeper circa 1888. Dressed in ragged clothes, quite ugly and clutching a pitchfork, he depicts a telling picture of the way things used to be. Last year, Chris Jenkins, along with Scotty, Stuart and Michael, featured in a light-hearted article entitled 'I'd like to thank the Greenkeepers', and while we were compiling the script, Chris pointed out that he was promoted to head greenkeeper in 1988 - one hundred years after the old geezer posed for the 'photo.

Full of enthusiasm, we decided that Chris should pose for a centenary photograph, dressed in his uniform and surrounded by the latest mechanical equipment and technical aids - sort of a before and after sequence. Well, good intentions often fail to reach fruition, and for one reason and another we never did get the photograph taken and hung alongside the old geezer. If only we had...

Fortunately we don't need a photograph to remind us of Chris. Every path we tread, every fairway we aim for, every green we try to read - they all have Chris Jenkins stamped indelibly on them.

The tragedy of Chris's death is very raw and recent, I'm sure that we all find it difficult to imagine the club and the course without him. I - like many, many more - was proud to count him as a friend, and I shall miss him.

M.F.

Hole to be renamed after greenkeeper Chris

Chris Jenkins's long association with Tenby GC spanned six separate decades, having started work at the club in the late 1960s as assistant golf professional, before moving onto the greenstaff.

He was a dedicated and loyal member of the staff whose knowledge of the links course was unsurpassed. He had been in charge of the maintenance of the course for many years and he knew every blade of grass and protected species of plant that lived in the hidden undergrowth of Tenby golf course.

He was dedicated and committed to his trade, with an enthusiasm and cheerful demeanour that never waned. Chris took great pride in the knowledge that his endeavours made Tenby one of the best courses in Wales, with added recognition as being one of the best courses in the world.

Chris will be sadly missed by everyone at the club, but his spirit will live on in the superb links course he fashioned and shaped over the last 40 years.

Chris loved the new ninth hole, 'Monk's Way', in particular, and following the suggestion from his colleagues -Scott, Stuart and Michael - the committee have agreed that the hole will be renamed in his honour.

The members and staff of Tenby Golf Club would like to offer their sincere condolences to all of Chris's family at this sad time.

Thank you, Chris, rest in peace.

Good day for Meurig

In-form Meurig Jones has had his handicap slashed again after winning the Gents Mid-Week Medal last week.

Playing off the yellow boxes, Meurig claimed top honours after returning an impressive score of 66 - three shots clear of his nearest rival.

It meant his handicap was immediately reduced from 22 to 20, his second two-shot cut in as many weeks.

And what's more, to round off a good day, he also claimed a share of the bag draw, along with his playing partner Bart Youll!

Fourteen players entered the competition and leading scores and prize winners were as follows: 1. Meurig Jones 88-22-66 (medal plus £18); 2. Robert Willcox 78-9-69 (£10.50); 3. Michael Fox 97-27-70 (£6); 4. Chris Thompson 73-2-71 (£3).

Twos: Martin Neilan (2), Robert Willcox, Mike Brew, Chris Thompson (£2.60 each) and Bill Davies, who did not enter the twos pot.

Bag draw: B. Youll and M. Jones (£6 each).

Pro Shop draw: Chris Thompson (£10).

Handicap changes:Piers Bradbury 18 to 19; Mike Brew 18 to 19; Meurig Jones 22 to 20; Robert Willcox 9 to 8.

Saturday Swingers

Members are reminded of the following:

Subscriptions: These remain at £40 for 2013/2014 and are now overdue.

KO Cup: This year the pool stages will commence in September and not October as in 2012. The draw for the pools will take place on Saturday, August 31. Members who have not first paid their subscriptions will be excluded from the draw.

Tour 2013, September 7 and 8: A few tourists have still not paid in full and need to do so quickly.