It only rained for 10 minutes or so on Friday morning - the wind was moving the clouds from west to east far too quickly for them to open up on us!

'Us' refers to the eight brave Chicken Trotters who ventured out onto the soggy, soaked, saturated and shortened course to compete in the 12th trot of the season, 14 holes of cut, thrust - and occasionally - splash! In this society the paucity of the prize money ensures that competitors play for pride rather than pounds, and on the subject of prize money, this is how the riches were apportioned:

In third place with a barely satisfactory 20 points, Mel Hicks took home 30p and lost two shots from his generous trotter handicap, while 22 points was enough to secure second place and 50p for Brian Waters, who will barely miss the three strokes he loses. The winner's podium, however, was reserved for John Hancock, who having played off a teeny weeny win-induced handicap for the previous three trots, last week reverted to a massive 10 handicap and swept the board with 25 superb points! Guess what? - Back to six shots next time John, hope the 70p made it all worthwhile!

Who could be heard sobbing quietly in the corner while marking the cards? - This week's winner of the ruined round trophy; Steve Cole, who was comforted by a consolation prize of 30p and two strokes added to his skinny handicap. There were no 2s this week... and not too many 3s come to think of it!

And finally, while work can be seen carrying on apace around the covered driving range, the golf academy building and the new dormie houses - not too many people were aware of the controversial plan to construct a totally new golf hole. Only now I am able to reveal that Tenby Golf Club is carrying out secret tests on an island hole that will rival its famous twin on the USA Sawgrass course. The photograph shows preliminary work on the site of the old 18th hole - you read it here first folks!

M.F.

Seniors' last chance hotel

That's it! The seniors' long running, winter season Stableford eclectic competition for 2013/ 2014 is over, finis, fertig and finito.

Tuesday, February 25, was the last chance to register an improved score. Twenty-six hopefuls set out in sunny conditions - but also in a howling gale. Drives went nowhere against the force six wind, and were often difficult to stop when the wind was behind. All in all very trying conditions - which proceeded to deteriorate towards the end of the tournament when horizontal rain and a drop in temperature added to the sheer bliss of golf in Wales in February.

Game lads though these seniors, they all soldiered on for 17 holes - except for Bob Creese, Ron Murphy and Newman Vincent - who shall remain nameless!

Back in the warmth of the clubhouse we were greeted by our captain Allen Watts, who is prevented from competing for a while by a painful hip problem. All the seniors are sympathetic, they are also 'making hay while the sun shines' because Allen tends to dominate the results tables when he is fully fit.

Aided by our fixtures secretary, Jim Martin, Allen was soon able to announce the following results: In third place with 29 blustery points; John Hall. A wind assisted 32 points was enough to secure second place for John Hayhoe, but the clear winner with 35 excellent points was 'Hurricane' Brian Diment. Brian is currently experiencing a Purple Patch, winning every competition that he enters, but he is a generous bloke and he donated his winnings to the charity raffle pot.

Three more players deserve a mention, in decreasing order of skill they are; John Charnock, who scored the only two of the week, Jim Martin, who lost two balls, but found seven! And finally, Chris Sierwald, who won last week's charity raffle with number 33 and wasn't here to collect his winnings.

Next week, Tuesday October 3, will feature a 14-hole 'hidden partner' competition, followed by lunch - and the really exciting prize-giving! Those players who have performed well in the various categories can look forward to being rewarded with sleeves of those unique golf balls, with the consistency of Victorian concrete, that only our cost-conscious treasure Tony Morgan can manage to purchase for £2.50ish a dozen! - Perhaps I am exaggerating just a wee tad!

After that, it's straight into a summer series of cut and thrust, argie and bargie - but all in good spirit - against seniors and veterans from golf clubs in the surrounding counties. Let battle commence!

M.F.

Pro Shop Stableford

With several parts of the course still under water, it was decided to postpone last Saturday's Monthly Medal and hold a Pro Shop Stableford competition instead.

Played over a shortened course of 14 holes (with some of those shorter than usual!), a total of 67 players took part in difficult windy conditions, with leading scores and prize winners being as follows:

1. Brian Diment 31 pts (£45); 2. David Henry 30 (£35); 3. Mervyn Tucker 29 (£25); 4. Chris Hughes 28, on countback (£15); 5. Brian J,. Jones 28 (£10); 6. John Gillespie 27, on countback (£5).

Twos: Brian Cramb, Mervyn Tucker - on the par four 13th - and David Henry (£22 each).

Bag draw: J. Bolter, G. Brace, J. Haley, M. Tucker, A. Cope (£13 each).

Pro Shop draw: B. Frayne Asbro suit carrier).

Tenby win last putt thriller

On Sunday 23, two old rivals came together to play in the Sunday Mail Classic golf competition at the Tenby Links course down on the Burrows. The weather conditions were severe, to say the least, and a strong westerly wind was to play a major role in this close encounter.

Despite the wind and the light rain, the quality of golf produced was of the highest order, but anyone who did miss-hit his shot could only stand and watch the wind take it into parts of the old course that had never been played on before.

The five pairs of golfers set out into the strong wind, with both sides showing a steely determination to master the elements on a course that was remarkably dry and firm in most places considering the atrocious rain that had fallen over the previous weeks.

The first pair of David Morris, the Tenby club champion, and Gavin Scotcher, Trefloyne's consistently successful team player, had a tremendous finalé, with the victory going to David Morris by 3 and 2.

This set the Tenby team in a strong position, with the Trefloyne talisman defeated, but the next two results saw Tenby's Jim Moffatt lose by one hole and Roger Schooling also going down by 3 and 2, putting Trefloyne on to the front foot.

Next to arrive back into the clubhouse was Chris Beecher, of Tenby, who had defeated his playing partner by 7 and 6, which levelled up the team score to two matches each.

The final two out on the course were to be the deciding factor of this tightly fought match and they were all-square going down the final fairway. The result was hanging in the balance, with Nic Rogers, of Tenby, firing in a second shot to within 10 feet of the pin, while his playing partner had left his shot short of the green. A successful putt by Nic saw the victory go to the home side and they march on into the next round of the competition.

Congratulations to all who played in such tough conditions.

Support was provided on the day by the non-playing team captain, Idwal David, and the club captain, Tony Key, who endured the conditions to cheer on the successful Tenby team.

We are home to Milford Haven in the next round.

Ladies' Section

Some 20 years ago, one of the ladies always played golf in the rain wearing wellingtons with spikes. With the course in its present state, no doubt those boots would be at a premium, particularly as it seems it will be some time before the water table drops perceptibly.

The 'lakes' were not too extensive until the end of January, so the various GUW Medal rounds were able to be played - Heather Morgan won the Saturday Medal on nett 76, while Denise Edwards beat Sue Griffiths on the last nine for the other January Medal on nett 78. Dinah Reed won the nine-hole Stableford.

The following week, a 14-hole best of three Stableford was won by Anna Hubbard, Irene Gilman and Maura Rimell with 56 points. Anne Wilks, Annette Flower and Rita Collins were second with 53 points.

As the end of the month came, Pam Cole and Helen Hughes won a Chapman Foursomes on 36 points, from Rhian Walters and Vicky Burks on 35.

By the beginning of February, the number of playable holes gradually decreased until the first and second weeks when the course was closed for the Thursday competitions. On February 20, 13 holes were playable, including a short 18th played over the lake. The Greensome Foursomes was won by Denise Edwards and Heather Morgan with 30 points from Rhian Walters and Vicky Burks on 27.

B.S.