New Year’s greetings from the senior section of Tenby Golf Cub. At least 20 of the seniors section turned up on Tuesday morning ready for the first challenge of 2018. Well, they, at least, wished each other a happy New Year as they supped their hot coffee and gazed wistfully out of the window. The rain was still drifting in from the west and the wind was picking up. Jim’s Android didn’t forecast an easing of the rain until around 10 am.

That was too much for the majority and the group slowly dispersed and made their way home to dream about what might have been. They, at least, had made the effort. There was a further dozen or so who had not even bothered to get out of bed. This wise group had heard the heavy raindrops and decided to leave the foolhardy to their own devices. But were they foolhardy?

A small group of six agreed that they wanted to blow away the Christmas cobwebs and at least try a few holes. Leading them out were the trio of Bob House, Robin Hagley and Alan Jones and before they had completed two holes the weather began to lighten.

By the time the second trio of David Rees, John Alan Barber and Des Stone had reached the third green there were signs of blue sky between the scudding clouds. The sun almost came out and this was enough to reward these foolhardy seniors for attempting the course following a rainy night.

It certainly encouraged Alan Barber who birdied three holes and almost made it four with a narrow miss on the 17th. David Rees drove well all day, but failed to capitalise on some good fairway positions - enough said.

The other pair to make an appearance was that of Richard Davies and Brian Morgan. Having ventured out on the first six holes, they decided to muscle in and steal the space behind Bob’s group and in front of Dave’s group. An amicable agreement was reached after some well chosen banter.

As the last group came in, the only group to complete the course, so the rain began to close in again. This heralded the arrival of one of the early stay-in-beds, Brian Jones. He was too late to play the course, so he opted for a much-needed lesson instead.

Once again the day favoured the optimists - long may it continue. The 2018 season has started.