Tenby club captain, Neil Thomas, held a Charity Golf Day on Friday, May 19, to raise money for his nominated charity, Cure Leukaemia.

One hundred golfers played on what turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. Competitors travelled from far and wide, with two teams travelling from Nottingham and Wolverhampton.

The course was presented in excellent condition by Scott and his green-keeping team and Lee, Emma and the catering team kept everyone fed and watered throughout the day.

A fantastic sum of £3,600 was raised on the day for this very worthwhile charity.

First three places in the competition, which had to be decided on a back nine countback, were as follows:

1.Andrew Cope Property Services (Andrew Cope, Nick Cope, Richard Cope, Steve Maytum) 83 pts.

2. CEF Ltd (James Brown, Adam Thomas Adam Thorne, Nick Garrod) 83 pts.

3. The Forge Restaurant (Chris Hill, Brian Cramb, John Gottwaltz, John Whitcutt) 83 pts.

Nearest the pin on the sixth hole - David Cope; longest drive on the 14th - Tim Poole.

Whitewash at Milford

On Thursday evening last week, Tenby GC travelled to Milford Haven GC for a quarter-final tie in the Jeff Harries Bowl, the Dyfed Golfing Union’s team knockout competition.

There was a glaring age difference between the two sides. Milford’s team contained four schoolboys and another three who are students at Pembrokeshire College whereas only four of Tenby’s 14 were under 50-years-old.

Youth prevailed on the day and the visitors were dumped out of the cup by seven games to nil.

First out for Tenby were Jack Harries and Neil Thomas, who were all-square with Shaun Dyson and John Roberts after 18 holes, but then lost the 19th to an eagle.

A dog licence nowadays costs £12.50. However, in pre-decimalisation days it was 7s 6d and this was the score by which debutant Mikey Harries and Loz Phillips were hammered by Leigh Evans and Nathan Day.

Graham More and Gary McNeilly were in contention early on, but lost three holes around the turn to Nathan’s brother Niall and Tom Wood. They eventually fell on the last green.

Steve Sutcliffe and Paul Hoyland were four down at the turn against Josh Lewis and Ben Fawcett. However, they then won four holes on the trot, but also eventually succumbed on the 18th green.

Darren Thomas and Martin Morris were well in contention against Josh’s brother Jake and Jay Power, but faded to lose three and two.

Ian Thomas and Terry Davies held their own on the front nine, but Scott Griffiths and Barry Harding then ran away with the game, winning five and three.

Dai Cope and Chris Beecher were always behind against Tim Phillips and Keith Walters, who were victorious by five and four.

A great opportunity missed

For their third consecutive Dyfed League away match, Tenby GC travelled to Glynhir GC last Saturday to face the home club’s B team.

The picturesque rolling parkland course was generally in an excellent overall condition to include the greens which, in the past, have often been rather slow.

The visitors got off to a flying start. Dave Morris and Darren Thomas dovetailed well to hammer Gethin Harries and Mel Leach by six and five. Ben Childs and Neil Thomas also had a handsome four and two win over Andy Lewis and Graham Dunnell. Chris Thompson and Martin Morris then beat Richard Evans and Shane Conway by two and one. Thus, Tenby won the first three games.

However, Andrew Cope and Gary McNeilly lost four and three to Glynhir’s skipper Ray Davies and Dai Harry. Similarly, Lewis Hurlow and John Stenson were well beaten by Robbie Roberts and Gordon Elliot, losing five and four.

A gritty one up victory by Jeff Banfield and Jerry Whitehouse over Martin Toms and Richard Thomas then made it four games to two in Tenby’s favour. Consequently, the visitors needed just one win out of the remaining three games to claim a very rare and valuable away win.

Unfortunately, this did not materialise. Although they fought back after being five down at the turn, Loz Phillips and Rob Willcox eventually succumbed by two and one to Tim Hendra and Grant Thomason. Chris Beecher and Dai Cope were annihilated six and five by Mark Williams and Emrys Wilcox.

In the final game, Richard Ormond and Steve Maytum faced Steve Price and up-and-coming Shaun Davies, who beat them three and two.

The narrow defeat was very disappointing for the Tenby side. The result may have been different if a few more their single figure handicappers had been available.

Tenby now have a three-week break in their Dyfed League fixtures, during which they will hopefully have time to consolidate. Their next match is at the Jack Nicklaus designed Machynys course, near Llanelli, on Sunday, June 25.

Gents Mid-Week Stableford

Twenty-five players entered the Gents Mid-Week Stableford last week.

Played off the white boxes, leading scores and prize winners were as follows:

1. Nick Allen 40 pts (£34); 2. Paul Hoyland 38, on countback (£20), 3. Charles Dredge 38 (£11.50); 4. Chris Thompson 37, on countback (£5.50).

Bag draw: John Gillespie, Vernon Lawrence (£12.50 each).

Pro Shop draw: Dave Blackmore, Barrie Frayne (£12.50 each).

Additional bag draw as no twos: Jeff Banfield, Chris Smith, Tim Poole, Stephen Williams (£6.25 each).

Handicap changes: Nick Allen 14 to 13; Keith Dolman 27 to 28; Charles Dredge 13 to 12; Ian J. Thomas 10 to 11.

Halfway through the season - to be chuffed we have good reason

I know, I know! - but I wanted a rhyming title!

I would draw your attention to this week’s photograph – Stan Hudson, assiduously carrying out his recurring weekly task of collecting, accounting for, spending and safeguarding the Seniors’ money. It was great to have Stan back on Tuesday, May 30, recently returned from three weeks holiday in a five-star hotel in the Maldives.

Stan said the First Class cabin on the outward and return flights was extremely comfortable and the service was superb. Commenting on the drive back from Gatwick in the stretched Jaguar Limo, Stan congratulated the chauffer, who made excellent time while ensuring that his passengers were secure and relaxed.

Yes indeed - it really is good to have our treasurer back! He played well in the match, the brand new Callaway clubs obviously suited his style - welcome back Stan! (Memo to self - when was last audit?)

Tuesday saw the Seniors from Newport Links arriving to play the inter-club return match. You will recall that when we last met, at Newport on April 13, Tenby were relegated to second place! Thus revenge was being sought as nine fourball better-ball Stableford matches got underway.

The conditions were somewhat less than ideal at the outset, dull and cloudy with a strong breeze from the south-west. After a couple of holes, it deteriorated to duller, cloudier and a fine drizzle (mizzle!?) commenced. Undeterred, the contestants battled on - and the weather gradually improved.

Both teams commented on the improved course conditions - the greens are returning to their old excellence and everybody likes a bit of roll! Visitors to Open Week only see the course for one week out of 52, expectations are high, and generally they are oblivious to the trials and tribulations of the winter months - we shall see how the links are received...

After the 36 senior gentlemen had partaken of a very tasty match meal, a great team effort by Lee, Emma 1 and Emma 2, the charity raffle draw was made - this event is becoming more and more competitive, sadly, because this week the division of prize winning tickets was Newport six, Tenby one.

As of next week, we shall be trialling a ‘raffle handicap’ system, which basically involves putting only a percentage of visiting teams tickets into the hat - just keep this quiet!

The real result, announced by captain Dudley and Newport’s captain Alan Jeffrey, was Tenby 4.5, Newport 4.5 - a fitting result after a closely contested match.

M.F.