May 2, and the Seniors from Machynys - well 18 of them anyway - travelled to the Tenby links for the return match. You will recall that the Machynys chaps were held to a draw at home on April 19 - so this could be construed as a ‘needle’ match.

Just for a change I was selected to play - and - having read the manual, I can almost guarantee that my computer will never again gobble up any photographs that I may snap! Just to cement this boast, please admire the attached photograph, which shows the opening fourball of Machynys captain Colin Hogg and his partner Neil McDermott, posing on the first tee with Tenby captain Dudley Williams and his partner Chris Beecher - a happy band!

Tuesday was an absolutely splendid day for golf, blue skies, sunshine, trifling breezes and not a sign of rain, sweaters were soon discarded and several square metres of winter pale skin was exposed to the sun - I do hope that some sun-lotion was applied, or crimson flesh will be the result!

I can report that the nine games proceeded well - all was camaraderie and good humour, a really enjoyable match - and 36 happy golfers took the mood with them back into the clubhouse when play was finished. After a spruce up and a swift sherbet, everybody enjoyed a splendid curry, followed by spotted dick! Lee’s Asian cooking was on top form and the two Emmas flitted delightfully around the tables ensuring that everybody was well served.

Then for the serious stuff! – This week it was decided to institute a 2s competition in addition to the charity raffle, offering both teams the opportunity to recoup some cash by skill rather than pure luck. The result of the raffle was a win for our Machynys guests by a margin of three prizes to one - Boo! - But the only two of the day was scored by Tenby’s Allen Watts on the 12th hole - Hurrah!

As for the match; Tenby Seniors keep their Purple Patch Proceeding by winning six games and halving one - deep joy!

Thursday, May 11, will see Tenby invading the South Pembs course, buoyed up with confidence and high hopes - watch this space!

M.F.

Enjoyable Open Evening

On Wednesday, April 26, Tenby GC held an Open Evening for adults and children.

Potential new and returning members took part in several activities and fun competitions involving the driving range, the par three/academy course and the putting green etc..

All the juniors who took part received a Tenby GC memento. However, the main prize was awarded to Sam Hughes, mainly for his putting skills.

New and returning members are always welcome at Tenby GC. There are currently several different types of membership available including four-month ‘tasters’.

Anyone interested in taking up or returning to golf should contact the secretary/manager, Dave Hancock, on 01834-842978.

Absolutely unstoppable!

Another ‘absentee’ golf report, dear reader, because when the Tenby Seniors team was chosen to welcome the team from Cardigan on Tuesday April 25, the selector’s fickle finger failed to find Fox! - I won’t complain! I’m not hurt or disappointed! I won’t go on about it! However, this report is based on the notes that captain Dudley passed to me, since I wasn’t actually there - did I mention that?

There were seven pairs in each team - apparently! - and the Cardigan boys were coming off an unbroken string of wins - they had even beaten Newport Links, the only team to pip Tenby so far this year.

Tenby and Cardigan are old adversaries and I’m sure that many old acquaintances were renewed before the first fourball teed-off at 10.45. The weather was sunny and bright, but with a distinct chill in the air, exaggerated by a fairly stiff breeze; I know this because I was mowing the lawn at the time!

Now it doesn’t do to gloat about or ‘big up’ the Seniors’ successes, but you will recall that last week I detailed the result of each individual match before revealing the final outcome - I like to think that this added to the suspense, since the competition was halved in quite a dramatic manner.

This week the drama remains - even if the suspense is lacking! Simply put, seven matches - seven wins for Tenby - Hurrah! Where is the bucket of whitewash? I wish I’d been there….

The Cardigan team did manage to save a little face, winning the raffle battle by three to one (so I saved £2 there!) The post match meal (to which I was NOT invited!) was apparently an extremely pleasant chicken and mushroom pie, with all the trimmings, followed by an apple crumble with cream or ice cream – or ‘both for the gannets’ as Emma humorously remarked (I’m told!). (I had beef stroganoff and summer pudding with a pleasant little claret!)

So there we have it; a fine success for the Tenby Seniors, doubtless causing captain Dudley’s grin to become even broader! Best of all, my lawn is really neat!

M.F.

Tenby defeat Garnant Park

Tenby GC’s early season form continued last Saturday when the visitors were Garnant Park. Garnant pipped Tenby to second place in Division Two last season.

The 7.5 games to 1.5 result indicates a convincing victory for the home team. However, many of the games were close and, on another day, the outcome may have been different.

First out for Tenby were Luke Harries, who won the prestigious Trubshaw Cup last weekend, and Lewis Hurlow. They beat Stuart Dunn and Rob James by two and one. Richard Morton and Loz Phillips halved a tight game against Martin Lewis and Colin Phillips.

Ben Childs and Spencer Harries both played well to beat Paul Murray and his son James by two and one. The third Harries, Jack, and Martin Morris triumphed by three and one against Jacob Liles and Ian Griffiths.

Chris Thompson and Terry Davies also finished three and one when beating Gareth Davies and Neil Larkworthy. Paul Jenkins won the 18th hole so that he and his partner, Ian Thomas, beat Garnant’s skipper, Dylan Jones, and Rhys Phillips by just one-up.

Darren Thomas and Dai Cope were down early on, but clawed back to beat Delme Davies and Jay Ramsurrun by the narrowest of margins. Steve Sutcliffe and Jerry Whitehouse were comfortable four and three winners against Wayne Fowler and John Morris.

Unfortunately, Tenby’s two Neils, Thomas and Webb, were the only losers when they went down two and one to John Rogers and Malcolm Phillips.

The Tenby team has now won its first three Dyfed League matches this season. However, all have been at home. They now have a run of five away matches including three consecutive Saturdays, i.e. Garnant on May 20, Haverfordwest on May 27 and Glynhir B on June 3.

The strongest possible sides are obviously required for these fixtures and consequently squad members are urged to put their names down as soon as possible.

However, prior to the next league match, it is likely that Tenby will be playing in the first round of the Jeff Harries Bowl at home to South Pembs GC on Sunday, May 14.

LADIES’ SECTION

Thursday, April 20, saw the annual Captain v Vice-Captain 4BBB match-play competition. There were some quite interesting pairings and it was difficult to predict how the results would go.

This fixture is always played in good spirit and this year was no exception, plus it also raised money forcaptain Linda Thomas’s charity.

The weather on the day was something of a mixed bag - starting off cold, then warming up, then trying to rain towards the end. The end result was a win for the captain’s team - but only just! All the ladies were rewarded with the customary Easter egg, which were well received.

Saturday, April 22, saw 20 ladies play for some silverware - the Spring Cup. Half of them managed scores in the 30s, with Fair Ball the only one to score a two, which was on the sixth. In third place, missing out on countback, was the vice to the vice, Bev Owen, on 35 points, with runner-up, the vice-vaptain, Pam Cole, but just pipping them to claim the cup was Carol Beecher on 36 points. Well done Carol!

On Monday, April 24, 14 ladies packed up their bits and pieces - plus their clubs - and headed to Bryn Meadows for a two-night getaway. The weather was a bit chilly, especially on Tuesday when the final group got caught in a ‘hail blizzard’ - as described by Julie Tordoff, watching from the warmth of the clubhouse. Approaching the 18th green a new game was commenced - find the balls amongst the hailstones!

Listening to various people talking about their games, there seemed to be a bit of a theme going on - which was ping pong amongst the trees! A few ‘f’ words were used to describe the various outcomes of these shots - frustrating, fuming and funny - many on the same hole, like the sixth! A good time was had by all.

At our last evening meal, thanks were given to Linda Tordoff-Evans for arranging the trip and to our lady captain Linda Thomas who provided all the prizes for the winners over the two days. I wonder where we’ll end up next year?

Also on the 24th, the Society of Pembrokeshire Ladies Captains held a Greensomes Medal competition at Newport Sands. There is a draw for partners and two of our past captains found themselves on the leaderboard, with Heather Morgan and her partner Anita Thomas from Haverfordwest coming third, with Anne Wilks playing with Anne Williams from South Pembs winning the Salver with a nett 75. Good on you, girls!

Thursday, April 27, saw the Coronation Fours Stableford Qualifier - a foursomes comp. It was a lovely day to play golf, with no real wind to contend with. It’s a format where both players have to be quite steady.

The top three pairs were Helen Hughes and Carol Beecher on 30 points, Heather Morgan and Irene Gilman on 31, with the winners being Angela Gottwaltz and Louise Hill on 33. Nice to see some new faces coming through and they will represent Tenby in the Regional Final at Cradoc in August. Good luck and enjoy.

Nine ladies decided to go abroad over the sea to Southern Ireland on April 28. The forecast wasn’t looking all that favourable, but that wasn’t going to deter the girls!

The first visit was to our twinned course of Rosslare where the Rosslare Ladies combined with the Tenby girls in a four-player Texas Scramble. The forecast was correct, with gale force winds helping on the front half of the course, but the back nine was something else! Carol Beecher and Sue Shooter were in the winning team.

The hospitality was second to none and the Tenby Ladies provided marker chips to their hosts in appreciation.

The next course played was Wexford, which was a beautiful course, but sadly the whole 18 holes were played in blustery conditions, with heavy downpours. Trees and lakes were the handicaps for the day, but Fair Ball scored the most to win the stableford competition.

Despite the weather, the ladies enjoyed their trip!

P.C.

Golf course sessions for juniors

Junior golf sessions on the golf course started on Wednesday evening.

If you know of any children who may be interested, please bring them along.

The sessions, starting at 4.30 pm, are not lessons, but are aimed at children who have had some coaching and want to start going out on the course. They play from tees typically 100-130 yards from the greens for three to four holes, and the aim is to get them back in the clubhouse by 6 pm.

All the sessions are run by DBS checked club members who will accompany and supervise the children on the course; therefore parents/grandparents do not need to go out on the course with them.

There is also an opportunity for more experienced junior golfers who have an official handicap to play some nine-hole competitions (unsupervised) as well.

For more details contact club secretary/manager Dave Hancock or Tom or Rhys in the Pro Shop.