Thursday, July 28, the height of summer, and 18 Tenby Seniors make their way to Carmarthen Golf Club for the return match with their Seniors - and what did we find? It was precipitating down and there was a distinct low lying mist, oh happy day! There was a distinct lack of enthusiasm exhibited by both teams, no rush to change into golf shoes and get out there, instead the bar was getting a lot of business (coffee and bacon rolls of course!) and the two captains were busy checking out the weather forecast on their androids and trying to recall if there was a Plan B.

In the end, the mist began to clear, the rain abated to an annoying drizzle and the waterproof wearing combatants made a delayed start from three tees. Very gradually, the weather began to improve, and with it the morale of the damp, but determined players, so that by the time we had all trickled back to the clubhouse, smiles and banter had replaced the earlier frowns and muttered curses. The consumption of a really first class match meal added to the outbreak of cheerfulness, so that even the abysmal distribution of raffle prizes (Carmarthen 4, Tenby 1) could not dampen the Tenby team’s spirits.

We were genuinely agog by the time our captain Peter and Carmarthen’s captain Ray Sinden rose to perform the ritual of joke telling and result revealing. The jokes were just a tad disappointing - the result even more so, being as it was Carmarthen 5.5, Tenby 3.5. I must admit to the tiniest feeling of personal guilt about this result, because my splendid partner Alan Yates and I were the last match on the course, playing the 18th one up - which would have meant the competition would have been halved at 4.5 each - when an outstanding putt by Carmarthen’s Jim Whotsit won the hole, halved the match and caused Alan and I to snatch a draw from the gaping jaws of a victory - alas!

However, while the Seniors may not be constantly thrashing the opposition in the Summer League - elsewhere the results are much more promising. I have mentioned in previous articles that the Seniors’ entrants were successful in two prestigious events; the Centenary Challenge Trophy at Cardigan and the Pembrokeshire Seniors Invitational at Milford Haven - well we are now looking to complete the Grand Slam!

On Tuesday, August 2, the finals of the Claret Jug competition were scheduled to held at Glynhir Golf Club and we had three pairs entered -Allen Watts and Martin Neilan, Alan Jones and Brian Jones and Brian Diment and John Stevenson. This line up is genuinely strength in depth, and by the time you are reading this article I am absolutely convinced that the Claret Jug will be in the hands of one of those pairs.

Fingers crossed - and watch this space!

M.F.