Idwal’s crown has been dented, his first defeat of the Summer occurred last Wednesday at Machynys. However, some of his magic still remains.

The group left Tenby in a murky, foggy atmosphere and arrived in Llanelli to be greeted by glorious sunshine. The group knew that buggies weren’t allowed, but it wasn’t until they arrived that they knew that trolleys would be allowed. There were some anxious seniors praying that they would not have to carry their bag.

The reason for the restrictions was the state of the course, large areas of which were waterlogged. The greens were fine and in good condition, but everyone had to walk through long tracts of water lying on the surface. Shoes, trousers, or even legs, and club heads became splattered with mud.

Irrespective of that, everyone was in good spirits as they set off to try and maintain Idwal’s winning streak. Home advantage is a big influence as was proved on this occasion. Any drive not on the fairway was in danger of being lost in the reeds, thickening grass or, more often than not, the water. Added to this was the southerly wind which proved to be quite influential on many holes.

It took a number of seniors a long while to adjust to the conditions, but they adapted well, even though most pairs failed to return a win. In fact, it was only one pair that did manage to overcome both the course and the opposition.

Stan Hudson had been paired with Roger Barton and they romped home by three and one. Roger played well, as demonstrated on the long, uphill 16th hole. He was on the green with a drive and a nine-iron and putted out for his eagle. Stan was just as adept as he struck first with his four net three.

Even so, the pair was up against it as the two Alan’s, Weirman and Driscoll, proved stiff opposition. Another win on the par three 17th, however, allowed the Tenby duo the privilege of being the only winners of the afternoon.

Ross James proved a good partner for Peter Williams as the two of them battled with the conditions and adjusted to the greens. Like all the Machynys team, Phil Gordge and Penri Rees proved to be competent and consistent, not allowing the Tenby boys much leeway, and this encounter was fought out to the last hole. Neither pair could outdo the other, so they shook hands having earned an honourable half.

There were six more matches being played, but all of these were returned in Machynys’s favour.

Newman Vincent and Des Stone started badly, losing the first three holes. It looked like being a whitewash as they stumbled through the front nine. Their poor play and Brian Evans’s and Graham How’s consistency put the Machynys pair five up at the turn. Newman used one of his shots to win the 10th and started the come back - well at least until the 16th when they both lost a ball and the match. However, from five down to three and two re-established a modicum of pride.

Even Steve Cole and Brian Jones couldn’t avoid defeat. Their opposition, Mark Daniels and Graham Lardner, completed the course just one over par for the round. This match concluded, with the Tenby pair four and three down, on the 15th.

The watery conditions and associated mud interfered with Paul Bradley’s form as he and Roger Scholfield shook hands on the 14th, five holes down with four to play, and retired to the clubhouse.

Chris Beecher and Nick Rogers fought all the way and were still in it up until the 17th, but then had to concede as they were two down.

Some way behind them were John Hancock and David Rees who by-passed the last two holes and walked in nurturing a two-hole defeat.

And the captain? Alack and alas, Idwal, too, was part of the ignominious defeat. He had chosen his vice-captain, Derek Cole, this week to bail him out, but the opposite captain, Colin Hogg, and his partner, Phil Jones, proved the stronger on home turf. This match ended on the 16th with the Tenby pair two down.

It was no joke - well Idwal had no joke - so he left early allowing his vice-captain to tell one in his place. As it happens, he had an urgent appointment, for which he was already running late, so he made his apologies and tried to catch up the time lost.

Tenby may have lost the match, but they had a clean sweep in the raffle, the first prize of which went to Idwal. David Rees chose a bottle of bubbly, while Stan and Ross were left with a couple of balls each.

It was interesting to note that the club captain, Bob Connor, was on the first tee and formally announced and introduced each fourball to send them on their way.

Results:I. David/D. Cole lost to C. Hogg/P. Jones 2 down; S. Hudson/R. Barton beat A. Weirman/A. Driscoll 2 and 1; C. Beecher/N. Rogers lost to A. Bocca/M. Dew 2 and 1; S. Cole/B. Jones lost to M. Daniels/G. Lardner 4 and 3; P. Williams/R. James halved with P. Gordge/P. Rees; D. Stone/N. Vincent lost to B. Evans/G. How 3 and 2; J. Hancock/D. Rees lost to P. Clement/S. Dunne 2 down; P. Bradley/R. Scholfield lost to L. Lindsey/G. Lloyd 5 and 4