It's always nice to arrive at Milford Haven's impressive clubhouse and meet up with the rest of the Tenby seniors team as they devour a pre-match bacon butty and a glass of something medicinal. Thursday, August 22, was no exception, when 16 keen, mature Tenby players had crossed the Cleddau Bridge to do battle with the Milford veterans.
Keen followers of the seniors - both of you! - will recall that when we played at Tenby in May this year, the visitors were defeated 3.5 to 4.5, so the plan was to repeat this trouncing on the delightful Milford course. A spine-stiffening, morale-boosting pre-match team instruction was delivered by the charismatic acting captain Allen Watts - i.e.; "Stuff 'em!" - So eight obedient pairs set out to do just that.
Conditions were just about perfect, very hot sunshine with barely a hint of breeze, on a course which was in superb condition, with greens like billiard tables, while the company was, as ever, excellent. All these positives resulted in a fine tournament, played in good spirits with lots of laughter heard around the fairways.
An unusual factor was the huge number of Herring gulls on the course; they were obviously feeding enthusiastically on something in the grass. After studying the birds for several holes, we realised that the attraction was an even larger number of flying ants preparing for their once in a lifetime mating flight.
So, golf and nature study over, a match meal in the dining room was the order of the day. Not just a match meal, actually a choice of eight main courses and four desserts - both teams were in calorie heaven! Climbing the stairs back to the bar caused some groans after the dining experience, but when we were finally settled, the historical ceremony of the raffle took place.
During the raffle, my partner Peter Williams pointed out that he had never, ever won a raffle prize in all the years that he had been playing for the seniors - and that this week was no exception. Whereupon one of our opponents, Brian Mitchell, who had won twice, presented Peter with a golf ball that he had won to break his run of bad luck. What an exceedingly nice man you are Brian - thank you again.
After this touching little moment, the team captains gave their addresses. Thanks were proffered, jokes were told and, finally, the result was announced - would you believe it? - We had done it again, Tenby 4.5, Milford Haven 3.5 - Result!
M.F.