Golf: Morlais face tough opener

Nov 8 2007 by Our Correspondent, Merthyr Express

MORLAIS Castle GC face one of their stiffest challenges yet when the 2008 Glamorgan County League season gets under way in May next year.

It was announced that their reward for gaining promotion from Division 2B this year will be a place alongside some of the strongest clubs in Welsh golf.

If they are to have any hope of fulfilling their potential and challenge for promotion next season, Morlais Castle will have to overcome current Welsh Team Champions Wenvoe Castle, as well as Langland Bay and Southerndown, the two clubs relegated from the Premier League this year.

They will also face INCO from the Swansea Valley and old adversaries Pennard GC, the team that just pipped them to top spot in this year’s campaign and also disposed of them 4-1 in the Welsh Team Championship Finals.

In what looks on paper to be a mouthwatering opener, Morlais host Wenvoe Castle in the opening round of fixtures, before ending their season with an away trip to Southerndown GC in the first week of August.

As for the club’s Second team, they find themselves in Division 4B next season after consolidating their place in Division 4A this year.

The club is quietly confident of targeting one of the two available promotion places after learning their opponents for next season will be Coedymwster, Fairwood Park, Glyneath, Morriston Seconds and Swansea Bay Seconds.

The team open their season with an away tie at Glyneath GC, before completing their matches with a home tie against Fairwood Park GC on Monday, August 4.

Last weekend Morlais Castle witnessed a full programme of Winter League Top Dog competition, as both the individual format Saturday competition and 4BBB format Sunday competition ran in tandem for the first time this year.

The weekend proved a huge success as a total of 132 players turned out over the course of both days hoping to get the close season off to a fine start.

Both competitions will now run through until spring next year, with members entitled to compete in both.

For all those interested, Saturday Top Dog tees off at 12.30pm each weekend with registration no later than 12.15pm, while Sunday Top Dog tees off at 8.45am with registration no later than 8.30am.

l Tomorrow night (Friday, November 9), rugby legend Gareth Edwards is guest speaker as the club hosts its Autumn Gentleman’s Evening.

All those who have booked seats for the evening are asked to arrive no later than 7pm.

On Tuesday, November 13, the Ladies’ Section host their Captain’s Night Dinner, while the following Saturday, (November 17) sees the club host its annual Captain’s Presentation Evening. Dress code for the evening is formal, with collar and tie, and no jeans permitted.