LBGC Centenary Book - Flipbook - Page 34
Langland Centenary Book
15/2/05
6:11 pm
Page 34
The improved course and conditions seemed also to increase
the standard of golf. In 1969 Bob Pressdee and Chris Last
reached the semi-final of the Victory Foursomes Shield
Competition before losing to an international pair from
Monmouthshire G.C. - Bill Tucker and George Pinch. In 1971
they lost the final to Ashburnham at the twentieth hole at
Southerndown. In the same week Chris Last got to the semifinal of the Welsh Amateur Competition losing again at the
twentieth to Dr. Huw Squirrel, many times a Welsh Champion.
In 1972, playing a North Wales side at Conway, Bob and Chris
finally triumphed and won the coveted shield. Also in 1972 our
first team were promoted to the premier division and very
nearly won the championship in 1973.
The influx of new members was, and still is, being rigidly
controlled by a waiting list of impressive proportions but the
Clubhouse problems remained. It was exacerbated by the
deterioration of the bungalow which was the Steward's living
quarters. Considerable sums had been spent and were being
expended on repairs to the building but with minimal effect.
Late in 1973 it was decided that the upstairs of the Clubhouse
would be converted to living quarters and a new building
erected to the east of the Clubhouse, this to house the Ladies
locker rooms and also new dining facilities. Plans were
accordingly drawn up and application for planning permission
entered. Application was also made for a grant from the
Sports Council for Wales.
Again in 1976 the Club reached the finals of the Victory
Foursomes.This time our players were Chris Last and Hugh
Evans but after a tremendous battle they lost on the eighteenth
green at the Royal St. David’s course, Harlech, to one of the
finest bunker shots one could hope to see unless you were
supporting Langland.Their conquerors - both internationals were David Stephens and David Adams of the Llantrisant Club.
Incidentally, it is a sign of the interest aroused by competitive
golf at Langland that nearly fifty members were present
spectating at Harlech and that is almost 130 miles from home.
It was in 1973 that we commenced timed starts for all the
major competitions.The first one at Easter had marshals on
the first and ninth tees in the presence of Bill Richards and
Dick Lewis but members became so used to starting times that
overseeing was not necessary.This scheme undoubtedly
improved the enjoyment of competitors and the entries grew
until, as we all know, the men’s Saturday and Bank Holiday
competitions now attract some one hundred and fifty entries
with time sheets put on the notice board well in advance.This
was also the first season that we played under the revised
standard scratch score of the course. Because of a Welsh Golf
Union directive all courses had to be re-measured and instead
of using the old “chaining” method this was now to be done
electronically. One of the members Stan Longdin, who was
responsible for re-measuring many courses in England and
Wales obliged.This more scientific and accurate measurement
led to a certain loss of length and some holes became par 4
instead of par 5 which in turn caused some consternation
among members as well as loss of revenue.Why, because what
used to be a reasonable “birdie” now became a difficult par?
The total length of the course was now 5,812 yards and the
standard scratch score became 68, but after lengthy and heated
arguments with the Welsh Golf Union an extra stroke was
granted for the overall difficulty of the course and the number
of “out of bounds” areas.The general opinion being that our
hole No. 6 as a par 4 against the prevailing wind and the lie of
the land is as difficult a par 4 as any in the country.
The general improvement in club golf was evident from the
opening of the new course but the minutes from Board
meetings have a familiar ring; numerous visitors, long waits on
the first tee and a degree of congestion.This, in due course, led
to calls for starting times and these were introduced for
certain competitions. Fortunately, the early congestion on the
new course appeared to have led to an improvement in
etiquette and this in turn resulted in an improvement in the
speed of play and a reduction in waiting.The improvements in
standards certainly applied to our junior section which by now
was some one hundred strong and with a considerable number
of single figure golfers.This was exemplified in 1972 by a young
man of 15 years, considered by his junior colleagues to be
“nearly over the top”, reduced his handicap from 11 to 3
during the season. He has since become a scratch player and a
Welsh International.
It is said that success breeds success.This may be so, but it also
brings problems.The Club was now having numerous
applications for membership; the competitions were heavily
supported; the number of visitors was increasing year on year
and neither the course, despite the new land, nor the
Clubhouse was large enough to accommodate all. As an
example of visiting members, the revenue from this source had
grown from under £600 in 1968 to over £5000 in 1976.True
inflation had taken place but not the extent of 900%. All these
visitors together with the increased membership were putting
an intolerable strain on the Club’s progress. Car parking in
particular, as previously mentioned was chaotic.The car park
had already been enlarged from the tiny triangular area shown
in the photograph at the beginning of this chapter, taken in the
fifties, this by taking a large part of the garden of the bungalow.
What remained was the tractor shed like a sore thumb in the
middle of the parking space causing many problems.
Consequently the building of a new tractor shed, workshop
and messroom, incorporating a soil storage shed and trolley
room, was embarked upon.The main need was for a tractor
shed to be completed and this was done speedily with the
remainder of the work being carried out in dribs and drabs
over the next few years.The old tractor shed was demolished
and this allowed the car park to be further extended so that
on normal days it could cope but on special days there
remained a problem and one that was difficult to solve without
impairing the golfing activities.
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Outside the Club, Mumbles was in the news because of the
“Ostreme” pageant and Club members, notably Dennis
Harwood and Vernon Davies, ran various golfing shows at
Underhill Park for the benefit of this event.This was the Club's
first essay into charity functions and some lessons were
learned which were to stand us in good stead for later years.
Planning permission was received for the conversion of the
upstairs of the Clubhouse into living quarters and work
commenced thereon. Unfortunately this meant evicting the
ladies from their locker rooms and for some time they were
without these facilities. Eventually they moved into the
bungalow, which although woefully inadequate, served as an
interim abode. It was decided after a rather heated meeting that
the proposed new locker rooms for the ladies would also be
inadequate, this because the numbers of the section had grown
considerably since the plans were first drawn up. So, new plans
were prepared to convert the outbuildings, which had been
scheduled for committee rooms and an indoor practice area,
into ladies locker rooms.This was eventually completed and the
ladies were able to take possession of their suite but not until
early in 1976.Thus for eighteen months the ladies section
suffered considerable hardship. As usual this very flourishing
section of the Club triumphed over their adversities and were
very satisfied with the end product.The Sports Council for
Wales made a grant to the cost of the locker rooms and it is
most gratifying to record the assistance the Club received from
the Council both financially and by way of advice.
