At 58 years of age, Pembroke golfer Alan Jones continues to play with the skills and commitment that have seen him win the South Pembs Golf Club stroke play competition for an amazing 30 times – and he has recently represented the Wales Seniors with distinction in the Home International Championship, this time at the Ferndown Golf Club near Bournemouth.
 
It was Alan’s third year in the Seniors’ squad and he was absolutely full of praise for the beautiful course, where former top pro player and famous golfing pundit Peter Allis used to BE the Head Professional in his day.

“It was absolutely stunning,” Alan told us, “where the greens were the fastest I have ever played on and even the tees were as good as some of the greens I have seen locally!
 

Wales’ top scorer, with four points out of six

“The competition was played over three days, and although we sadly finished up with the wooden spoon, I was pleased that I only lost one of my six matches, winning three, halving two and with just one loss, which ironically came on the opening morning, against Ireland in the foursomes – but I was delighted to win my afternoon singles, against a very good opponent named Christy O’Connor, from Ireland.

“We took on England on Day Two  where we won our foursomes match, and I halved my afternoon singles – and against Scotland on Day Three we halved our match in the foursomes but again I won my singles match to give me 2.5 points in the singles – and I was top points scorer overall for Wales in a high-quality competition played in great spirit amongst all the competitors, who seem to be just delighted to still be involved competitively at our age!

“I also came home via Salisbury, which was my late father Johnnie’s birthplace – and I wore his old flat-cap for competing, which was great!”
 

It’s been quite a year in Wales, too

 
Although Alan always plays down his achievements it has been another quite a year for him golf-wise in Wales because he created another record by winning the Dyfed Men’s championship  at Cardigan Golf Club, situated at Gwbert, just over two miles outside the county town, for the record-breaking fifth time, and he was the previous oldest winner so has just added more years to that feat.
 
Not content with that new record, he also won the best gross score, best nett score and over 40s trophy!
 
“It is a lovely course, with the most amazing views over Cardigan Bay, and although it is a challenge at my age to complete two rounds (his scores were both under pars 71 and 69!) I think the venue certainly spurred me on because it really is a charming place to play and favourite places to play!”
 
Alan also came runner-up in the Welsh Senior Closed Championships, held at Aberdovey, in June, and achieved third place at the South Wales Senior Open Championships at Radyr Golf Club, in Cardiff, a month later.
 
More records broken at South Pembs too
 
And finally, going back to his stroke play championship win at South Pembs Golf Club, which was played over two days on their Barrack Hill course in Pembroke Dock, Alan was one under par in his first round after eight holes but, on the ninth hole, a 120-yard par three and the shortest on the course, he bogeyed it.
 
“I was really annoyed,” admitted Alan, “but things went mad on the back nine, with six birdies flying in from all angles – and I broke the course record with my score of 64!
 
On the Sunday I was a bit stiff but still played well and I returned a par score of 70 to finish a fair way ahead of my nearest rivel, a youngster called Jonathan Rogers, who still plays rugby for Narberth’s first team, and is about half my age, so he’s got plenty of time yet!”