PHOTOS
Jeff Button
Jeff Button and Howard Webber

 
Jeff Button is currently very busy as the 2016 captain of Milford Haven Golf Club and as well as playing as often as he can has a myriad other jobs like being heavily involved on committees, making the presentations of trophies for competitions most weekends, liaising with club manageress Amanda Short and greenkeeper Kevin Rawlings.
 
But Jeff decided to add to his workload in the nicest possible way by joining old friends Howard Webber and Richard Brock in organising a 'Texas Scramble' day at the club on the 8th July to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a charity dear to his pal Howard because his family has suffered with Cystic Fibrosis and has worked tirelessly to raise funds.
 

Following in ‘Guinea’s’ footsteps

 
"I was asked to be vice-captain by Gwyn 'Guinea' French last season and I needed a fortnight to decide that I would take it on because I knew how much commitment it takes to do a proper job, and I took over as captain with the traditional 'drive out, drive in' ceremony which takes place on midnight, 31st December where the old captain drives his year out and the new captain drives his year in.
 
"I really enjoyed working with Gwyn and he did a great job which included raising funds for a liver charity because he had suffered that illness a while ago. I thought it was a great idea and when it came for me to choose a good cause I had no hesitation in picking the Cystic Fibrosis Trust because I knew how much it means to Howard.
 

Support already promised for a great day out

 
"We have already been promised support from a range of members and businesses who have said they would bring teams of four for the event, with the best individual score at each hole to count towards winning some good prizes.
 
"There are also 'nearest the hole' prizes on the par threes sixth and 16th holes, a good raffle and auction - but we are still hoping that others will come forward to sponsor individual holes or donate prizes for what is such a worthwhile cause.
 
"Individuals or clubs who want to enter a team for what promises to be a smashing day need only contact Matthew Hearne or Elliott Harding in the club's pro-shop on 01646 687822, Extension 2, or on line at www.mhgc.co.uk/teetimes - and you will be guaranteed a warm welcome!
 

Started out when real characters abounded

 
Jeff was a useful footballer in his younger days, mainly with Neyland as a free-scoring striker, and with an interest in darts and a couple of seasons playing bowls - and it was in 1990 that he began playing golf at Haverfordwest, originally knocking a ball around with Marley Hughes, who was Jeff's best man at his wedding, and Keith James, the well-known Hook cricketing all-rounder.
 
"I started out on a handicap of 28 and I'm now down to 19, which I suppose isn't too bad for a 61 year old,” admitted Jeff with a chuckle.  
 
"There were great characters about like Dai Bowen and Ian Robertson, who were both good golfers on their day. We were playing for the Rabbits in Tenby on a Sunday and there were signs everywhere about making sure that fires weren't allowed to break up - but one of them was too busy reading his paper and was unaware that his cigarette butt had blown onto the nearby grass, and was teased for weeks about being an arsonist in Tenby!"
 
"'Nobby' Roach was another character, whose favourite saying was,
"Did you see where that ball went, boy?" and on one occasion Jeff travelled on a bus to a match where all the youngsters sat at the front watching a naughty comedy video and the old timers shook their heads disapprovingly at the back. But after a good afternoon's play and a few celebratory pints it was the old-timers who sat at the front and we sat laughing in the rear seats!"
 

Rabbits’ vice-captain and then captain to start

 
Jeff then went back to football at Hook for a whole but in 1998 he joined other Neyland golfers like Owain Picton, Ken Edwards and John Laugharne and was immediately made welcome.
 
"In my second year back I was asked by Richard Jenkins to be his vice-captain in the rabbits' section and the year afterwards I was captain as we won the Three Counties' team cup.
 
"I also came runner up in the individual tournament and might have won but on the last green I took a chance in pursuit of a birdie and ended up with a bogey that ultimately cost me the silverware!"
 

Hole in one – and some silverware too

 
Jeff had his only hole in one at Milford’s tenth hole, a par three called 'The Docs', as he played alongside John Price and the late Roger Price, who said that he thought it must be close because he couldn't see the ball on the green - and walked straight to the hole and fished the ball out, to his evident delight for Jeff!
 
Roger kept saying to Jeff to keep calm at the next hole but was still so excited at his pal's success that he smashed his own drive 20 yards off course and into a hedge!
 
Jeff has been involved for most of the time ever since and in 2001 beat Steve Phillips at the first play-off hole to win the Cleddau Insurance Cup before rejoining Neyland AFC to start off the juniors until his son Jack went off to university - and just three years ago made a welcome return to Milford Haven GC and enjoyed himself from the outset with some great characters, many of whom he knew as opponents and others as team mates from football.
 

And finally . . .

 
"Being asked to be captain was something I regarded as a great honour and I have already booked time off work in readiness for my busy times at the club because I want to see it go well.
 
"Amanda Short does all the administration work and the greens' committee are not afraid of getting their hands dirty - whilst Mike Durwood typifies all that is good at the club because he spends a lot of time planting flowers which helps to keep the course looking absolutely fantastic in the summer months!"
 
Jeff is less keen to praise his own involvement but there is no doubt that his commitment is evident to all at the club and we wish him every success with his charity venture and are convinced that Milford Haven Golf Club is in safe hands with a sporting gentleman of the calibre of Jeff Button at the helm!