When Alan Jones, who plays his golf at South Pembs Golf Club, made his debut for the Welsh Over 55s in the Senior Home Internationals last season he played superbly and was an automatic choice for the latest competition in the annual event, he did just as well again, with five wins as he played all six rounds of the singles and pairs against the best amateur golfers from Ireland, Scotland and England.
 
The Senior Home Internationals 2024 were played at the picturesque Castlerock Golf Club,  on the north coast of Northern Ireland, from the 17th-19th September and, unlike the previous year, were played in fantastic weather on a course that was nevertheless challenging, to say the least.
 
Each team comprised seven players, with one rested for each morning and afternoon sessions of the three days played, and it was a tribute to Alan and his pairs partner Neil Roderick (Clyne Golf Club Swansea) that both played every morning in the foursomes (pairs/alternate shots), and in the singles after lunch.
 
Alan was again paired in the foursomes with Welsh golfing legend Neil, who has played in the Walker Cup against the USA and is current Welsh Seniors Open Champion.






 

Day One – Two wins as Wales miss out to England

 
“Against England in the first match, the pair incredibly birdied the first five holes for a 3-up lead against Paul Wharton and Ian Ashenden, only for the English pair to fight back with three birdies of their own to be ‘all square’ after nine holes.
But Alan & Neil, maintained their composure and added three more birdies on the back nine, to win by 3&1.
 
In the singles on that vital opening day, Alan played Danny Holmes, winning by a single hole, with a fantastic ‘up& down’ on the last hole as they stood all-square.  But Alan produced the right shots at the perfect time;  hacking it out of some deep rough, then a beautiful pitch shot from 50 yards to an elevated green,  and slotting a 5-footer for the win, with the other team members and supporters looking on and giving him deserved applause.!
 
But the Welsh men still lost to England, 5 matches to 4.






 

Day Two - Alan suffers a single’s set-back after an easy foursome’s victory against Ireland

 
Against Ireland, paired with Neil again, the Welsh duo was too strong for the Ireland pair, Karl Bornemann and Steve Graham and were comfortable winners, 6&5.
 
In the afternoon, Alan was up against Alan Condren. After sharing the first two holes, the Irishman went on a streak that was hard to match, producing 5 birdies in the opening 8 holes.  With Welsh Alan not quite firing on all cylinders, he  lost 7 holes on the trot to be 7 down after 9 holes.  A mini fight back, resulted in a loss by 6&5.
 
Wales men lost to Ireland 5 matches to 4.




 

Foursomes’ hat-trick  and a battling singles’ success

 
In the last match, against Scotland, Alan and Neil led the way once again with another strong win in the top match, winning 3&2 against Royal Troon members Robert Jenkins and Stewart Henderson as they again showed how well they work together, understanding each other’s play incredibly well.
 
In the afternoon singles, Alan was up against another Royal Troon member, Paul Moultrie.  Alan was in control at 1up after 7 holes with his opponent in trouble on the left of the 8th green.  His opponent was so far below the level of the green that he couldn’t even see the flag. Unbelievably, he managed to hole the shot for a miraculous birdie 3, to level the match.
 
On the 10^th green, the Scot went 1up when he downed a monster putt for birdie and Alan felt it wasn’t going to be his day, when another birdie by his opponent put him 2 down after 11 holes.  Alan stayed in the match, however,  with some great recovery shots on 12, 13 and 14, getting back to only 1 down with 4 holes to play.  Feeling that the whole match was in the balance, Alan dug deep and produced a stunning finish, with a run of 3 birdies on 15, 16 & 17, he closed out the match and won by 3&1.
 
Wales men beat Scotland by 5 ½ to 3 ½ to finish in third place behind Ireland and winners, England.



 

And finally . . .

 
The beautiful course was in superb condition but it was a gruelling three days focussed solely on playing golf, so there was literally only time for just playing golf, eating and sleeping – which meant that even a visit to the nearby, world-famous Giants’ Causeway, was out of the question.
 
There was a great camaraderie amongst all the competitors when they met for dinner, with some playing at the afore-mentioned Royal Troon or St Andrews, Royal County Down,  Royal Birkdale or .Royal Lytham & St Anne’s Golf Clubs.
 
Whilst Alan had heard of their world-famous courses, they weren’t aware of South Pembs’ geographical position – or the fact that he has won the club championship an amazing 30 times, which he didn’t mention!
 
“But I was proud to represent ‘Royal’ South Pembs Golf Club, which it is in my eyes – and to fly the Pembrokeshire Flag in Welsh Senior’ Golf for a second time,” he told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk!