PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, April 2, Khao Kheow – Stableford
17 Outbackers travelled to Khao Kheow on a beautiful sunny day with a light breeze to keep us cool. The course was lightly booked and we teed off half an hour early and all completed the course in under four hours.
The course was good considering the storm that hit at the weekend with the end result being a large number of trees blown down and the staff were in the process of clearing up the debris. The greens on B nine that were damaged by a vandal are slowly recovering but overall the greens were very good, true and fast; even though many of the fairways had not been cut, you still got a good lie.
Welcome to two new members, Colin Faraday and Thomas (Tommy) Kelly who joined us for the day.
With 17 players we only played one division with 5 places, plus the ‘2’s.
The overall winner with a great score around Khao Kheow A & B, was Rosco Langoulant with 39 points on his 16 handicap, from Paul Greenaway who has at last shown a bit of form with 38 points off 11; third place went to John Cogan (18) with 34 points who beat Dave Buchanan off handicap 1, on a count back with fifth place going to Mark Riggall (17) with 33 points.
There was one ‘2’ for the day and that went to Frank Buchanan on hole 5 of the A course.
1st Rosco Langoulant (16/Hi14.5) 39pts
2nd Paul Greenaway (11/Hi9.9) 38pts
3rd John Cogan (18/Hi16.7) 34pts
4th Dave Buchanan (1/Hi1.6) 34pts
5th Mark Riggall (17/Hi15.6) 33pts
Monday, April 2, Burapha – Stableford
Travelling to Burapha today there were 23 golfers playing off the blues on courses A & B. It was like millionaire’s golf for most people as there was nobody in front and nobody behind us; leading to a well paced round of under four hours, which was fantastic.
The course was in great condition from tee to green and the bunkers were a delight to play from, the sand not too hard and not too soft, even Suzi could get out of them!
We would like to welcome back Ed Turner after a shorter than expected absence and welcome also to the Outback newbies, Roger Rees, Roger Vaughan and Peter Wiltshire.
Once again, we find that this course from the A & B blue markers is giving too many shots back due to some questionable rating but we are pleased to advise that the Outback has been asked to re-rate the course in conjunction with the PSC handicap committee.
Roger Vaughan led the way, with the day’s top score of 38pts to win Div A from a couple of players on 36 and in Div B; 36pts was enough to win as Suzi, our organiser today, got the better of three guys on count back, all with the same 36.
There was only one ‘2’; on hole B3, from Luke Byers.
Div A (0-18)
1st Roger Vaughan (18/Hi14.5) 38pts
2nd Pierre Cere (15/Hi12.1) 36pts
3rd Roger Rees (8/Hi5.6) 36pts
Div B (19+)
1st Suzi Lawton (20/Hi20.3) 36pts
2nd Ivan Plunkett (23/Hi18.5) 36pts
3rd Jerry Quin (23/Hi19.2) 36pts
Tuesday, April 3, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
There were 11 Outbackers who decided to play the front 9 twice (the back now closed for several months) on a fine and hot morning with the course in fine condition.
The 11 had an enjoyable time – greeted by the friendly staff, with complimentary tea or coffee and a cold towel on the first tee. With the buggy (shared) reduced to 400 baht all was set for an interesting round, it was not busy so we were back in the clubhouse in 3½ hours.
The men played the first nine off the white tees and the second nine off the blue – just over 300 yards longer; the three ladies, all former caddies, two at PCC and one at Burapha – played the red then the white! Organiser Chad wondered if he had made the right decision for the ladies as some of the white were some distance from the red – in the event he need not have worried!
With eleven players, it was three places plus ‘2’s.
You can’t keep a good lady down! Coming in top spot with another podium finish was Noy Kamsantia (19) with a great 41 points – in addition she had the only ‘2’s – 2 of them!
In second place was the ‘Hamster man’ John White (25) with 39 points – John’s round 1st nine -18 points (9 holes x 2pts per hole); the 2nd nine 21 points (7 holes x 2pts, 1 x 3 pointer & 1 x 4pts).
Third spot went to the Outback’s resident Turnip, Dennis Persson (19) with 37.
The Outback will continue at Pattaya Country Club for the month of April, after that will depend on the support for this unusual format.
1st Noy Kamsantia (19/Hi18.8) 41pts
2nd John White (26/Hi25) 40pts
3rd Persson Dennis (19/Hi18.5) 37pts
Wednesday, April 4, Pattana B & C – Stableford
23 Outbackers travelled to Pattana for a great day’s golfing where we were supposed to play A and B course but as A had sanded greens the starters sent us off on C and B. Some of the Outbackers started early and played yellow on both courses whereas those that started later played white on C and yellow on B so we therefore had two divisions with 3 places in one and 5 in the other plus the ‘2’s.
The course was in great condition with beautifully manicured tees and fairways, the greens on both courses had been spiked and sanded recently but had a good surface and were flat and true and made for good scoring on the day.
We made good time over the first 14 holes but thunderstorms interrupted play and the officials stopped play by sounding the siren and sending out marshals to send players to drinks stops for over an hour. Unfortunately they never started play again and golfers took it upon themselves to commence play after an hour of no decision and completed their rounds under overcast skies but with no rain or lightning.
There were six players who went out early and played off yellow tees and the winner was a visitor from Costa Rica, Dave Maddox with a great score of 40 points off his 22 handicap, from Steve Poznanski with 38 points off his 12 handicap with third place going to Bob (Capt) Finley with 34 off 14.
In the other group there were 17 players who played C off white and B off yellow with the winner Mark Riggall shooting a great score of 44 points off his 15 handicap, from Andy Makara with 38 points off his 30 handicap, with third place going to Paul Greenaway with 37 points off his 11 handicap, with John White (36pts) in fourth off 24 and fifth place going to the steadily improving Graham Woollett (35pts) off 22.
There was one ‘2’ going to Ed Turner.
Friday, April 6, Green Valley – Stableford
Although a holiday and contrary to many who thought the course was closed due a tournament, 28 Outbackers played Green Valley for our normal Friday outing and the course was presented as well as I have ever seen, the fairways, tees and greens were in great condition and even the bunkers were as well. It’s just a pity that more players don’t take the time to make sure that the caddies rake the bunkers properly as some players were forced to play out of footprints.
The course has been heavily booked over the last week for the Thai Junior Championship and the layout has held its condition very well considering the number of juniors that have played during the week. Pace of play was very good for our groups even though the course was heavily booked with the last group completing their round in 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Welcome to the new members, Pete Mansini and Grant Airey and some old members, Les Easton, Jan Erikson and Jim Bell who are returning after a long absence and goodbye also to Ed Turner after his short visit.
With 28 players, there were two divisions with four places in each division plus the ‘2’s.
Division 2 (14+) had the best score of the day with John O’Keefe returning a great score of 38 points off his 18 handicap, from Graham Woollett who continues his form, going two better than Wednesday at Pattana, this time with 37 points off his 22 handicap, from in third place Bob Lindborg (20) with 35 points and Suzi Lawton (18) in fourth place with 34.
Division 1 (0-13) was won by new member Grant Airey with 36 points on his 9 handicap, three clear of Paul Greenaway (8) with 33 points beating Jim Brackett (5) on count back, with fourth place going to Jan Erikson (8) with 32 points who beat both Peter LeNoury and Dennis Pelly on count back.
There were four ‘2’s for the day and they went to Rosco Langoulant, Peter Le Noury, Peter Mansini and Adam Oyston, all on hole 12.
Div A (0-13)
1st Grant Airey (9/Hi10) 36pts
2nd Paul Greenaway (8/Hi9.3) 33pts
3rd Jim Brackett (5/Hi6.3) 33pts
Div B (14+)
1st John O’Keefe (18/Hi17.6) 38pts
2nd Graham Woollett (22/Hi21.6) 37pts
3rd Bob Lindborg (20/Hi19.8) 35pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. All are welcome to come and join us for a beer and a hit. Just call in and put your name down on the list or call Jack on 087 941 2474.
