PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg
Monday, May 14, Eastern Star – Stableford
With most of us having not played Eastern Star for about 9 months, we were looking forward to reacquainting ourselves with this challenging course. After a last minute cancellation due to illness we were left with 18 starters and we departed Café Kronborg 5 minutes ahead of schedule at 0810 hrs. Just 45 minutes later we arrived at the course to find it fairly deserted and after waiting for just one golfer to tee off our first group got away 30 minutes ahead of schedule at 0930 hrs.
The weather was excellent although hot with very little wind to cool things down and the course was looking in great shape although the greens were in the late stages of being cored & sanded therefore a lot slower than greens that we are used to at many other courses.
Bjarne, left, presents the Cafe Kronborg May Monthly Mug to Mike Gosden.
We continued at a cracking pace and kept up the liquid intake by stopping for a couple of drink breaks and we were able to complete our full round in the very good time of four hours & ten minutes. Although a tough layout it was a very enjoyable day and will be now be back on our regular schedule.
There were 2 flights on the day plus rewards for nearest the pin on the four par threes and longest first putts on the ninth & eighteenth greens. Many thanks to Pattaya Sports Club for providing Casa Pascal meal vouchers for the technicals.
It certainly was tough going for most as the scores reflected and just one golfer played to their handicap or better. 34 points was good enough to win the A Flight with 2 handicapper Mike Allidi victorious having 76 off the stick. A count back with 2 golfers on 28 points saw Mike Winfield (16 point back nine) take second spot from Ken Bernek (13 point back nine) in third spot. A very good score of 37 points enabled Rita Zoebeli win B Flight from Graham Buckingham with 33 points in second place, 1 point ahead of Bo Cardwell who finished third.
A Flight (0-20)
1st Mike Allidi (2) 34pts
2nd Mike Winfield (20) 28pts
3rd Ken Bernek (16) 28pts
B Flight (21+)
1st Rita Zoebeli (24) 37pts
2nd Graham Buckingham (23) 33pts
3rd Bo Cardwell (28) 32pts
Near Pins: 3rd – Mike Allidi; 6th – Graham Buckingham; 13th – Rita Zoebeli; 17th – Bo Cardwell
Long Putts: 9th – Marie Rowles; 18th – Dick Braimbridge
The Compass Cap (awarded for worst score on the day) was won by Tony Leece and Hunter paraded Deefa the Dog who once more collected many donations to charity from the ever generous Kronny crew.
Thursday, May 17, Pleasant Valley –Monthly Mug/Stroke
Once more a couple of late cancellations due to sickness left us with a small field of fifteen to compete for the Café Kronborg May Monthly Mug. The Admiral reported that the weather forecast was not the best as we assembled at the Kronny in readiness for the journey to Pleasant Valley.
Monday winners Mike Allidi and Rita Zoebeli with The Admiral.
We welcomed Jon Gruber from Washington State, U.S.A., now working & residing in Germany and we bade a fond farewell to Barry Collier who was soon to return to his business in Hong Kong but promised to return in the not too distant future. Departing slightly later than normal at 0820 hrs it was just a 45 minute ride to the course which appeared to have a fair amount of activity but we were still able to get our first group, a three ball away 30 minutes ahead of schedule at 0930 hrs.
As the weather was looking fairly ominous it had been a difficult decision for me whether or not to apply sunscreen but disregarding the Admiral’s advice I was all “creamed up”. He was correct of course as after a dry but cloudy front nine we sat down for a drink and the heavens opened. We watched the 18th green slowly get waterlogged but as the rain eased the water disappeared somewhat. After a forty five minute break we resumed in light drizzle but the rain soon went away.
The course was looking really good as it had been prepared for a tournament the following day and apart from plenty of casual water on the fairways the greens had drained magnificently and posed no problem at all. Including the 45 minute stop for rain we completed our full round in four hours & fifty minutes.
In addition to the Monthly Mug Award we had five placegetters. There were rewards for nearest the pin on the 8th and a longest first putt on the 18th green, both kindly sponsored by The Admiral.
Aussie Mike Gosden was the only player to play to their handicap or better and his net 71 was good enough to win him the Monthly Mug. Mike Allidi shot 75 off the stick to come second with a net 73 and Ken (let’s hear it for) Bernek finished third with a net 75, one stroke better than Bjarne Kjaer who took fourth spot. In a count back for fourth & fifth on net 77 yours truly (net 39 back nine, net 25 last 6 holes) edged out Mike Winfield (net 39 back nine, net 26 last 6 holes).
At presentations back at Café Kronborg we acknowledged Bjarne Nielsen and his family & staff for once more sponsoring this monthly event.
Monthly Mug
1st Mike Gosden (12) net 71
2nd Mike Allidi (2) net 73
3rd Ken Bernek (16) net 75
4th Bjarne Kjaer (19) net 76
5th Peter Blackburn (11) net 77
6th Mike Winfield (20) net 77
Near Pins: 8th – Mike Allidi
Long Putts: 18th – Mike Gosden
The Compass Cap was won by the departing Barry Collier and Hunter paraded Deefa the Dog who collected lots of donations to charity from the Kronny Crew.
