The Golf Club weekly review
Monday, Jan. 2, Green Valley (white tees) – Stableford
1st Graham Eldridge (15) 39pts
2nd Rex Chillcot (23) 38pts
3rd Glen Perkinson (21) 37pts
T4th Fred Birch (19) 36pts
T4th Alan Rothwell (7) 36ps
Our first golf outing for 2017 found us back at our home course of Rayong Green Valley. There is a lot of earth moving going on these days as a grand new entrance gate is in the works as well as the addition of housing estates on the grounds. The rumour persists that RGV will close for 6 months for course renovation. This has not been confirmed yet so it is still wait and see.
The new hole layout has been well received, but the big controversy is the 10th hole that is now a long par 4 (formerly the par-5, mountain on the right) with a handicap of 8. This is quite a topic of conversation as many feel the rating of a 4 would be more appropriate for this 420 yard par 4. Let’s hope the new scorecards have not gone to the printers yet!
A good turnout saw us with 3 full van loads of anxious golfers ready to see this new layout. Five blokes shot to their handicap or better today and it was Mark Wood that took the Caddy Smile near pin. Fred Birch and Alan Rothwell are usually good performers and they shared fourth with 36 on their cards. Glen Perkinson was one better for third at 37 and Rex Chillcot was sole second with a sweet 38.
About 5 months back, we received a beautiful new near pin marker for our charity Caddy Smile programme. It was donated by today’s winner, Graham Eldridge, so it seems what goes round comes round! Graham topped the field with a solid 39 and I am sure he is looking forward to a prosperous 2017 shooting like that.
Wednesday, Jan. 4, Khao Kheow – Stableford
1st Graham Eldridge (15) 42pts
2nd Blake Hanna (18) 41pts
3rd Chris Bailey (14) 39pts
It was another perfect day of golf in the Kingdom as we were treated to one of our favourite courses in the region. Conditions were just right for both the weather and the fairways so there were no excuses out there today.
You know it is a tough comp when 39 points only gets you third place! That was the story for our mate Chris Bailey who could have been a winner on another day. Bailey’s mate, Pierre Gymer, had the best shot on the par 3 for the near pin award. Escaping a Canadian winter again, Blake Hanna turned in an amazing 41 point round, alas still not quite there mate. This is a tough crowd!
The man with a plan struck again, and Graham Eldridge took his second win of the week to dominate golf here for 2017. Great shooting Graham, and a great way to start out the New Year!
Friday, Jan. 6, Silky Oaks (white tees) – Stableford
T1st Fred Graham (17) 42pts
T1st David Johl (18) 42pts
3rd Gary Emmett (18) 36pts
It was a bit of an adjustment in the schedule as we made today Silky Oaks and next Friday the 13th for Parichat Links. This course keeps getting better and more popular the more we play here.
Peter Thomas got his first mention of the year as he bested the rest for closest to the pin today. TGC regular Gary Emmett shot to his handicap and his 36 got him a few handsome man vouchers from Capt. Phil.
It was really just a two-horse race out there and a couple of rounds of 42 blew away the rest of the field. Visitor David Johl could do no wrong and ended tied with our mate Freddy Graham at the top of the heap. Great round Freddy, nice to see your name up there again!
