PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, Oct. 29, Burapha C & D – Stableford
A good turnout of 28 players here at Burapha for the last round of the low season for the regular Monday slot with the Outback, this month will see the rates go up 400 baht. We were back on the C loop for the first time for a few months, with its regular sparring partner D loop, which was played as usual from the white tees.
Our Albany visitors’ holiday was at an end but not before three of them found their way on to the Div A podium; as Nev Meyers won with 39pts, with brother Jeff in third on 35 and Dave Ash in fourth with 34; only Paul Bourke from the regulars, found his game to take second place with 37.
Div B was a slightly different story, as ex Burapha member, John O’Keefe won with 38pts; from visitors Chris Thompson & Paul Pedelty both on 36 and Andrew Makara (34) heading a five-way count back to take the last place.
Paul Kelly (left) is presented with his medal trophy by the sponsor, Greg Hirst of DeVere.
Welcome back to Stuart Tinkler & Steve Durey and also to John Murray, having a hit with us for the first time.
There were two ‘2’s from Rosco & Jim Brackett.
Div A (0-14)
1st Neville Meyers (11) 39pts
2nd Paul Bourke (9) 37pts
3rd Jeff Meyers (9) 35pts
4th Dave Ash (10) 34pts
Div B (15+)
1st John O’ Keefe (15) 38pts
2nd Chris Thompson (24) 36pts
3rd Paul Pedelty (15) 36pts
4th Andrew Makara (29) 34pts
Monday, Oct. 29, Khao Kheow B & A – Stableford
Only 7 Outbackers went to Khao Kheow after a timesheet mix up and they took on the B and A courses from the yellow markers on a great day for golf; sunny and very little breeze.
The course itself has improved a lot since I played it 12 months ago and the greens are very close to their best and will be in a couple of weeks. The fairways have undergone major renovations and unfortunately have not got any growth in them yet and therefore the ball sits down, in a bad lie or a muddy lie and I will be recommending ‘lift, clean and place’ for the foreseeable future.
It was great to return and see all the work that KK are doing and it is still one of the best in Pattaya and just a great test of golf.
Only one player managed to beat the course with Chris Playforth scoring 40 points off his 13 handicap and Chris also had the only ‘2’ for the day.
1st Chris Playforth (12) 40pts
2nd Stephen Mann (8) 30pts
3rd Anton Rowbottam (19) 28pts
Tuesday, Oct. 30, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
With 13 players today, this is the last time the Outback will be playing the front nine twice as on Thursday (1st Nov) the newly renovated back nine re-opens. Nobody really knows what to expect but by a few reports, it does seem as it maybe a little early?
There were no real surprises with the scoring as the regulars rose to the top again, Geoff Moodie beating playing partner Chad on count back, both with 35pts; but in an encounter which was probably much more important to Chad, he beat John Lawton!
There was one ‘2’ from Ian Covill.
1st Geoff Moodie (26) 35pts
2nd Barry Chadbourn (19) 35pts
3rd Campbell Potts (16) 34pts
Tuesday, Oct. 30, Laem Chabang – Stableford
Twenty four players to Laem Chabang for our last game of the low season, so no more Laem Chabang until April next year, which is a pity as the course has nearly returned to its usual great condition.
We played B and C and the course was very heavily booked so the round was completed in just over four and half hours, not too bad considering the number of players on the course. The course itself varied a little from B to C as C greens had been lightly sanded but putting was like putting on a skating rink, very fast and not always true. The rest of the course was in great condition and even the rough was playable. Hot sunny day and some players wilted towards the end.
Congratulations to the Laem Chabang staff, especially the starters who did a great job and the marshalls who kept the course flowing.
Andre Coetzee put a good round together to score 38pts, beating Jim Brackett who shot 36pts, both having the same gross of 77, to take the first two places in Div A. The handicapper is finally catching up with Chris Playforth who also posted another good score to take third place (losing on count back) in Div A.
Div B was won by Paul Kelly (38pts), who is at last playing some good golf and in second was the departing, Ed Turner on 33.
There were three ‘2’s from Rick Forrest, Anton Rowbottam & Andre Coetzee.
Div A (0-14)
1st Andre Coetzee (7) 38pts
2nd James Brackett (5) 36pts
3rd Chris Playforth (11) 36pts
Div B (15+)
1st Paul Kelly (25) 38pts
2nd Ed Turner (17) 33pts
3rd Paul Pedelty (15) 32pts
Wednesday, Oct. 31, Siam Plantation A & C – Stableford
Twenty players for our outing to Siam Plantation (A & C) and this course is proving very popular with visitors and locals alike and if you want to play, get your name down early as spots are strictly limited. Call into the Outback – have a meal or a drink and you can buy a voucher to play this marvellous course.
Great day on a great golf course and as usual presented in fantastic condition; staff and caddies are all top class and they make sure all players have an enjoyable experience.
One division for the day plus the ‘2’s and Andre Coetzee continued his great golf with 38 points off his 7 handicap, to win the division on a count back from his playing partner Ian Bell, also on a 7 handicap. In third was Bob Maloney with 37 points from Mike Quill on 36, who beat Neil herd also on a count back.
There were three ‘2’s to Neil Bramley and Bob Maloney on hole 3 on Sugar Cane and Andre Coetzee on hole 6 on Sugar Cane
1st Andre Coetzee (7) 38pts
2nd Ian Bell (7) 38pts
3rd Bob Maloney (13) 37pts
Thursday, Nov. 1, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
Twenty-nine Outbackers made their way to the local Pattaya Country Club – which The Outback has supported for the past four years – for the first day when all 18 holes would be open following seven months of refurbishing the back 9.
Sadly the general feeling was that it had re-opened too early. On closer inspection, some of the holes had been altered; bunkers added, greens flattened and shape and size changed but the management had clearly forgotten one thing in their rush to open up; it takes time for grass to grow – as a result, many of the holes were ‘tatty’ with much patchwork that clearly had not worked, and generally lacked TLC. New sand has been put in the bunkers (and left unraked) but it is unlike any sand seen before – maybe time will tell.
The fairways in places showed signs of some improvement but if you missed the green bit down the middle it was all too easy to find yourself playing off dirt where the grass will never have a chance to grow properly. The greens on this new nine were sandy, bumpy with little grass giving no roll, which is reflected in the scores.
Also on the re-opened back 9 it was carts on paths only – which will mean some of the regular players will not be able to play – that together with unrealistic green fees, increased prices at the drink stops (up 25%) with two not open and also in the restaurant – all may well discourage players returning for quite some time.
With 29 players divisions it was 2 divisions plus ‘2’s.
In Division A, count back was used to determine the first two places with both Sugar Ray Handford and Mike Coleman each having 34 points, with Sugar winning having the better back 9. It was also count back for third and fourth between Pottsy, aka Campbell Potts and Turnip, aka Dennis Persson, both on 33 with Pottsy securing 3rd place.
In Division B, 33 points was the winning score for Dave Earthrowl, followed by Colin Jones in second with 30 points and Ken Davidson third with 29 points. The final place went to PCC member Geoff Moodie with 28 points.
There were two ‘2’s from Paul Bourke & Dennis Persson.
Div A (0-19)
1st Sugar Ray Handford (17) 34pts
2nd Michael Coleman (17) 34pts
3rd Campbell Potts (16) 33pts
4th Dennis Persson (18) 33pts
Div B (20+)
1st David Earthrowl (21) 33pts
2nd Colin Jones (20) 30pts
3rd Ken Davidson (20) 29pts
4th Geoff Moodie (26) 28pts
Friday, Nov. 2, Green Valley – Medal
Thirty-five players turned out for the Monthly Medal at Green Valley on a perfect day for golf, sunny with a light breeze. The course was again in good condition with great fairways and tees and the greens were consistent throughout. The pace of play was a little slow but that’s to be expected on a medal day.
The condition of the course and the great weather contributed to the good scores and the winners of the divisions all shot in the 60’s, with Division 3 winner being Don Lehmer who shot 69 net off his 20 handicap. Division 2 winner was Paul Rodgers who shot 68 net and beat Eddy Beilby on a count back, while Division 1 winner was Chris Playforth who continued his great form to shoot 69 net, but the DeVere Monthly Medal went to Paul Kelly with a great score of net 66. The Low Gross award went to Paul Greenaway with a gross 79, beating his playing partner Ian Heddle on a count back.
Only four ‘2’s for the day with Peter LeNoury on hole 12, Paul Greenaway on hole 16, Paul Rodgers on hole 9 and Eddy Beilby eagled hole 7.
Monthly Medal
1st Paul Kelly (25) net 66
Div A (0-13)
1st Chris Playforth (11) net 69
2nd Paul Greenaway (7) net 72
3rd Stephen Mann (8) net 73
Div B (14–18)
1st Paul Rodgers (17) net 68
2nd Eddy Beilby (18) net 68
3rd Barry McIntosh (17) net 71
Div C (19+)
1st Don Lehmer (20) net 69
2nd Suzi Lawton (19) net 71
3rd Ian Hart (19) net 71
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 give Jack a call on 087 941 2474.
