The Tropical Golf Group
Tuesday, Dec. 19, Khao Kheow A & C – Stableford
After a quick book in and change we were down to the first tee nice and early and were told we could start straight away. So off we went with a very strong wind against us, playing the C nine first. The outward nine holes were as we expected, hard work, but you cannot do anything about the weather.
The course was in decent shape and just as difficult as ever, especially on the greens where with the strong winds the ball went where it wanted at times.
Back in Pattaya it was soon into the results and in the A Flight, 0 to 19, the winner was Rob Brown with 37 points ahead of Brian Parish in second with 36. Taking third place was John Davis with 30 points, with Tom Herrington in fourth with 29.
In the B Flight, 20 up, the winner by a street was Patrick Poussier who had 42 points, which in that wind and on that difficult a course was truly a round for him to remember. Way back in the dust with 33 points was Don Carmody in second, with Carole Kubicki in third with 32. We then had a four way count-back on 31 points that saw Derek Brook in fourth.
Best front nine for non-winners was Daryl Evans with 18 points and best back nine came from Andre Van Dyk with 17.
Friday, Dec. 22, Pattavia – Monthly Mug
Monthly Mug
Dave Cooper (27) net 63
A-Flight (0-21)
1st Tom Herrington (18) net 73
2nd John Davis (14) net 74
3rd Walter Baechli (19) net 75
4th Brian Parish (12) net 76
B-Flight (0-21)
1st Torsten Bishoff (30) net 72
2nd Don Carmody (34) net 72
3rd Fred Tam (32) net 73
4th Kenny Chung (27) net 73
Pattavia is an interesting course. From a detached point of view it is not so hard, and is in quite good condition. Most holes have wide fairways and there is less water than many courses in the area. A couple of long par threes adds some spice, but where Pattavia really defends itself is the greens. And how! People say the greens at Pattavia are quite fast. Not really so, as the few level greens show them to be about average with a slight not to the quick side. What the greens are is contoured. Heavy slopes make any downhill putt that doesn’t drop a (hopefully) two stroke coming back. Those lucky or skilled enough to be below the hole on most greens would fare well.
In the monthly mug comp, Dave Cooper got his Christmas gift early as the golf gods gave him the round of a lifetime, or at least this year. Dave (c/h 27) finished head, shoulders, and a par 5 ahead of the field with a stunning net 63 – a full nine strokes clear of the field! We had to check his card twice to make sure he played all 18. We don’t know if this is the lowest monthly mug score ever, but certainly the largest winning margin.
