PSC Golf Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, Jan. 15, Khao Kheow – Stableford
A Flight
1st Pierre Cere (13) 33pts
2nd Bob Watson (4) 33pts
3rd Colin Smith (13) 33pts
B Flight
1st Craig Mitcham (18) 40pts
2nd Ralph McConnell (16) 36pts
3rd Alan Sullivan (15) 32pts
C Flight
1st Helene Lindberg (23) 37pts
2nd Chris Walsh (23) 31pts
3rd John Anderson (29) 28pts
A visit to the amazing Khao Kheow Golf Club is always something to look forward to and today we lined up 38 players in 10 groups.
Only 5 days earlier Khao Kheow received so much rain in one day so as to cause the abandonment of the PSC Charity Classic. But the course recovered so well that it looked magnificent on this day. We played B and A nines off the yellow tees and carts were allowed on the fairways, which were quite firm, but as is the case at KK, not a lot of run.
The greens were in superb condition, with some interesting pin placements, and the ball rolled well and with good speed.
This is regarded as a fairly tough course, so we had only three players scoring handicap or better. None was better than B flight winner Craig Mitcham with a terrific 40 points. This was his send off as he was set to return to his job in cold old UK.
Ralph McConnell should have been going as well, but decided to extend his stay and racked up a nice even 36 points to take second spot, while Alan Sullivan made 32 points in his first outing with Links Golf.
C flight saw our only lady golfer Helene Lindberg take the honours with a fine 37 points to finish well in front of second placed Chris Walsh on 31 points, and then John Anderson won a narrow count-back to sneak into third with just 28.
Why A flight last? The top score of this flight was only 33 points, shared between three players. Pierre Cere won out with the best back nine (A) course, then Bob Watson tipped out Colin Smith to grab second. Perhaps not big points, but well played to those three.
Four near pins out today and all were won by Henry Mah (B3), Mike Wilsher (B8), John Hughes (A3), and Tony Gavaghan (A5).
Best nines by non-winners were posted by Bill Copeland (front, 19pts) and Mike Allidi (back, 18pts).
Wednesday, Jan. 17, Greenwood – Stableford
A Flight
1st Bill Copeland (11) 36pts
2nd Peter Wilson (8) 34pts
3rd Takeshi Hakozaki (14) 33pts
B Flight
1st Len Jones (29) 35pts
2nd John Anderson (29) 34pts
3rd Helene Lindberg (23) 32pts
How many different ways can one describe just how good this course is. We played the A and B nines and were presented with grassed and nicely mown fairways and greens that were first class, slightly slower than we expected, but great to putt on.
Bill Copeland is a man who enjoys his golf and he headed up the A Flight with 36 points off his handicap of 11, and the top score of the day. Peter Wilson doesn’t play that often, but when he does he is usually in the call of the podium. And so it was today taking second place with a nice 34 points. Another one seemingly always at or near the top is Takeshi Hakozaki who took third place with 33 points.
In B Flight John Anderson was clubhouse leader with only one last card to come in. Then came Len Jones to pip him at the post. Len scored 35 points to John’s 34. Coming in third was lady golfer Helene Lindberg with 32 points, beating husband Mikael on a count-back.
Near pins went to Rod Stevens (A6), Thorsten Jodehl (B2), and Maurice Roberts (B5).
Best nines from non-winners came from Dave Moriarity (17pts, front) and Larry Slattery (17pts, back).
