PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, Dec. 2, Burapha – Stableford
The Outback has been a loyal supporter of Burapha every Monday, through high and low season for more than six years but our numbers are at an all time low as they fall below 20 players. This is disappointing but largely of their (Burapha’s) own doing when they hiked the price to play here up over 30%, which many have found unwarranted. We remain hopeful though that some agreement can be reached to reduce the green fee to a more acceptable level.
As for the golf today, the 19 players were on the A & B nines again but this time from the blue tees, and looking at the scores we see Div B outshining Div A by a country mile; for example, had Tim Knight (5th in Div B) been playing in Div A, his 35pts would have won by two!
Steve Mann (centre), winner of the monthly medal, with runner-up David Davies (right) and third placed Tim Knight.
An amazing top score of the day was recorded by John O’Keefe with 43pts, which won him Div B by five from B2 (Bruce McAdam) and Jon Kittilsen, finishing in the frame again one point further back, whilst Div A was won by Peter Nixon on c/b from the rapidly improving, Greg Hill, both on 33.
Today marked the start of the 2014 Race2Bkk, which will run throughout the first half of next year, culminating in the final to be held sometime in August. All prize monies earned throughout the year will be converted to points and totalled, with the top 20 or 24 going through to the final, to play for the top prize of 20,000 Baht.
There was just one ‘2’, from Jon Kittilsen on B3.
Div A (0-16)
1st Peter Nixon (11) 33pts
2nd Greg Hill (16) 33pts
3rd Wally Brown (13) 32pts
Div B (17+)
1st John O’Keefe (18) 43pts
2nd Bruce McAdam (28) 38pts
3rd Jon Kittilsen (22) 37pts
Wednesday, Dec. 4, Bangpra – Stableford
This was our second high season visit to Bangpra, which proved yet again to be very popular as the booking number was increased twice from the original 16 up to 24. With an 8.30am start and a gorgeous sunny morning, this is truly the time to play this wonderful course; a beautiful setting, the bougainvillea in full bloom and bountiful wildlife, although the monkeys were a little scarce.
Greeted by the head starter, “Starting from the 10th, go when you’re ready”, set us all up for a less than four hour round with a very smooth transition onto the first tee and the course was once again in fantastic condition with the greens playing their usual part in various players tales of woe.
No such tales however from two players who stood head and shoulders above the rest, both recent winners: John O’Keefe (already cut 2 shots following his 43pts on Monday) who easily won Div A with 40pts and Jon Kittilsen, who took Div B with 41.
The minor places in Div A were taken by Svenn Lund (2nd) some eight shots adrift with 32 and Wally Brown (31), who was having his last game with us before returning to Aus.
In Div B, Tim Knight (after taking the money from John & Jack) found himself in second on 34 from late entrant Ivan Plunkett in third with 32. An interesting group, who played together, Jon, Svenn, Ivan & Tim – all finished on the podium.
Finally, a special welcome back to Ray Dell – great to see you, shame about the golf but I know you had a good day out.
There were two ‘2’s, both on the 2nd hole, from Eddy Beilby & Peter Nixon.
Div A (0-16)
1st John O’Keefe (16) 40pts
2nd Svenn Ole Lund (13) 32pts
3rd Wally Brown (13) 31pts
Div B (17+)
1st Jon Kittilsen (22) 41pts
2nd Tim Knight (24) 34pts
3rd Ivan Plunkett (24) 32pts
Friday, Dec. 6, Green Valley – Monthly Medal
A beautiful blue sky again but a chilly 26 degrees with a cool breeze, a far cry from Angus’s round in the UK where it was also sunny but a Baltic 8 degrees, see you in Feb next year.
36 Outbackers turned out to play in our Monthly Medal sponsored by the Outback Bar and then Greg Hirst of DeVere Financial will kindly continue to sponsor all the Monthly Medals throughout 2014.
We teed off on time but it was slow for the first three or four holes, which is not unusual here, before we got a bit of a move on, however the course was very busy and four and a half hours was the best we could do. Nevertheless, the course is still in excellent condition although the greens had been cored and sanded but they were still relatively fast.
It’s been a while coming; his driving has been wayward, his putting not his best and short game off colour, but today Steve Mann got it all together to shoot one of his best rounds in a very long time, a fine 75 off the stick (net 64) to win the low gross medal and collect the unique Outback monthly trophy. It was an excellent round of golf to win by three from David Davies (67) and Tim Knight (69), with Suzi, off a wicked handicap of 28, also firing a good round for a net 69 despite her first drive of about one meter with the ball not even leaving tee box.
Other Race2Bkk double point winners included Eddy Beilby (70), Scott Golden (70), welcome back mate, and last but by no means least, John Lawton (73).
Congratulations to all who attended the presentation, I can’t remember the last time all the podium finishers were present, and thanks to Steve for his very generous “bell ring”.
There were seven ‘2’s from Maurice Copan (4th), Paul Bourke, Peter LeNoury, Stephen Mann, Steve Plant & Neil Skilton (all on the 12th) and David Davies (on the 16th).
1st Stephen Mann (11) net 64
2nd David Davies (26) net 67
3rd Tim Knight (24) net 69
4th Suzi Lawton (28) net 69
5th Eddy Beilby (18) net 70
6th Scott Golden (21) net 70
7th John Lawton (20) net 73
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. Call Jack on 081 578 1956.
