PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, March 31, Burapha – Stableford
The first venue for the week was our regular visit to Burapha where we originally elected to play A & B from the blues but for some reason, better known to the caddies or the starter, we ended up on B & D from the whites.
We had 36 players, which included Lance Robinson’s group joining us for the first day of their two week tour. Swedish Jack and Kiwi Glen also joined us and Jack is now playing off 3.
Greg Hirst.
The course must have played easy, as there were some great scores returned; two 39’s from John Cunningham and Steve Mann, followed home by a 38 (73 gross) from the aforementioned Jack Grindvold. Svenn Lund was having his first game since arriving from Norway the night before but the colder weather there had done little to affect Svenn’s handicap as he won Div B with 37pts, after only 20 minutes warming up on the driving range. Steady Jarod (2nd) was there again with another 36pts so the handicapper won’t be able to get at him – much to the disappointment of Geoff and John.
Peter Nixon and Mark Kembrey were the other two on the Div B podium as they both scored creditable 34’s.
The day’s top score came from one of our Aussie visitors who admitted he had a good day out with a very fine 41pts, but for sure he will have a lot of barracking from the rest of the group to put up with, so well done Jack Huel. Just one point back was Kiwi Glen with 40pts, another very good score and he in turn was four points clear of third placed Bruce McAdam.
There were nine ‘2’s from John Cunningham & Svenn Ole Lund (B3), Gary Hallawell (B8), Jack Grindvold, Tony Pike, John Poulter & Glen Perkinson (D2) and Paul Bourke & Kerry Beck (D8).
Div A (0-10)
1st John Cunningham (7) 39pts
2nd Stephen Mann (10) 39pts
3rd Jack Grindvold (3) 38pts
4th Tony Pike (4) 37pts
Div B (11 – 16)
1st Svenn Ole Lund (13) 37pts
2nd Jarod Braithwaite (16) 36pts
3rd Peter Nixon (11) 34pts
4th Mark Kembrey (16) 34pts
Div C (17+)
1st Jack Huel (20) 41pts
2nd Glen Perkinson (22) 40pts
3rd Bruce McAdam (27) 36pts
4th Greg Hill (18) 35pts
Tuesday, April 1, Laem Chabang – Stableford
29 players for our return to Laem Chabang for the first time in 2014 as this was the first of their series of Sport Days during the low season. The welcome by the staff was great and the caddies were happy to see us as the high season had not been very good because of the troubles in Bangkok.
Lance Robinson, Gordon Etheridge, Bob McDowell, John Poulter, Colin Jenkins, Jack Huel, Martin Burbidge & Gary Hallawell.
We played the Mountain and the Ocean courses (or A & B on the card) and both nines were in great condition, with good fairways, greens that were flat and true and just the right speed for us amateurs. Overall it was a great experience and I am certainly looking forward to playing every Tuesday in the low season.
The group was split into two divisions with Ron Dickie taking Div A with an excellent 38pts from Aussie visitor Martin Burbidge on 37 and a newbie to the Outback, the American Ian Pickles on 36. Fourth place was occupied by another of Martin’s travelling companions, Gary Hallawell who beat Steve Mann on c/b.
Two top drawer scores came in Div B from Tony McDonough and Waldo, both with 42’s, and just one point back was another Aussie from the group, Gordon Etheridge, while his mate Colin Jenkins was well back in fourth with 34.
There were two ‘2’s from Jack Huel and Colin Jenkins.
Div A (0-15)
1st Ron Dickie (6) 38pts
2nd Martin Burbidge (7) 37pts
3rd Ian Pickles (13) 36pts
4th Gary Hallawell (12) 35pts
Div B (16+)
1st Tony McDonough (17) 42pts
2nd Stephen Blazsanyik (19) 42pts
3rd Gordon Etheridge (16) 41pts
4th Colin Jenkins (16) 34pts
Wednesday, April 2, Khao Kheow – Stableford
There is something about Khao Kheow which makes a golfer’s best game vanish and with the exception of one player today, Nut – aka Tangphong Phipit, the rest of the 20 strong field once again failed to play to handicap.
Wednesday Div. B winners Nut, Kim Danboise and Peter Hausberger with Geoff (standing rear).
Playing B & A from the yellow tees, we were away on time in fairly sultry conditions on a busy course which was generally in good nick. The pace of play wasn’t brilliant but was acceptable and after the exalted showings from our Aussie group at both Burapha and Laem Chabang, it was here at Khao Kheow where they crashed and burned. The best they could offer was the 29pts returned by Colin Jenkins for third place in Div A and although ‘Scrubbs’, who we later identified as Gordon Etheridge, got a ‘2’, there was little else on the card of any value. Gary Hallawell’s card also went astray, probably for the same reasons.
Steve Mann took the honours in Div A with his 34pts while a fast finishing Jack Grindvold, with 38 gross on A, was just one point back in second. Nut recorded the best score of the day, playing extremely well for her 38pts off a handicap of 26 and she and Suzi thoroughly outplayed Jack and visitor from Hua Hin, Peter Hayes. Welcome to you Peter and also to Peter Hausberger from Austria who shot 33pts off a 22 h’cap to take third place in Div B, with Kim Danboise in second on 34.
There was one other ‘2’, from Jack Grindvold.
Div A (0-16)
1st Stephen Mann (10) 34pts
2nd Jack Grindvold (3) 33pts
3rd Colin Jenkins (16) 29pts
Div B (17+)
1st Tangphong Phipit (26) 38pts
2nd Kim Danboise (19) 34pts
3rd Peter Hausberger (22) 33pts
Friday, April 4, St. Andrews – Stableford
There were nine groups today playing at St Andrews due to Green Valley having a competition. The course was only in average condition and this is supposed to be one of the better courses in the area – if our customers had to pay the full rate it most certainly wouldn’t be on their current list of ‘must-plays’ was a comment made by many. The bunkers were like concrete as they had very little sand in them and the greens were very ordinary and didn’t seem to hold their consistency.
I do believe from a source that they are putting in new sand at St Andrews and at Green Valley but we will wait and see what happens but something desperately needs to be done here at St Andrews.
Not that we promote the idea of club throwing but I guess when you can’t get a birdie on the course (state of the greens?), best you try for one in the trees – I heard from a dickie bird that somebody threw a club which landed in a tree and didn’t come down; then to retrieve it he threw his driver as well. Now he’s got two clubs stuck – See, don’t throw clubs, it could be dangerous or just very embarrassing.
The division split was a little uneven with nine in Div A, eleven in Div B and thirteen in Div C, with the best score coming from a newbie with the Outback, Robert Moore with a very fine 40pts to win Div B from the returning Sel Wegner (39) and the resurgent Martin Kingswood (38).
Waldo continued his run of excellent form, winning Div C with 38pts from another man playing well at the moment, Tony McDonough (36) – Tony beat Carl Luke on count back.
The top division went to no stranger to the podium, Paul Bourke on 36, beating Kerry Beck on c/b with Peter Nixon one back on 35.
There were five ‘2’s from Peter Nixon & Barry Copestake (3rd), Jimmy Little (5th) and Paul Bourke & Martin Burbidge (10th).
Div A (0-12)
1st Paul Bourke (10) 36pts
2nd Kerry Beck (11) 36pts
3rd Peter Nixon (11) 35pts
Div B (13-16)
1st Robert Moore (13) 40pts
2nd Sel Wegner (15) 39pts
3rd Martin Kingswood (14) 38pts
Div C (17+)
1st Stephen Blazsanyik (18) 38pts
2nd Tony McDonough (17) 36pts
3rd Carl Luke (17) 36pts
Saturday, April 5, Green Valley – Stableford
It’s pleasing to report a good turnout on Saturday at Green Valley, although the weather did it’s very best to disrupt the field with four players cancelling early in the morning. Of the brave-hearts who played, our Monthly Medal sponsor Greg Hirst of DeVere led the way having scored only 12 points on the front nine before romping in with 22 on the back for a total of 34pts. He beat Aussie visitor Colin Jenkins on count back, with Gary Hallawell five back on 29.
With no ‘2’s the podium places went down to fifth place.
The Saturday golf here at Green Valley is aimed primarily at the guys who work in Thailand, Monday to Friday as well of course to visitors but regular players are always welcome.
1st Greg Hirst (28) 34pts
2nd Colin Jenkins (16) 34pts
3rd Gary Hallawell (12) 29pts
4th Geoff Braithwaite (8) 27pts
5th Martin Burbidge (7) 27pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. Call Jack on 081 578 1956.
