PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s
Tuesday, April 8, Bangpra – Stableford
I always know the low season has started when we visit Bangpra. During high season it is difficult to get the tee times we want here and the rate does tend to be a little high for our regulars. But come April, off we go to Bangpra and at a reasonable rate and time.
This course can be a really tough test of golf and in many respects it always depends on the wind and the speed of the greens. On this day we were off a little early as the tee was free when we got there and I noted the wind was strong but not overly so.
Friday winner Derek Brook (right) with one of Bert’s finest.
The fairways were good if a little firm and then we reached the greens, which were not as fast as expected and were a little slow if anything. Take these greens lightly however and they will bite hard, as they did today. When you have played this course over many years you still expect the greens to be fast, so when they turn out not to be it’s hard work getting the ball to the hole. Then on the next putt you hit it too firmly downhill and away the ball zooms.
The round was very enjoyable if a little hot, except for the fact they closed the rest-stop by the stroke index one hole and it was inundated with monkeys. They can be a real nuisance and some of us had planned to top up with water here but had to wait a few more holes.
Back at Bert’s it was soon time for the results which up to the standards of late were quite low. The winner in the A Flight, 0 to 18, was Walter Baechli with 34 points on count back over Brian Parish in second. In third was Brian Gabe with 31 points on count back over Mashi Kaneta.
In the B Flight we had the best score of the day when Jim Ferris won with 37 points. In second was George King with 34 and in third was Dave Cooper with 31.
Near Pins: Bob Britton, Brian Parish, Mashi Kaneta
Friday, April 11, Pattana – Stableford
If you have not been to play here you really have to make the effort. During the high season it seems difficult, not only to get a tee time, but to get a reasonable green fee. We saw an opportunity when Pattana advertised a cheap green fee in the Pattaya Mail for groups of 5, at 800 baht per player. This ran out on April 11 so we cut the vouchers out of the newspaper and booked for that day.
I think the course staff were a little surprised when our group turned up with cut outs from the Pattaya Mail, but after discussions they accepted the rate and we all booked in. Some say good old Dick for the forethought.
Tuesday’s B Flight winners pose with one of Bert’s helpers.
So having booked in it was down to the changing rooms. Those who have not been here would be astonished at the quality of this clubhouse, and to my mind it is the best of any golf clubhouse in the area. Indeed, you will have to go a long way to get a better set up. The changing rooms are a pleasure to use.
Out in the course the test for the day was to be the B & C nines, and for those who know the course that means a drive on the B1 between two water hazards, then an approach across another stretch of water to a raised green with a bunker in front. A tough start indeed!
The good thing about Pattana is that it has grass on all the fairways, so you feel that you can actually hit the ball off them. Many courses at the moment are bare and hard, but not Pattana. Mind, it is a tough course and the greens are part of the challenge. On this day they were hard and fast and some of the greens are very large so three-putts are not out of the normal.
With us well underway we noticed the sky start to darken and the wind pick up and then about B 7 the rain hit and we heard the siren go, so we quickly found a rest stop where we saw out the worst of the rain. When the siren went again we were soon underway, but the ground was a bit wet and soggy and carts were kept to the cart paths. It was still raining and as we approached the B9 green and it came down harder so once again we had to take cover for a short period. When it stopped raining we gave it 10 minutes to allow the green to drain.
On to the back nine and the rain had slowed things down, but the scribe was going great guns, best round for years, so the cooled atmosphere was a pleasure. The C nine is difficult and you need to stick at it, but with the rain slowing the greens down it was a great walk in the park. So, all in all it was a really fine day out and a pleasure to play despite the rain. Even more so as the scribe had his best round for years!
The changing rooms as said are superb but then I looked to have a drink before leaving. You can go upstairs to the restaurant, but it tends to be a ++ place, however it is usually fine dining. On this day I went to the downstairs café where you can get a quick snack and I had a cold can of beer, and very welcome it was I can tell you. Then I found Mashi and it was back to Bert’s
Once back at Bert’s it was time for the results to be announced. With his best day for years the winner on the day was the scribe, Derek Brook, with 44 points, and it could not have happened to a nicer guy! In second, also with his best round for years, and five birdies, was Les Cobban, well played. We then had a count back on 38 points that saw Brian Parish in third and Mike O’Brien in fourth. T.T.F.N.
Near Pins: Brian Parish, Mashi Kaneta, Les Cobban, Tom Herrington
