PSC Golf from The Billabong Golf Bar
Monday, Oct. 12, Siam Plantation – Stableford
Plantation was in great condition and with no rain and just a gentle breeze to keep the heat off, we had 5 groups playing and were away right on time. There is nothing you can say about this course apart from just sheer class and a pleasure to play on. The greens are something else – fast and true.
Playing with Lumpy is always a pleasure but sometimes it has its disadvantages; like today when one of his group got to a par five in 3 and got back onto the green in 7 and one putted for an 8. Another of that group got the nickname Shirley Shanker and Lumpy said the caddy had a sore neck from continuously looking right, but it can’t have been all bad for Shirley as she took his money.
Lumpy Russell with Mike Johns and Aaron Smith.
It was a welcome for the Aussie boys, over for 3 weeks of R and R including golf but unfortunately for them only one got into the prizes – John Scarlett getting one of the two ‘2’s along with Mike Johns.
Third place went to Lumpy Russell with a fine 35 points, second went to Mike Johns with 38 and the top spot went to Aaron Smith with a great 39 points.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, Green Valley – Stableford
We were welcomed by near perfect golfing weather on our arrival at Green Valley but unbeknown to those waiting to tee off, heavy rain the previous day had left the fairways very wet and totally without any run at all. The approach to greens were particularly wet which, perhaps, was the reason that only 2 golfers out of 28 played to or bettered their handicap.
Ramsay Smith with Rick Culley, Greig Ritchie, Graham Gibson and birthday boy Mark Arathoon.
Torrents of water running off the fairway into the bunkers badly damaged the face of many, but guess what, bunkers are a hazard after all. Following the heavy scarifying the previous week, the greens were still not back to anything like reasonable but they will get there eventually.
The difficult conditions did not deter Gerry Roche showing a clean pair of heels to the rest of the field, coming in with a very good 40 points to win the day and finish well clear of George ‘the Cuban’ Barrie with 37 points. There was a scramble for the minor placings with 4 golfers on 35 points. Soon to be returning home, Alistair Gall, had 18 on the back nine while Auk Engelkes faltered on the final hole to record 16.
There were three 2s today, recorded by Peter Bird, John Player and Auke.
Friday, Oct. 16, Burapha – Stableford
We played the A and B loops at Burapha today off the white tees – long enough for us old chaps at just over 6300 yards. We had 9 groups playing and were all off a little earlier than our allotted tee time in clear skies and just a nice breeze.
The course as usual was in great condition with the greens being very fast but also very true. The scores were exceptionally good also with a good number of the group scoring well under their handicap.
We had a three-way count back for 5th place between Paul Greenaway, Peter Shaw and Rick Culley, with Rick taking that spot with 38 points. Coming in 4th was George Barrie with 39 points, him being beaten on a count back by Ramsay Smith also 39. Second place went to Greig Ritchie with 42 points and taking the top spot was one of our Australian friends, Graham Gibson, with 43, and I think he got the mystery beer as well.
There were three ‘2’s coming from Allan Beck, his lovely partner Karen Craigie and Greig Ritchie.
