Travellers Rest Golf Group
With excitement now approaching fever pitch amongst the front runners in the race for the TRGG Champion Golfer of the Year 2015, I felt it was time to take a closer look at the three current leaders as they round the final bend and enter the home straight.
Firstly, with a combined age of about two hundred and twenty five years, I was perhaps exaggerating when actually describing them as runners and with old age taking its toll I cannot be at all certain they will all make it to the finish line. The current leader is suffering badly with poor eyesight and it must be like playing golf in blinkers so there is always the danger he will take the wrong course and head off in completely the wrong direction.
Rocky Jones (left) with Fergus Brennan.
The two immediately behind him and tied for second place are game triers. One is carrying a smidgen too much weight (well quite a lot actually) which may hinder his progress to the finishing line and the other suffers badly with arthritis in his fetlocks which may flare up at any time. Just to add interest there are three other golfers who are just behind the front three who may put in a late burst and snatch first place. So the rest of us wait with baited breath to see how things pan out.
One other talking point this week at the TRGG surrounds the well-worn custom of buying everyone a drink when you achieve a Hole in One or NOT as happened with two of our contestants who managed the feat over the last ten days. They are henceforth now known by their new name Cheap Charlie and both have been sent to Coventry, poor old Coventry.
Monday, Nov. 30, Phoenix – Stableford
On Monday the golfing week got underway with a trip over to Phoenix (Mountain and Ocean) to play the course for the last time at the affordable green fee offered to everybody during November. Next week the green fee will head into the stratosphere and most of our patrons will need to win the lottery to play this course so good luck to you all.
Jim Cooper.
In Division 1 it turned out to be a three-way tie at the top and only after a count back was it discovered that Rocky Jones had made it to the Number 1 slot. Roger Wilkinson chipped in to second place and the ever so chic Mod Chaviraksa stood up for all the ladies and took third spot.
In Division 2 the mighty Seamus Farrell restocked his coffers after a visit from his female relatives had depleted his personal fortune a tad and rocketed into equal first place for the Champion Golfer of the Year. Keep it up Seamus, a couple more wins and the trophy is yours. In second place came Michael Wadding and Billy Allan at last showed a bit of form to take third place.
Div.1 (0-14)
1st Rocky Jones (5) 38pts
2nd Roger Wilkinson (13) 38pts
3rd Mod Chaviraksa (11) 38pts
Div.2 (15+)
1st Seamus Farrell (25) 37pts
2nd Michael Wadding (16) 34pts
3rd Billy Allan (16) 34pts
Tuesday, Dec. 1, Burapha – Stableford
On Tuesday it was again the turn of Burapha (A and B courses) to provide us with a few obstacles. High scoring was again par for the course and in Division 1 Alan Rothwell stepped into first place with an excellent 39 points. Ian Bell was second a point behind and Rocky Jones, now off a 4-handicap, finished third.
In Division 2 the Grim Reaper Handicapper set about Fergus Brennan with certain degree of alacrity after his winning total of 40 points. He has been chopped two shots which perhaps should have been even more when I tell you that the next nearest competitors only managed 33 points. Charlie Cox just got the better of Billy Ostle after a count back.
Div.1 (0-12)
1st Alan Rothwell (6) 39pts
2nd Rocky Jones (4) 38pts
3rd Ian Bell (6) 37pts
Div. 2 (13+)
1st Fergus Brennan (15) 40pts
2nd Charlie Cox (13) 33pts
3rd Billy Ostle (13) 33pts
Thursday, Dec. 3, Green Valley – Stableford
The TRGG again headed over to Green Valley on Thursday and found the course to be in immaculate condition.
Now perhaps it was the wrong course because the winner of Division 1 rose like a phoenix from the ashes and won a golf competition. It has been weeks now that Jim Cooper has been suffering extreme pain in his right arm and he had been posted as missing somewhere in Pattaya. The word came down that Jim’s right arm was now as useful as a chocolate frying pan and that the condition was probably terminal. Jim explained to me that he had managed to drink through the pain and was going to once again try and swing a golf club. On only his second round back and still with the occasional grimace Jim Cooper has risen again. Welcome back Jim.
In second place only a point behind came Pat Harnett while Rocky Jones had another good round and finished third.
In Division 2 Bill Conway had a day to remember and racked up 40 points, which was easily good enough to take first place. Graeme Gamble played all the right cards to finish second and wily old Jack Mooney slipped into third place.
Div.1 (0-14)
1st Jim Cooper (13) 37pts
2nd Pat Harnett (14) 36pts
3rd Rocky Jones (4) 34pts
Div. 2 (15+)
1st Bill Conway (27) 40pts
2nd Graeme Gamble (15) 38 pts
3rd Jack Mooney (23) 36pts
Friday, Dec. 4, Khao Kheow – Stableford
On Friday it was back to Khao Kheow (A and B courses), which I seem to detect favours the ladies. It was therefore no surprise to see one of our best lady golfers, Rungratree Cox, take the course apart and return to the clubhouse with 42 points. The men were streets behind with Neil Bramley taking second and Ryan Thomas in third.
1st Rungratree Cox (9) 42pts
2nd Neil Bramley (8) 34 pts
3rd Michael Maguire (23) 33pts
Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG, please phone Derek Thorogood on 080 673 3118 or pop into the Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
