‘Mighty Joe’ mauls the field

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PSC golf from The Golf Club

Monday, Nov. 7, Green Valley – Stableford

1st Joe Mooneyham (16) 47pts

2nd Rick Harris (8) 40pts

3rd Martin Zimmerman (16) 38pts

Joe ‘bionic’ Mooneyham – what’s a little heart surgery, replacement knees or all and sundry bits of minor surgery got to do with it anyway?  When you can knock that ball around like our ‘6 million baht man’ did on Monday at Green Valley then the answer is ‘not a whole lot’.

Forty seven points is, I think, the highest individual score I have ever had to report, thank the Lord it was the PSC golf chairman himself who scored it.  Imagine the dilemma I’d have been in if a first time visitor, say, had come in with it, there would have been uproar!

This week’s winners, your correspondent Bob Newell (left) and Joe Mooneyham. This week’s winners, your correspondent Bob Newell (left) and Joe Mooneyham.

It just goes to show that maybe sometimes we could have been a bit tough on people who have done just that and there is a game like that inside all of us, even if it is buried quite a bit deeper for some.

Spare a thought for the mere mortals then on Joe’s day.  There were a multitude of scores in the mid 30’s, with the solid and consistent striking of Jimmy Brackett pulling 36 points and, after his brilliant performance of the previous day, Peter LeNoury notched 37.  However, these scores weren’t good enough for the money places.

Martin ‘I think I can get to 12’ Zimmerman grabbed third with another fine effort and 38 (keep it up mate and I think you’ll get there too).  A rare visit from Rick Harris proved fruitful for him, with a very fine 40 pointer off his 8 handicap.  But head and shoulders, along with hips, knees and feet, above the rest, stood ‘Mighty Joe’ Mooneyham.  Well done Joe!

Just a quick note on the course: I’m happy to report that Green Valley seems to be on the mend.  Although the greens have some way to go the overall condition seems to improve week by week.  Let’s hope it continues.

Wednesday, November 9, Crystal Bay – Stableford

1st Bob Newell (7) 39pts

2nd John Pierrel (12) 37pts

As reported the last time we played here, I’m staggered that people still don’t seem to have woken up to the fact that Crystal Bay is back to its best and an absolute gem to play.  It is without doubt one of  the prettiest courses around, it’s not a difficult course to walk, it doesn’t beat you up and, today, at 700 baht green fee, what’s not to like about it?

Maybe I should just keep quiet and keep enjoying the millionaire’s golf out there!  One other factor that drew broad smiles from players today was ‘run-on-the-ball’ After what seems like months of seeing a good looking shot just splat into the ground (or even come backwards at times) it was a real joy to see that thing bounce and run.

With our small, but none the less, happy bunch, playing in lovely conditions, with a nice cooling breeze it was a little surprising not to see better scores.  An improvement on the last time it has to be said but we’re still a long way from being ‘straight A’ students, Tommy.

John Pierrel’s form has dipped of late but he came roaring back to get the second of only two places today and he looked a much more relieved player handing in his 37 point scorecard.  Unfortunately for him, the guy he handed it to, er….me, had just carded a 39 to complete a very good run of form over the last 2 weeks.

Friday sees us playing and supporting the very worthy Royal British Legion Poppy Day game at Khao Kheow so it’s another abbreviated write-up for this week.  Unless of course some of the Golf Club boys do well, then I may just have to scribble something down quickly.  As they say in all the best papers – ‘watch this space’.