Phoenix Tuesday/Friday & Sunday Golf Group
Hi. As you can see from the headline of the group we have now added Sunday’s to our weekly golf, which is more popular for the Phoenix members. Guests are still very welcome but the green fee would be 1,600 baht plus caddy and cart fee, as a guest of the members. OK for the rich!
So onto the golf and first up was Friday Jan 13 when some of our group played at Phoenix, but due to the fact that 8 of the group went to Soi Dao for two days I can only report on the events that happened there.
Tuesday’s top three (standing rear) pose with staff members from the Relax Bar.
For those who know of Soi Dao Golf & Country Club I do not need to tell them how good it is. For those of you who have not experienced the venue I can only recommend that you do so as soon as you can. Obviously the high season dates are better because the weather is a little drier. This resort is smack in the middle of a beautiful mountain range and when there are any rain clouds about the course usually gets the brunt of it.
On the first day after we had checked into the hotel we went out to play and found that although the course was in superb condition, the greens were very slow due to not being cut on that day. The day was very overcast and cold! Just like back in dear old ‘Blighty’.
By day two however the weather had warmed up and the sun came out, plus the greens had been cut and they were much better to judge.
Both days were a huge success and Denis Dixon swept us all away on both days with scores of 40 points on day one and 39 on day two, after being cut a shot. Both scores equated to 81 gross.
Sunday, Jan 15, Phoenix – Stableford
With only two groups to worry about today I thought this would be my time to really relax and concentrate on pure golf. Think again McDuff! There we all were, standing on the tee waiting for Goort Gelten and wondering where he was. So I called him and he reminded me that he had told me he was not playing that day. Stupid boy Gerrard – only two groups to sort and I make a mess of it.
So after a long period of mediocre golf and increasing handicaps, Bill Hewitt finally came good and won the day with a score of 35 points, with myself second on 33 points (not scoring any points on the last two holes) and Eamon Murtagh and Stuart Gordon on 30 points for joint third.
Tuesday, Jan 17, Phoenix – Stableford
Tuesday has always been our main day at Phoenix and at this time of the year we are really oversubscribed with players. The problem is we try to set our target at 7 groups maximum, but we also have a rule where we try not to refuse anyone a game.
As usual, some of the latecomers throw the spanner in the works which really does make the arrangement of the groups very difficult. Never mind, only for a few weeks.
Today we were playing for the Nemo’s Music Lounge voucher, kindly donated by Federico Zambon.
Mountain and Lake course was the task for the day. Sadly the greens had not been attended to for a few days (or so it seems) and they were very inconsistent.
We segregated the players into two flights today with ‘B’ flight 19 and up and ‘A’ Flight 0 to 18.
A Flight winner was again Bill Hewitt with a fine 38 points. With 23 points on the back nine he easily pushed Keith Etherington into second place, who also scored 38 points. Keith has been here for three weeks now and has just adjusted to our type of courses from those of the UK. Sad that his best score to date should be beaten on a count back. In third place was myself with 34 points.
Onto B Flight now where the scores were slightly poorer. The winner was John Bartley with 30 points, in second place was Peter Harris with 29 and in third place was Colin Gregg with 28 points.
Our hosts the Relax Bar looked after all of us as usual and donated the lucky draw prizes, which went to Sergio Volpi, Fred West, and a few more.
Near pins went Denis Dixon, Goort Gelten, Peter Rawling & Joe Miller.
Next week we are incorporating a pairs competition in addition to the usual singles game on the Tuesday and Thursday and Friday a large group of us are going to Royal Hills Hotel and Golf Course for a couple of days.
For further information regarding golf and sea fishing call me on 087 091 7565.
