PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s
Tuesday, April 9, Bangpra – Stableford
Well it looks like the ‘low season’ is well and truly underway as the Sports Days come back into fashion at the ‘premier’ courses and we, the peasants, are able to play them. So after Khao Kheow last week we were off to spoil ourselves at Bangpra. Mind, we will have a halt in play as that well know local phenomenon takes place and we take cold baths in the street in our clothes. We even get free powder. Woe is me!
So for our last Tuesday of freedom, for a couple of weeks, and off we went to Bangpra to be met with a nearly empty parking area, and a smooth book-in, not even any sitting around until 1000 hrs. So a quick change and it was soon onto the first tee, to find that we could get straight away.
Tuesday winner Derek Brook (left) celebrates with Dick Warberg.
Those who have played Bangpra know that it is the ‘original’ course on The Eastern Seaboard and as such has matured very well. We even have our own troop of monkeys, that is one troop for every player and much fun can be had chasing your golf ball. On this occasion the monkey was only a little baby one, so after a short chase I managed to get back my ball. Do not leave anything unattended.
So the course was fine, in great condition, and I think that says it all. The greens were as quick as any we have played, mind, not as fast as they used to be a few years ago. So off we went and all went well until well into the back nine, then we met the five-ball that teed off at 0800hrs and things slowed down. I didn’t bother with the ‘Bangpra ice-cream’, building up to it slowly like the 5-ball!
Back at Bert’s it was soon time for the presentation and as we had arrived back early we were able to do the results a bit earlier than normal. The winner with 35 points was your scribe, Derek Brook, with a handicap that can only be called really good, because he won ahead of a three-way count back on 34 points that saw Dick Warberg in second, A.V.D. in third and Walter Baechli in fourth. I think I can get used to this handicap, even though I never had one so high in 25 years. Watch this space!
Near Pins: Walter Baechli (2)
Thursday, April 11, Burapha – Stableford
There were small numbers on the day due to the annual migration from Pattaya. We were playing on a Thursday as the Friday was a Holiday with weekend rates and we also wanted to avoid the traffic mayhem in Pattaya during Songkran.
The sky was cloudy as we reached Burapha, but not having any rain on our golfing days out for many months it was straight to the first tee and away we went. The test for the day was to be the A & C Nines as Burapha was hosting the Annual Pattaya Singha Open the following week and the B & D Nines were being readied for the event.
Due to it being a ‘Sports Day’ and a great rate for the course, and the closure of the B & C Nines, the place was pretty busy and the pace of play was on the slow side. Several tricky pin positions did nothing to improve the pace as many three-putts at best were in most players games. Umbrellas were needed for a short time about half way around due to a brief shower, and again as we finished the 18th, as a fairly strong thunder storm descended on the area.
All finished however without delay and it was into a welcoming shower and a bite at the restaurant as the results were tabulated. The results were good despite some earlier grumbling about using the longer blue tees.
Soon back at Bert’s it was time for the ‘Great British Pie’, thanks Bert. Then into the results and the winner with a fine 40 points was Walter Baechli, with Noel Pittard in second on 36 points, Brian Parish in third with 35 and Max Scott fourth with 34. T.T.F.N.
