PSC Golf Bunkers Boys at The Ranch
After suffering through nearly a year of the heebie-jeebies, due to a successful attempt to give up the native Americans’ revenge on the white conquerors – tobacco, Barry Murnin returned to top form by posting two wins and dropping his handicap by four strokes within a week. Beware you A-flight guys: there’s a new sheriff in town.
Monday, Dec. 7, Crystal Bay A & C – Medal
Medal play usually brings out the best in our guys and today was no exception. More than half of the twenty players posted scores in the mid-70’s net. In fact, all three positions in A-flight were taken with a 73 net; count back being the determining factor in all cases.
Barry Murnin.
Smashing his drive within a wedge of the par-4 385 yard 5th hole on C-course, Mike Johns was appropriately enough referred to as “that gorilla” by Max Bracegirdle after having had his putting routine interrupted by the sound of a ball bounding towards him. Fortunately, Max was able to find his composure and make his putt and, yes, “that gorilla” got a bird.
The real story of today’s round, as noted above, was the fine play of our favorite Yank, well, not really, as “that gorilla” holds that position, Barry Murnin. Playing off a twenty handicap, he posted a 65 net taking first place in B-flight six points in front of second place finisher, Jimmy Carr. Needless to say, the Bunker Boys didn’t take real kindly to being upstaged by a twenty handicapper and, accordingly Barry will be playing off of seventeen next time out.
A Flight
1st Niall Glover (15) net 73
2nd Keith Hemmings (17) net 73
3rd Tony Robbins (17) net 73
B Flight
1st Barry Murnin (20) net 65
2nd Jimmy Carr (19) net 71
3rd Les Hall (23) net 72
Near Pins: Barry Murnin, Niall Glover, Andy Brady, Tony Robbins
Wednesday, Dec. 9, Pattavia – Stableford
Fourteen Bunker Boys showed up at The Ranch looking forward to a round at BangPakong only to discover that there had been a last minute cancellation due to overbooking. What to do? Our operations manager, Tony Robbins, wasted no time securing a slot at the lovely Pattavia G.C., and off we went to pineapple fields forever.
We arrived to find the course seemingly abandoned: only a few cars in the lot, no one in the pro shop or locker room, and caddies galore. Just another one of those beautiful days in golf paradise. Well, probably like your marriage, it wasn’t long before there was trouble in paradise. How quickly heaven can turn to hell! On the third hole we came upon a 5-ball of locals playing from the back tees and measuring every putt: obviously they weren’t playing for fun and some serious dough was involved. Gotta love it! Anyway, by the par-5 12th hole we had four groups waiting to tee off. Do I need to go on??
Arriving back at the club house, after what seemed like days on the course, we were greeted with a locker room in which the majority of showers were out of order; and the ones that were working didn’t have any hot water. What to do? Smile!
1st Tony Scambler (12) 39pts
2nd Geoff Parker (14) 38pts
3rd Colin Greig (11) 36pts
Near Pins: Alan Harris, Colin Greig, Tony Scambler
Friday, Dec. 11, Bangpra – Stableford
On days like today one is reminded of time spent in Palm Springs, California finishing up a round before 10:00 a.m. as by 11:00 a.m. it’s pushing 40 degrees. Ever heard of Death Valley? The fat cats didn’t mind as they actually have enclosed air-conditioned carts. Needed one of those today – it was hot, I mean blistering hot.
The course was in its usual good nick except the greens were a bit strange, inconsistent and hard to deal with. Some were as slick as ice, others as slow as molasses, and some both. Add to this the perspiration cascading off your nose, and you wind up with only two out of thirty-one players equaling or surpassing their handicaps.
Tired of playing second fiddle to Tony Scambler, and seeing an opportunity to do something about it, Geoff Parker proceeded to hit a ball that ricocheted off a tree and flattened Tony in his tracks. Unfortunately it wasn’t a head hit and Tony went on to win A-flight with 38 points. Just kidding!
As we are all quite aware, golf is a gentleman’s game and we would bend over backwards to keep from hitting someone. Fortunately for Tony it was a chest hit and he was uninjured. You’ve got to be careful out there; keeping your head down is important for more reasons than one.
Let’s conclude by again congratulating Mr. Murnin on a fine week of golf and continued success in getting his handicap down to where it belongs, say 12-13.
A-Flight
1st Tony Scambler (12) 38pts
2nd Gerry Cooney (17) 35pts
3rd Tony Robbins (17) 33pts
B-Flight
1st Barry Murnin (17) 38pts
2nd Ken Davidson (24) 35pts
3rd Ross Schiffke (18) 35pts
Near Pins: Tim Winder, Colin Greig, Gary Austin, Les Cobban.
Note: The Bunker Boys, a PSC affiliated golf society, plays out of The Ranch Bar on Pattaya 3rd road (in front of the fire station, and almost opposite the Buffalo Bar). We play on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and meet at The Ranch at 9am for breakfast and transport. Contact Buff on 086 0465091 or 0806055663 for all enquiries or check website: www.bunkersociety.com.
