Golf from the Billabong Bar
Monday, Oct. 17, Phoenix Gold – Stableford
Phoenix was our venue on Monday and with a small field teeing off we got away a little early, starting on the Lakes side in perfect conditions for golf. We began in just a nice breeze but that was going to change on the back-nine as it got so hot it was like playing in a furnace. Fortunately we got in before the storm struck and it was a beauty. We felt sorry for any golfers behind us. Some of the greens on the Lakes side were being renovated but apart from that the course is in great condition.
Most of the scores today were very good with most in the 30s. As usual, this course doesn’t cough up 2s easily and today was no exception.
Coming in third today was George Barrie with 36 points, just narrowly losing out to Capt Bob (37) after a double bogie on the last hole. Taking top spot was Gerard Lambert with 38 points.
Wednesday, Oct. 19, Green Valley – Stableford
At 8am the weather had promised a perfect day for golf and that is how it stayed. A sure sign of the times was the empty car park and when you consider that they have three courses available you know you will not be seeing other inhabitants on the course.
The greens are slowly recovering from the recent coring and excessive sanding but the area around the first tee will be spectacular when it is finally developed. The staff at Green Valley were all dressed in black as were the 8 Billabong ladies who also distributed black bows to all those playing today to reflect the passing of His Majesty the King.
Miss An had a good front-nine with 20 points but this form was not maintained and she had to settle for third place in the Ladies flight with 34 points, just edging out Miss Pin on the same score. The consistent Miss Som had a similar situation with 21 on the front-nine before stumbling a little on the way home and taking second with 35 points. Miss Sa said before the day started that she was not happy with her golf but any doubts were set aside as she won the day with a fine 39 points.
Andrew Woodall’s handicap has changed from 15 to 7 and back to 9 all in 4 weeks and today, despite 2 blobs (wipes if you are from Australia), he came third, relegating Geoff King to fourth on 36 points. Kevin ‘do I really take a huge divot with my driver’ Hamilton started with only 3 points on the first 4 holes, recovered to reach 38 points but failed to overtake Tony Oakes who had 22 points on the front none to finish the day in first place with 40 in total.
The recovering greens denied efforts by everyone to have a 2 with the exception of Julie Battersby who recorded the only one of the day.
Friday, Oct. 21, Burapha – Greensomes
Burapha on a fine day for golf, with 12 teams playing in the annual Baan Tong Tong tournament it was decided we would play something different for a change, so it was agreed a greensomes event would be the order of the day for a bit of fun but there were to be no sorry’s allowed. It turned out to be great fun and it will happen again.
The course was in great condition with fast greens and the rough if your partner put you in it was not too bad either.
The scores were pretty good with John Deardon and Geoff King taking third place with a net 69.5. Second place went to Richard Steadman and Andy Butterworth with 69 net, being beaten on a count back by Helmut Hebstriet and Chris Brendle with 69 also.
There was one lady playing with us today who scored the ultimate prize – a hole in one on B8. Well done to Julie Battersby, a visitor from New Zealand, and the scribe had the honour of seeing the ball fall into the hole.
We at the Billabong would like to say a huge thank you to Mick Williams and his staff at the Baan Tong Tong for their support in making this day the success that it has become and almost 20.000 baht was raised to go to the special needs children program every little bit helps. Thank you also to the players for their contributions.
