PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, Sept. 3, Burapha – Stableford
Nineteen players for Burapha on a great day just made for golf. We played the A and D courses which is a little unusual so decided on the white tees for the day. The A course was in great condition, especially the greens as they were fast and true, but the D course greens and surrounds have still not fully recovered from the recent maintenance and don’t look good but the greens are still true although not as fast as A.
Over a third of the field shot par or better, with many others just one or two further back but the day belonged to Barry McIntosh who continued his good form from Hua Hin with a great score of 45 points off his 19 handicap. Barry collected 25 points on the D course – 38 of the stick, well done. Likewise, Kev Waycott has been playing well of late and took second place with 39 points off his 10 handicap.
(From left): Jim Payne, Murray Hart, George Bishop, Keith Allen and Keith Buchanan.
There was a grudge match between the team of Rosco & Bourkie (the Aussies) v Paul Greenaway and Ian Heddle (the Brits) but unfortunately the Aussies wilted under the pressure on the back nine to lose the match with Bourkie only recording 8 points for the nine holes, and Paul commenting that Rosco would have had 40 points if he hadn’t had to carry a rucksack!
There was only one ‘2’ for the day which went to the recently returned Jim Brackett.
1st Barry McIntosh (19) 45pts
2nd Kev Waycott (10) 39pts
3rd Jim Brackett (6) 36pts
Tuesday, Sept. 4, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
It’s been said officially that the back nine will open on 1st November, there’s still a lot of grass growing to be done but let’s hope they can achieve their target. If the present condition of the front nine greens is anything to go by, then we could all be in for a treat.
JingJo, the late Frank O’Neill’s son, left, presents the newly named trophy to George Bishop.
12 Outbackers here today and quite how we didn’t get very wet is unknown; there were some serious clouds about, dropping a bit of rain on us around the third hole and then it threatened throughout before raining a little on the same hole on the back nine but not enough to cause any delay.
Pottsy demonstrated what he can do when he puts his mind to it, shooting a fine 42pts to win by four from the Turnip on 38; with the organiser, Chad, taking third with 37.
There were four ‘2’s; from Dennis Persson, Alan Whittingham & two from David Earthrowl.
1st Campbell Potts (17) 42pts
2nd Dennis Persson (20) 38pts
3rd Barry Chadbourn (20) 37pts
Wednesday, Sept. 5, Bangpra – Stableford
There were 10 players due to play today but someone forgot to put his name down to play so we ended up as 11 but no harm done, as we had three tee times booked. We teed off on time following a four-ball and the speed of play could have been quicker but never mind, TIT, and this is Bangpra where you can expect a slow round now and then.
On hole 16 we saw a troop of monkeys playing about but not with our clubs thank goodness and on hole 17 we saw the legendary monitor lizard, boy is he big!
Dennis Pelly spat the dummy out as his other companions were busy talking about soccer on his back-swing and whilst he was putting, however this didn’t deter him from shooting 35 points; but oh, it could have been more if they only talked about golf…
The course was once again in great condition and the greens lived up to their name, slick.
There was only one ‘2’ from Dennis Pelly
1st Dennis Pelly (10) 35pts
2nd Robert Barnes (12) 35pts
3rd Murray Hart (14) 34pts
Wednesday, Sept. 5, Siam Plantation – Stableford
The usual early start again for the 14 players at Siam Plantation and the starters sent the group off ahead of our 8.36 official tee time on a beautiful sunny day with a breeze that got stronger as the day went but kept the temperature down.
The course was in its normal superb condition but the greens on Pineapple (C) seemed a little slower than those on Sugar Cane (A). There is a lot of work being carried out on the rough but it doesn’t affect the course or our play.
Only Captain Stephen beat par with a score of 37 points off his 10 handicap, from Ian Heddle on 35 points off his 5 handicap on a day when Jim Bryan’s game, who has been playing so well recently, totally deserted him.
Welcome back to Ron Dickie and also a special welcome to Mike Padilla who is rarely seen on a golf course these days.
There were two ‘2’s from Rosco & Capt’ Stephen, both on hole C3.
1st Stephen Mann (10) 37pts
2nd Ian Heddle (5) 35pts
3rd John Kendall (21) 33pts
Friday, Sept. 7, Green Valley – Stroke
The 36-hole stroke-play tournament, previously known as The Decanter, now known as the Frank O’Neill Memorial Trophy, got off to a blustery start here at Green Valley on a difficult day for scoring.
This annual two-day event marks the fifth anniversary of the Outback Golf Bar, with the second round to be played at Burapha on Monday; the top half of the field went through to the final 18 holes playing stroke, whilst those who missed the cut (the bottom half) would have their scores converted to stableford and play in the plate tournament. There were also two regular one day comps.
43 players set out today, playing in four divisions, but toiled in the windy conditions, as only Dennis Pelly managed to break par with a net 70 to win Div A. Next best were three 72’s from Ron Dickie (2nd Div A) and Murray Hart who won Div B from Keith Buchanan on count back. Both Div C and Div D were won with 73’s from Denis Steel and Martin O’Neill (last year’s winner), respectively.
There were four near pins; two of which went to Jack Butler (which were subsequently redrawn) and the other two to Dennis Persson and John O’Keefe.
Div A (0-11)
1st Dennis Pelly (10) net 70
2nd Ron Dickie (7) net 72
3rd Ian Heddle (5) net 73
Div B (12–15)
1st Murray Hart (14) net 72
2nd Keith Buchanan (15) net 72
3rd Robert Barnes (12) net 76
Div C (16–18)
1st Denis Steel (16) net 73
2nd John Fitzgerald (17) net 75
3rd Sugar Ray Handford (18) net 76
Div D (19+)
1st Martin O’Neill (28) net 73
2nd George Bishop (19) net 76
3rd David Davies (25) net 77
Monday, Sept. 10, Burapha – Stroke/Stableford
The second day of the Outback’s 36 hole 5th Birthday event was at their (the Outback’s) regular Monday venue, Burapha. 37 players coming through from Friday at Green Valley were to continue their quest for victory with about half the field vying for Frank O’Neill Memorial Trophy playing stroke-play and the other half after the stableford plate win.
Set the A & B nines from the long blue tees it was always going to be a stern test and there were some quite remarkable stories regarding the tales of two nines. Sugar, who started on the back nine, made the turn at 3 under (42) then lost the plot returning in 11 over (57) and perhaps even more remarkable, Jim Payne, who was playing in the plate, went out with 12 stableford points only to return with 24, with 11 of those coming in the last three holes.
Seven more players joined in for the daily event, which was again split into four divisions with the best score of the day coming from George Bishop with 41pts to win Div D by 5 from Jim Payne (36) and Dennis Persson (32).
Keith Allen, the winner in Hua Hin, bounced back to form after a couple of ordinary rounds at Pattaya C.C. last week, with another fine 38pts (now playing off 16) to take Div C by six from John O’Keefe on 32; whilst John Cunningham produced another fine display of golf to score 37pts off his 7 handicap to win Div A by three from Paul Greenaway.
Before moving on to the two day results and the overall winner, we would just like to welcome a couple of Outback newbies who joined us for a hit today, Bill Idagi and Jason Pacey.
So with one or two players arriving back at the bar a little later than planned, General Jack called for the food to be served before proceeding with the presentation, ably assisted by Suzi Lawton, who deserves a special thank-you for her help at the start today.
Murray Hart, who followed his net 72 on Friday at Green Valley with another net 72 today was right in the frame for the re-named trophy with a total of 144, particularly as the first round leader, Dennis Pelly, fell out of contention after a relatively poor 78 today, for his two day total of 148 to end up in fifth; but it was the 2009 winner of this very same tournament, George Bishop who came through with a solid net 67 today, giving him the win with a two round total of 143, to beat Muzza by one.
The stableford plate went to Jim Payne after his remarkable round, ending up a with a two day total of 63 points to win from Dennis Persson and John O’Keefe, both with 62. Those total scores may not look special but remember all the top scorers from Friday went on to play in the medal comp. whereas the leading stableford score which was brought forward was only 30pts.
Finally to today’s near pins; well Jim Payne picked up two of them with other two going to Jim Brackett and George Bishop.
Div A (0-11)
1st John Cunningham (7) 37pts
2nd Paul Greenaway (8) 34pts
3rd Kev Waycott (9) 33pts
Div B (12-15)
1st Murray Hart (14) 36pts
2nd Sel Wegner (12) 35pts
3rd Keith Buchanan (15) 35pts
Div C (16-18)
1st Keith Allen (16) 38pts
2nd John O’Keefe (17) 32pts
3rd Denis Steele (16) 32pts
Div D [19+]
1st George Bishop (19) 41pts
2nd Jim Payne (27) 36pts
3rd Dennis Persson (19) 32pts
Frank O’Neill Trophy (Medal)
1st George Bishop net 143
2nd Murray Hart net 144
3rd Keith Buchanan net 146
The Plate (Stableford)
1st Jim Payne 63pts
2nd Dennis Persson 62pts
3rd John O’Keefe 62pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. All are welcome to come and join us for a beer and a hit. Just call in and put your name down on the list or call Jack on 087 941 2474.
