PSC Golf from The Billabong Golf Bar
Monday, Nov. 30, Phoenix – Stableford
Phoenix today on a day of ideal weather and good temperature and with 5 teams partaking we were off right on time and had a 4 hour round. The course was in great condition apart from a couple of greens that require a little help to get them up to scratch, but all in all just a great golf course.
We welcomed the Shuttleworth brothers over from New Zealand to see brother Lloyd and to cost him some money on the golf course, but it was George Barrie that got the lot of them in the six’s.
Capt Bob (left) with Pat Regan, Paul Blackshaw and Lloyd Shuttleworth.
The scores were ordinary apart from 3 players that beat their handicaps, most of the rest were in the 20’s. Taking third place today was Tom Hand with a fine 37 points, second went to Alan Harris on 38 points and getting the nod for first with a great display of golfing prowess was Steve Mann with 39 points.
There was only one ‘2’, coming from David Shuttleworth.
Wednesday, Dec. 2, Green Valley – Stableford
It is every golfer’s worst nightmare – a whole bunch of people waiting to tee off when a 5-ball arrives late for their tee time but moves in ahead of everyone waiting to start their round. Maybe because of the large audience their tee shots did not give any indication of control of the golf ball, but to be fair, their efforts on the first hole was the last we saw of them. In fact, it was reported that one of the lady golfers in this group was seen running ahead of her buggie along the 10th fairway.
The first of our three groups, all 3-balls, took only 3½ hours for their round, challenging the others to keep up but 4 hours was the standard despite a hot, humid day.
JJ ‘the quiet one’ Harney is always up for a challenge and managed to convince playing partner George ‘the Cuban’ Barrie that there was a financial opportunity to be gained against the other two members of their group, a pair of quiet, innocent lads from New Zealand. But Peter and David Shuttleworth know a thing or two about golf and took the two Celtic gentlemen to the cleaners. It is sad to see anyone crying in their beer but that is what we witnessed back at the Billabong.
Jim Bell came in fifth place today with 37 points, winning on a count back, as did Peter Terry who claimed third place and relegated the ever-present Bob Newell to fourth on 38 points. The aforementioned Peter Shuttleworth added to his success in the morning with a second place finish with 39 points but Ivor Smith rose above the assembled company to take the top spot with a 40-pointer.
Of the 11 ladies, Miss Eng claimed second place with 37 points, winning on a count back over Miss Noodle, but none could match the magic of Miss Sa who had an outstanding day with 44 points.
There were four ‘2’s today, with Miss Eng, Miss Noi, Helmut T and Bob Newell sharing the pot. Gerry Roche might have been involved having hit the pin with his tee shot only to watch the ball bounce some 3 yards to the left and ending with just a par.
Friday, Dec. 4, Burapha – Stableford
Burapha A and B loops were in great condition as always and with six groups playing we were away early in just a little sprinkle of rain that disappeared as quietly as it came.
Being told there were no carts on the fairways winter rules would apply, but that cart rule quickly went by the wayside half way down the first fairway. As it happened you didn’t really need ‘pick and place’ as the fairways were in great condition with only the odd occasion you needed to clean the ball.
The greens were in fantastic condition and considering the amount of traffic on the course, apart from the pitch marks they really were at their best.
Sometimes we get a day when the ‘2’s are hard to get but today there were 7 of them, coming from Mark Bainbridge, Alan Harris, Arch Armstrong, Pat Regan, David Shuttleworth, Barry Copestake and Alistair Gall.
The scores were all high with 39 points not even getting a mention. Coming in fourth place was Pat Regan with 40 points, being beaten on a count back by Lloyd Shuttleworth on the same score. Taking second spot was Bob Philp with 41 points, his best round for a very long time, but claiming the line honours was Paul Blackshaw with a fantastic 43 points, a great round!
