PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg
Tuesday, 10th April – Treasure Hill – Stableford
As this was our last competition game before our 13 day break for Songkran we understandably had a full field plus a three-ball, all ready to tackle the testy Treasure Hill layout.
We welcomed back Dick Braimbridge, returning from a month in Australia and also Jon Haugen who had not played with us for quite some time. Sadly we were saying farewell to Dave Neal and Ron Folks, returning to Birmingham, U.K. after a month in Pattya and also Dave’s friend Thientong who will now return to her job as a caddy at Laem Chabang. Eddie “The Eagle” Glinsek is heading off back to Ohio U.S.A. after three and a half months here and Jerry Dobbs & Scott Lobenwein were going back to work in Australia. Niels Hansen & Jan Lovgreen were also preparing to return to Denmark after lengthy stays and we look forward to seeing all of them later in the year.
Tuesday flight winners: Jerry Dobbs, left, with Peter Blackburn.
We departed the Kronny right on time at 0815 hrs and 50 minutes later arrived at the course which appeared to be very quiet. As the previous day (Monday) was a Public Holiday we chose to play this course on the Tuesday which coincidentally is one of their Sports Days offering a 500 baht Green Fee and quite frankly we were surprised to find that we practically had this fine course to ourselves.
After a few practice chips & putts we managed to get our first four-ball away 25 minutes early at 0935 hrs and in once again perfect weather we were able to have a leisurely game of golf, appreciating the very good condition that the golf course was in with the greens much improved after our last game here a couple of weeks ago.
We completed our front nine in just on two hours and after a quick drink break at “half time” we proceeded in what was now fairly hot and humid conditions with rain clouds threatening above. The “Rain Gods” were with us yet again and it was not until we were on the last green that we heard an enormous clap of thunder but still no rain; in fact it just started to sprinkle as our last group was finishing.
I must mention the work that has been put in at this venue, in particular the tee boxes which are now in superb condition. We finished our full round in the excellent time of four hours and five minutes.
There were 2 flights with A Flight for handicaps 0 to 19 and B Flight for 20 and over. There were rewards for nearest the pin on all four par threes and longest first putts on the ninth & eighteenth greens.
The scores indicated that the golf course was the winner on the day with just one golfer playing to their handicap or better and that happened to be yours truly who won the A Flight with 37 points. A count back on 35 points for second and third places saw Niels Hansen (21 point back nine) prevail over Mike Allidi (17 point back nine. Fourth spot went to Bjarne Kjaer (18 point back nine) with 33 points on a count back from Martin Todd (16 point back nine) who just missed out on a place on the podium.
B Flight was won by the departing Aussie Jerry Dobbs with 35 points from J C Lhoste in second place on 34 points. Yet another count back was required to determine third & fourth places with Bo Cardwell (19 point back nine) beating Frank Donnelly (16 point back nine), both having 33 points.
A Flight (0-19)
1st Peter Blackburn (11) 37pts
2nd Niels Hansen (14) 35pts
3rd Mike Allidi (3) 35pts
4th Bjarne Kjaer (19) 33pts
B Flight (20+)
1st Jerry Dobbs (23) 35pts
2nd J C Lhoste (23) 34pts
3rd Bo Cardwell (28) 33pts
4th Frank Donnelly (24) 33pts
Near Pins: 2nd – Mike Allidi; 6th – J C Lhoste; 13th – Thientong Charoenrung; 17th – Ken Bernek
Long Putts: 9th – J C Lhoste; 18th – Mick O’Connor
The Compass Cap (awarded for worst score on the day) was won by Eddie “The Eagle” Glinsek, much to the disappointment of Ron Folks who was hoping to take the Compass Cap back to Birmingham with him.
