PSC Golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, August 17, Burapha – Stableford
1st Jim Brackett (11) 39 pts
2nd Maurice Copan (16) 37pts
3rd Bob Finley (19) 37pts
Due to the recent high scores off the white tees, we decided to make it a little harder for all us hackers and changed to the blue tees for Monday’s competition. Using the course and index rating, it meant that players got a few extra shots on handicap, but even with the extra handicaps the Outbackers who played A and B found the extra 460yds somewhat tough. With 7 out of 12 players scoring 35 points or more, the blues seems to be the right tee box, however.
Jim Brackett & Harry Vincenzi.
It was interesting to note the top score was from the lowest handicapper, but then again, Jimmy Brackett has been in very good form lately – so no surprise there and he was the winner with a fine 39 points, beating Maurice Copan and Bob Finley who both had 37s, another two gentlemen whose names have been coming up frequently on the podium lately.
Jim Brackett had the only ‘2’.
Tuesday, August 18, Laem Chabang – Stableford
1st Andre Coetzee (07) 29pts
2nd Gary Croft (14) 28pts
3rd Lance Robinson (13) 27pts
The entire field opted for the blue tees on the B and tricky C courses at Laem Chabang on Tuesday. On paper this is “only” 6,600 yards, so not very long. The first few holes on the B course starts nice and easy, and may create the illusion that it is not such a hard course, but by the time one gets to the tricky par 3, fifth hole, the gravity of this treacherous course descends upon you as mistakes severely punish you.
The course was in immaculate condition and one sensed that it had a bit of good rain that we missed in Pattaya lately. The fairways were soft, so hardly any roll on tee shots, the greens were a little slower than usual, and if one strayed too far off the fairways, the brush and bushes seemed to have grown in stature and density since when we last played there, rendering any stray balls not found or unplayable. A decent stiff breeze kept one guessing about club selection but thankfully kept the temperature down.
Scoring points was hard work and no one got to 30 stableford points, but not a single player blamed the tees or course conditions and all reflected on how costly their mistakes were.
Our winners’ podium consisted of George Croft with 27 points in third, Cameron Vagg going one point better in second and Andre Coetzee coming in first with 29. The only ‘2’ was recorded was by Andre as well.
Wednesday, August 19, Bangpra – Stableford
1st Stephen Mann (12) 35pts
2nd Mike Missler (09) 35pts
3rd Sugar Ray Handford (20) 34pts
Bangpra felt like it had a bit of rain, the course was green and lush, but still offered ample run on the fairways, and the greens were slick. A couple of pin positions were also in the most difficult part of the greens – being above the hole and putting downhill is about the hardest thing us amateur golfers can face, and no other course in Pattaya punishes you more than Bangpra as all of us regulars know.
On the 5th hole Steven Mann’s ball struck the tree in the middle of the fairway and not knowing exactly where his ball ended up, we started looking for it when, within the 5 minute timeframe, the ball casually dropped out of the tree right next to his buggy. Stevie made his par from there, and if it wasn’t for the ball falling out of the tree the day’s podium standings would be very different as he went on to win the day on a count back from Mike Missler, also scoring 35 points. In third place Sugar Ray beat Andre on another count back, both on 34 points each.
Mike Missler and Andre shared the ‘2’s pot with one apiece.
Friday, August 21, Green Valley – Stableford
Div 1 (0-14)
1st Kim Danboise (13) 37pts
2nd Rod Crosswell (14) 35pts
3rd Freddy Starbeck (12) 33pts
Div 2 (15-18)
1st Harry Vincenzi (17) 40pts
2nd Bob Mattes (17) 36pts
3rd William Peach (17) 36pts
Div 3 (19-36)
1st Willy Van Heetvelde (19) 36pts
2nd John Lawton (20) 35pts
3rd Andy Makara (27) 34pts
Thirty-three players turned up at Green Valley on a hot but breezy day. With a few changes to the start sheet we managed to tee off 5 minutes early and the first 4-four ball went round in 3 hours and 40 minutes, and the last in about 4 hours.
The greens were faster than the previous week, which was good and on some holes the green-keepers have started to pin the back of the bunkers with wood so hopefully this will help as there is very little sand in the bunkers around the greens. The course was overall once again in great shape.
We had three divisions today and in the third flight the winner was Willy Van Heetvelde with an even par 36 points, ahead of John Lawton and Andy Makara in second and third respectively.
The second division saw Harry Vincenzi emerge victorious with a fine 40 points while Bob Mattes was second and William Peach third, both 4 points behind.
Kim Danboise led in the top flight with a 37-point haul and was followed by Rod Crosswell in second on 35 and Freddy Starbeck third with 33.
There were two ‘2’s coming from JP Maffrey and Rod Crosswell.
