Travellers Rest Golf Group
My report this week centre’s around the unsung heroes of our golf experience in Thailand, the caddies. This past week one of our lady golfers felt unwell half way through her round and asked to be taken back to the clubhouse. Not only the caddies but also other members of staff at Eastern Star ran around getting medical assistance and medicine to make her feel better – thank you to all at Eastern Star.
On Saturday at Mountain Shadow another of our ladies was stung quite badly by a hornet and her arm started to swell up but the caddies came to the rescue with ointments and ice to reduce the swelling.
Mike Rushant.
Most caddies are hardworking ladies/guys who run around tending to our every need and the majority are very knowledgeable because they work the course seven days a week on wages that barely enable them to keep their families housed, fed and clothed. Most are absolute saints dealing with us grumpy old men who want to know the precise distance to the hazards awaiting us and then when they don’t give us the exact (and I mean the exact) line on our next putt to the hole they get bawled out as being no good.
Most of them try to make our golfing experience in Thailand a happy one so next time you get a good caddie who has worked hard fetching and carrying for you, give her/him the best tip you can afford. I can guarantee they will appreciate it.
Monday, Nov. 17, The Emerald – Stableford
The week got underway for the TRGG with a trip to Emerald on Monday and it was a day to remember for the winner. The mighty Mike Rushant at last achieved his goal of becoming a single figure handicapper with another excellent round of golf. He really is an example to us all when it comes down to fighting to achieve a level of consistency the rest of us mere mortals can only dream about. Well done Mike!
Mike did not get an easy ride however as Ed Brubaker and Roger Wilkinson were breathing down his neck and finished just one point behind.
1st Mike Rushant (10) 36pts
2nd Ed Brubaker (12) 35pts
3rd Roger Wilkinson (12) 35pts
Tuesday, Nov. 18, Pattavia – Stableford
On Tuesday it was another visit over to everybody’s new favourite golf course at Pattavia Century. Unfortunately, since our last visit a couple of weeks ago, the greens have been taken over by demons on ice skates, they were downright evil and three and four putts were too numerous to mention. I can only assume that the winner of Division 1, Brian Beaupre, has signed a pact with the devil as he was the only golfer on the day to play to his handicap.
Geoff Beckett.
Well done also to Lillian Cummins, winner of Division 2, who managed to keep the demons at bay.
Div. 1 (0-13)
1st Brian Beaupre (6) 36pts
2nd Ian Bell (6) 34pts
3rd Jim Cleaver (9) 33pts
Div. 2 (14+)
1st Lillian Cummins (16) 34pts
2nd Seamus Farrell (30) 32pts
3rd Ted Senior (15) 32pts
Thursday, Nov. 20, Green Valley – Stableford
Our weekly visit to Green Valley on Thursday also proved to be the biggest turnout of the week. The old devil himself Fergus Brennan proved that you can’t keep a good man down for long and he produced the best round of golf on the day, amassing a remarkable 39 points. Joe Nagle took the honours in Division 2, just pipping Geoff Beckett to first place on count back.
Div. 1 (0-14)
1st Fergus Brennan (13) 39pts
2nd Mike Sanders (6) 38pts
3rd Ed Brubaker (12) 37pts
Div.2 (15+)
1st Joe Nagle (18) 37pts
2nd Geoff Beckett (28) 37pts
3rd Paddy Murphy (15) 36pts
Friday, Nov. 21, Eastern Star – Stableford
On Friday it was over to Eastern Star and it was Ken Grimes who showed that if you play to your handicap you won’t finish far from the prizes. Today was no exception where 36 points was good enough to take first place.
Ruam – one of the saintly caddies at Mountain Shadow.
1st Ken Grimes (19) 36pts
2nd Len Commons (13) 34pts
3rd Derek Thorogood (14) 33pts
Saturday, Nov. 22, Mt. Shadow – Stableford
It was off to Mountain Shadow on Saturday and it was another beautiful day in paradise, the weather was just perfect.
I started this report talking about caddies and at Mountain Shadow we had four of the best in my four-ball. They all helped to make it a brilliant day and dealt with the hornet incident with great kindness and professionalism and I should like to say thank you ladies you were fantastic.
Certainly Geoff Beckett had a day to remember and I am sure he will recall it with great fondness when he returns to the winter in England. His 38 points was easily good enough for top spot
1st Geoff Beckett (28) 38pts
2nd Suresh Mehta (18) 35pts
3rd Andy Rich (20) 34pts
Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG, please phone Fergus Brennan on 086 056 7019 or pop into the Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
