The Bunker Boys Golf Society
Monday, June 12, Crystal Bay B & C (white tees) – Stableford
1st Jimmy Carr (19) 37pts
2nd Colin Greig (9) 36pts
3rd Sean Murphy (16) 34pts
Near Pins: Takeshi Hakozaki, Neil Carter, Geoff Parker, Sean Murphy.
A fine day greeted a good field for the first round of the week and saw a long awaited return to the first place podium for Jimmy Carr who (with the benefit of 3 shot handicap increase) scored 37 points. Our perpetual place-getter Colin Greig came second with 36 and Sean Murphy, still smarting from not being allowed to play off the silver tees with his friend PJ, took third with 34.
The course was in good shape apart from our continual complaint that the margins of the bunkers need serious attention. We also understand the A course is nearly ready for play.
Wednesday, June 13, Kabinburi Sports Club (white tees) – Stableford.
1st Richard Baldotto (22) 34pts
2nd Les Cobban (9) 33pts
3rd Geoff Parker (14) 30pts
Near Pins: Colin Greig (2), Neil Carter, Geoff Parker.
We enjoyed our last trip to Kabinburi in May so much we decided to do it again. The course is being prepared for the Singha Thai LPGA Championship on July 14 and although the greens were being kept at stimpmeter 8 until that tournament, the rest of the course is in great shape with the second cut rough already quite penal. It is a course that favours the players who are long off the tee but it also requires careful course management to score well.
The first day everybody found it a challenge. Richard Baldotto started off badly but by the fifth hole he had rediscovered his swing and he completed the round with 34 points to take first place. Second went to Les Cobban on 33 and Geoff Parker took third with 30.
Thursday, June 14, Kabinburi Sports Club (white tees) – Medal
1st Les Cobban net 73
2nd Stuart Brown net 75
3rd Neil Carter net 76
The sprinklers were watering the course as we left on Tuesday and with significant rain overnight the course was quite wet underfoot for the second day, and ‘clean and place’ on fairways only was adopted. To add to that, our golf organiser decided it would be a medal round.
A few players overindulged the night before and there was a fair sprinkling of 8s and 9s on the score cards early on, including Colin Greig and the previous day’s winner Richard Baldotto.
Playing off the white tees it was not surprising that it was the early to bed low handicap players who took the honours. Les Cobban followed up his second place on Tuesday to take first place, (that’s two 3rds, a 2nd and a 1st for Les in the last 4 rounds he has played at Kabinburi).
Once again it was an excellent trip to an outstanding golf course with the very good value of THB 800 for combined green fee and caddy fee. It was no surprise to see two other Pattaya golf groups there at the same time.
We stayed overnight at the Serenity Hotel and Spa (www.serenityhotelonsen.com), an excellent venue where we all enjoyed the amenities and friendly hospitality of Oliver and his staff. This will be a regular trip on our calendar and for those who are interested we are planning the next trip in August.
Friday, June 16, Pattavia (white tees) – Stableford
1st Jimmy Carr (19) 38pts
2nd Richard Baldotto (22) 33pts
3rd Trevor Priestly (20) 33pts
Near Pins: Colin Greig, Jimmy Carr, Sean Murphy, Frank Quinlan.
Good weather greeted us at Pattavia, a venue which is becoming a firm favourite with many. The course was in good condition although the greens were slower than we usually look forward to here.
Neil Carter, determined to win another golfer of the month award, started well and his round was highlighted by a 117yd approach wedge one bounce and into the hole for birdie on the difficult par-5 third hole, however a few wipes on subsequent holes left him ruing missed opportunities.
Shot of the day came from Frank Quinlan who, using his driver on the long par-3 17th hole and keeping the ball a high floater, ended up 15 inches from the pin only to miss the putt for a tap in birdie and 5pts.
Jimmy Carr again stole the honours with 38 points while there was 4-way tie on 33 with the count back giving second place to a more sober Richard Baldotto and Trevor Priestly coming third.
