PSC Golf from The Tropical Golf Bar
Wednesday, May 6, Khao Kheow – Stableford
This was a change of day from our normal Tuesday outing as that day was a holiday this week, so off we went to Khao Kheow on what promised to be another really hot day.
We were soon on our way to the course and it was not a bad ride up there, although so many changes are being made that Route 7 seems like a totally new way of getting there, let us hope it is soon finished. Still, we made good time and were soon there, booked in and onto the first tee.
Friday winner Mick Coghlan (left) with runner-up Mike O’Brien.
The test for the day was to be the B & C nines and to make the day more interesting in the heat we played off the yellow tees. As we went on we found the grass on the Course long and the greens were very slow. Khao Kheow rated the greens as 9 on the stimpmeter but I suspect they were a bit slower.
So we went on and it was one of those days when you drip, stop still and you melt. The whole round became a bit of a struggle, particularly for the walkers.
Round over it was into a nice shower a quick bite to eat in the fine restaurant and back to BJ’s. We were soon into the results and found that nobody has shot their handicap and the scores were very low.
In the A Flight, 0 to 17, we had the best scores, believe it or not. The winner with 35 points was Takheshi Hakozaki, with David Hutchinson in second on 34 and Andre Van Dyk in third with 33.
In the B Flight, David Nicholson won by a clear 5 points despite only scoring 33 himself. In second was Tom McDowell with 28 and in third came Nigel Perry with 26.
Near Pins: Tom McDowell, Alan Sullivan, Brian Parish, Andre Van Dyk.
Friday, May 8, Crystal Bay – Stableford
On Friday, 18 of the ever faithful of golfers gathered at Crystal Bay and there was some hope that being close to the water might make the day a little cooler, or at least spare us the rain that is common farther inland at this time of year.
Wednesday’s winners, Takheshi Hakozaki (right) and David Nicholson (left) with the ‘Boss’.
Crystal Bay is in fine condition and offers good value, especially when considering the price for PSC members of just 1050 baht (including caddie) to walk. The fairways were pretty good and the greens fine, though strangely most greens have two kinds of grass though it doesn’t affect putting.
The weather to start with was oppressively hot, but then clouds rolled in, lots of thunder and distant lightening, and then – nothing! The golf course stayed dry and the day turned mercifully cooler.
As scores rolled in it was apparent that something special was happening. A full 8 out of 18 golfers beat their handicap, many significantly. Ted Morris (h/cap 14) took fourth place on count-back with 38 points, edging out Mark West and Dave Nicholson on the same score. Tom McDowell (21) went one better in third with 39 points and Mike O’Brien (19) scored an impressive 40 for second. That should have been enough for an easy win, right? Not even close. The day belonged to Mick Coghlan (23) with a near lifetime best round of a massive 45 points! Rumors that his handicap will change from 23 to 2.3 are unconfirmed. What an amazing day and big congratulations to Mick!
Near Pins: Graham Buckingham, Barry Elphick, Brian Parish (2).
Long Putt: Barry Elphick
