PSC golf Bunker Boys @ The Ranch
Monday, Feb. 3, Royal Lakeside – Stableford
This course has the reputation of being a long distance from Pattaya and thus avoided, but in reality it only takes around 50 minutes to get here and is well worth the small extra travelling time. The clubhouse is very imposing as you arrive, and with reasonable green fees this should be on your ‘to play’ list.
The course itself is very well maintained and looks neat and tidy with nice views wherever you look. Fairways were in very good condition, and the greens, although lightly sanded, were running true and fast. Lots of lateral water and bunkers were waiting for the unwary, and with a stiff breeze blowing, claimed many victims.
Mike Corner discovers some form.
The tricky conditions and course length off the blues (6653 yards) definitely accounted for low scoring from the nineteen golfers. Nobody managed to play to par, Stuart Tinkler and Paul Smith in A flight coming the closest with 34 points each and separated by a count back. B flight also produced a tie with John Hughes edging out Thomas McDowell also on count back.
Only 3 nearest to the pins were claimed without a single golfer able to hit a fairly straightforward 165 yard wind assisted hole number 3.
A Flight
1st Stuart Tinkler (16) 34pts
2nd Paul Smith (4) 34pts
3rd Colin Greig (8) 33pts
B Flight
1st John Hughes (18) 33pts
2nd Thomas McDowell (20) 33pts
3rd Neil Griffin (25) 31pts
Near Pins: Paul Smith, Barry Murnin and Keith Norman.
Wednesday, Feb. 5, Khao Kheow – Stableford
This lovely setting is always popular with the punters and thirty-five golfers severely tested our limited tee times. Shortage of caddies didn’t improve the situation but eventually everybody teed off over an hour period to challenge C & B nines.
The course was in excellent shape with the new fairways on the B course settling in well, but the greens were very slow providing the day’s main complaint.
Colin Greig and Paul Smith took on Peter and Patrick Kelly (Patrick +3 Handicap, playing off the Blacks) and the Kellys cleaned them up, Patrick’s 4 birdies in the last 5 holes helping.
Round of the day was Raleigh Gosney with 39pts, 25 (gross 39) on the back 9. Tony Berry, after putting himself out to grass for a spell, came back strongly to take A flight. Lots of count backs with ‘Laughing’ Les Burns pushing out not so laughing John Hughes for the last spot in B flight.
It was pleasing to see Khao Kheow recognise the sartorial elegance of Colin Greig’s orange and Paul Smith’s lilac by supplying them with push carts in matching wheel colours.
A Flight
1st Tony Berry (12) 38pts
2nd John Graham (11) 37pts
3rd Tony Robbins (12) 37pts
4th Peter Kelly (12) 35pts
B Flight
1st Raleigh Gosney (19) 39pts
2nd Geoff Hart (25) 37pts
3rd Roger Mitchell (24) 35pts
4th Les Burns (30) 34pts
Near Pins: Colin Greig, Ian Milne, Raleigh Gosney and Geoff Hart
Friday, Feb. 7, Crystal Bay – Medal
Twenty-five golfers assembled at the Ranch for our monthly trip to this course, where the management take good care of us in terms of bookings and price. On arrival a lot of bags and bodies were in evidence but we sailed through and made our way to A course for our tee off time. This would be the quickest part of the day as C course was closed with the remaining 2 nines very busy resulting in a 5 hour plus round.
This is a great layout but unfortunately some aspects of the course and clubhouse have seen some serious neglect. Fairways and tees are fine but the greens are not consistent as they have up to 7 different types of grass mixed in, which gives variable grain and speed. The bunkers are also a problem with ragged edges, invading grass and sand worn through to gravel. These latter issues could easily be remedied quickly by the attention of a few people for a week. The locker room is also in need of some urgent renovation.
On the golfing front a strong breeze and slow greens thwarted some golfers but not Mike Corner in B flight with an impressive net 68, followed by Gordon Melia on net 71. The other golfer to better handicap was the recently returned Bruce Gladden in A flight also with a net 71.
Back at the Ranch the departing Stuart Tinkler was given a wonderful rendering of “leaving on a jet plane.”
A Flight
1st Bruce Gladden (14) net 71
2nd Colin Greig (8) net 73
3rd John Graham (11) net 75
B Flight
1st Mike Corner (21) net 68
2nd Gordon Melia (17) net 71
3rd Dave Keats (34) net 74
Near Pins: Stuart Tinkler, Mike Corner, Tony Robbins and Keith Norman
Note: The Bunker Boys play three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We meet at The Ranch bar on Pattaya 3rd Road at 9 a.m. for breakfast and transportation, and new players are always welcome. Contact “Buff” on 086 046 5091 or 080 605 5663 for all enquiries. You can find all the news, schedules and results on www.bunkersociety.com.
