PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group
Tuesday, April 6, Khao Kheow – Stableford
So into the ‘Low Season’ and all is well! I thought by this time with all the ‘High Season’ regulars back in their home towns I would be able to go back into semi-retirement. However, this is Khao Kheow and the week before the dreaded weekof getting soaked in Pattaya as you brave a walk out. So having declared that we would not play for the Songkran full period, I suppose I should have expected a good turnout, and we got one.
The B nine at Khao Kheow is having a month off so we were to play the C & A nines on what appeared a quiet day on the course. The layout was, as usual, in fine condition and although there was a bit of a wind on the day it was also really hot and the walkers struggled to get around, as indeed did some of those in carts. Overall though a great day on the course and well enjoyed by all the players.
John Davis and Barry Oats with one of BJ Holiday Lodge’s finest.
Back in Pattaya the results were soon ready and with Mashi getting back on time we were soon underway. In the A Flight, 0 to 18, the winner with a fine 39 points was John Davis ahead of Maurice Roberts in second with 37 and Tom Herrington third with 35 on count back over Gerd Riedlar.
In the B Flight the winner was Barry Oats with 40 points ahead of Rita Zoebeli in second with 36 and Jim Ferris third with 34.
Near Pin: Maurice Roberts, Dave Cooper, Mashi Kaneta, Gerd Riedlar
Long Putts: Graham Buckingham, Tom Herrington
Friday, April 10, Emerald G.C. – Stableford
The Tropical Golf Group hasn’t been to Emerald in quite a while, and the time between visits is too long for many as it is an interesting and challenging layout. After the morning feed, and a couple cups of ambition, a smaller than usual pre-Songkran group of 15 golfers headed for the Emerald.
If anyone has some spare change there is a very nice golf course for sale. Playing at Emerald one must be careful (or lucky) off the tee as there are few parallel fairways or open areas to recover from after wayward “banana” shots. It is a challenging layout yet interesting all the way through. Some of those par 3 holes sure cause anxiety.
The condition of the fairways was fair to good, and most greens were acceptable, but a few were rough enough to make putting difficult if one needed to cross that area. However, there were signs up around the clubhouse indicating that the greens would soon be undergoing maintenance so a return to the usual good putting surfaces should be soon. Well, on to the results.
This challenging course usually creates low point totals, but on some days the golfers rise to the challenge, and this was one of those. When the sorting was done Tom Herrington (h/cap 16) won the day with a fine 37 points, just edging out his playing partner Dave Cooper (21) on count-back. In third place was Brian Parish (14) with an equally impressive 36 points, just edging out John Davis (16) on another count-back. Excellent golf everyone!
Near Pins: Tom Herrington, Dave Cooper, Dick Warberg, Brian Parish
Long Putts: Graham Buckingham
