The Golf Club weekly review
Monday, June 19, Silky Oaks (white tees) – Stableford
1st Gary Emmett (16) 44pts
2nd Alan McKendry (16) 43pts
3rd Mark Wood (10) 40pts
This was the last week of substitutions for Rayong Green Valley as from next week we are back to our regular Monday comp at RGV. Silky Oaks has been a fine substitute and the more you play this course, the more you like it. That is, of course, if you didn’t know about that last drinks stop being closed and finishing dehydrated after the 15th hole, so be warned!
Gary Emmett is becoming a good and consistent golfer and 44 points here today was a fantastic round of golf.
Tuesday, June 20, Phoenix (white tees) – Stableford
T1st Richie McGhee (2) 34pts
T1st Aki Yamomoto (20) 34pts
3rd Kenny Grimes (22) 33pts
It was a battle out there at Phoenix Gold today and in the end there were two at the top. The course is getting ready for a Ladies European Tour event so if your drive didn’t find the fairway, loads of trouble was waiting for you in the rough. Yes, they are growing up the rough for the swingin’ skirts so be forewarned, the course is playing much more difficult than we are used to.
As for we mere mortals, chalk up Kenny Grimes for third place today. Kenny did very well considering conditions and got beat by just a stroke. It was visiting Aki Yamomoto from Japan and the 2-handicapper Richie McGhie from Australia that ended in a dead heat. Richie and his Tamworth mates Nigel and Grant have been playing well these last few weeks and we hope to see them soon.
Thursday, June 22, Burapha C & D (white tees) – Stableford
1st Gary Emmett (16) 42pts
T2nd Murray Mint (26) 40pts
T2nd Richard King (26) 40pts
4th David O’Brien (10) 38pts
From The Golf Club, Burapha is one of the closest golf courses in the area and today the trip out took only 24 minutes. There was the slightest of rain on the first tee box that ended by the third hole that gave way to sunny skies thereafter.
A good showing of 16 golfers took on the task of the C and D links that were in very fine condition. The summer solstice was yesterday so we will have long days (by Pattaya standards) for another month, with sunset around 6:45 or so. Most of the local courses are pretty empty right now and with the hot months of May and June just about out of the way, it is a great time to visit Pattaya and get in some value golf in before the rainy season of September.
Our Caddy Smile programme was the beneficiary of the difficult 181-yard par-3, as not one golfer even managed to hit the green!
Gary Emmett was king of the hill out there today and 42 points on the card claimed most of those handsome man vouchers. Gary also won on Monday so many of the guys thoughtfully chipped in for a lovely, custom knitted noose that’s just his size.
Friday, June 23, Greenwood (white tees) – Stableford
1st Billy Eyles (24) 41pts
2nd Grant Kirby (10) 39pts
3rd Mark Watkins (23) 37pts
Fine weather greeted us as we loaded up the vans and headed out up the 331 to Greenwood. In a few months’ time, the new (repaved) link from Highway 7 will be finished so you guys will get out here in 45 minutes instead of 60. Treasure Hill, Pattavia and Pattana will all benefit from this major road improvement as well. The beauty is, this will completely avoid the hellish wait through Amata and those five minute traffic lights. The way things are going, this will probably be done before the Pattaya Tunnel is open!
The course was in the usual fine condition, as it should be for this time of year. It is hard to beat Greenwood for value for money.
It was good to see me ol’ mate Billy Eyles (not from the Scilly Isles) back with us this week and his timing seemed perfect for a fine 41 today. Billy the Hat had a good day out there. The long hitting Aussie Grant Kirby had a stroll in the park today and came up with 39 for second place. Then there’s Mr. Watkins, good ol’ Marco finally scored enough for a podium place with his 37 to round off a great day of golf.
