PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, Feb. 17, Burapha – Stableford
24 Outbackers played the A and B course from the blue tees in overcast and very humid conditions, making it very hot as the cloud cover burnt off. There were a few grizzles about the length of the course on B as the tees were as far back as possible, making the nine exceptionally long.
We were joined by Ramsay Smith, who first played with the Outback a few years back now and he brought along three mates, Rick Culley, Dave Bramley and Dave Strang, who were having their first game with us, as was South African Henrick van Joorsveld, so welcome to you all.
Kim Danboise and Sugar Ray Handford.
Jim Brackett made the most of his length off the tee to record the day’s best score of 37pts to win the top division from Bob Finley (36); Rick Culley beat Paul Bourke on c/ b to take third, both on 34.
Div B didn’t fare quite so well with the extra length of the course as Ramsay Smith topped the scoring there with 34pts, from Kim Danboise (32) and Ivan Plunkett beating Jimmy Little on c/b for third, both with 31.
Unusually there were no ‘2’s.
Div A (0-18)
1st Jim Brackett (9) 37pts
2nd Bob Finley (15) 36pts
3rd Rick Culley (14) 34pts
4th Paul Bourke (11) 34pts
Div B (19+)
1st Ramsay Smith (22) 34pts
2nd Kim Danboise (19) 32pts
3rd Ivan Plunkett (24) 31pts
4th Jimmy Little (19) 31pts
Wednesday, Feb. 19, Khao Kheow – Stableford
Three 3-balls and three 4-balls were the order of the day at Khao Kheow, with the early tee time of 9.10, starting on the B loop before progressing to A for our back nine. We were treated as usual by the fine hospitality of the staff and the course remains in great nick, even though the greens were perhaps a little slow as the downhill putts didn’t go quite as far as one thought they would, making it easy to leave them short.
With only two single figure handicappers in the 21 strong field the division split was quite high at 18, and the yellow tees gave both divisions the usual tough test. There was one player who stood head and shoulders above the rest however as Peter Eriksen shot an excellent gross 75 to register 39 stableford points off his 6 handicap, seven clear of the only other low marker, Stuart Sinfield off of 5,who returned a 32. Both Peter and Stuart played in the same group, as did the third placed man Steve Plant, who had 31.
Div B was a revelation, with a name at the top that has not been seen for quite some time as General Jack put a great back nine together to score 22pts, to beat course specialist Suzi Lawton on count back with ‘only’ 19pts as they both finished on 35. Kim Danboise followed up his second place at Burapha on Monday with another podium finish here, this time third with 29.
There were two ‘2’s from Peter Erikson (B8) and Kim Danboise (A5).
Div A (0-18)
1st Peter Erikson (6) 39pts
2nd Stuart Sinfield (5) 32pts
3rd Steve Plant (13) 31pts
Div B (19+)
1st Jack Moseley (20) 35pts
2nd Suzi Lawton (29) 35pts
3rd Kim Danboise (19) 29pts
Friday, Feb. 21, Green Valley – Stableford
The first real rain of the year sent the majority of the 36 starters back to the changing rooms as 20 left the course after just a few holes, leaving only 16 finishers.
Surprising really, because the rain wasn’t really that heavy but it did get cold which was not a lot of fun. The other thing which is not a lot of fun is to be pushed into a six minute start time interval only to end up with four groups standing on the second tee in the rain with nowhere to shelter. However, someone has at last seen sense as we revert to a more respectable 8 minute interval at the start of the low season (1st April) when the course changes the first tee back to the current 3rd hole, followed by the current 6th hole as the second.
The interesting thing is that the current 2nd hole will become the 18th, making the course very similar to the original layout, when the clubhouse was at the top of the hill. So why don’t they go the whole hog; make the 6th the first and the 15th the tenth and put on a couple of courtesy buses to get the walkers there, which would be paid for in no time at all as players would be able to use the driving range properly!
I see the old green complete with bunkers is still there when the second used to be the par 5 (17th). Cut down a few trees and they could bring back that as well, what a great hole that was!
As for today, Sugar ran away with the win to score a very fine 39pts from Barry McIntosh on 34 and Kin Danboise (32) yet again, who recorded his third podium finish out of three starts this week.
There were three ‘2’s from Sugar Ray Handford (4th), Steve Giles (12th) and Barry McIntosh (16th), all of whom played in the same group.
1st Sugar Ray Handford (18) 39pts
2nd Barry McIntosh (20) 34pts
3rd Kim Danboise (19) 32pts
4th Stephen Mann (9) 31pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. Call Jack on 081 578 1956.
