PSC Golf from The Growling Swan
Monday, Sept. 22, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
It was the start of a new week and the challenging Mountain Shadow was our booked venue, so we made our way to the Growling Swan in readiness for our departure. We had 2 mini vans booked with Alain transporting the “overflow” and we handed out welcomes to Martin Todd, who had just returned from a week of golf in Japan, Chris Stewart, Steve Jones & Leeroy Bloomfield from Western Australia and our old mate Roy “Plums” Dayton who was back with us from San Francisco and his lady Kae.
We were able to leave the GS 7 minutes early as all were on time and after a 45 minute drive we arrived at the golf course where it was fairly quiet. After a few minutes on the practice putting green we headed off to the first tee and decided to use the blue tees which meant a test for some of us.
Alain Taddei, Neil King & David Fletcher.
We had 2 three-balls at the head of the field and the first one hit off 20 minutes ahead of schedule at 9.40 a.m. in excellent weather conditions, although somewhat hot and steamy. The golf course was in great shape and the greens were very well prepared as usual and with no-one ahead of us we maintained a very good pace, reaching the half way mark in one hour & fifty minutes.
After stopping for a drinks break before the 13th tee our pace slowed down a bit, especially as after coming off the 14th tee good old Buckers was seen writhing on the ground in agony after being accidentally hit in the “orchestra stalls” by JP’s caddy. After a quick perusal of the Rules Book it was decided that there would be no penalty to Buckers or the caddy and we proceeded at a reasonable pace, finishing the round in three hours & forty five minutes.
It had been a very enjoyable round with excellent company although very hot and it was great to get into the showers afterwards.
There were a couple of very good scores but many very ordinary ones so I guess the golf course was the winner on the day. But it was no trouble for Chris Stewart who won the A Division with a fine 39 points, with good old Ebrahim in second place with 34 points and your writer, Peter “Blacky” Blackburn, in third spot after scoring 33 points.
Ron Grafton was the winner in B Division with 37 points, 4 points ahead of John Anderson in second place and Steve Jones took out third spot with 27.
Division A (0-14)
1st Chris Stewart (4) 39pts
2nd Ebrahim (12) 34pts
3rd Peter Blackburn (13) 33pts
Division B (15+)
1st Ron Grafton (15) 37pts
2nd John Anderson (32) 33pts
3rd Steve Jones (22) 27pts
Near Pins: 5th – Chris Stewart, 8th – Duangjai Tusagad, 15th – Martin Todd, and 17th – Takeshi Hakozaki.
Long Putts: 9th – Ebrahim and 18th – Chris Stewart.
Thursday, Sept. 25, Greenwood B & C – Stroke/Monthly Mug
The sky was overcast but at least it was fine as we all made our way to The Growling Swan in readiness for our departure to the Greenwood Golf Course where we were all playing for the 27th Monthly Mug. After a late withdrawal due to sickness and a couple of regulars opting not to play we were left with an excellent field of 31 true golfers who were ready to accept the challenge of a round of stroke.
Ron Grafton, Gordon Clegg & Chris Stewart.
We handed out welcomes to Stuart Mann from Canberra, David Fletcher on R & R from Western Australia, Greg Bates & Neil King from Brisbane, Sal Brizzi returning after a few months in Melbourne & Brendan Devlin from Ireland. It was time to say farewell to Chris Stewart, Steve Jones, Leeroy Bloomfield & John Coombs who will shortly be returning to Western Australia and our good friend and Growling Swan stalwart Geri Crilly who is off back to Sydney for a month or so.
When we arrived at the course there was hardly anyone there. C & B were the allocated nines in that sequence so we headed off to C1 and our first group, a three-ball, got away a couple of minutes after our booked 10.00 am tee time.
The weather was still fine but very humid and it was inevitable that we would sooner or later get wet and sure enough the rain came as we were on the C6 green. We putted out and then sheltered in the adjacent drink hut for about twenty five minutes as it rained heavily and C6 green flooded but then it stopped and as usual the greens rapidly drained and although the fairways were very wet we continued our round without any more interruptions.
Apart from the wet conditions the course was in very good shape with the greens extremely good and receptive. We concluded our round in about four hours & forty five minutes which included the break for rain and the company had been terrific.
In addition to the Monthly Mug award we were able to have 2 Divisions with 5 prizes in each. There were also rewards for nearest the pins all the par threes and longest first putts on the B9 & C9 greens.
David “Fletch” Fletcher certainly enjoyed playing in the rain as he won the Monthly Mug with the only net sub-par round of the day, a net 71 – his first Mug.
Visitors figured prominently on the podium as Neil King won Division A with a net 73, one stroke better than Chris Stewart with net 74. With 2 golfers on net 75 a count back was required which resulted in Graham “Ricey” Rice (net 38 back nine) finishing third from your writer Peter “Blacky” Blackburn (net 45 back nine) in fourth spot. Another count back was needed to determine fifth place with 2 players on net 76 and it was Bill “Buffalo” Steinman (net 37 back nine) who got “the chocolates” from John Pierrel (net 44 back nine).
In Division B it was Alain “Inspector Clouseau” Taddei who was declared the winner with net 73 and in second place was Lindsay Slender with net 76. Two players on net 78 meant another count back which saw Gary Monley (net 42 back nine & net 29 on the last 6 holes) finish third from Steve Jones (net 42 back nine & net 31 on the last 6 holes) who finished fourth. Roy “Plums” Dayton finished in fifth place with a score of net 79.
The Growling Swan NAGA Award was won by Gordon Clegg for the second time in the week.
Monthly Mug
1st David Fletcher (35) net 71
A Division (0-14)
1st Neil King (6) net 73
2nd Chris Stewart (3) net 74
3rd Graham Rice (12) net 75
4th Peter Blackburn (13) net 75
5th Bill Steinman (10) net 76
B Division (15+)
1st Alain Taddei (15) net 73
2nd Lindsay Slender (25) net 76
3rd Gary Monley (32) net 78
4th Steve Jones (22) net 78
5th Roy Dayton (25) net 79
Near Pins: B2 – Neil King, B5 – Brad Todd, C3 – Bill Steinman, C6 – Neil King
Long Putts: B9 – Bill Steinman, C9 – Greg Bates
Note: Growling Swan Golf welcomes golfers of any persuasion – low & high handicappers alike, female golfers and beginners. We generally play Mondays & Thursdays, meeting at The Growling Swan in Soi Chaiyapoon at 8.00 am with transport departing at 8.30 am. For bookings or more information please contact Peter on 0806 351 386 or email to petermalcolmblackburn @gmail.com.
We also play bowls out of the Growling Swan every Wednesday and Sunday. Sunday is Lawn Bowls and Wednesday is Indoor Bowls. All are welcome and for anyone that is interested the transport leaves The Growling Swan at 10.00am on each of those mornings. For more information please contact Paul Rennison on 0843 454 005.
