PSC Bunker Boys Golf
Monday, November 18th Bangpra
1st John Hughes (21) 37 points
2nd Tony Robbins (22) 35 points
3rd Gerry Cooney (17) 35 points
4th Pat Ryan (12) 34 points
Near pins Keith Norman, Pat Ryan, & Jimmy Carr X 2.
Nineteen golfers were on hand for Monday’s game at Bangpra. The course was in good order but the greens were back to their treacherously fast condition of a few years ago. Anybody putting down the slope had a real job on their hands and if the putt didn’t go down then it was much further away coming back. To compound the problem the greenkeeper must have had a bad night as some of the pin placements were wicked. The wind was also up just to add a bit more to the challenge.
John Hughes of the (I win when I want to) fame did just that today with a solid round of thirty-seven, very good in the conditions. Having missed a couple of opportunities, Tony Robbins still did enough to take second place on countback from Gerry Cooney whilst Pat Ryan brought up the rear with thirty-four, low by his standards.
Tuesday, November 19th Kabin Buri Day 1
1st Keith Norman (13) 39 points
2nd Keith Smithson (4) 34 points
3rd Jimmy Carr (17) 32 points
4th Greg Berry (12) 31 points
Near pins Alan Sullivan, Keith Smithson, Keith Norman, Mashi Kaneta.
Sixteen Bunker Boys made the trip up Hwy 331 to one of our favourite away destinations staying at the beautiful Serenity Hotel and Spa and playing two rounds of golf at a quality course. As there was a major event being staged at the course on Thursday it was in competition-ready status and just about as good as it could be. One could argue the course was overwatered as there was no run and the occasional mud ball. The wind was also blowing sometimes strongly to add an extra dimension to what is already a very challenging course.
Many drove up in the morning and the round was completed in time to catch happy hour back at the hotel.
Keith Norman played out of his skin to claim first place with a magnificent thirty-nine points, five ahead of second-placed Keith Smithson on thirty-four. Jimmy Carr took third with thirty-two and Greg Berry rounded out the winner’s list with thirty-one.
Wednesday, November 20th Kabin Buri Day 2
Individual placings
1st Keith Smithson (4) 35 points
2nd Michael Brett (16) 34 points
3rd Tony Robbins (22) 33 points
Team placings
1st Keith Smithson & Mashi Kaneta 39 points
2nd Jimmy Carr & Brendan Harnett 38 points
Near pins Geoff Parker, Keith Smithson & Jimmy Carr X 2.
Day two saw us play both individual Stableford and two-ball better ball, with eight teams of two. The course was just as it was yesterday but with a bit less wind, nevertheless, nobody was able to replicate the heroics of Keith Norman on day one. Keith Smithson moved up one place to take first with thirty-five points. Michael Brett took second a stroke back with Tony Robbins bringing up the rear a further point back. Geoff Parker came close to an ace hitting the pin and rolling away. Had he been successful it would have completely changed the first and second team placings.
Crystal Bay A & C
1st Gary Smith (13) 37 points
2nd Pat Ryan (12) 37 points
3rd Paul Smith (3) 35 points
With sixteen away in Kabin Buri there were still thirteen left for a game at Crystal Bay. Mixed reports about the course with some loving it and a lone dissenting voice saying they would not play it again. As the old adage goes, “You can’t please all the people all the time”.
If there was agreement on anything it was that the greens were slow and inconsistent, most welcomed the reopening of the A nine judged to be the best of the three. There was a worry about the watering system not working correctly and if not repaired then the course condition will deteriorate quickly.
A close game with some good scores saw Gary Smith take first place from Pat Ryan on countback, both with thirty-seven points. Paul Smith took third with thirty-five. Kob Glover once again got in the near pins, Paul Smith took one and the organiser Daryl Vernon got two.
Friday, November 22nd Eastern Star
1st Keith Smithson (4) 38 points
2nd Niall Glover (19) 37 points
3rd Tony Robbins (22) 36 points
With a total of twenty-nine playing on Wednesday, we were back to sixteen today. Could be many don’t like the Eastern Star course or possibly four games in a week is too much for some. Difficult as always, the course was in nice condition and a nice breeze kept playing conditions comfortable. The pace of play was acceptable with the game completed in about four hours.
With some booming drives and accurate iron play, Keith Smithson completed a week that contains two wins and a second-place. Friday once again at the head of the pack with thirty-eight points. Niall Glover had a very solid thirty-seven in second place with Tony Robbins rounding out the winner’s list with thirty-six, also having a good week.
Near pins went to Kob Glover who is fast becoming a dab hand at this aspect of the game, Keith Norman, and Michael Brett.
