PSC golf Bunker Boys @ The Ranch
Monday, May 20, Phoenix (Ocean & Mountain) – Stableford
The Phoenix course has recently been acquired by new owners and it was immediately apparent when driving up to the clubhouse that refurbishments are already underway. With a newly painted roof (presumably to deter the resident pigeon population) and lots of newly planted palm trees and shrubs, the clubhouse has a fresher look, but it will be interesting to see how they tackle the interior, which has always had the appearance (and appeal) of an empty aircraft hangar.
The course was relatively quiet so we were able to tee-off a few minutes early, with no groups in sight ahead of us. The weather was bright and sunny and the course was in good condition, so conditions were near perfect for another great round of golf.
The boss contemplates a bar with no beer (or golfers) on Visakha Bucha day.
We completed the outward nine in double quick time, but unfortunately our leading group caught up to a particularly slow four-ball on the twelfth hole and our progress came to a grinding halt. In the event the scores were a little disappointing with only Mashi Kaneta playing to his (somewhat higher than normal) handicap to take the honours ahead of Tony Robbins.
1st Mashi Kaneta (15) 36pts
2nd Tony Robbins (14) 35pts
3rd Colin Jones (23) 34pts
Near Pins: Steve Durey and Tony Robbins.
Wednesday, May 22, Burapha (A & B) – Stableford
The higher handicap golfers got their way today, as we elected to play off the white tees, which with a course length of 6,200 yards is somewhat shorter than we normally play. The weather was superb again and the course was also in great condition, so it was no surprise that the scores were much better than on our last visit here.
The use of the compulsory buggies, and the fact that the course was quiet, meant that everyone was back in the clubhouse in well under four hours – left pondering what to do for the rest of the day.
John Graham had a great back nine, scoring 23 points (2 over par gross) to record the best score of the day ahead of Steve Durey, who claimed second place on a count back over Neil Griffin. It looked for most of the round that Neil was going to walk away with the honours but three blobs on the last four holes wrecked his card (or has he been attending the JH school of handicap management?)
1st John Graham (11) 39pts
2nd Steve Durey (17) 38pts
3rd Neil Griffin (23) 38pts
Near Pins: Steve Durey, John Graham and Geoff Parker.
Friday, May 24, The Emerald – Stableford
We’ve been plagued by public holidays on our golf days so far this year, and today was yet another (Visaka Bucha Day) which being a bar closing day, meant that the normal après-golf excursion to nearby Bang Chang had to be abandoned.
We’ve already had three holidays on golf days this month, so maybe this, the lack of après golf activities, and the increased green fees contributed to the fact that only three die-hard golfers turned up at The Ranch. Yours truly would have been there but was stranded at home on the darkside with a flat battery, and was left twiddling his thumbs all day!
The die-hards however did manage to get their game, ending up with John Graham and Neil Griffin tied on 37 points.
1st John Graham (11) 37pts
2nd Neil Griffin (23) 37pts
Note: The Bunker Boys are a PSC affiliated golf society, who now play out of The Ranch bar on Pattaya 3rd Road (in front of the fire station, and almost opposite the Buffalo Bar). We play three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so if you enjoy a fun day out, and a friendly but competitive golf competition why not come and join us.
We meet at The Ranch at 9 a.m. for breakfast and transportation, and new players are always welcome. Contact “Buff” on 086 046 5091 or 080 605 5663 for all enquiries. You can find all the news, schedules and results on our website at www.bunkersociety.com.
