Bunker Boys Golf Society
Monday, Jan 9, Mt. Shadow (blue tees) – Stableford
1st Colin Greig (9) 37pts
2nd Keith Norman (13) 36pts
3rd Neil Carter (14) 35pts
Near Pins: Michael Brett, Stuart Tinkler, Mashi Keneta, Colin Greig.
Monday morning in Pattaya dawned with grey overcast skies and the threat of rain. This may have accounted for the low number of players assembled at the M Club for the first game of a new week. Undaunted, fifteen keen golfers made their way up motorway 7 to the Mountain Shadow venue for our 11.00 tee off time. This is a course that provides a stern examination of any players golfing ability, course management skills, and overall golfing temperament.
Despite the weather, the course was in good order with the exception of some bunkers that had not been raked for a while and caddies had made no attempt to cover footprints. Play got underway ten minutes early and there were few if any delays.
Having recorded two victories the previous week, Colin Greig continued on his merry way with another first place finish. It seems that the Greig household’s trophy cabinet has still some spaces left to fill! Keith Norman came a close second on 36pts and Neil Carter third a further stroke back.
Stuart Tinkler decided to be a good golf citizen and look for his playing partner’s ball in the rough, however, he beat a hasty retreat with the appearance of an angry looking snake.
Playing numbers are down this year compared to previous years. There may be many reasons for this, poor exchange rates etc., and some of our more senior members have either have passed on, or through ill-health or age have lost the ability or desire to play.
Wednesday, Jan. 11, Greenwood (white tees) – Stableford
1st Michael Brett (18) 39pts
2nd Greg Berry (15) 37pts
3rd Ken Elmore (22) 37pts
Near Pins: Ken Elmore, Stuart Tinkler (3).
On a grey, overcast morning in Pattaya with the real prospect of rain, nineteen golfers assembled at the M Club for the trip to the Greenwood Course. To the amazement of everybody, the normally sartorially splendid Andy Brady arrived at the club sans socks, however at the course he managed to find in his kit bag a pair of elegant green socks for play.
Carts were not allowed on the course due to recent rain so the ‘lift, clean and place’ rule was applied. Play commenced on time and progressed without many hold-ups, except for a heavy shower lasting about ten minutes midway through the front nine. The course played long due to the absence of any run on the fairways and the greens were slow as expected.
Near pins are normally shared around, however, today the mercurial Stuart Tinkler bagged three with the remaining pin going to the soon to depart Ken Elmore. Ken continued his recent run of good form taking third place after losing a count back with 37pts to Greg Berry, the latter having the better last 6 holes. First place went to the ever-consistent Michael Brett with 39pts.
Having had a few games under his belt Richard Baldotto is now finding some good form so expect to see him in the winners’ circle soon.
Friday, Jan.13, The Emerald (white tees) – Stableford
A Flight (0-16.8)
1st Les Cobban (8) 33pts
2nd Stuart Tinkler (14) 32pts
3rd Tony Robbins (17) 30pts
B Flight (16.9+)
1st Gerry Cooney (17) 37pts
2nd Neil Griffen (24) 33pts
3rd Frank Quinlan (35) 32pts
Near Pins: Robby Watts, Trevor Priestly, Mike Brett, Eddy Kelly.
“Now is the winter of our discontent”, this was certainly the case for twenty-four Bunker Boys today who attended the Emerald course. Not only were green fees higher than most courses in the Pattaya area, the marshal put out several groups more than were booked from another society and a further group of two players before the Bunker Boys, thereby delaying our tee off time significantly and causing chaos on the course with several groups waiting at every tee box. Five hours and thirty minutes to play a round of golf is not acceptable by any measure and the course management need to take a good hard look at their policies if they wish to retain local societies.
The problem was compounded by the total absence of the marshal on the course to push along slow groups. To add insult to injury a heavy downpour on the front-nine drenched everybody adding to the misery.
Most players lost interest in the game early in the round and this was reflected in the low scores returned. Only Gerry Cooney rose above the rest with a very respectable 37pts while the remainder of players in the winners’ circle scored in the low thirties.
