PSC Bunkers Boys Golf Society
Monday, August 8, Khao Kheow – Stableford
1st Geoff Parker (15) 36pts
2nd Gerry Cooney (18) 34pts
3rd Colin Greig (12) 32pts
Near Pins: Geoff Parker, Les Cobban
Where better place can a golfer be than in Pattaya, playing low season golf on great courses fully recovered from the dry spell at discount prices? Today we went to Khao Kheow and played the A & B nines for THB 1,000 for green fee and caddy fee. The weather was perfect and the course was in good shape, there being just one slight disappointment, not enough rakes on the course and none of the caddies carried rakes either so the bunkers were not properly repaired. It’s a pity as the ground staff had done a good job in presenting the course and bunkers so well.
The course was almost empty and 13 players enjoyed a fast round. The ever reliable doyen of the Bunker Boys, Geoff Parker, scored an excellent 36pts to take first place. This also included two near pins and a 3-foot tap in birdie on the island green. Gerry Cooney, revelling in his 17.6 handicap, came second with 34pts and Colin Greig (32pts) beat Ross Schiffke and Tony Robbins on count back for third place.
Wednesday, August 10, The Emerald (white tees) – Medal
1st Gerry Cooney (18) net 70
2nd Geoff Parker (15) net 70
3rd Jimmy Carr (17) net 73
Near Pins: Rab McDonald, Jimmy Carr, Gerry Cooney, Geoff Parker
At 6,024 yards off the whites, Emerald plays like a course twice its size. This was attested to today as only two of our fourteen players were able to equal or better their handicaps. Well, the excruciatingly slow greens and cement clad bunkers may have had something to do with it but, nevertheless, it is a tough little track – for its size.
Gerry Cooney took the honors by a nose over Geoff Parker, each with a net 70. Both men fired-up the back nine; Gerry posting a 41, Geoff a 43, with Gerry winning on count back. In addition to his second place finish, Geoff just missed a hole-n-one on the 131-yard par-3 16th by a fraction of an inch, and that’s not an exaggeration. It would have been his second on said hole.
Soft spoken, lead-footed Colin Greig couldn’t buy a putt. Never seen Mr. Putter Man miss so many makeable putts. Besides the putting, the bunkers were causing him quite a bit of distress, as well. It would be disingenuous to deny a bit of schadenfreude on seeing a low handicapper struggle like us regular guys.
The real action was taking place with the approach shots. Raleigh Gosney, fresh in town from a working holiday in Japan, proceeded to drill two twenty-five foot chips for birdies on the 1st and 10th holes: the only thing he did right all day.
A special thanks to Rab McDonald for continuing to contribute to the Bunker Boys kitty by not showing up to collect his near pin prize.
Friday, August 12, Treasure Hill (yellow tees) – Stableford
1st Les Hall (23) 40pts
2nd Neil Carter (16) 35pts
3rd Colin Greig (12) 34pts
Near Pins: Colin Greig (2), Neil Carter, Jimmy Carr.
Treasure Hill is a lovely course, indeed. One could almost argue that the struggle up Route 331 during roadworks is worth it, but that would be stretching the truth. Being stuck in a 45 minute traffic jam makes you wish you had never gotten out of bed.
Les Hall must have arrived by helicopter as he was off to the races upon hitting the ground. No one was even close, and he finished with an outstanding 40 stableford points.
Neil Carter, our gracious host at the always entertaining M Club, took second place, and Colin Greig knocked Raleigh out of the dough on count back for third.
Mr. stick it close and miss the birdie putt, Jimmy Carr, continues to rack-up the near pins recording another today. Jimmy has been lobbying the committee to institute something similar to the Golfer of the Month, i.e., Near-Pinner of the Month, but no decision has been made as of yet.
