PSC Golf Bunker Boys @ The Ranch
Monday, Nov. 17, Treasure Hill – Stableford
Thirty golfers today for our Stableford competition at Treasure Hill on another bright, sunny morning. The course was quiet and the leading two three-balls were soon heading off into the distance as the remainder of the field played a leisurely round in almost perfect conditions.
The course is in great shape apart from several greens which have suffered badly during the recent rainy season, and one suspects that they will need a lot of TLC if they are to recover.
Last year’s Memorial Tournament winners all set to defend their title.
Alan Harris produced the outstanding round of the day to win the A flight and finished six points clear of all other contestants in both flights. Annual visitor Neil Jones took second place in the A flight, beating Gordon Melia on a count back after Gordon missed a short putt on the 18th green, which produced a rare show of frustration from a player who is normally one of golf’s gentlemen.
Tom McDowell was playing the first game of his annual visit and took the honours in the B flight ahead of Tore Eliassen and Geoff Williams.
A Flight
1st Alan Harris (10) 39pts
2nd Neil Jones (15) 33pts
3rd Gordon Melia (17) 33pts
B Flight
1st Tom McDowell (22) 33pts
2nd Tore Eliassen (20) 31pts
3rd Geoff Williams (22) 31pts
Near Pins: Keith Norman, Les Burns and Mike Staunton.
Wednesday, Nov. 19. Bangprakong – Stableford
A nice round number of thirty two golfers today set off down the 7 motorway for what is normally a straightforward run to Bangprakong, but today the trip was longer than usual due to severe roadworks on the exit road from the motorway to the course. The delay didn’t cause too many problems and our groups were soon teeing off immediately after arrival, albeit a little later than scheduled.
As usual the course was in excellent condition although the lakes were so full that they were flooding their banks in places, and even a few bunkers (which are presumably lower than the water table) were flooded and marked as GUR. Once again the weather was ideal, with a stiff breeze keeping temperatures at a reasonable level, but causing some problems with high trajectory shots.
It’s usual for someone to card a high score whenever we play here, and today it was the turn of newcomer Brian Edwards, who scored 40 points to win the B flight by three clear points ahead of Steve Durey and Geoff Williams, who had to be separated on a count back. Mike Lloyd won the A flight on only his second game back ahead of the ever-consistent Tony Scambler and newly arrived visitor Derek Stephenson.
A Flight
1st Mike Lloyd (14) 37pts
2nd Tony Scambler (10) 36pts
3rd Derek Stephenson (13) 35pts
4th Alan Harris (9) 34pts
B Flight
1st Brian Edwards (26) 40pts
2nd Steve Durey (20) 37pts
3rd Geoff Williams (22) 37pts
4th Sid Hashem (21) 34pts
Near Pins: John Graham, Mike LLoyd, Geoff Williams and Neil Hurst.
Friday, Nov. 21, Crystal Bay C & A – Stableford
An organiser’s nightmare today as thirty eight golfers turned up at The Ranch, but somehow we were able to squeeze everyone into the transport and managed to get the two extra groups onto the course.
The weather was once again almost perfect as the leading groups set out on the C nine, and the fairways and greens are now in good condition, so everything was set for a great day’s golf.
There were no massive scores today, but almost two thirds of the field scored 30 points or more, so count backs were the order of the day. Alan Harris produced the best score of the day with 38 points to win the A flight one point clear of Gary Close who had a splendid back nine score of 23 points after spraying the ball around on the outward nine. There was a three-way tie on 36 points for third and fourth places with Mike Johns being the unlucky player to miss out on the prizes.
In the B flight, Gordon Melia continued his run of good form to finish two points clear of John Hughes and the resurgent PJ Redmond, who had to be separated on a count back. The shot of the day was hit by Derek Stephenson on the par three A8 hole where his ball finished two inches from the pin, which would have been an expensive round of drinks given the large field of golfers today.
A Flight
1st Alan Harris (9) 38pts
2nd Gary Close (15) 37pts
3rd Geoff Cox (14) 36pts
4th Keith Norman (14) 36pts
B Flight
1st Gordon Melia (17) 36pts
2nd PJ Redmond (23) 34pts
3rd John Hughes (18) 34pts
4th Neil Griffin (24) 33pts
Near Pins: Gordon Melia, Derek Stephenson, Keith Norman and Neil Jones.
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 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 or check website: www.bunkersociety.com.
