Phoenix Members Golf Society
Friday, Sept. 27, we played for the KPK Food Services voucher donated by Keith Keohane and it was Bill Hewitt who posted the best score of the day with a fine 37 points on the Mountain & Lake course. However, he only just pipped Mukesh Thakkar by way of a better back nine.
Yours truly managed third place with 34 points and Jim Neilson claimed fourth place with 33.
Near pins were won by Bill Hewitt (or should I say Samorn), Joris Goetschalckx, Steve Gibson and myself. We love Joris to win a proper prize – this takes him out of the lucky draw which he invariably wins.
Tuesday’s winners (Stuart Gordon far left) pose for a photo with the staff at the Relax Bar.
So the lucky draw winners on the day were Mukesh Thakkar (free massage) and Nik Evans (free drink), both donated by our hosts The Relax Bar. The final lucky draw prize of 50 baht went to Pierre Bietry.
Leaving the golf aside for a while, a couple of weeks ago there was quite a damning press issued by the Bunker Boys after they had played at Phoenix. In their defence, most of what they said was true. However I can report a few facts appertaining to some of their report.
It was true that a voucher coupon system was installed and that everyone including the drinks stop girls were appalled by it. So much so that all the drink stop girls left the course immediately and left the kiosks unattended. This matter has now been resolved and changed. There is still the coupon system in place but they can be bought from both the registration office or on course at the kiosks. If you do not spend all of the value on the day, the remainder can be redeemed in the restaurant at the end of your game.
The incident with regards to green fee payments seems a little vague. At this time of the year Sports Day rates are in operation and they are lower than any walk-in fee including a members guest. How they had a discrepancy of 300 baht seems impossible. The Sports Day rates are 800 baht on a Tuesday and Thursday and 900 baht on Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
With regards to the marshals and starters, they are in a no win situation. New owners always means new brooms sweep clean and the starters and marshals are all unsure of their positions. Therefore, if management install new rules (whether good or bad) the starters and marshals can only act in favour of their new employers. This is something that will slowly improve when players and staff are settled regarding the future at Phoenix.
One thing is for sure, and all players, whether they are members or guests or just walk in players, will have to come to terms with new rates of fees. The future of this course seems to be moving up in standards and much work is taking place to improve the course. Ocean course has now been closed for some 4 to 5 months and many things (including a computerised watering system) have been implanted.
We are all concerned but make no mistake, this course is not going to be for the cheap charlie’s any more. Caddy fees are going up to 350 baht. Walk-in fees are going up to 2,500 baht week days and 3,000 baht weekends. There has been no final decision made regarding members fees and members guest fees as of yet, but you can bet your bottom dollar they are going to increase.
There is also a suggestion that carts will be compulsory and only one person per cart. However this is not set in writing at this time.
There are many other rumours floating around, but the above figures are the only factual changes at present. So if you wish to enjoy Phoenix (Gold) Golf & Country Club, you had better get it in before the end of October 2013. Who knows, after this month I may be writing under a new heading!
Moving onto Tuesday, October 1, and we welcomed back our old friend Richard Baldwin who acts as the sponsor of Ann’s Salon voucher on the first Tuesday of the month.
Stuart Gordon shrugged off his poor form of late to post a good 39 points to win the day. In second place was Wolfram Krueger with 36 points, third came Gerry Hughes with 34 and in fourth was Steve Gibson with 33. Steve had enjoyed a good run of high scores but this comes with the caveat of having your handicap cut drastically.
Near pins went to Maurice Guiney (2), Stuart Gordon and Joris Goetschalckx (making quite a habit of this. But it keeps him out of the lucky draw).
The lucky draw prizes, donated by our hosts The Relax Bar were awarded to Stuart Gordon, Mike Gerrard and Jim Neilson.
The highlight of the day was a brilliant ‘eagle’ 3 at the last hole by Richard Baldwin. At the presentation we advised Richard that this was the same as a hole in one (both eagles) and we would be happy to receive a drink for his efforts. Richard was very quick to point out that it was not a hole in one and firmly secured his wallet in his back pocket.
