PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s
Tuesday, January 17, The Emerald – Stableford
Much better getting here now as we do not have to fight the traffic down Sukhumwit; just up past Green Valley, turn left, a bit of peaceful countryside and into the course.
Soon booked in it was down to the start and it started to spit with rain, where the big decision was whether to play ‘pick and place’ as it had rained all night also. Being brave we just went and it was probably the correct decision as we got around without too much mud on the ball.
Winners and runners-up from Pleasant Valley.
The course probably needed the water, and the covers actually were needed on the golf bags, but it was forge ahead. In fact apart from the course being packed, we quite enjoyed getting wet. Weird people these golfers.
As is usual with this course, the ball ended up in some funny positions, it has to be the most ‘bad lie’ course in the country. Anyway, despite the square holes we finally got around.
In the A Flight, 0 to 15, the winner was Rob Brown with 36 points ahead of Mashi Kaneta in second on 34 points while John Binns took third with 33 points on count back over Mike Gaussa.
In the B Flight the winner your scribe with 33 points ahead of Tom Cotton on count back. In third was Graham Buckingham with 32 points, also edging Sid Crawley on count back.
Near Pins: Sid Crawley, Carole Kubicki, Keichi Kasame, Mike Gaussa
Long Putt: Mike Gaussa, David Nicholson
Friday, January 20, Pleasant Valley – Stableford
On this day we played Pleasant Valley and for a Friday we had a very good turnout. This is a course that elicits a lot of debate from those who do not like it and those who do. The against crowd say it is too tight and was placed on to too little real estate, that too many fairways are dangerously too closely parallel and that false ‘OB’ are needed.
The pro crowd realise this is probably true, but since the course came into use the condition has improved to such an extent that fairways and greens are on a par with just about all the courses. At present, while other courses are dried out with bare fairways it has a lush green look. You pay your money and vote with your feet.
On this day the course was packed out, and we had a later start so we got into the queue and started only a little late. As said the layout was in good condition but is one that needs respect. Of course it rained but only a little ‘spitty’. So we battled on and in fact got around in reasonable time despite the many players here today.
Back at Bert’s it was soon time for the presentation and Dick was soon in full flow. In the A Flight, 0 to 19, Mashi Kaneta had one of his good days with 41 points and won ahead of a count back on 37 points that saw Rob Brown in second and yours truly in third.
In the B Flight the winner with 38 points was Don Carmody with 38 points ahead of a three-way count back on 37 points that saw Karen Brown in second, Daryl Evans in third and Brian Gabe just losing out. Then it was time for a cold one or two. T.T.F.N.
Near Pins: Joel Flor, Mashi (2) and Barry Elphick
