PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, Nov. 26, Royal Lakeside – Stableford
A Flight
1st Colin Service (17) 39pts
2nd Maurice Roberts (13) 36pts
3rd Anthony Molan (10) 35pts
B Flight
1st Kenny Jepson (30) 43pts
2nd Jim Ferris (22) 37pts
3rd Martin Hoblyn (24) 37pts
When Phil and Maurice decided to sort the many sets of golf clubs not in lockers, they identified who the owners were and marked them accordingly. However, there was one set looking tired, dusty and as Phil said “with spiders running all over them” that they could not identify, so Maurice took them home in case the owner turned up.
When the owner retrieved his bag, there were a couple of clubs short, but eventually found. Kenny Jepson, happy to play with his own clubs again, just scorched around Royal Lakeside today like there was no tomorrow. His 43 points spread-eagled the field to take the “B” flight win for his second Green Jacket. Next best in the flight was Jim Ferris, who is playing well of late, scoring 37 points to nudge out recent winner, Martin Hoblyn, on a countback.
“A” flight saw last start winner, Colin Service, make it back to back with a great haul of 39 points to finish 3 points clear of Maurice Roberts, while Anthony Molan, in his final game this trip, completed the placings with 35 points.
Near Pins were won by Huw Phillips (3), Derek Hutchinson (6), Gabriel Enright (12), Tommy Marshall (15)
Consolation nines came from Chris Walsh (front) with 22 points and Petur Petursson (back) on 19 points.
Wednesday, Nov. 28, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
1st Brian Talbot (16) 39pts
2nd Dave Arataki (26) 36pts
3rd Alan Walker (28) 34pts
4th Martin Hoblyn (24) 33pts
What a difference the last nine months have made as this course was in very good condition with fairways where the ball sat up, well tended bunkers and greens more consistent than they have been for a while. The only drawback was the general Thai greenkeepers’ passion for placing pins on slopes, noticeably on seventeen where a well placed uphill four-footer could pass the hole and end up eight feet back down the slope.
The single flight saw scores which were generally quite low, reflecting the difficulty of the challenge but fourth place went to the consistent Martin Hoblyn on 33 points, one behind Alan Walker in third who was playing his swan song round before returning to Australia for a few weeks.
Second place went to Dave Arataki with his strong iron play giving him 36 points. The winner was English golfer Brian Talbot who took his game to another level as he recorded 39 points for his best win in a long time.
The consolation awards went to Kevin Timbrell for his best front nine (18 points) and Niall Caven (best back nine of 18 points).
Near pins went to Maurice Roberts (5), Tony Browne (7), Colin Service (12), and the ubiquitous Dave Arataki (16)
Friday, Nov. 30, Khao Kheow – Stableford
A Flight (0-19)
1st Huw Phillips (16) 39pts
2nd Kevin Timbrell (18) 35pts
3rd Darren Beavers (17) 34pts
4th Colm Lawlor (14) 34pts
5th Derek Phillips (17) 33pts
B Flight (20+)
1st Stuart Kidd (21) 34pts
2nd Matt Cronin (20) 32pts
3rd Nigel Harrison (21) 31pts
4th Mike Firkin (23) 30pts
5th Dave Arataki (26) 29pts
This Friday morning thirty-seven golfers set out for Khao Kheow Country Club with hopes riding high. The weather was certainly on our side as we teed off the yellows on A1. Breezy with low humidity made life very comfortable. Unfortunately, this only lasted about half the round before it went back to the energy sapping usual.
The low season maintenance has been completed and the course is in great condition. There was the odd wet patch on some fairways, although carts did travel on course, bunkers are well maintained and caddies raked them, and the greens are running at speed and true.
Khao Kheow is never regarded as an easy course, where each hole is different and provides its own challenges. Today, the A and B combination sent out the challenge but only one player was up to it.
Huw Phillips was the only golfer to beat his handicap, scoring a meritorious 39 points to easily take out “A” flight and the Green Jacket. Kevin Timbrell has been in town for a couple of weeks and hit his straps today to take a clear second place with 35 points. A rejuvenated Darren Beavers brushed aside his last start “wig” to score 34 for third on countback over Colm Lawlor, and then Derek Phillips, 33 points.
The scoring in “B” flight was somewhat lower, but 34 points was enough to give Stuart Kidd the win. In second was Matt Cronin with 32 points followed by Nigel Harrison on 31, ahead of Mike Firkin with 30. Dave Arataki completed the podium scoring 29 points.
Near pins went to Huw Phillips, Darren Beavers, Mike Tottenham, and Dave Heyes while consolation nine best scores came from Tony Browne (front) with 18 points and Kevin McEntee (back) also with 18.
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