PSC Golf from The Billabong Golf Bar
Monday, July 13, Eastern Star – Stableford
We played Eastern Star for the first time in months, with just three 3-balls teaming up for today’s event and they were around in about 3½ hours. The course was in good condition with some fairways being a little dry but with plenty of run, making the second shot to the green a little easier. The greens themselves were great, just as they were the last time we visited this course.
The scores were something else again with only one player scoring over 30 points; the course sure didn’t take any prisoners today. The only player that got over thirty was Ramsay Smith, scoring 34 points, while the next on the list of very average scores was Auke with 28, beating Dean Hart on a count back.
There were no ‘2’s recorded.
Wednesday’s top three, Eng, Sa and Nu.
Wednesday, July 15, Green Valley – Stableford
You are having a good day on the course and the points are mounting up. Close to home you are on the green in regulation with an easy putt for a birdie and 4 points, you hope. You hit the ball directly at the hole, you are quietly confident, but the ball hits the plastic insert which is almost above the level of the green and instead of dropping into the hole it bounces 2 or 3 feet past and you are now trying to save your par.
Do the green-staff not realize that these inserts should be at least 25mm below the surface of the green or have the management not informed them? 25mm is the amount that the USGA and PGA recommend as being the requirement. Green Valley are not the only culprits but that is no excuse and can ruin a perfectly good, enjoyable round. This problem has been in existence for some time now and the management should give clear, precise instructions to the ground staff. Green Valley is an excellent golf course but this is one area that needs looking at.
32 players arrived at Green Valley to find that the greens had almost recovered from the recent attention but the fairways, as with many courses, need rain and more rain.
Jim Grieve, Steve Compton and Gentry Harrington.
It was certainly ladies day today with Miss Saipin coming as close to having a hole in one on the 12th without the ball actually dropping to the bottom of the cup. Her ball finished an inch or so at the back of the hole but she did get her birdie for a ‘2’, as did Miss Nu, John Lowe, Peter Le Noury and William Macey.
The overall scores were good, with Murray Hart coming in with 37 points, losing on a count back to Miss Nu who could have had 3 or 4 more points had some of her putts not lipped out, having hit the plastic inserts. Miss Eng is looking forward to having her handicap cut after scoring 38 points but losing out on another count back to Miss Sa.
Friday, July 17, Phoenix – Stableford
Playing Phoenix today under threatening sky’s but even though we got a few spits of rain going to the course it turned out to be a great day for golf, not too hot and just a nice breeze to keep the temperature down. The course was in great condition and the greens were fantastic to putt on.
While waiting to start there was a group in front teeing off with one fella taking about six swings (I won’t call them shots) before he got to the ladies tee. It was mentioned that this was going to be a long day out, but the marshall was down there in an instant and they were taught a little etiquette and from then on there were no hold ups at all.
The scores weren’t too flash but to coin a phrase from John White, “nobody died”. There was only one ‘2’, coming from Charlie Brown and he donated his prize to the charity box, thanks mate.
Coming in third place today was Steve Compton with 32 points while second spot went to Gentry Harrington with 33, but on top of the podium was Jim Grieve with a fine 35 points.
Note: The Billabong is situated just off Siam Country Club Road looking straight down Lake Mabprachan. Give Bob a call on 082 204 3411 if you are looking for a game.
