PSC Golf Bunker Boys @ The Ranch
Monday, Nov. 24, The Emerald – Stableford
The John Preddy memorial golf tournament has been held for the last 8 years, but this year the event was expanded to remember those local golfing friends who have passed away recently. The format was an individual Stableford competition for the John Preddy trophy with a simultaneous team competition for the newly purchased Memorial trophy, which is inscribed with the names of recently departed local golfers. The team event was an inter-society tournament including teams from six local golf societies and a total of 144 players assembled at the Emerald golf course on a bright, sunny, but humid morning.
The first groups teed off on schedule at 8am, and although we had the complete course to ourselves a holdup began to develop on the par-three 5th hole after the first half dozen groups had passed through, and this slowed down the pace of play for all the following groups for the remainder of the round.
Jim Preddy presents the Memorial Trophy to the winning team – Duang’s Girls.
Technical prizes (in two flights) were available on every hole, provided by our generous sponsors, and this kept everyone’s interest, even when falling out of contention for the main competition prizes. The novelty technical prize for nearest to the tree (in the middle of the fairway) on the par 5, 14th hole produced a great shot from Marlene Prudden which finished just a couple of inches from the tree and left an almost unplayable second shot!
It proved to be a long day with the competition organisers, playing in the final group, only just managing to complete their round as darkness set in at 6pm.
The free buffet and prize giving was held at Lewinski’s bar, and the staff there put on an excellent spread to satiate the hungry golfers.
Geoff Parker (right) presents the men’s individual trophy to Sugar Ray Handford.
This was the first year that lady golfers had participated in the event and they certainly made their presence felt by winning the inaugural Memorial trophy for the team event, and Duang Butpanya also took the Ladies/Seniors trophy. The John Preddy men’s individual trophy was won by Sugar Ray Handford with 41 points, two points clear of a cluster of five players on 39 who had to be separated on count backs.
Special mention is due for one player who attempted to break the course record for the number of beers consumed during a round, managing to drink 10 prior to teeing off and 14 during the round (yes – the caddies were counting!), and he still came home with 36 points!
The tournament was a charity event organized in conjunction with the PSC to raise money for local children’s charities, and the spirit of the day was embodied by Shane Ruddle who won the special par three jackpot prize, and generously donated half of his winnings back to charity.
Grateful thanks are due to Emerald Golf Club, together with all our corporate and individual sponsors, as well as all the players who contributed to a successful tournament.
John Preddy Trophy
1st Sugar Ray Handford (17) 41pts
2nd Brian Beaupre (5) 39pts
3rd Brian Prudden (20) 39pts
4th Tony Berry (13) 39pts
5th Michael Stafford (21) 39pts
6th Max Scott (5) 39pts
Ladies/Seniors
1st Duang Butpanya (15) 41pts
Team Comp
1st Duang’s Girls 131pts
2nd Team Brian 123pts
3rd Team Mike 122pts
Near Pins: (A Flight) Mark West, Orn Kuangsangsee, Max Scott, Wichai Tananusorn, (B Flight) Michael Stafford, Stu Rifkin, Brian Prudden, PJ Redmond.
Wednesday, Nov. 19, Plutaluang E & S – Stableford
Back to manageable numbers today as twenty five golfers set off from The Ranch for our competition at the Navy course on another bright, sunny morning.
We teed off on schedule on the East nine and it soon became clear that it was going to be a question of the survival of the fittest, as the temperature was stifling over the outward nine holes. The course was in good condition and the greens were running at a reasonable speed and we progressed at a steady pace throughout the round.
Duang Butpanya (left) receives the Ladies/Seniors trophy.
Thomas Nyborg was playing his first game with the new driver that he’d won in the raffle at the Memorial Tournament on Monday, and it seemed to cure the slice that he normally struggles with, as he came home with the best score of the day on 38 points.
Mike Lloyd recorded the first victory of his current visit, winning the A flight with 34 points, two points clear of Tony Berry and Alan Harris who had to be separated on a count back.
Ken Davidson narrowly missed out on a podium position in the B flight, but he recorded back to back birdies on the inward nine – surely a rare feat for a player playing off a 22 handicap!
A Flight
1st Mike Lloyd (14) 34pts
2nd Tony Berry (12) 32pts
3rd Alan Harris (9) 32pts
B Flight
1st Thomas Nyborg (19) 38pts
2nd Mike Corner (19) 32pts
3rd Tore Eliassen (20) 31pts
Near Pins: Keith Norman, Mike Lloyd, Mike Staunton and Alan Harris.
Friday, Nov. 28, Greenwood C & B – Medal
Today was the final decider for the November ‘golfer of the month’ title with three contenders, Alan Harris, Geoff Parker, and Gordon Melia all still in with a chance of taking the coveted trophy. Contrary to tradition the three title contenders went off in the first group rather than the last, in nearly ideal weather conditions, and with a clear course ahead of them.
The course was in good condition and the greens were running fast and true, so everything was in place for a fine contest. Unfortunately it soon turned into a one horse race as Geoff Parker blew his handicap on the outward nine and Gordon Melia was also dropping careless shots, whilst Alan Harris was playing some great golf and completed the front nine three shots under his handicap and only two over par. Gordon continued dropping unnecessary shots on the inward nine whilst Alan was as steady as rock, and eventually came home with the best score of the day on net 69 – a worthy champion.
Gerry Cooney took second place in the A flight ahead of Tony Scambler who edged out Colin Greig on a count back. Ross Schiffke won the B flight, also on a count back, ahead of Geoff Williams, with Tom Jones making a welcome return to the podium in third place.
The day was spoilt when after completing the outward nine at a good pace, the leading group arrived on the 10th tee to find that an invasion of Korean golfers had taken over the back nine, with three groups waiting on the tee and other groups spread all over the remaining holes. With all their golfers in buggies they were charging around like madmen looking for any vacant tee box, in no particular order, and it’s a sad reflection on the management of the course that they allow such anti-social behavior.
A Flight
1st Alan Harris (9) net 69
2nd Gerry Cooney (14) net 71
3rd Tony Scambler (9) net 72
B Flight
1st Ross Schiffke (19) net 73
2nd Geoff Williams (20) net 73
3rd Tom Jones (26) net 74
Near Pins: Mike Lloyd, Richard Baldotto, Tony Scambler and Tom Jones.
Note: The Bunker Boys are a PSC affiliated golf society, who 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, and meet at The Ranch at 9 a.m. for breakfast and transportation. New players are always welcome. Contact “Buff” on 086 046 5091 or 080 605 5663 or check website: www.bunkersociety.com.
