The Billabong Bar Golf Society
Monday, May 22, Phoenix Gold – Stableford
What a change! Last week you would have gotten wet because it hardly stopped raining. This week you got wet because of the very high humidity.
The rain is always welcome by golf courses and as a result Lakes and Ocean are looking very green and the pond/lake levels have been replenished. To make everyone aware what nine they are playing, many trees have disappeared on the 4th hole providing beautiful, panoramic views across Jomtien and the ocean beyond.
Two golfers who have recently been challenging for the top honours every week were in the same group today, with George Barrie being told to eat his Weetabix in the morning by his wife, for he has not only found a few extra yards on his drives but is hitting straighter. George had 38 points (20 points on the back nine) to occupy third place just one behind John Anderson in second.
Bill Marsden has found some additional muscle power, perhaps it is the spinach, and regularly scores 40 points plus with monotonous regularity. But today he outdid himself with 23 points on the front and 23 points on the back to leave everyone in his wake – the handicappers knife will be out soon.
Three 2’s today came from Gerard Lambert, William Macey and Nipper Truscott.
Wednesday, May 24, Green Valley – Stableford
Green Valley has always been considered as a tree-lined course with intermingling bushes just to add an additional level of difficulty. But when you consider the number of trees that have been removed and those that are still being removed, Green Valley could soon be classified as a parkland layout. There are areas of the course that are now visible which were, previously, obscured. The water on the left of the 4th is an example, as is the area around the 15th hole, but many golfers are impressed with the change of scenery.
We had 11 ladies today but the top four could only be separated by count backs with all four on 38 points. Miss Phin lost third place to Miss Tan but only on the last six holes, with Miss Sa taking second with 21 on the back nine. Miss Eng was not leading at the turn with only 16 points but something happened on the 10th for her to rattle in the pars and 22 points.
Wayne Cotterell kept the family flag flying with a birdie on the 17th for third place in the men’s division with 37 points, one better than Colin Goon. Two familiar faces came good once again, with Kiwi Bill Marsden four-putting one green to relegate him to second behind Tony Oakes with 38 points, the latter having 6 pars on the back nine to win the day.
Colin Goon, who claimed he could not putt, had two ‘2’s and had his ball been a little more co-operative on the other two par threes, he could have birdies on all four. Selwyn Wegner and Miss Kran also had ‘2’s.
Friday, May 26, Phoenix – Scramble
Just a short drive from the bar to the Phoenix Gold Golf course to play our monthly scramble, with no threat of rain although it was as hot as it turned to be a good day out for some.
This course is not like the Navy, as was displayed in the scores today as not many groups gave this layout a hiding. The greens were superb, being very fast and true and the fairways were in great condition also.
What started out as 15 groups actually turned into 12 and we got away a little earlier than expected and were in for a drink in about 4 hours. The team taking third spot was the Courtyard Cavaliers with a net score of 60.4 while in second spot was the team of Brian Farino, Arthur Hancock, Dekka Scott and Ken Leadstone with a net score of 60.1. The only team to beat 60 was the quartet of Arch Armstrong, Willie Mercer, Mal Roberts and Alistair Aitken with net 59 off their 4 handicap.
