Phoenix Members Golf Society
With a nice comfortable amount of players in the group on Friday, April 26, we set off on the Mountain/Lake course having to implement ‘lift clean and place’ rules due to storms the previous few days. However, today proved to be very dry and fresh but also very hot. I have to admire the courage and stamina of the guys who walk the course at this time of the year – not for me – I am now in the comfort time of life!
Winners today in the singles match were Mukesh Thakker (36pts) and Granville Swanton (35pts), who incidentally both walked the course. In the team match (we had 3 x 3-ball groups) the same two guys plus another walker Richard Baldwin won by a mile with an accumulated best two from three scores to notch up 80 points. They were clear winners by 9 strokes.
Tuesday winner Mike Gerrard (right) receives his prize standing next to Kevin Bird.
Strangely enough the comfort team (with carts) came a very poor last with only 70 points.
Near pin prizes went to Richard Baldwin & Granville Swanton with two others not claimed. These prizes went into the lucky draw and the winners were Clive Robinson and Kristinn Helgason, with Granville Swanton winning the free massage ticket and yours truly winning the free drink ticket.
On Tuesday, April 30, we played the Mountain/Lake course again in our monthly stroke-play tournament for the Trattoria Italiana restaurant voucher, donated by our very good friend Giorgio Baccioli.
Playing stroke-play always sorts out, as we say, the men from the boys. After three months of very poor scores yours truly started the day off well. Then the wheels fell off on the fourth par three with a quadruple bogey 7. However, I went on to grab a couple of birdies and few pars to finish on only one over handicap with a net 73 to win the day by two shots from three other players all on net 75. They were Kevin Bird (2nd), Kristinn Helgason (3rd), and Mukesh Thakker who was just edged out into fourth place on count back.
Near pin winners today were Mukesh Thakker (2) & Kevin Bird. The fourth near pin was not won and that prize was entered into the lucky draw prize list of items which for the most part are donated by our hosts The Relax Bar at Ban Amphur. These went to Tim Mason, Jim Neilson, Peter Harris, newcomer Roy Dean, and Gerry Hughes.
It now seems certain that at last Phoenix Golf Club has been bought up by new owners and already some greatly improved scenery work has taken place on both the entrance to the club and certain areas on the course. The roof of the clubhouse has had a new coat of paint and if you could not see it in the distance before, you will now. We, as members, are still waiting for a statement as to the future policy of the new owners. I think most feel confident that all will be for the good.
