PSC Golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, June 29, Burapha – Stableford
It was millionaire golf for the five groups who played the A & B nines and as usual we got away early and had the course nearly to ourselves. Overall the course was in great condition although the rough around the bunkers is very thick.
Maurice Copan was the winner with 38 points, from Bob Lindborg (37) in second. Kiwi, Neil Smith took third on 36 points ahead of Sugar Ray Handford (35) who was delighted to have taken John Low’s money in their annual feud. Tim Knight was fifth on c/b from Jimmy Little, both with 34.
(From left) DeVere sponsor Greg Hirst with Sugar Ray Handford, Bob Mattes, Dave Buchanan and Neil Smith.
We welcomed back the Kiwi connection; five of them this week, with more arriving next week – John Low, Geoff Christie and their friends Neil Smith, Paul Mora and 1-handicaper Garry Bancroft. Welcome also to Canadian Sam Freed, who was having his first game with us.
John Cunningham had the only ‘2’ on B8.
Outback opinion: Weather – fine & hot; Check in – welcoming; Tee time – early; Fairways – good; Rough – light; Greens – fast & true; Bunkers – good; Value for money – very good; Pace of play – 3hrs; Drink stations open – 3 open; Restaurant – not visited.
Wednesday, July 1, Khao Kheow – Stableford
Suzi’s return to Thailand after an extended holiday with husband John in Spain, prompted the General to blow the dust off his clubs and head off in the direction of Khao Kheow for a hit. Ten players went and arrived to find an almost deserted car park, seemingly the trend almost everywhere at the moment.
A and B were the designated nines but what a disappointment as neither were in particularly good condition, with many areas of GUR and A8, the Par-5 with the tricky tee shot, had been reduced to a Par-4 as the landing area across the entire width of the fairway had become GUR.
Elsewhere other areas, if you missed the fairway, say in amongst the trees, were also marked as GUR and there really wasn’t anywhere to drop apart from the fairway, which made it a bit of a farce! Perhaps in their defence, the greens were OK if not slow on A, slightly improving when we were on B.
Neil Smith won the day with a mere 34 points, which could have been adjusted down to 33 because of the A8 scenario but we decided to leave the scores as they were as it was the same for everyone. Second and third were two more Kiwis, John Low and Geoff Christie, both on 32.
We are scheduled to return here on Weds 29th July but whether we will remains to be seen!
There were no ‘2’s.
1st Neil Smith (14) 34pts
2nd John Low (16) 32pts
3rd Geoff Christie (06) 32pts
Friday, July 3, Green Valley – Monthly Medal
It was the DeVere Monthly Medal at Green Valley on Friday, where 26 players turned out with no cancellations, which was great.
Regrettably Andre, who had commented about needing some competition for the Low Gross Medal fell sick and had to leave the course, but it’s seriously doubtful that he would have got the better of Dave Buchanan, who once again demonstrated his golfing prowess with a very fine 69 gross. It wasn’t quite enough to win him the day, as playing off +2, his net score came out at 71, a feat equalled by Bob Mattes, playing off 18 but Bob got the trophy on count back, as we only have one to award but the financial rewards were identical.
Tied for third on 72 were Greg Hill, on a visit from Hua Hin, and Sugar Ray, who took the money again from John Low. The final podium place went to Neil Smith on 73.
Everybody knows that cream rises to the top and today the top three handicappers got the only ‘2’s – Geoff Christie (5th), Gary Bancroft (12th) and Dave Buchanan (16th).
Apart from a four-ball in front of us the course was pretty empty and unfortunately Greg Hirst (our sponsor) could not play today due to a bad back.
Outback opinion: Weather – reasonable with a breeze; Check in – easy; Tee time – 10 mins early; Fairways – good; Rough – good; Greens – slow but recovering from recent work; Bunkers – average; Value for money – good; Pace of play – 4hrs; Drink stations open – all open; Restaurant – not visited
1st Bob Mattes (18) net 71
2nd David Buchanan (+2) net 71
3rd Greg Hill (18) net 72
4th Sugar Ray Handford (18) net 72
5th Neil Smith (12) net 73
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. Call Jack on 081 578 1956.
