PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, April 4, Burapha – Stableford
The unusual combination today of playing A and C off the blue tees was an experience. Normally we play C and D off the whites, but off the blues it’s a different game completely.
Our visitor from the Royal Fremantle Golf Club was the man of the moment, playing off 14 Duncan McLean cleaned up big time with 41 points, that is one hell of a round on that combination and he was heads above everybody else.
It was great to see the Aussie contingent back for a hit with us, some from the West and the rest made up of Weipa golfers. (If you don’t know where Weipa is, have a look at the map of Queensland and look for the Gulf of Carpentaria almost as far up as you can get into croc country but great fishing).
Friday’s Div A winner, Mark McDonald, left, poses with Suzi Lawton who took fourth place in Div B.
Anyway back to Burapha, the course is in as good a condition as you will see anywhere; the greens were fantastic and you couldn’t get a bad lie anywhere on the course. Even though the rain threatened we all got in without getting wet.
There were a total of 36 Outbackers, 30 of them playing in the competition in two divisions with Duncan taking Div A with his 41 points and Nev Steward also having a cracking round to win Div B with 40. They were both way clear of the rest headed by Mark McDonald (35pts) in Div A and Greg Hill (33pts) in Div B.
There were no ‘2’s (probably a first for Burapha).
Div A (0-15)
1st Duncan McLean (14) 41pts
2nd Mark McDonald (3) 35pts
3rd James Brackett (6) 33pts
4th Rosco Langoulant (14) 32pts
5th Robert Driggs (12) 31pts
Div B (16+)
1st Neville Steward (22) 40pts
2nd Greg Hill (26) 33pts
3rd Dick Hayes (25) 32pts
4th Ivan Plunkett (21) 31pts
5th John Mills (16) 31pts
Tuesday, April 5, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
Fifteen Outbackers today for the Tuesday visit to Pattaya Country Club and the day’s honours went to Jim Payne, having his first game with the Outback for some time. Jim scored 39 points to finish three clear of Dave Earthrowl, who rarely plays competitive golf but had some great shots on his front nine on his way to 21 points. Unfortunately he couldn’t quite keep that standard up on the back. Perhaps the wetter fairways on the back, making the cleanly struck ball more difficult, contributed to the difference.
General Jack was out having his first game since Chiang Mai and to test his injured knee which seemed to go OK, but the reason for his NR was more to do with the scary weather that came in towards the end of the round, when lightning was coming down just a bit too close for comfort and leaving his ball on the green he sped off towards the drink stop, never to be seen again! Not on the course anyway, a decision which his terrified caddy was delighted with.
On the whole the course was tidy but the greens were slow but that didn’t stop four guys getting ‘2’s; Jim Payne, Lloyd Shuttleworth, Dennis Persson & Dave Brennan.
1st Jim Payne (26) 39pts
2nd David Earthrowl (20) 36pts
3rd Nigel Cannon (23) 35pts
4th Lloyd Shuttleworth (6) 34pts
Wednesday, April 6, The Emerald – Stableford
What a great day, 15 Outbackers plus Chris Fletcher’s 8 mates came to play Emerald and got a major surprise with rates for the new low season that were better than holiday rates, so a great start for all. Holiday rates must have scared off all others as the course was deserted and a less than four hour round was enjoyed by all.
The course was in great condition and it’s good to see that they are in the process of upgrading a number of the white tees; this meant that we played a number of the par 3’s from the blue markers and those that got ‘2’s, fully deserved them.
Disappointingly, there were a number of “no shows” including Muzza, who will never live that down, as he was sorely missed, especially by his playing partners. The course took no prisoners and gave out no really good scores.
We only had one division and the winner with 33 points was Jim Bell off a 19 handicap on count-back from Dave Buchanan (H/cap 1), who continues to struggle with the putter. Bobbie Driggs (whose name on the card looked like Dr 998) was third with 32 (off 12).
There were two ‘2’s to Dave Buchanan and Bobbie Driggs.
A great day was had by all and thanks must go to Emerald for a fantastic holiday rate and presenting the course in a great condition. Keep up the good work as the course continues to improve and is great value for money.
1st Jim Bell (19) 33pts
2nd Dave Buchanan (1) 33pts
3rd Robert Driggs (12) 32pts
4th Chris Fletcher (12) 31pts
5th Steve Plant (15) 30pts
Friday, April 8, Khao Kheow – Stableford
This course just gets better and better and we are pleased to announce that the Outback is remaining here every Friday throughout the low season. Today was the turn of the B and C loops and as usual the course was the winner; it certainly doesn’t take any prisoners but what a challenge, magnificent condition in every way, shape and form.
It was goodbye to our friends from Weipa in Northern Queensland. We sometimes marvel at the talent of some golfers and these folks come into that category; each day they played with us they used borrowed or hired clubs of every different type and still managed to have a laugh at their golf and everything else that came along. Maybe we could all get a lesson from these people.
It was also nice to see Wendy get in the frame today, we’ll drop the money off to your hotel before you go then you can really give your husband a bit of stick on the way back to Aus.
Welcome also to John Goddard on a fleeting trip from KL and gentleman George was back in harness on the golf course and enjoying himself; looks like “leave passes” were the go last week.
Anyway down to the scores, the best coming from Mark McDonald, who shot a magnificent 73 gross (38pts off H/’cap 3), and was four clear of his nearest rivals, Murray Hart and Capt. Bob, who both had 34.
In Div B, it was Sel Wegner who led the way with 33 points, just one ahead of Wendy Grainger, with George Bishop one further back with 31.
There were three ‘2’s from John Goddard, Mark McDonald and George Bishop.
Div A (0-13)
1st Mark McDonald (3) 38pts
2nd Murray Hart (13) 34pts
3rd Bob Philp (10) 34pts
4th Owen Walkley (11) 33pts
Div B (14+)
1st Sel Wegner (14) 33pts
2nd Wendy Grainger (15) 32pts
3rd George Bishop (14) 31pts
4th Suzi Lawton (17) 29pts
